Travel and Leisure

Rain or shine, there's always something interesting going on in Morzine. Though many holidaymakers consider the French Alps to be mainly a winter destination, the summer months also offer a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities - from zip-lining and canyoning to museums, restaurants and helicopter rides. If you want something low key and relaxing, why not take a leisurely stroll down along the river? However, if you want something to get you away from the hotels and chalets, in Morzine in the warmer months you'll discover some thrilling outdoor adventures that take advantage of the beautiful scenery and weather.

Activity #1: Canyoning
Canyoning is the stark opposite of relaxing, but it is so exhilarating! Pick a hot summer day, drag yourself away from the comfortable chalets in Morzine and take a refreshing plunge into the area's mountain streams and waterfalls. Canyoning will allow you to experience a guaranteed soaking as you abseil down natural water slides and jump into running pools of water. Though not good for very young children, anyone over eight years old can take a dunk in the cool white rapids.

Activity #2: Rock Climbing
Even if you're a little scared of heights or an inexperienced beginner, there are some amazing climbs to enjoy without having to travel too far from the chalets. In Morzine a company called Via Ferrata offers rock climbing with added instruction, security, and guidance. Children as young as eight can take the challenge and climb the sheer face of a mountain - quite an achievement! They offer a guided climb over rope bridges and ladders that finishes with spectacular views over the Alps.

Activity #3: White water rafting
Thrilling and invigorating, jump on a raft and take to the white water of the local River Dranse. From mid-May to September, there are guides that will lead your rafting expedition on what has been called one of the "must try" activities in the region. The melting snow water rushes down from the mountains creating a strong current through which you can navigate with a group. Take an all day excursion, or a shorter three-hour action packed trip.

Activity #4: Zip-Lining
Coming with a warning of "exhilaration and intensity", zip-lining is guaranteed to get your heart racing if nothing else! One of the only zip-lining experiences available in the French Alps is easily accessible from Morzine. It's called The Fantasticable, in the Portes du Soleil, and will send you racing down the mountain, suspended in the air, at speeds reaching 100km per hour. Don't miss this, thrill-seekers!

Activity #5: Diner Served in your Hotel or Chalet
OK, so this isn't really an activity as such, but it's definitely a great experience! If the weather's not enticing you to venture out to a restaurant, or if you're simply too exhausted from a day's adventuring, you can get a gourmet chef from a local restaurant to come to any chalets in Morzine and cook a specially prepared feast. There are a few restaurants which offer this service, but the best is reputedly Chez Toi, which has listed a delicious sample menu of "pears wrapped in parma ham with roquefort", followed by "confit duck and cherry red wine sauce with braised red cabbage, french peas and whole grain mustard mash". Finally finished off with "traditional creme brulee with forest berry sorbet". After all that rock climbing and white water rafting, you deserve a treat - spoil yourself!