Activities in The French Alps
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Téléphérique de l’Aiguille de Midi
Year-round the vertiginous Téléphérique de l’Aiguille de Midi cable car links Chamonix with the Aiguille du Midi. Halfway Plan de l’Aiguille (2317m) is a terrific place to start hikes or paraglide. In summer you will need to obtain a boarding card (marked with the number of your departing and returning cable car) in addition to a ticket. Advance phone reservations incur a €2 booking fee. Ensure that you bring warm clothes as even in summer the temperature rarely rises above -10°C at the top.
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Massif des Bauges Regional Nature Park
Outdoor enthusiasts can delve into 800 sq km of hiking and biking opportunities in the little-known Massif des Bauges Regional Nature Park with its endless pastures and plateaux. Several marked trails kick off from the Maison Faune-Flore (adult/child €2.50/1.50; 10am-12.30pm & 1.30-6.30pm Tue-Sun) in École, where you can learn how to spot some of the 600-odd chamois and plethora of mouflons inhabiting the park.
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Télécabine du Brévent
The highest peak on the western side of the valley, Le Brévent (2525m) has tremendous views of the Mont Blanc massif, myriad hiking trails, ledges to paraglide from and summit restaurant Le Panoramic. Reach it with the Télécabine du Brévent, from the end of rue de la Mollard, to midstation Planpraz (2000m), then continuing to the top.
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Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix
A pair of raquettes (snowshoes) is all you need to go stomping off through virgin powder and glistening forests. The Compagnie des Guides arranges tours around the Mont Blanc range from France to Switzerland and Italy, and romantic twilight tours through the forest with dinner. All prices include snowshoe hire and transport.
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Télécabine Panoramic Mont Blanc
From the Aiguille du Midi, between mid-May and mid-September you can go for a 30 minutes of mind-blowing scenery – think suspended glaciers and spurs, seracs and shimmering ice fields – in the small bubbles of theTélécabine Panoramic Mont Blanc to Pointe Helbronner (3466m) on the French–Italian border.
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Takamaka
One of the most central companies that arranges adrenalin-driven activities on and around Lake Annecy is Takamaka. Introductory course prices start from €85 for tandem paragliding, €33 for waterskiing or wakeboarding, €39 for climbing or freeriding, €49 for canyoning and €55 for bungee jumping.
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Cham' Aventure
Thrill-seekers head here for canyoning (half/full day €65/99 per person), rafting (€37/130 for two hours/day) and hydrospeeding (€47/130 for two hours/day) on Chamonix' River Arve and the Dora Baltea in neighbouring Italy. Most activities are unsuitable for young children.
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Compagnie des Bateaux
Runs cruises departing from quai Bayreuth. Tickets are sold 15 minutes before departure. From May to September boats also sail across the lake to Menthon-St-Bernard (€5.50), Talloires (€6.50) and other villages.
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Maison de la Montagne
Get the Mont Blanc lowdown here, opposite the tourist office. Inside is the highly regarded Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix; the École de Ski Français; and the Office de Haute Montagne, which has information on trails, hiking conditions, weather forecasts and refuges (mountain huts), and topoguides and maps that are free to consult.
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Roll 'n Cy
Friday-evening jaunts around town organised by local rollerblading club Roll 'n Cy are fun, free and open to anyone on rollerblades. The club meets on place de le Mairie.
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Roul' ma Poule
Rents per half-/full day rollerblades (€12/18), bikes (€12/18), tandems (€22/33) and scooters (€10/15). Can recommend day trips in the area.
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Stade Nautique des Marquisats
the Stade Nautique des Marquisats sports three outdoor swimming pools and from June to September aquatic-activity hub.
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Station Roller
Bike, blade and kayak outlet near the Plage Impérial at the start of the lakeside cycling path.
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Annecy Plongée
Sells and rents diving gear and arranges two-hour baptism dives (€45).
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Piscine des Marquisats
Right next door to the beach is this trio of outdoor swimming pools.
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Town Tours
The tourist office organises guided tours of the old town; they are in French but some guides speak a little English. If you would prefer to go it alone, pick up the free Annecy Town Walks leaflet.
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Skiing & Snowboarding
Chamonix skiing is the stuff of legend: glorious off-piste terrain, thrilling descents and unbeatable Mont Blanc views. It's so darn fantastic that skiers don't even mind that accessing the slopes involves lots of transport. Of Chamonix' nine main areas, Le Tour, Les Planards and Les Chosalets are best for beginners. For speed and challenge, it has to be Brévent-Flégère, above Chamonix, and Les Grands Montets, accessible from Argentière, 9km north of Chamonix. Boarders seeking big air zip across to the kickers and rails at Les Grands Montets snowpark and the natural half-pipe in Le Tour.
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Roll'n Cy
Get your skates on for the jaunts organised by this local rollerblading club. The meeting point is in front of the Mairie (Town Hall) on rue de l'Hôtel de Ville.
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Plage d'Annecy-le-Vieux
If you feel like diving straight into those crystal-clear waters, head to this public beach, 1km east of Champ de Mars.
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Paragliding
Come summer, the sky above Chamonix is dotted with paragliders wheeling down from the heights. Tandem flights from Planpraz (2000m) cost €100 per person (€220 from the Aiguille du Midi). Paragliding schools include Summits and Les Ailes du Mont Blanc
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Mountaineering & High-Alpine Tours
Mountaineers and rock climbers make the pilgrimage to Chamonix in summer, when local guide companies offer exhilarating climbs for those with the necessary skill, experience and stamina, such as five-day rock-climbing courses (€585) and the incomparable Mont Blanc ascent (€785). For hikers, the big draw is the classic 12-day Tour du Mont Blanc (€1240), taking in majestic glaciers and peaks in France, Italy and Switzerland. The price includes half board in refuges, picnics, lift tickets and luggage transport.
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