The Alps were a summer holiday destination before winter sports really took off – and they continue to attract visitors right throughout the summer season. Ski resorts like Les Arcs France have taken increasingly imaginative approaches to cater to this clientele, with considerable success.
When the snow stops, the fun doesn’t have to!
There is an incredible array of activities on offer at many winter sports resorts at all times of the year, and Les Arcs 1950 is no exception. Sporting and physical pursuits are top of the list. Obviously, many come to enjoy the mountain scenery from the vantage point of clearly signposted walking trails – some 500km of them – others take to two wheels and make the most of the many mountain biking paths. For a bird’s eye view of the area, you could even try out a little paragliding!
Water sports aren’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Alps, but the mountain rivers and lakes can be great places for canoeing, kayaking and white-water rafting. There’s also a full programme of events put on by the resort especially aimed at teenagers – archery, table tennis tournaments, rock-climbing etc – and lots of facilities that are free to use. These include a beach volleyball court, table tennis tables, table football, four swimming pools, trampolines and giant outdoor chess sets!
Relax the summer away at Les Arcs!
Of course, if you want your summer holiday to be of the relaxing, rather than the energetic variety, Les Arcs has plenty for you too! Unusually for a ski resort, Les Arcs 1950 boasts its own purpose-built spa.
Here you can indulge yourself with massages and other treatments, not to mention a session in a hammam or in the three ‘caves’, which respectively contain a relaxation pool, an ice fountain and a sauna. Individual hotels and apartment complexes also have their own swimming pools, saunas, jacuzzis and hammams.
For parents, the various kids’ clubs and programmes for teenagers represent another way of unwinding during their vacation. The ‘pack teenage week’, for example, includes supervision, transportation and any equipment needed for the activities in question, which range from white-water rafting to stand-up paddle-boarding.
And to top it all off, why not enjoy the best of local mountain cuisine at one of the excellent restaurants in the village?
