There is nothing not to love about a Morzine summer holiday. Once the winter snow has disappeared, spring awakens and a new energy sets into the landscape. The pasturelands are animated with wildlife and thousands of alpine plants, swaying in the mild breeze, all whilst the summer playgrounds come alive with various species of adventurers. Whether you are in search of some of the best biking trails in the Alps, looking to escape and reset in the lakes and mountains, or anything in between, Morzine is the perfect alpine destination.
And we’re not alone in believing that. We chatted with Finlay, one of our Morzine summer chalet partners, who give us an expert insight on why you should consider a luxury summer holiday in Morzine…
What is Morzine like in the summer?
It varies. Some weeks can be very chilled and others really buzzing. Especially when big events come to town. In 2023, Morzine is hosting Le Tour de France and other events include the Mont-Blanc Morzine car rally and challenge events like Spartan, where you’ll find obstacles set up in the town and surrounding mountains and lakes. It’s a really popular destination for triathlons and Morzine is one of the best places in the world for mountain biking, so you’ll see mountain bikers navigating down the mountain. During quiet times, the village is really relaxed and slow-paced, so make the most of serene lakes and quiet hiking trails.
What makes a Morzine summer holiday great for families?
People tend to think of Morzine as a ski destination, but it is so incredible in the summer. Often the locals that live here say they came to Morzine for the winters, but stayed for the summers! There are dedicated weeks for kids, with lots of games and a bouncy castle in the main square. You can play crazy golf in the mountains, take a splash in the swimming lake next to Lac de Montriond and there are treetop playgrounds galore. Not forgetting the older kids who will love the luge zig-zagging down the mountain – it’s one of the best family friendly resorts in the Alps for a summer holiday.
Where are your favourite spots to hike in Morzine and why?
For incredible views of the valley and mountains, take the lifts to the Pléney and Super Morzine Ridges and follow the sign-posted routes. Lac de Montriond is also close by and you can enjoy a three-kilometre loop around this stunning lake, which has a landscape similar to the Canadian Rockies.
Try Col de Ratti for amazing views over Mont Blanc. This can be followed with lunch at one of the mountain restaurants near Col de l’Encrenaz or Mont Caly.
Just east of Lac des Mines d’Or is Col de Cou where you can hike over into Switzerland, which would be a top recommendation if not just for the novelty of crossing country borders!
What is it about Morzine for mountain biking?
Morzine is one of the best mountain biking destinations in Europe. Our village has hosted World Cup cross-country and downhill races and there are trails for all levels. We also know of the best mountain bike guides in the area, so visitors can get the most out of their time in the mountains. It’s also really easy to access other resorts from Morzine, including Les Gets and Avoriaz, so you can explore three resorts in one.
Tell us about the best watersport activities in Morzine
Wibit Inflatable Park at Lac des Ecoles is great for families and not too far from Morzine. Paddleboarding on Lac de Montriond is fantastic and we work with one of the best white-water rafting companies out here. Rafting down the Dranse River is so much fun!
What other summer activities in Morzine are worth highlighting?
The area is big for golf, so head to nearby Les Gets Golf Club which is an 18-hole course. The panoramas facing Mont Blanc are exceptional. Luging down one of the two mountainside tracks is also really popular; as is paragliding. You can take a scenic helicopter flight, also there is Le Pas de l’Aigle, a 10-metre long platform with a glass floor that juts out over the valley. On a good day, you can see across to Lake Geneva. The kids also think Lindarets is fun! It’s known as goat village as the goats just wander around the streets and mountain paths while you have lunch in one of the restaurants!
What summer events in Morzine should we keep an eye out for this year?
The full-opening of Bike Park Morzine-Avoriaz is scheduled for 16th June 2023 which opens out some world-class trails. There’s the Tour de France, the world’s biggest road bike race, that will be visiting Morzine on 15th July 2023. Then, in the following week, Morzine Nature Festival takes place from 17-21 July where you’ll find fitness classes, Pilates and yoga sessions, nature hikes, sophrology and holistic workshops.
