Come and discover the beauty of the Portes du Soleil area in Summer!

The Area

There is a long and fascinating history in the region of the Abondance Valley. The natural environment is outstanding and there are a whole range of tourist attractions making it a truly incredible holiday destination.

Our proximity to Lake Geneva also allows you to mix the mountain scenery with the spectacular views along the shore of the Lake.

Activities

In and around Chatel, there is an endless range of sporting and leisure activities on offer in the summer.

We also specialise in gourmet cooking courses. For more information, check out our tailor-made breaks section!

Mountain Walks

There are more than 65km of footpaths in and around Chatel and over 300km of well marked trails in the Portes Du Soleil.

The ski lifts in Chatel open up a whole range of walks and allow you to take in the breathtaking panorama of all the different peaks and mountains, discover the area’s wildlife and taste the local farmers produce along the way! Throughout the summer, from the end of June to the beginning of September, the ski lifts are open and there is also a free bus service around the village taking you to wherever you want to be.

Mountain walking options include the Les Cornettes de Bises (3 hours) the summit of which is 2432m or the national park, Mont de Grange (3 hours 30 mins), the summit of which is 2433m.

We can also arrange for a qualified mountain leader to guide you around the best walks in the valley. They offer a whole programme of walks by the half day or full day. For prices, please contact us.

Mountain Biking

There are over 380km of marked trails and 23 ski lifts open in the summer, taking you to some extraordinary places and through 14 villages. There are downhill runs through both woodland and mountain pastures, trial mountain biking areas and a bike park. The trails are marked with various difficulties, so there are suitable runs for all different levels.

If you want, there are qualified instructors offering bike trips all around Chatel and the Portes du Soleil. For information on prices, please contact us.

Horse Riding

There is a riding centre in Chatel which hosts a range of riding activities, including trekking along the mountain paths. Lessons must be booked in advance and are supervised by a qualified instructor. For information on prices, please contact us.

Rock Climbing

There are plenty of beginner and advanced climbing areas in the area: the Mont Chauffe ridge, Cornettes de Bise etc. All climbs will be supervised by qualified instructors for individuals or groups. For information on prices, please contact us.

Fantasicable

The Fantasticable is certainly something to talk about! Imagine being harnessed to a cable and flying at 80km-100km from one peak to another and at 240m above the hamlet of the Plaine-Dranse! There are two cables to choose from – one cable is 1200m long and the other is 1325m! This is certainly not for the faint-hearted!

Golf

There are several fantastic golf courses to choose from in the area, making it a perfect golfing holiday destination. The most popular golf course is the Masters Course at Evian, home to many International gold tournaments. Also nearby are the courses at Les Gets, Villars (Switzerland) and Montreaux (Switzerland). A little further a field is the famous course designed by Severiano Ballesteros, in Crans-sur-Sierre (Switzerland). If you are interested in a special golf break, please contact us directly to discuss your requirements so we can prepare a programme to suit your requirements and budget.

For further information, please also see our tailor made breaks page.

White Water Sports

Along the River Dranse, you can take part in the power and speed of white water rafting, canyoning, swimming or canoeing! For further information on prices, please contact us.

Other Leisure Activities for your holiday

Swimming, tennis, summer bobsled run, water skiing/wakeboarding on Lake Geneva.

For further information on the area please visit www.portesdusoleil.com