Towards the end of last summer, just before all thoughts turned to the upcoming winter ski season, I was lucky enough to nip across to the Portes du Soleil and sneak in a fabulous summer holiday in Les Gets. With long sunny days, temperatures sitting at a balmy 25 degrees, and a gorgeous luxury chalet at our disposal, it was everything we could have wished for in a summer holiday to the Alps.
Why book a Summer holiday in Les Gets?
If you enjoy sunshine, good food, great wine, and beautiful places, then a summer holiday in Les Gets is a must add destination to your travel bucket list. Les Gets in the summer is almost as popular as during the winter months these days, and it’s not hard to see why. As a fan of ski holidays in the French Alps, I’d been eyeing up a summer holiday to the Portes du Soleil for a while, and our week at the gorgeous Chalet Clos Saint Jean was the perfect introduction to luxury summer holidays in Les Gets. To be honest…I might even be converted to summer in the mountains over winter alpine holidays. Perhaps another trip to the French Alps this summer might help me make up my mind!
The Resort of Les Gets in the Summer
Les Gets boasts a friendly atmosphere, perfect for families, whilst also showcasing a selection of elegant restaurants, chic bars and independent boutiques that lend the town a premium feel. The town of Les Gets is quite traditional having developed from a 12th Century farming village, and those roots can still be seen in the classic Savoyard architecture, and heard in the soft ringing of cowbells across the alpine pastures.
A day in Les Gets in summer is enjoyably lively; the sunshine brings everyone outside to enjoy the fresh mountain air, from hiking and biking, to alfresco lunches and picnicking by the water at the Lac des Ecoles.
During our summer holiday in Les Gets we particularly loved wandering into town to enjoy a casual breakfast of coffee and a pastry while watching the world go by and deciding what to do for the day. Similarly, strolling into the heart of Les Gets for an aperitif as the sunset over the mountains, followed by a classic Savoyarde fondue at Restaurant La Biskatcha, was the perfect end to a day exploring the Les Gets hiking trails.
Things to Do on a Les Gets Summer Holiday
There are so many summer activities in Les Gets to enjoy! For visitors who love exploring and being outdoors, this really is a holiday paradise. Families looking for activity rich holidays with children will find that a summer holiday to Les Gets has everything you could ask for. Adult groups of all ages will appreciate the laidback way of life, fresh air, and escape from daily life that a Les Gets summer holiday encourages.
Mountain Biking in Les Gets
Adrenaline lovers can make the most of Europe’s largest mountain bike park. With everything from professional grade black routes to beginner friendly trails, the whole family can hop on a bike and experience the thrills of mountain biking in Les Gets. If that’s not enough, there’s also white water rafting nearby, and parapenting over the peaks of the Portes du Soleil – make sure to keep your eyes open for Mont Blanc views.
Discover more about mountain biking in the Portes du Soleil in our blog dedicated to the best bike parks in the Alps.
Hiking in Les Gets
For a slower, more holistic experience, hiking in Les Gets can’t be beaten. From family friendly hiking trails where children can spot the local fauna and flora, to more intense climbs around the local peaks, it’s definitely worth tackling a local walk in the mountains during a Les Gets summer holiday. Our favourite was a 2 hour hike along the ridge of Mont Chery. The views were endless, and the route we decided on ended at a lovely restaurant called Les Chevrelles. For a hearty Savoyard lunch after a hilly morning hike, there’s nowhere better.
Wibit Water Park at Lac des Ecoles
If your ideal summer holiday involves sunbathing next to a body of water, be assured that this is certainly an option during a summer holiday in Les Gets. Lac des Ecoles is a lovely mountain lake well setup for families to enjoy a day in the sun. During the summer months children will LOVE the Wibit water park on the lake. An inflatable obstacle course, and with a mini Wibit next door for younger children, kids of all ages won’t want to come out of the water. There’s plenty of space to set yourself up with a picnic blanket to relax on the lake shores, and the clear mountain waters are there for cooling off when the sun gets too warm!
Sunbathing at your Luxury Summer Chalet
We also loved the sun terrace at Chalet Clos Saint Jean. Large enough to house several sun loungers, a BBQ, and an alfresco dining table for lunch, it was always an effort to pull ourselves away. Add to this a large hot tub, a Sonos system for your favourite playlist, and we couldn’t have asked for a better spot to soak up the rays during our Les Gets summer holiday.
Day Trips from Les Gets
Les Gets is about an hour and a half from Geneva Airport, and there really is so much to do in resort that there’s no need to hire a car during a summer vacation to Les Gets. We wanted to spend a couple of days exploring further afield however, so decided that the convenience of a hire car was the way to go.