For the younger ones, Royaume des Marmots (Kids’ Kingdom) takes place from 25-28 July and 7-11 August offering free kids’ activities in the town centre, including face-painting, music shows, themed workshops and inflatable games.
Why should a self catered summer holiday in Morzine be considered?
Most of our luxury self-catered chalets in Morzine have a hot tub, terrace or garden, so you can really make the most of the views and being outdoors on your Morzine summer holiday. Family summer holidays in Morzine are extremely popular and our chalets work perfectly if you are bringing multiple generations with you. Four Twenty L’Ele even has two living rooms and two kitchens, so you can be together while still having your own space. We can arrange for a bakery delivery each morning, so you can tuck into freshly-baked croissants on the terrace, and our concierge team is happy to book restaurants and activities for you. We also have other luxuries, such as The White Company products and hair straighteners, so you can pack light.
In terms of eating out on a self catered summer holiday in Morzine, we have so many incredible restaurants and cafes to choose from. It’s hard to choose between them! The cafes and restaurants in Morzine offer high-quality dishes and huge portions too. Try O Chalet for great-value burgers, Beanies Bar for pizzas and La Grange for gourmet local dishes.
Morzine is also known to be a great summer resort for a short stay. Why is that?
It’s because it’s so easy to get to! You fly into Geneva Airport, Switzerland, and then we can arrange for an airport transfer to pick you up and cross the border into France and up into the mountains. The transfer to Morzine is about one hour 15 minutes, so it is very easy to reach compared to other mountain resorts. We consider short stays on request, so just ask the Alps In Luxury team if you have certain dates in mind.
Here are 5 of our favourite summer chalets in Morzine
The Old Macaroni
You can slide the doors right back in The Old Macaroni’s living room to reveal one of the best views over Morzine village and across the valley to Pleney and Nyon. This chalet has book-themed bedrooms, a tiered cinema and fantastic outdoor space with a glass-fronted sauna, hot tub and dining area.
Chalet 46˚
We love the outdoor area at Chalet 46˚, complete with a pizza oven, hot tub and sofa area surrounding a fire pit. It feels really homely and inside you will find a spa treatment room, TV room and a sleek kitchen with its own beer pump.
Chalet Griffonner
Chalet Griffonner is decadent! It has four floors, a cinema, TV room, spa and a top floor dedicated to the master suite. This summer self catered chalet has one of the best views over Morzine from its ‘millionaire’s row’ position and wraparound deck with a dining table and a hot tub.
Chalet Genepi
Chalet Genepi is a showstopper of a chalet. Highlights include the pool table area that opens out onto an outdoor terrace with a hot tub. Just 600m from the centre of Morzine, Chalet Genepi has a great location a short walk from Morzine’s bars and restaurants.
Chalet Aubois
The architects of this luxury family chalet in Morzine have thought of everything, from the home cinema to the large outdoor entertaining deck with a hot tub and mountain views. The light wood interior design at Chalet Aubois is more unusual in Morzine, giving this chalet a bright and airy modern feel.
The sun-kissed terrace with a hot tub earned a well deserved place on Alps In Luxury’s list of the top 10 summer chalets in the Alps with a hot tub; its idyllic set up for unwinding and recharging after a day exploring the Portes du Soleil is hard to beat.
We send a big thank you to Finlay for such a comprehensive insight into a Morzine summer holiday. It is great to get an expert account of what to expect from a luxury self catered summer holiday in Morzine and how Morzine can also be the perfect short stay destination for a summer holiday in the Alps. I think you’ll agree that Finlay has fully endorsed Morzine as being one of the best destinations for a French Alps summer holiday!
Can you picture yourself residing in one of these luxury self catered chalets in Morzine for a summer mountain holiday? If you have any questions about a luxury summer holiday in Morzine, or would like help in turning that picture into real life, get in touch with our Summer Alps Specialists by sending an email or giving the team a call on +44 1202 203659.
