|
|
 |
Avoriaz Activities - Families & Kids
| Family Activities in Avoriaz |
|
There is a wealth of activities to keep the whole family happy in Avoriaz – from things that you can do together to activities where the children can be left to play with their new ‘holiday friends’. Your only problem might be fitting in everyone’s top choice! |
| Adventure Waterfalls |
The adventure park Cascade Aventure at nearby Nyon allows you to swing through the trees above roaring waterfalls on ziplines, monkey bridges, rope ladders and swinging stirrups! The Nyon waterfalls are set in the beautiful wooded suroundings of the Vallée de la Manche.
The park is designed for adults and children (height limit of 1.35m/4.6ft) to test their nerves in complete safety. For those who want a greater challenge you can try canyoning on the River Dranse with a mountain guide.
For those who don't want to take part you can watch the action from the safety of the restaurant, which serves drinks, pancakes, ice creams and a Savoyard menu. |
|
last updated 8-Apr-2008 |
| Arcades & 10 Pin Bowling |
|
Avoriaz has its very own bowling alley - "Le Studio 9" - on Place des Dromonts. Open daily from 2pm to 3am you can entertain yourself with ten pin bowling, snooker, video games, table football, pinball and a dancing machine! Bowling costs €8.50 per person, per game and includes rental shoes. |
|
last updated 30-May-2008 |
| Canyoning |
A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day! You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course.
Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.
Hydrospeed is an alternative to rafting where you shoot down the river on a kind of inflatable body-board. Half-in half-out of the water you are closer to the action and guaranteed a soaking!
Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons.
There are a number of local companies that offer guided descents down the local waterways. |
|
last updated 8-Apr-2008 |
| Children's Entertainments |
|
The Village des Enfants in Avoriaz offers a great array of activities for children aged from 3 to 16 years old. Younger children can play on the mini-trampoline or bouncy castle, learn circus skills, try out the climbing wall, go pony trekking and learn gymnastics amongst other things. Older kids will enjoy archery, judo, pony trekking, mountain biking, fencing, building log cabins, taking part in various nature workshops and more. There are also football pitches, street basketball areas and a skate park, all free of charge.
For festivals and other entertainments enquire at the Tourist Office for details or check our What’s On Calendar to see what is happening when. |
|
last updated 15-Aug-2008 |
| Cinema |
Avoriaz cinema is a good option for a rainy day; it has 2 screens, Dolby Surround Sound and shows the latest French and international films. If you want to see an English-language film find out beforehand whether it is being shown in French, English (version originale) or with subtitles (sous-titres). Watching a film with subtitles can be a great way to learn a few new French phrases - their usefulness will depend entirely on the kind of film you are watching though! Click here for contact details.
Avoriaz was the 'little brother' to Cannes for over 20 years with its annual 'Avoriaz Fabulous Film Festival'. Attracting big names such as Robert de Niro and Roman Polanski the festival showcased films such as Steven Spielberg's 'Duel' and Brian de Palma's 'Carrie'. |
|
last updated 30-May-2008 |
| Fitness & Sports Centre |
|
The Salle Altiform on Route des Rennes offers a range of fitness classes including Body Balance, stretching, toning, step class, Power Plate and the like. There is also an 'Espace Balneo' (spa suite) with sauna, hamman (steam room) and jacuzzi. You can pay for individual classes/gym sessions at each visit or purchase a Pass'Forme which gives you multi-activity access. The centre is open from 2pm-8.30pm Sunday to Friday and from 5pm-8pm on Saturday (times may vary throughout the year, please check in resort for latest schedules). Access is restricted to those aged 15 years and over.
The Body Form fitness studio has a selection of gym equipment for body building and cardio training. The studio is open daily from 4.30pm-7.30pm, but is closed on Saturdays. Entry is €6.
You can also have a run round the Fitness Trail, a running track that has exercise aparatus at points along the route. The trail starts just behind the Tourist Office and takes you through the woods and alongside the River Dranse before coming back into Avoriaz via the Plateau. Anyone is welcome to use the Fitness Trail - free of charge!
You can also join in Aquagym classes at the Piscine d'Avoriaz during the summer, €6 per session.
The Palais des Sports in nearby Morzine is equipped with an indoor climbing wall, an ice rink and a gym. In the pleasant surroundings of the Parc des Dérêches are the Olympic swimming pool, skate park, tennis courts, a horse riding centre and a children’s petting farm. Many of the outdoor activities are only open during the summer months but the climbing wall and ice rink are definitely a big hit when the winter weather isn’t looking too promising!
Please see our Health & Fitness listings for addresses and contact details. |
|
last updated 15-Aug-2008 |
| Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides |
Horse drawn sleighs are available daily from 8am to 7pm, 7 days a week. With 28 sleighs and around 100 horses they are a common sight on the streets and one of the highlights of visiting Avoriaz. You can either use them as a way of getting around the resort, where journey prices range from €5 - €13 depending on how far you want to go (luggage €2 per bag) or you can hire one for a scenic trips around the resort for €15 - €35. Sleighs can be picked up at the entrance of the resort (“Accueil”), the outdoor parking P2, the top station of the Prodains cable car and in the centre of town.
|
|
last updated 3-Apr-2008 |
| Horse Riding |
The Porte du Soleil offers a wide expanse of spectacular terrain on which you can saddle up and go exploring. The Haras des Essordilles stables has a range of lessons and hacks to suit all ages and abilities.
