Things To See & Do In The French Alps: Skiing, Mountaineering and Much More!

L’Aiguille du Midi is a peak that is nearly 2.4 miles tall, which gives you an unparalleled 360-degree panoramic view of the Alps. Ride the cable car up to the peak from the center of Chamonix in only 20 minutes.

The cable car leaves from the center of Chamonix and climbs in two stages to the summit of the Aiguile du Midi. The first stage ends at the Plan de l'Aiguille and the second stage crosses the Les Pelerins glacier before climbing the North Face of the Aiguille du Midi to the top station.

From the top station you can take in spectacular views of the French, Swiss and Italian alps which includes the peak of nearby Mont Blanc and on a clear day it is possible to see the Matterhorn in the distance.

Probably the main reason why tourists flock to Chamonix is to see Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps. It is so big it straddles three countries! After seeing the view from the peak, take a look at the mountain from the inside using the Mont Blanc tunnel.

For the fit and advernturous climbing to the top of Mont Blanc is possible but we highly recommend doing this with company providing guided accents. It can take 6 days to do the accent properly where you allow time to acclimatize to the altitude. You can find guides online that offer to plan your trip and provide training before taking on this epic mountain.

Reaching the Glacier des Bossons might be a little difficult, but the short hike up is truly worth it and not too strenuous. If hiking isn’t your thing, then you can take the chair lift that drops you off just above Bossons village.

You can hike to the glacier in the summer by either taking a chairlift that takes you to 1,410m in about 15 minutes, or you can make the accent from Chamonix on foot along a trail that takes about 50 minutes to complete.

Vercors Regional Natural Park is part of many tourist routes that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The Combe Laval and the Col de Rousset in Drôme, and the Bourne Gorges and the Ecouges Canyon in Isère, all run through this area. You can explore these routes either on foot or by mountain bike.

The Chute de la Druise or Druise Waterfall is a very picturesque waterfall that can be seen by taking a relatively easy 1.8km hike from the starting parking lot to the falls along a defined trail. The falls is formed as the river Gervanne falls over a cliff through narrow opening and then falling 72m down to the pool of water below. Depending on how the light hits the falls you can see vibrant green and turquoise colors that really make the falls pop.

Located in Vercors Regional Nature Park Mont Aiguille is known as one of the Seven Wonders of Dauphine as it has a relatively flat top surrounded by steep limestone cliffs.

It gets its flat top or mesa as it is the remenance of a plateau that has since erroded away leaving only a pillar of rock.

Interestingly, on 27 August 1957, the stunt pilot Henri Giraud landed a Piper J-3 Cub on the summit. He landed on a makeshift runway built by climbers to stage the event. Henri, completed many landings on top of Mont Aiguille over the years bringing tourists to the top.

Ecouges Canyon has two main parts, the upper canyon and the middle/lower canyon. There are tours that will take you to either for an amazing day of canyoneering.

The upper canyon is a series of abseils and requires technical canyoneering skills. The lower part is less technical and great for those just getting into canyoning and looking for a challenge. The descent takes about 4 and half hours to complete.

La Bastille dates back to the Middle Ages, a fortress on Mont Rachais that has been used to defend France for centuries. Explore the underground Mandarin Caves beneath the foundations of the fortress to learn about its defenses, or wander around the small military museum. You can also grab a bite to eat in one of two onsite restaurants that offer a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape.

Get from the center of Grenoble to La Bastille using the world’s first ever urban cable car. Try and go on a day that has good weather for the best views of the Alpine landscape from the pods. On a good day, you can even see the summit of Mont Blanc!

Just 10 minutes out of the city, Les Cuves de Sassenge feels like a journey into the center of the earth. This underground world of subterranean rivers is a once in a lifetime experience that will blow you away with unparalleled sights of natural wonder.

Bellevarde is the most famous ski slope at the Val d'Isère, even featuring in a number of tournaments including the 2009 Alpine Ski World Championships and the 1992 Winter Olympics. It has an incredible black run that has a summit of 2,807 meters, which can be reached in just six minutes by cable car.

As Val d'Isère has a superb nightlife, it would be amiss if we didn’t mention where to partake in après-ski activities. Blow off some steam after a day of skiing at La Folie Douce, home to restaurants, bars, and live music. After all, what skiing holiday is complete without the après-ski?

Europe’s cleanest lake is none other than Lac d’Annecy, which is home to two beaches – Plage la Brune and Plage Municipal – that have both earned Blue Flag accreditation for their crystal-clear waters and high-quality facilities. Visit in the summertime to spend peaceful days by the tranquil waters, gazing at the breathtaking Alpine views.

The medieval core of Annecy is unbelievably pretty, full of wonderful photographic and artistic opportunities that you have to grasp. Though the town is incredibly compact, with canals at every turn, this fascinating old town has 21 historical monuments to explore.

The medieval core of Annecy is unbelievably pretty, full of wonderful photographic and artistic opportunities that you have to grasp. Though the town is incredibly compact, with canals at every turn, this fascinating old town has 21 historical monuments to explore.

There are many walking trails available at Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval that are suitable for all different abilities and varying fitness levels. Some of the trails are even flat, and there is disabled parking at the onsite restaurant to allow everyone to appreciate the stunning views.

If you don’t fancy hiking the optional 2-hour trail, you can also explore and discover Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval by bicycle. Novices can utilise the flat trails, whereas experienced mountain bikers can carry on through the rugged mountain landscape.

Spring is a fantasitc time to visit Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval as the snowmelt causes many run-off waterfalls at different locations across its massive limestone cliff face.