St Gervais Apartments, St Gervais Accommodation and St Gervais Chalets
  
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Summer is as active in St Gervais Mont Blanc with 180km of marked paths and
trails, rock-climbing, paragliding, canyoning, rafting, ice skating, horse
riding and mountain biking.
Climbing
Rock-climbing in the Mont Blanc massif means high mountains, superb granite
and miles of limestone cliffs. Sport-climbing is popular and many valley-floor
crags are equipped: mountain routes may be partially equipped with at least
abseil points. Buy a guidebook from shops in the town centre: for higher routes
it is best to hire a guide. Newcomers can start at one of the climbing walls in
the valley - visit the tourist office for further information.
Golf
Alpine Golf is popular with holiday makers who want to take in the mountain
air while enjoying a leisurely round of 9 or 18 holes. There are golf courses at
Evian, Megeve and Verbier.
Hiking
The hiking season starts in late April in St Gervais, with many wonderful and
well signposted walks in the area. Choose between 1 day walks from the town or
go further afield for 2 day plus walks in the surrounding French countryside,
Italy and Switzerland. The famous Tour of Mont Blanc takes between eight to ten
days with accommodation at mountain huts and valley hotels. Or head up to
Chamonix to start the well-known Walker's Haute Route to Zermatt. For all walks,
carry waterproofs, sunglasses, sun protection and plenty of drinks.
Horse Riding
The horse-riding centre, Les Ecuries du Mont Blanc, is open year-round for
hacks and horse-riding among the hills.
Mountain Biking
There are great mountain bike trails in St Gervais and surrounding areas from
undulating excursion trails along the valley or more difficult trails reached by
cable car.
Mountaineering
Summer mountaineering ranges from valley cragging to a Mont Blanc ascent. Be
conscious of mountain safety and hire a guide for more high-risk routes. Most
shops in the town centre sell books covering the routes or visit the tourist
office.
Parapenting
Parapenting is a very popular sport in St Gervais due to the high mountains
and favourable winds. Take a tandem flight with a qualified instructor or
lessons with a paragliding school at one of the many takeoff sites in the area.
Petanque
This sport that originated in the south of France is very popular in the valley.
Water Sports
July, August and September are the peak months for watersports when the water levels are lower and the temperature is warmer. In May and June, the rivers are usually high with snow melt from the mountains. Activities include:
- Canyoning – walk, swim, abseil and jump along a river - fun guaranteed!
- Hydrospeed - white water swimming with only the protection of thick, reinforced wetsuits, crash hats and flippers
- Kayaking – in the grade 3 River Giffre, various grades at the Dranse above Thonon (between Morzine and Lake Leman) and the Dora Baltea in Italy (which has a 15km grade 6 stretch)
- Rafting - the Arve (Chamonix) and the Giffre (Samoens) are popular local rivers for a white knuckle ride on a raft. Go further afield for the excellent Dranse and the terrifying Dora Baltea.
Swimming, Sunbathing, Windsurfing and BBQs
The local lakes are excellent for swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing and BBQs - Lake Passy is the best – and they warm up from July onwards.
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