The equestrian centre in the Parc des Dérêches in Morzine, near the Palais des Sports, offers a full range of activities, catering for all ages and levels of expertise. For the little ones there are pony rides along forest paths, while the older ones can learn how to saddle up and handle their steed in the paddock. A variety of accompanied rides through the mountains are available and provide an extremely enjoyable way to make the most of the scenery. |
|
last updated 7-Jul-2008 |
| Ice Skating |
|
Avoriaz has an open air ice rink in the resort centre that is open daily from 3 to 8pm (2 - 8.30pm during French school holidays). Entry costs €4 for children under 12 and €5.20 for adults (including skates). Holders of the Multiactivity Pass or Family Card can get in for free. The rink may close in the case of bad weather. |
|
last updated 4-Jul-2008 |
| Paragliding |
|
From the heights of Avoriaz one can glide down to the bottom of the valley on a tandem paraglider controlled by the instructor. He manoeuvres the parachute while the passenger enjoys the ride and fantastic views. Taking off is the only scary moment; once you have been equipped with a helmet and strapped to the instructor behind you in a rather intimate way, both of you simply point your skis (or board) downhill, and carry on getting faster and faster until the parachute lifts you into the air. An early intermediate skier can manage the take-off, but for boarders a good technical level is needed.
... see "Avoriaz for Paragliding" for more |
|
last updated 16-Jun-2008 |
| Rock Climbing |
For budding Spidermen the Avoriaz Children's Village offers climbing courses for 3-16 year olds, with mini-climbing walls for the little ones and full-size ones for older children.
For the older or the more adventurous there is plenty of natural rock to scale all around the Portes du Soleil, either under your own steam or with a guide. |
|
last updated 7-Jul-2008 |
| Snowshoe Walking ('Raquette à Neige') |
Strap lightweight plastic snowshoes to your feet, and walk effortlessly through deep snow. If you haven't tried it before and don't want to go it alone the majority of ski schools and some independant guides offer a range of snow shoe or ‘raquette a neige’ outings. Join a group led by a knowledgeable local guide and explore the hidden parts of the valley.
Quietly padding through the snow you are far more likely to see local wildlife and appreciate the stunning scenery; you will leave the beaten track to follow animal footprints, discover mountain flora and fauna and learn the history of the valley.
You can also hire snowshoes from most Sports Shops, grab a trail map and head off on your own adventure. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you go.
This is a perfect activity for bad weather conditions, or for non-skiers; walkers and nature lovers will love these outings. Don't forget to take energy bars and wear comfortable boots.
Snowshoe Website for France & Switzerland
|
|
last updated 9-Jul-2008 |
| Swimming Pool |
|
Avoriaz has a heated outdoor pool on Route des Rennes in Village des Dromonts. There is a small supervised pool for young children as well as plenty of sunbathing space on the artificial beach. You can buy drinks and lunch at the snack bar.
The water park at the Morzine Palais des Sports is the ideal way to cool down during the hot summer months. Boasting an Olympic swimming pool, children’s pool, water slide, volleyball court, sunbathing terrace, lawns, bar, restaurant and children’s play area this is somewhere you can relax while the kids entertain themselves! There are swimming lessons on offer as well as an aqua-gym club and every Tuesday there is an introduction to scuba diving, a beach volleyball tournament and a mini-football competition. |
|
last updated 15-Aug-2008 |
| Tennis & Squash |
Avoriaz has 10 tennis courts and a number of squash courts available for hire around the resort. They hold a weekly tournament throughout the summer, open to anyone who fancies giving it a shot!
For those of you who really like to build up a sweat there are also squash courts at the Sports Park in Morzine. |
|
last updated 30-May-2008 |
| Tourist Train |
|
One way to find your way around town in the summer is to hop aboard the miniature tourist train that trundles daily through the resort, offering a free transport service. The Avoriaz 'Petit Train Touristique' is a great way to take in the sights and get your bearings! |
|
last updated 24-Apr-2008 |
| Via Ferrata |
If climbing up sheer rock on the end of a piece of rope sounds a bit scary then Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb.
Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety. Suitable for adults and children over the age of 8; guides can be arranged on request.
The main Via Ferrata site in Morzine Avoriaz is the Saix du Tour; it is 600m in length and affords some beautiful views over the valley. It features foot bridges, monkey bridges and ladders and should take around 2-2 1/2 hours to complete. It is accessible from May to October, if there is no snow. |
|
last updated 23-Apr-2008 |
| White Water Rafting |
|
If you haven't experienced this before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do! Avoriaz has a number of trained guides who will let you experience some of the best white water rafting available in the Alps. From the middle of May until September, the river Dranse flows furiously as it is fed from the melt waters running off the glaciers high above the town. There are various options available from a 3 hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint. |
|
last updated 25-Apr-2008 |
|
