Family Activity Holidays in the French Alps - keeping the kids occupied

Family Activity Holidays

photos Laurent Ferrand, Francoise Cavazzana, Eric Bergoend

Here at the Last Resort we’ve been organising Alpine activity and adventure sports holidays for families since 1996 so you’re in capable hands.

During July and August the villages of the Aravis are all dedicated to providing a great environment for families to enjoy the mountiains and all of the activities on offer.

Le Grand Bornand has the “Festival au bonheur des Momes” or roughly translated “the happy brats festival!!!!!!”. This is a regular event where the town is filled with plays, street performers, puppet shows, jugglers, musicians, dancing and circus acts where children are encouraged to join in. It’s a great event for families with younger children.

photo Eric Bergoend

We will organise an activity holiday tailored to your specific requirements, all you need to do is select your activities and adventures from the list below and we’ll do the rest.

Rock Climbing for children from 5 years

Your children can learn to climb in the safe hands of a professional instructor. There are lessons for 5 to 7 year olds, 8 to 12′s and 13 years and above can learn with mum and dad.

If you want to learn together with younger children we can also organise private lessons.

It’s possible to just have a taster lesson or book a course to get that bit further or do I mean higher?

Mountain Biking

photo - Eric Bergoend

Family mountain biking holidays in France

There’s something for the whole family with gentle rides through Alpine meadows, big cross country routes and for teenagers and bigger kids (dad) there are 4 downhill courses served by ski lifts to test your mettle.

The trails are waymarked and there are special mountain bike “piste maps” for you to find your own way around or you can join group outings with qualified mountain bke guides.

photo Laurent Ferrand

High Ropes Course

Great fun for everyone, swinging through the trees at the high ropes park.

Discover the forest canopy in Grand Bornand at le Foret de Dodes.

There are two aerial assault courses high in the trees depending on your size.

The short course if designed for those taller than 1.10 metres and the long course is accessible to anyone over 1.40m.

It’s a whacky adventure course with rope bridges, zip wires, tarzan swings there’s even a bicycle on a tightrope

The whole course is protected by safety wires which are attached to your harness so you won’t fall off.

Canyoning

An aquatic adventure abseiling and jumping from waterfalls, sliding through natural water chutes and generally getting wet while having fun.

There are a number of canyons in the area suitable for all levels from complete novice upwards.

Like all of our activities canyoning trips are run by professional guides. Wetsuits and safety equipment are provided.

Accessible to 13 year olds and above. You must be able to swim.

Via Ferrata

A form of aided rock climbing which gives you the thrill of climbing big faces but with artificial holds and rungs in difficult places. Your safety is ensured by a system of steel cables and a special shock absorbing device on the harness.

It’s possible for experienced climber just to hire the safety equipment and go it alone. For beginners we organise guided trips and your guide will rope the group together for added safety if you prefer.

Again only for 13 year olds and over.

White water rafting

On the Dranse and Giffre rivers which are about 45 minutes away by car. Again the normal age for a full scale descent is 13 but there are kids trips available for 7 year olds and over. You must be able to swim although not to olympic standard.

Wetsuits and life jackets are supplied.

photo Pascal Lebeau

Summer Luge

Almost a kilometre long the luge in La Clusaz is great fun, you can go solo or tandem or race each other on the parallel tracks.

Creche

For the really young, there’s an excellent creche in Grand Bornand which takes children from 3 months to 5 years old on a half or full day basis. For more info see the Grand Bornand website