Could Summer in the Alps be the Finest Season After All?

Have you booked your Alpine escape this year? No, you don’t need to check that your skis are waxed quite yet. Europe’s most majestic mountain range is one of the world’s finest winter sports destinations, but those peaks don’t lose their allure as the snows melt, and the champagne air is even more refreshing as you stroll through a wild flower meadow.

Activity holiday lovers and families can really discover a different side to the Alps in summer. Plus, prices are down, and the crowds are down while the exclusive resorts are as eager to welcome sunshine seekers as snow fans.

Here are five ways to enjoy an Alpine summer:

1 – Family Fun in Chamonix

Some of the Alpine resorts short-change families with kids, ensuring there’s plenty of au pair work while mum and dad enjoy superb dining and social facilities.

Chamonix is an exception. An important town in its own right, Chamonix is about much more than skiing and most of its facilities are available in the summer, too, including indoor swimming at the Olympic center or safe outdoor dips in Lac de Passy. Animal parks, a luge track, mountain trains, ice caves, and adventure play centers provide fun for all ages.

2 – Cycling

Look away skiing fans, but for many sports enthusiasts the Alps are primarily a backdrop to cycling, most famously the toughest climbs of the Tour de France. On- and off-tarmac you can take to twisting Alpine roads and trails on two wheels at most Alpine resorts.

The Tigne and Val d’Isere area have some of the best summer mountain biking in the Alps, with good links between the resort towns and a great range of difficulty levels to marked tracks that suit all sorts of riders.

3 – Get Above it All

You might feel you’re on top of the world sitting in your luxury Alpine chalet. But you can always climb a little higher, and hot air ballooning has become a spectacular favorite way to get an even better vantage point for some of the world’s best views.

Most good ski resorts aren’t too far from a balloon station, and there’s a huge festival in the Austrian Tirol each January. Among the best flight zones are Courchevel and Mont Blanc, using Courchevel’s Altiport to set off for a tour around the peaks of Europe’s highest mountain. Gstaad in the Swiss Alps is also a good jumping-off point to cruise over some stunning mountain tops, valleys, and meadows.

4 – Adventure by Boot

The first Alpine explorers discovered the beauties of the mountains on foot. And it’s still a brilliant way to get around and close to nature – an ibex isn’t scared away by footsteps.

There are well-marked tracks and trails across the ranges, in France, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland, and guides in the resorts. If you’re able to, try to get in a few kilometers on the spectacular Haute Route that links Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn via some of the world’s best mountain resorts: Chamonix to Verbier to Zermatt to St.Moritz.

5 – High Culture

To help keep the crowds coming all year round, Alpine resorts do their best to keep a busy calendar of events through the summer months. With oodles of the world’s best accommodation and a backdrop that can’t be beat plus some hefty budgets they’re able to lay on some world-class entertainment for summer culture fans.

The Verbier Festival is now established as one of the very best classical music events anywhere, and attracts all the best artists – Zermatt isn’t far behind. Chamonix hits the blue notes for Cosmo Jazz Festival from July 22^nd to 30th. And the clubbing action doesn’t all migrate to Ibiza for the summer, you’re never too far from a party in the Alps, even in August.

And yes, you can ski in the Alps in the summer if you can’t face the mountains without a pole in your hands. Glaciers and high altitudes make for the best natural summer slopes, so take a look at the Stubai Glacier or Hintertux in Austria; Zermatt and Saas Fee in Switzerland; and the French Les Deux Alpes ski area or Tignes.

Finest Holidays can help design a summer itinerary to suit your needs this summer. We have chalets and luxury hotels in all the Alp’s best resorts and you can still book one for this summer. Most of our ski chalets are available for summer rentals. But you need to act quickly. Call us now on +34 661718061 or send an Email to relax@finest-holidays.com and book a stunning summer chalet. Our chalets are catered or self-catered available and with indoor and outdoor pools.