Transformed in Spring and Summer, Les Carroz looks very different from the its much more well known Winter images, and offers such a wide choice of activities. The surrounding mountains and valleys become accessible to explore on tracks, from the air or on water. Whether you prefer being energetic or just relaxing by the pool, the summer temperatures of 30°+ are ideal. The varied choice of activities includes :-




Canyoning - Experience the thrill of jumps, slides, abseiling and gorge walking - all whilst getting extremely wet! This is 'Canyoning', and the nearby cascading river down to Balme is a natural water park where you can join in with groups of families and friends under the skilful instruction of a guide.



Caving/Speleologie & Pot-holing - The current 4th deepest cave in the world is the 'Gouffre Jean-Bernard', in nearby Samoëns. For caving in and around Les Carroz, contact the Bureau des Guides.



Choral Singing - a week of 'Les Choeurs de France' (The Choirs of France) will be hosted from the 6th to the 13th of August. The theme for this years program of rehearsals, serenades and performances is 'Musicals', culminating in 2 concerts on the 12th and 13th August.



Climbing - There is an abundance of quality rock climbing within a short drive from Les Carroz, ranging from sports routes to major multi pitch classics. 1500 (yes, 1500 !) routes are described in the guide to the Arve and Risse Valleys ('Vallées de l'Arve et du Risse') along the nearby A40 Autoroute, plus a further 700 in the guide to the neighbouring Giffre Valley ('Vallée du Giffre'), both by Gilles Brunot see http://www.escalade-74.com . The nearest major slab to Les Carroz is a 200m limestone cliff at Balme, easy to identify from the Arve Valley.  For beginners and tuition, there are 11 equipped cliffs and an artificial wall in the area. Especially for children, there is a site approved by the French School of Rock Climbing - contact the local club 'Carroz Vertical' or the Bureau des Guides.



Fishing - The many rivers and lakes (both mountain and lowland) offer a wide variety of fish in unique settings. There are 250 rivers totaling a length of 887 kilometers, from small mountain streams to torrential rivers, and home to the brown trout, also to be found in the mountain lakes. The lowland lakes are easily accessible and offer the challenge of roach, bream, perch, pike and the beautiful Black Bass. Night fishing is allowed for carp. Contact the local branch of Fédérations de Pêche Françaises in Cluses. For fishing in the vicinity of Les Carroz, the Tourist Office of Les Carroz sells the relevant permits.



Golf - The Les Carroz/Flaine golf course (the 'Pierre Carrée Golf Club') is just 15 minutes away up the road. Open every day in July and August, and weekends from mid-June to the end of September, weather permitting . The  course was designed for players of all abilities - 18 holes, 4026m, par 63 - not particularly long, but technically demanding. At an altitude of 1900m it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. The club has excellent facilities with putting greens, pitching greens and practice bunkers. To make your stay more  enjoyable, there are a further 13 golf courses within 1.5 hour's drive of Les Carroz, including the famous Evian Masters Golf Club on the southern shore of Lake Geneva.



Hiking - a vast network of hundreds of kilometers of well-marked trails for all abilities offering everything from day hikes, to overnights in mountain refuges, to week-long backpacking trips. Chamoix, Ibex, Marmottes, Red and Black Squirrels, and the elusive Wild Boar are all wildlife to be spotted. Bird watchers should look out for raptors  such as the Black Kite, the Golden Eagle and the rare Bearded Vulture. For hiking in and around Les Carroz, contact the Tourist Office.



Horse riding & pony trekking - the Equestrian Centre offers activities for all abilities, from walking for beginners to a cross country course. Treks can be organised. The centre is open all year round and has 12 horses and 10 ponies of different breeds and sizes, with 2 qualified instructors.  



Mountain biking - With its excellent facilities, location and terrain, Les Carroz is fast becoming a top destination for MTB (VTT or 'vélo tout-terrain'). Amidst the alpine scenery there are 46 marked trails totaling over 600km and offering a large choice of length and difficulty of routes - something for all abilities. If you don't have your own, you can hire bikes from several outlets in the village. The main telecabine lift is open from the beginning of July until the end of August to take you and your mountain bike up out of the village. There are 2 permanent downhill courses in Les Carroz, and 1 in Morillion just a 10 minute ride from the top of the telecabine.For an epic challenge there is the TransAlps Carroz to Chamonix 8-day route. A week of MTB activities culminates on the weekend of 21st/22nd August 2012 with the hosting of the 19th annual 'VTTticme', a competitive tour of the Grand Massif that attracts over 2000 riders.


Paragliding & Hang Gliding - Les Carroz and the surrounding Grand Massif mountains are a fantastic place to fly. If you wish to learn, there are 3 schools in the village. If you'd like to experience the thrill, tandem flights are available. If you are a licensed pilot, you'll be able to take off from the main launching area above the village and enjoy soaring over Les Carroz, or fly cross-country around the Massif or further afield to places such as Chamonix or Mieussy,known as the birth place of paragliding. There are 18 launch sites within 20km of Les Carroz, and many more slightly further afield.Come and fly the week ending Saturday 18th August 2012 and take part in the 4th 'Parapenticime' (Festival of Paragliding). It is a friendly race involving a walking climb of 700m in altitude up to the launch site above Les Carroz, then a flight following a course to return back to the village.The event finishes with prize-giving and a BBQ for all competitors and supporters.



Rafting & Hydrospeed - Whether you wish to be on the water or in the water, both these activities are available in the nearby rivers. Rafting can vary from a gentle river trip to an energetic and thrilling descent, always accompanied by an experienced guide. One trip on the Arve River takes boaters over 6 waterfalls in a short 8 kilometers. Whitewater rafting companies will often run up to three trips daily. The scenery is classic Alpine scenery, and rafts can descend the Arve all the way into Lake Geneva. For Hydrospeed (or White Water Swimming), all you require are a float, fins, helmet and an adapted wetsuit to swim the rapids, and let the current carry you away. The local rivers offer a good level of water in the summer season, and ideal areas to perfect your technique. Contact the Tourist Office. Near by, Samoëns is also a major white water attraction.



Road Cycling -With fantastic road surfaces, how about climbing up to a mountain pass ? In 2009 a stage of the Tour De France followed the road from the valley floor up to Araches, the village next to Les Carroz. The latest to join the list of twenty or so “notable hill climbs”, the 'Balme - Les Carroz - Col de Pierre Carrée' is a climb of 21km long and ascent of 1300m. It is lined with GSM beacons and kilometre markers to indicate the average gradient, maximum percentage incline and distance.  Microchips are on sale from the Tourist Office. Perhaps a more famous climb, the ‘Col de la Colombière' has also been featured in the Tour De France. This category-1 climb of 16km with an average gradient of 6.7% is just down and across the valley from Les Carroz. For an event, try the 'JPP-9' - the '9 of Hearts' - a charity challenge of either 90, 110 or 130km on the 1st of July 2012. Over 800 riders participated in 2010. If you haven't brought your own, road bikes are available to hire in the village.



Swimming - there are 2 open-air swimming pools and water slides, and a large grassy area for relaxing at the Sports Centre. The water temperature is maintained at around 26° regardless of the weather. Open daily from the 15th of June until the 28th of August, the pool operates from 10:30 until 19:30. Further afield, swimming is allowed in Lac Passy, the largest lake in the area and known locally as the Plage de Mont-Blanc, with a barbecue area and a sloping beach. Another location is the 'Lac Bleu' at Morillon, the artificial lake with its own beach, petanque area, picnic area, tennis, volleyball, mini golf and terrace bar-restaurant.




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Summer Activities

Ferme de la Chapelle, Les Carroz, Haute Savoie, France