Family-friendly multi-activities in the Mont Blanc region
In summary
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Sports
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Duration6 days
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LevelIntermediate
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DestinationSamoëns / Mont Blanc Massif - France
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions57.12 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Sports holidays for the whole family for this multi-activity stay in the Northern Alps (Haute-Savoie) of 6 days with accommodation in a holiday centre.
The upper Giffre Valley boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in Haute-Savoie . A limestone cirque of impressive dimensions is cascaded by magnificent waterfalls. A nature reserve shelters exceptionally rich flora and fauna. A peaceful valley where villages are made up of wooden chalets. Come and discover it through a variety of activities to enjoy with the family : hiking, adventure courses, canyoning, and rafting!
The highlights
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The Giffre Valley, which offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in Haute-Savoie
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A wide range of activities packed with thrills: hiking, adventure courses, canyoning, rafting
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One night in a mountain refuge
Photos
rachel - verified review - july 2024
rachel - verified review - july 2024
rachel - verified review - july 2024
rachel - verified review - july 2024
CAROLE - verified review - july 2024
CAROLE - verified review - july 2024
CAROLE - verified review - july 2024
Sport
Level
Summer multi-activity
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 3h30
- Average distance/day: 8 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 363 m
- Average daily descent: 438 m
Canyoning
- Average duration/day: 1h30
Rafting
- Average duration/day: 1h30
Management
French
They are both mountain guides.
They will be your state-certified canyoning and rafting instructors.
Program
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Samoëns - Samoëns
- Accommodation Youth hostel
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Arrival and check-in from 4pm in Samoens.
Day 1 -
HIKE “Waterfalls” / CANYONING
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 2h30
- Distance 8 km
- Positive elevation gain 200 m
- Negative elevation 200 m
- Activity Canyoning
- Duration of the activity 1h30
- Accommodation Youth hostel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
9am: Hike: Through the hamlets of Samoëns, discover old stone farmhouses and fountains carved into the rock, before reaching the ancient Tines gorges. Spectacular erosion formations!
Lunch at the holiday center.
2:00 PM – Canyoning: Descent of the Balme canyon, a route particularly suitable for children, consisting of a series of slides unique in France... (5 min approach walk and 1h30 descent).
Day 2 -
HIKING “Local stories” / RAFTING
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 7 km
- Positive elevation gain 250 m
- Negative elevation 250 m
- Activity Rafting
- Duration of the activity 1h30
- Accommodation Youth hostel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
9:00 AM: Hike: Starting from the Cirque du Fer à Cheval, a hike to the "end of the world" at the foot of the Mont Ruan glaciers (3040m) and the Vogeale waterfalls. Your guide will tell you the legend of Balmat (the first to reach Mont Blanc in 1796) who disappeared in this area while searching for gold…
Lunch at the holiday center.
2pm - Rafting: descent of the Giffre gorges, several rapids, passage through spectacular gorges and aquatic surprises (15 min preparation, 15 min briefing and 1h30 descent).
Day 3 -
Adventure course
- Activity Autre
- Accommodation Youth hostel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
9:00 AM: Adventure Course: Located in a large recreational park where the whole family can spend a pleasant day, this treetop adventure course is particularly fun and user-friendly. Several options are available: a course with 21 obstacles for children under 1.40 m tall, enhanced with a nature game to discover the valley's wildlife. And a larger course with 32 obstacles (including 2 zip lines over a lake) which is accessible to children 1.40 m and taller, accompanied by their parents. The added bonus is that along the course, you can choose between 2 or 3 obstacles of varying difficulty.
Picnic on site.
2pm: Free afternoon: you can stay on site and enjoy the many activities offered: swimming in the lake, horseback riding, archery, trampoline, etc. (some activities are subject to a fee - payable on site)
Day 4 -
HIKE with overnight stay in a mountain refuge
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 5 km
- Positive elevation gain 700 m
- Negative elevation 300 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Free morning.
Lunch at the holiday center.
Starting at the bottom of the Sixt valley, we hike to the Salles refuge (1870 m). Beautiful waterfalls dot the route, before we emerge onto a limestone plateau where an old alpine village is located. Dinner and overnight stay at the refuge.
