Portes du Soleil

The Portes du Soleil is named after a pass, Gates of the Sun, which gets the sun throughout the day because of its position on south-facing slopes and the combination of summer sunshine and a wealth of activities makes Portes du Soleil an irresistible year-round destination. For starters, there are 400 miles of marked hiking routes and more than 25 lifts open throughout July and August to help you navigate your way round the valleys. Then there are some 650km of mountain biking trails with 8 permanent downhill courses, including a two-mile descent in the resort of Les Gets. Chairlifts are specially adapted to carry bikes so there’s no excuse for not getting off the beaten track.

At the heart of Portes du Soleil, Les Gets is the mountain biking capital of the Alps. There’s no doubting the resort’s credentials – in 2004, Les Gets hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. If you’re feeling brave enough, you can test your skills on a section of a World Cup downhill course. But don’t worry; there are also green tracks for beginners and families with young children.

Abseiling, rafting, trekking with donkeys, potholing and micro lighting are just some of the other things you could get up to on holiday in the area. In summer, the sun warms the lakes to an average temperature of 22 degrees which makes swimming against a backdrop of forests and green pastures intensely pleasurable. Thrill seekers should have a go at canyoning down the middle of a waterfall and then plunging into a rock pool, there’s nothing quite like it. Or, with Lake Geneva close at hand, why not try wakeboarding. This rapidly growing sport is similar to snowboarding only it takes place on the water.

Enjoy unlimited activities in the Portes du Soleil area and a 20% discount with various partners for only 2€ per day. Look out for this logo!