Nostalgia: Booking A Ski Holiday in the 80s and 90s With the Kings and Queens of Travel
- October 1, 2025
- Uncategorised
Once upon a time we all made our way down the high street to book our ski holidays, hell bent on becoming... Read More
Summer Holidays In The Alps
-
by new
- March 14, 2025
- Uncategorised
- 0
Most people dream of a beach & sunshine but why not try something new this year? A summer chalet holiday in the Alps can be a lot of fun and with sunshine, fresh air & amazing scenery.
The Alps are very much alive after the ski season is over and offer plenty of activities and places to visit. Why get bored sitting on the beach when you can be picnicking in alpine meadows with colourful wildflowers and the sound of tinkling cow bells or adrenaline rushes on a bike down the mountain.
So you would like to try an Alpine holiday and think it would be great to get the children being active; where do you go? The majority of alpine resorts are open for business, it can be a little quiet in June & September but July & August many families and friends visit the resorts but it is never as crowded as the winter. If you looking for lots of organised activities then Chamonix is the mecca for climbing, walking the Haute Route, parapenting, white water rafting, canyoning etc. Zermatt is just as famous for the summer as it is winter.
Many resorts will offer a variety of activities but you can just easily go walking or cycling. The alpine trails are easily followed and many of the larger lifts are open to take you up to the top of the mountains for a 360 panoramic view.
Walking & biking are free activities (if you take your own bikes) thus a self catered alpine summer holiday can work out very good value. The chalets in the summer are much cheaper, flights are less expensive or take the scenic route and self drive from the UK. 
All ages we are sure will love the mountain biking which has something from everyone, from gentle forest trails to full on adrenalin descents. There are also fantastic bike parks with specialised routes down mountains with many jumps which are graded from beginner to expert. Or there are scenic trails along relatively flat routes progressing up to following the Haute Route.
Two destinations, Chamonix and Zermatt standout as must visit destinations, both summer and winter. The former famed for residing under Mont Blanc and the other for one of the most challenging and majestic peaks, the Matterhorn.
Chamonix Summer
Chamonix in France is widely regarded as the mountain capital of the world and attracts the greatest number of summer visitors anywhere in the Alps. At the height of summer as many as 120,000 visitors a day descend on this beautiful and truly historic town which situated under Mont Blanc, 4,810m high. Most come to marvel at this great peak from the valley floor or surrounding hillside, but as many as 20,000 visitors each year actually scale this challenging peak to the summit, Western Europe’s highest.
However, whilst Chamonix’s history is built around this giant alpine mountain, Chamonix today has a great deal more to offer. A bustling town, it boasts a vast array of mountain outlets and boutique shops. Being in France, it doesn’t leave you short changed on the restaurant front either. Here you will find something for all tastes and pockets, from pizzerias to 2 star Michelin dining. The evenings create a warm atmosphere as people mingle in the streets and enjoy alfresco dining, although we personally love the daytime dining experience, sat in the sunshine, marvelling at the Chamonix Valley’s majestic scenery and peaks.
There is also a great deal of activities to be enjoyed too. A year round town it boasts a large ice rink, swimming pool (indoor and outdoor), a luge, equestrian centre, an excellent 18 hole golf course, tree adventure parks, mountain bike trails, tennis courts, low alpine walks, paragliding, a funicular railway that takes you to ice caves dug into the glacier, and so much more. Road cyclists can also enjoy rides into Switzerland or take the car a short drive in to Italy, as well as enjoy classic climbs such as the Col du Colombiere which is just down the valley. There is also the Tour du Mont Blanc, a 170km walk around Mont Blanc, that starts and finishes in Chamonix.
Zermatt Summer
Closely following Chamonix on the visitor stakes is Zermatt in Switzerland. One of our favourite resorts, summer or winter. This traffic free resort has charm and class in abundance and the Zermatt Matterhorn has to be one of the prettiest peaks anywhere in the world. Whilst Zermatt is a town and is growing year on year, it still feels intimate and with only horse drawn carriages and electric taxis, its streets are just a joy to walk around, day or night.
The Mattrhorn, like Chamonix’s Mont Blanc, is the major attraction although again most visitors preference is to admire from afar, rather than scale its great heights. At 4,478m it is one of the greats in numbers as well as beauty, and for most it is a serious challenge too.
With such a large influx of visitors Zermatt good selection of attractions and events. We strongly recommend a visit to the museum which covers the great history of the Matterhorn and the people that have tried (successfully and unsuccessfully) to scale it over recent centuries. The graveyard is also worth strolling through and noting, and of course paying our respects to, the great names of yesterdays climbers.
Down in the town there are numerous restaurants (and some wonderful mountain restaurants too) and high class shops and outlets for all tastes. Skiers amongst you may be pleased to also find that the Matterhorn Glacier ski area is open 365 days of the year. Low alpine walkers will love the treks around the base of the Matterhorn and surrounding areas and we particularly recommend the five lakes walk (absolutely stunning – good level of fitness beneficial) and also a walk to the Gorner Gorge (a relatively easy 20 minute walk from Zermatt) to see the power of nature in the way that the cliffs have been cut out by the cascading water, as well as marvel at the blue pool below. Back in the tow, a number of hotels provide fabulous spas with pools, gymnasium, massages and treatments and open to the general public at relatively good prices throughout the summer. There is a forest Tree Adventure Park, great mountain bike trails, Golf course, tennis courts and a great deal more.
Next week, don’t forget to checkout Part 2 and find out the final three destinations that make it on the Chalet Ski Holidays Top 5 Summer Holiday destinations in the Alps.
Latest Comments