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Adventures Payraud Cave Bear Museum In and around Chamonix Les Caves de la Chartreuse Monastère de la Grande Chartreuse and La Correrie Museum Indiana Ventures Tree Top Adventure Park Les Jardins Secrets Outdoor adventure park at Serre Chevalier The delightful town and lake at Annecy Evian-Les-Bains Yvoire and other "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" Walking and cycling in the Alps Walking and cycling in the Alps Rafting in the Alps Map of the Alps

The French Alps

Dramatic soaring alpine mountains, deep twisting river valleys and lakes - the personification of outstanding scenery.  The Alps covers a vast area from Annecy in the west to the Swiss and Italian borders in the east and from Geneva in the north whilst reaching almost to the Mediterranean in the south.

The alpine heights are magnificent and include Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest mountain, reaching as far as 4810m at its summit.  Whilst Mont Blanc is inhospitable and in-surmountable without specialist equipment even in the peak summer months, there are many other heights and valley passes that are delightful walking country in the summer and the playground of skiing enthusiasts in the winter.

The deep alpine valleys offer great water based sports and enchanting villages.  Unlike our other regional pages we have not used a map here as there are so many attractions packed in such a small area - it would be impossible to fit them all in in some places!

Best
Alpine Attractions

The Aiguille du Midi near Chamonix

Family
Skiing
Advice

Les Caves de la Chartreuse (Liquer production)

Walking
in the
Alps

Indiana Ventures Tree Top Adventure Park

Best
Alpine
Towns
 

Walking/Cycling:  You would be forgiven for thinking that this is the domain of experts, however whilst there is some serious stuff in the Alps, there is also plenty of more level stuff, easily within the scope of younger families. Go...

 White Water Rafting:  Only to be undertaken with expert supervision, white water rafting can provide great fun for older children and parents alike.  We list a selection of different rafting companies .  Go... Other Activities:  There are many other types of active entertainment in the Alps including Via Ferratas, Summer and Winter skiing and Activity Centres (included in our Alpine Attractions section).  Go...
 

Useful websites on
the Alps:

 

- Rhône-Alps tourism website

- Haute-Savoie guide

- Haute-Savoie tourist office website

- www.portalpes.com

- Conseil General of
Haute-Savoie website

Temperature profile in the Alps and nearby regionsWeather

 

As you might imagine, winters can be severe in the Alps, especially in the mountains.  It is surprising how much the temperature changes as you climb.  In winter time it can be pouring with rain in the valleys and as you drive towards the mountains the rain turns to a driving blizzard.  So go prepared!

On the other hand, the summers are temperate although with more rainfall than in other areas of France.  Check opposite for the latest Alpine weather and 5 day forecast.