There are endless mountain passes and viewpoints to explore around the Portes du Soleil, and some of the Alps’ best known sights are located close enough to make them appealing for a day trip. We popped across to Chamonix, the home of alpine mountaineering, and Annecy, the Venice of the Alps, but they’re by no means the only options!
Chamonix
Probably the pre-eminent town in the French Alps, Chamonix is a hub of adventure during the summer. The historic town centre is alive with restaurants and bars spilling onto the streets, while the dramatic surrounding peaks are topped by the infamous Mont Blanc. The town is filled with hikers, bikers, climbers and mountaineers all looking to experience the thrills of Chamonix in the summer. We took the gondola up the Aiguille du Midi for a memorable morning in the snow at three and a half thousand metres.
Annecy
Sitting on the shores of Lake Annecy, and with canals and a river flowing through the old town itself, it’s clear to see why Annecy has been nicknamed the Venice of the Alps! Something of a cultural hub, with festivals throughout the year, art galleries, and the Chateau d’Annecy which now serves as a museum, there are charming narrow streets to meander through, tempting creperies for a sweet snack, and plenty of stunning photo opportunities.
Discover more about this lovely town in our blog about Annecy, outlining the best spots to visit and unmissable activities to enjoy there.
Lake Geneva
If the water is calling your name, then a day at Lake Geneva makes for a lovely trip. On the southern shores of the lake are the gorgeous spa towns of Evian and Thonon les Bains. Discover the source of Evian mineral water, and enjoy a spa day bathing in the mineral rich waters, explore the historic funicular at Thonon, or simply head to the lake and hire a boat for a day on the water.
Sixt Fer a Cheval
If the stunning natural surroundings of Les Gets aren’t enough, then the Sixt Fer a Cheval national park should do the trick. Naturally creating a horseshoe shape, there are 360-degree views of the dramatic cliffs, and almost too many waterfalls to appreciate. Keen hikers will find numerous trails to tackle, whilst there’s also opportunities to experience Via Ferrata, white water rafting, mountain biking, and paragliding.
Les Lindarets
Not necessarily a full day trip, but we loved it so it deserves an honourable mention! Les Lindarets is situated on the road up to Avoriaz, and is also known as the goat village. If you’ve ever had a hankering to spend a day surrounded by goats, then this is the place for you! There are also some lovely restaurants in the village for lunch, and plenty of opportunities to stock up on delicious local goats cheese.
Lac de Montriond
Montriond Lake is just a few miles from Les Gets in the neighbouring resort of Morzine. This stunning alpine lake is flanked by dramatic cliffs, and is a vibrant spot for a summer day out. There are kayaks and paddleboards for hire, and the clear water is perfect for wild swimming on sunny days. There’s a gentle path around the lake for a relaxed stroll, and BBQ stations for alfresco picnic lunches or sunset dinners. Alternatively there’s a couple of restaurants and a bar nearby for refreshments.
Discover more about what watersports you can enjoy in Les Gets and Morzine in our Watersports in the Alps blog.
Luxury Summer Chalet Clos Saint Jean
We were incredibly lucky to stay in one of the best summer chalets in Les Gets during our holiday. Perfect for families and groups of friends alike, Chalet Clos Saint Jean is a chic and luxurious chalet for a Les Gets summer holiday. It boasts an abundance of facilities, including a hot tub, sauna, hammam, and fitness suite, as well as a large cinema room and a games room with pool table and darts. For us, the real highlights were the amazing sun terrace and the brilliantly sociable living/dining room.
With views across the neighbouring hillside, and being positioned in a real suntrap, the terrace was our favourite place to relax under the sun. This was also true in the evenings when we fired up the BBQ, turned up the music and enjoyed a glass of fizz in the hot tub…it was always a struggle to leave the terrace! Similarly the open plan living space, with it’s enormous, sumptuous sofa, feature dining table, and games area where we enjoyed some fairly competitive rounds of darts, was a social space to relax at the end of the day.
Clos Saint Jean is one of our favourite chalets for a family summer holiday in the Alps, marrying a fantastic location with a short transfer from Geneva, an array of facilities to keep guests of all ages entertained, and plenty of space for the whole family. Nevertheless, having stayed there, I’d say Clos Saint Jean is also perfectly set up for groups of friends, or even corporate breaks looking to make the most of it’s vicinity to Geneva – if you’re really looking to reach the chalet as quickly as possible, helicopter transfers from Geneva to Les Gets take just 20 minutes and encompass truly incredible mountain views.
If you’re considering a trip to the Alps during the warmer months, you couldn’t do better than a summer holiday in Les Gets. Get in touch with our team who would be more than happy to chat through your request and find you the perfect summer chalet in Les Gets. Give us a bell on +44 1202 203659 or drop us an email outlining your wishlist, and we can send you a tailored selection of chalets to consider.
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