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At Saint Gervais Mont Blanc, in the summer season, discover unforgettable
sensations and wide open spaces over 180km of marked paths and trails.
Professionals open the doors to new disciplines in all security and for your
pleasure. Climbing, paragliding, canyoning, rafting, ice skating, horse riding
and mountain biking...
Climbing
Climbing in the Mont Blanc massif means high
mountains, superb granite and miles of limestone cliffs. Crags are usually
equipped. Mountain routes may be partially equipped with, at least, abseil
points in place. Guide books are essential and can be purchased from shops in
the town centre. Climbing walls are also very popular to start off with - there
are some located in the valley so visit the tourist office for further
information. If you want to go high, be careful, read a guide book properly,
take the necessary precautions or hire a guide.
Golf
Golf in the Alps is popular with holiday makers who want to take in the
mountain air while enjoying a leisurely round of 9-18 holes. There are also courses at Evian,
Megeve and Verbier.
Hiking
The valley is beautiful and the hiking season can start as early as April in
Saint Gervais. You will need lightweight boots and shorts, waterproofs, sunglasses,
plus skin and lip protection. Always have a drink at hand as well. Walks are
well sign posted. In the valley you can do one day walks from the cable car
stations and further afield two day plus walks in surrounding French areas,
Italy and Switzerland. Two very famous walks are The Tour of Mont Blanc which
can take eight to ten days and The Walker's Haute Route which is Chamonix to Zermatt via mountain huts and valley hotels. You can start many of the hikes
directly from our Saint Gervais apartments.
Horse Riding
Les Ecuries du Mont Blanc, the horse riding centre, is open all the year, not
only in summer.
Mountain Biking
There are great mountain bike trails in Saint Gervais and surrounding areas, for
all levels. There are excursion trails on the valley floor as well as more difficult
ones using the cable car systems to access them. You can also start many of the
rides directly from our Saint Gervais apartments.
Mountaineering
There are lots of mountaineering routes to do in the summer from valley
cragging to the ascent of Mont Blanc. You must be aware of mountain safety, if
tackling anything very dangerous then hire a guide. Most shops in the town
centre will have books covering the routes also visit the tourist office.
Parapenting
Parapenting is a very popular sport in Saint Gervais due to the high mountains and
great winds. There are many takeoff sites in Saint Gervais for this sport. St
Gervais is a wonderful place to learn how to free fly. You can take a tandem
flight with a qualified instructor or lessons with a paragliding school.
Sports Massage
Why not pamper yourself to a sports massage or aromatherapy treatment
directly in your Saint Gervais apartment, accommodation or chalet. Revive Massage
Therapy, run by English professionally trained staff, offers you sports massage
and aromatherapy treatments delivered directly to your chalet or apartment
anywhere in Saint Gervais.
Petanque
This sport that originated in the south of France is very popular in the
valley.
Water Sports
You can do all the white water sports listed below in Saint Gervais. Early in the
summer, in May and June, the rivers are usually high with snow melt from the
mountains. During July, August and September the water levels are usually lower
and the temperature warmer.
Canyoning
Vertical swimming with exciting water-slides into deep pools.
Hydrospeed
White water swimming is offered by all the rafting companies and is great
fun. Thick, reinforced wetsuits, crash hats and flippers are provided but you'll
still feel vulnerable.
Kayaking
This is good around Saint Gervais but not well publicised. The Giffre is good and
grade three, the Dranse above Thonon offers a range of levels, The Dora Baltea
features a range of difficulties including 15km of grade 6.
Rafting
This is a good white knuckle ride and the Arve (Chamonix) and the Giffre (at
Samoens) are popular local rivers. Further afield are the excellent Dranse
(between Morzine and Lake Leman) and, in Italy, the terrifying Dora Baltea.
Swimming, Sunbathing, Windsurfing and BBQs
The local lakes are excellent for these (Lake Passy is the best) but they do
not really get warm until July. The outdoors is generally bug-free so sunbathing
can be enjoyed in peace.
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