Sports and adventure

10 activities you can only do in the mountains!

If you think summer in the mountains is all about hiking and watching marmots, think again! We’ve put together a selection of 10 great activities that can only be enjoyed in the mountains!

#1 – Flirting with the summits in a paraglider

Run, soar, fly away and let yourself be carried by the currents… Like a bird, you fly over the mountain pastures and summits and discover the beauty of the wild fauna beneath your feet. When the shadow of your paraglider’s canopy dances with the ibex and chamois galloping between the rocks, the spectacle is nothing short of breathtaking!

#2 – Experience whirlpool baths in a raft

If there’s one activity you can do in the mountains, with friends or family, it’s rafting! On a large inflatable boat, you can follow the course of the river in a peaceful or more exciting way, depending on the sections you take. Good humour guaranteed!

#3 – Keeping fit on a mountain bike

We’re all familiar with the gourmet delights of the mountains: cheeses of course, charcuterie, blueberry tarts… So the best way to enjoy them without feeling guilty is to get moving! On the trails, opt for mountain biking, a fun and sporty way to discover the peaks and mountain pastures. If you’re not so keen, there are plenty of ski lifts that will take you up to higher altitudes without you having to climb too hard. And if not, the electric version of the mountain bike is a good option too!

#4 – Taking it easy on the stand-up paddle

Imagine the gentle lapping of the water in your ears, the clear colour of the water beneath your feet, the majestic mountains surrounding you and, above all, the peace and quiet: that’s what it’s like to stand-up paddle in the mountains! You may have to paddle a little to get going, but the effort remains relatively gentle and limited, and you quickly acquire stability on the board. Total Zenitude!

#5 – Playing the daredevil in a mountain kart

If you like to get your adrenalin pumping as you hurtle down the slopes, try out a mountain kart in Serre-Chevalier! This rolling machine, mounted on 4 all-terrain wheels, guarantees thrills and laughs.

#6 – Climbing around a fort on a via-ferrata

There are many via-ferrata routes to discover the mountains from a different angle. But have you tried climbing a historic monument (legally!)? At Aussois, in the Haute-Maurienne region, the routes (which are also accessible to children) starting from the Victor Emmanuel fort take you through the cannon fittings of the lower batteries. A first!

#7 – Watch the sunset from a hot-air balloon

Flying over the mountains at a time when the sun is giving off its last rays, tinting the mountains pink and orange – sublime, isn’t it? The magic of hot-air ballooning is in the contemplative aspect, while the beauty of the peaks is revealed as the shadows fade. And don’t forget your camera!

#8 – Canyoning in the water

Need to cool off in the heat of summer? Try canyoning! Unique to the mountains, this activity combines water trekking in gorges, waterfalls and jumping into waterfalls! The routes are more or less challenging, but the thrills are always great!

#9 – Riding through the trees in the air

Did The Jungle Book rock your world as a child? Then you’re going to love the tree courses on offer in the mountains! Monkey bridges, rope traverses and zip-line descents punctuate your forest walk through the air! In the Vosges, the Bol d’Air structure offers a host of activities to discover in the trees, including the Fantasticable, a cable descent at over 100km/h! Hold on tight!

#10 – Sleep in a refuge or under the stars

Looking for peace, quiet and communion with nature? Try a night in the heart of the mountains in a refuge or bivouac. Far from any visual pollution, admire the depths of the Milky Way and wake up in the early hours of the morning to the light of day. No alarm clock, just the rhythm of nature becoming your own. Rejuvenating!