France

Summer Holiday in Morzine

Last updated 6th June 2017

Why go?

In winter, obviously, you would go to ski, but Morzine is also a brilliant summer destination. It’s easily accessible from Geneva airport, is usually warm and sunny without being unbearably hot and accommodation is around one quarter of the price of the peak winter weeks.

Morzine is ideal for families who like to be active – it’s known for its biking trails – you can take a ski lift up the mountain and hike or bike downwards. However there are also plenty of activities for those who like to take things easier and are travelling with younger children.

Activities

Buy a Multipass from the tourist office for two euros per day to give you unlimited access to lifts, swimming pools, tennis, ice-rinks, mini-golf and more throughout Morzine and the eleven other resorts of the Porte du Soleil region. Every Tuesday afternoon and evening Morzine’s main road is closed off for a mini-fete of bands, old fashioned wooden-games and inflatable jousting and sumo wrestling.

Other activities available locally include horse-riding, white-water activities, summer luge and visits to cheese-making farms. There’s also a gorgeous swimming lake at nearby Lac de Montriond.

Throughout the summer Morzine runs various special events – the best for families is Monde de Morzna, a three-day magical children’s festival during which the main square is transformed into an elfin grotto and children can learn circus skills, make magical hats and puppets and get their faces painted. There are also regular shows performed by stilted mythical creatures in stunning costumes, magicians and fire-eaters – and it’s all free. 

The lowdown

How to get there: Morzine is around a 12-hour drive from Calais, or a 1.5 hour flight from London to Geneva plus a one hour drive. British Airways flies from Gatwick; from £79 return and easyJet at £30.49 one way.

Where to stay: There is a wide range of self-catering accommodation and hotels in Morzine. We stayed in VIP Ski’s Valdez Suite – a luxurious apartment with two ensuite bedrooms, a properly-equipped kitchen and huge comfy living room which costs just £165 per night in summer (minimum stay, three nights.)  For an extra £7.50 per person you can go to the next door Chalet Alaska for breakfast and packed lunches and evening meals are available on request.

More information: morzine-avoriaz.com, vip-chalets.com/chalets/valdez-suite

To read more of Catherine’s work, visit her website catherinecooper.net or blog catherinecooper.wordpress.com