Les Gets Bike Park gears up for family friendly thrills this summer

How does Les Gets Bike Park rate on the scale of one to best off-piste fun ever in France during summer? Ben Smith put it to the test and tried out the sunny après-ski-season atmosphere. Here’s the verdict.

Taking on the mountains in Les Gets

Step aside ski season, summer in Les Gets is where it’s at

As the winter weather recedes and the birds begin to whistle for spring, the handsome French alpine town of Les Gets undergoes a transformation.

Just a few weeks before, the chair lifts traversing the snowy slopes carried rosy-cheeked skiers; now, mud-splattered, they carry smiling mountain bikers up through a lush green landscape.

For under the white blanket of snow lies a biker’s paradise: a network of mountain bike trails, e-bike escapades and exhilarating road biking routes are carved into the mountains and the town is alive with the buzz of all things two-wheeled.

“How was Port du Soleil?”

“Have you tried a blue run yet?”

“Did you say it had electric gear change?”

“Les Gets is bike”, shouts the resort’s marketing slogan. It says it all.

When I arrive, my eyes and ears go into overdrive. Months of being cooped up in London means that in Les Gets, everything seems richer: the grass greener, the air crisper, the chatter of French voices sweeter.

It’s almost surreal: like someone has turned up the exposure on a camera.

Something for everyone routes in Les Gets Bike Park

Summer in Les Gets is all about bikes and beautiful landscapes

After a quick tour of the town and a filling lunch of tartiflette, we go to get sized up for mountain biking the next day.

At Les Get Bike Park, there are more than 125km of marked trails scattered across the slopes, all divided into green, blue, red and black. Like skiing, the colours indicate difficulty, with green the tamest and black the hairiest.

For beginners, green offers a perfect introduction to the land. Formed of gentle slopes, it gives families with young ones an opportunity to enjoy the stunning surroundings without the hairpin bends.

The park has on-site instructors who can help you get to grips with the basics, including posture, turns, and braking. There’s a dedicated coaching track too, so you don’t have to worry about getting in the way of anyone else.

Mountain biking families with slightly more experience will find that the green and blue trails cover more than enough ground for a full week’s adventure. Although kids of all ages can usually be seen hurtling around the tracks, with mum and dad in tow.

About midway down is a spacious café that overlooks a glistening lake. Stop here and refuel with a hearty lunch: their menu is brimming with a veritable selection of baguettes, salads, burgers and quiche.

Cooling down in the sunny summer mountains

Swap snow for sunny mountain hikes and easy e-bike tours

After lunch, don’t worry if the idea of sharp turns and hurtling down hills has lost its appeal.

E-bike tours offer a relaxing alternative that allows families to explore the gorgeous alpine landscape without too much leg work. The electric bikes are easy to handle and the tracks are wide, making for a great family-friendly activity.

Away from bikes, there’s a wide range of other activities to enjoy, from hiking and pottery to tennis and swimming.

You can even fill up on culture over at the Musée de la Musique Mécanique, a splendid museum housing a collection of 800 instruments, some of which date as far back as the 17th century.

Paragliding over the mountains in Les Gets

Les Gets adds a little extra enchantment

Turns out the town of Les Gets is no slouch on fun either as well as a bit of a legend in the après-ski stakes. And honestly, the soft hum of cafés, bars and restaurants is music to our ears after the hair-raising red runs of Les Gets Bike Park.

After dropping off our bikes and mountain bike gear (helmet, gloves and full body armour), we trundle back to the apartment for showers, exchanging lively conversation about our day on the way. Then, once we’ve freshened up, we head back out to fill our boots.

Dinner options in Les Gets are wide-ranging, from mountain dishes like raclette, fondue savoyarde, and tartiflette to classic French beef bourguignon, steak and fries. Service is invariably with a smile and doesn’t feel contrived; the people here are passionate about what they do and want visitors to feel the same.

This approach can be felt everywhere, whether sitting down for a meal or browsing the local Decathlon.

I found that if you strike up a conversation with one of the locals, chances are they’ll have a story to share about their experience competing for France in a winter sport.

After dinner, we head back into the mountains to enjoy Alta Lumina, an enchanting night-time trail that follows the story of a magical travelling music-maker and his hot air balloon. Composed of a combination of lights, music, and interactive features it’s perfect for unwinding after a long day on the bikes and great fun for all the family.

Yet despite all the magic, the French Alps don’t need a light display to dazzle their visitors. From the moment I arrived in Les Gets, I was agog at how vividly green and beautiful the landscape becomes in summer. It truly is captivating. But let’s be real: racing around it on a mountain bike is even better.