Day 5 -
"Chamois & Ibex" Hike
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Distance 12 km
- Positive elevation gain 300 m
- Negative elevation 1000 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
The early morning will be spent observing the wildlife around the refuge: marmots, chamois and ibex, plus a passing eagle… then a climb up to the Col du Dérochoir (2170 m), panorama of Mont Blanc.
Return to Samoëns and end of the stay.
Day 6
Note
This program is indicative; it may be modified to adapt to hydrological and meteorological conditions.
Accommodation
Access
Around 5:30pm on Friday at your accommodation in Samoëns.
Return train:
As part of the option (with supplement) which provides minimum transport (from Cluses station and to the activity locations).
Departure 6:15 pm from Cluses station: Cluses 6:29 pm - Paris 12:07 am (TER + Coach + TGV)
Accommodation before or after the hike: see the "dates and prices" section.
Go to the starting point
Meeting at 6:45 pm at Cluses train station: Paris 12:45 pm - Cluses 6:27 pm (TGV + TER)
Price details
The price includes
- Organization fees
- Full board accommodation (4 nights in a holiday center and 1 night in a mountain refuge)
- The supervision of activities by professionals
- Technical equipment
The price does not include
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Activities not included in the program
- Local transfers
- The supplement for apartment accommodation
- Individual equipment
- Cancellation, assistance, repatriation, and trip interruption insurance
Options
- Round-trip transfer - Round-trip transfer based on 2 people : CHF118.92 / person
- Round-trip transfer - Round-trip transfer based on 3 people : CHF80.50 / person
- Round-trip transfer - Round-trip transfer based on 4 people : CHF60.38 / person
- Round-trip transfer - Round-trip transfer based on 5 people : CHF48.48 / person
- Supplement for occupancy of 2 people in a standard room : CHF13.72 / person
- Supplement for occupancy of 3 to 4 people in a comfort room : CHF54.89 / person
- Supplement for occupancy of 2 people per room (comfort room) : CHF86.91 / person
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
MATERIALS PROVIDED
For each participant:
CANYONING: a full neoprene wetsuit with hood (5.5 mm thick), a pair of neoprene socks, a special canyoning harness with double lanyard and descender, a helmet.
RAFTING: a wetsuit, a rain jacket, a pair of boots, a helmet, a life jacket.
This equipment meets UIAA (International) and CE (European) standards.
Equipment to bring
- 35/40L backpack with a flexible frame, equipped with a waist belt and snowshoe attachment points.
- A large plastic bag to protect the inside of the backpack
- Excellent quality sunglasses with side protection
- A thermos or a preferably insulated water bottle (1.5L minimum)
- Opinel-type pocket knife
- A small pouch (preferably waterproof) for putting your money, ID card, health insurance card and assistance contract in.
- Toiletries (opt for the essentials, small sizes, samples and travel kits)
- Bathroom linen
- Earplugs or earplugs (optional)
- Sunscreen + lip balm
- Airtight plastic container (minimum capacity 0.5L) + cup + cutlery
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Glasses strap
- Camera, binoculars (optional)
Clothing to bring
- Long-sleeved base layer in breathable material (hollow fiber) or breathable t-shirt
- Warm fleece jacket.
- Windproof, waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex type jacket
- Sun hat or cap
- Scarf
- Short-sleeved T-shirts in breathable material preferred (1 for 2 to 3 days of walking)
- A long-sleeved undershirt in breathable material or a shirt
- Fleece jacket
- Windproof, waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex type jacket with hood
- Rain poncho or a sleeping bag cover if you own the jacket above
- Loose-fitting trekking trousers
- Waterproof and breathable overtrousers such as Gore-Tex (if your budget allows)
- Hiking socks (1 pair for 2 to 3 days of hiking). Opt for wool or hiking-specific socks. Be careful with cotton as it can cause blisters.
- A pair of hiking boots that provide good ankle support and are waterproof, with Vibram-type soles. Remember to test new boots and those that haven't been worn for a long time beforehand.
- Pair of lightweight hiking boots with rubber soles (or athletic shoes) for canyoning
- Underwear
- Swimsuit and towel
- Comfortable trousers for the evening
- Pair of lightweight casual shoes for the evening
They traveled with us
