Looking to do something different with your kids this summer? Then read this Morzine family adventure holiday review. Find out how this summer mountains trip to the French Alps changed how my children and I think about our holidays.
Why a Morzine Family Adventure?
Does the careful coordination of summer plans to keep your children entertained, leave you feeling like a PA for a busy CEO? If so, it’s likely like me, when it comes to your family holiday you want to relax! Yet a relaxing holiday with children can feel like an oxymoron.
Daydreams of sipping cocktails whilst reading a good novel paves way to choruses of I’m bored and nagging them to get off devices. With children’s club’s always being a no go for my children, the best holidays together for us are the ones bursting with shared experiences and adventure.
So last year, my partner and I, with our respective children (aged 9, 10, 13 and 13) headed off to explore just that. To scale mountains, zip across treelines and swim in glacial lakes.
And there is no better place for year-round, adrenaline fuelled, family adventure than Morzine. So, leaving books and devices firmly behind, we set off to immerse ourselves in nature and face new challenges together. It seems exhilaration and adventure is just our way of chilling out!
Getting to Morzine in the Summer
When travelling with nervous flyers the short hop from London to Geneva airport is perfect. Despite our delayed flight the transfer was seamless and within a few hours of leaving home we were at our accommodation.
Staying in the gorgeous Elevation Alps Marmotte apartment we had everything we needed. Being self-catered was perfect to keep costs down and to cater for picky eaters. Being a proper mountain town, Morzine has a few good supermarkets and plenty of reasonable café/restaurant options.
The apartment itself was spacious and modern, with three bathrooms and four double bedrooms with views over the mountains. Of course, the children were most enamoured with the apartments collection of large decorative sheep. After arguing over their names and which beds to sleep in, they were soon tucked up for some much-needed rest before our adventures began.
Morzine Family Adventure Holiday Review
Being a mastermind of planning, we had just four days to enjoy the best Morzine had to offer. We got around mainly by using the local buses which are free with the Morzine/Portes du Soleil Multi Pass. Here’s what we got up too:
Day 1: Water and Rope Adventures in Morzine
Zip Wires and High Ropes Adventure
About 45 minutes’ walk from our apartment, shorter by bus or with a map reader on their game… We arrived at Cascade Aventure a forested area on the side of the mountain.
This activity created a family divide; whilst my girls and I clearly prefer keeping our feet on the ground, my partner and his boys were soon zipping through the canopies, wind in face on an adrenaline high. As we ate ice cream on the café terrace, sun on our faces, they soared across the treetops.
Their position throughout the forest identifiable only by their familiar whoops and screams; they loved it. With a combination of high/low ropes, climbing obstacles and ziplines, they quickly navigated the varied challenges. We then came together beneath the waterfall to hear them recount their tales of adventure; my girls slightly jealous they hadn’t been braver.
Laser Biathlon at Lac Montriond
A short bus journey from outside our apartment and we were by the beautiful Lac Montriond. Surrounded by mountains, with allocated swim zones, this was the perfect alpine lake for family fun and relaxation. The lake is a hive of activity with pony riding, mini golf and among this, Laser Biathlon.
The lack of snow, melted many months before, meant this was on foot not skis, given my skills at the latter this was welcome. My girls, not wanting to be left behind again were fully engaged in combative talk, determined to beat the boys. Yet no one is more competitive than my partner…
Having patiently guided us on how to use our laser rifles, the instructor allowed us to unleash our competitiveness as we raced to complete the targets. Suitable for 7+, this is an activity everyone can enjoy, not requiring any previous skill/ experience. We declined the final challenge of running around a course, due to the sultry heat. This was a fun activity to take on if planning some time by the lake
Oh course, my partner got his victory, but this only justified our revenge. Racing into the lake we took turns on splashing him until he admitted defeat. The sectioned off part of the lake for swimming was perfect, safe even for my daughter who’s a weak swimmer. Surprisingly for an alpine lake it was not too cold either.
Soon the muggy weather of the afternoon finally broke. As the sound of thunder resonated off the mountains, we dashed onto our bus as torrential rain fell to end day one of this Morzine family adventure holiday.
Day 2: Luge and Morzine Mountain Hike
Morzine Luge
A stroll from our apartment, is Morzine Luge; which is a bit like an individual bobsleigh. The beauty of holidaying at a ski resort is there’s no need to trek up the mountain, you can let its comprehensive network of lifts take the strain. At the top, we collected our Luge, helmet and hairnet.
Usually there are two courses down, a fast and slow lane. Today the fast lane was closed. I admit I was slightly relieved to realise the Luge was so easy to control, the brakes meant you could kill some speed and take it at your own pace.
The boys and my eldest zipped down, snaking into the twists and turns as the luge ricocheted off the sides. Maintaining control their faces beaming. My youngest took a more cautious approach, applying the brakes so fiercely that she caused a huge queue. As I feebly apologised to the discontent faces behind us, inside I smiled at her vigilance.
Hike from the Pas de l’Aigle viewing platform
After taking a cable car then a chairlift we were soon most of the way up Pointe de Nyon Mountain at 1,969 metres. Here you’ll find the Pas de l’Aigle viewing platform; with the still snow-capped Mont Blanc in one direction and the shimmering waters of Lake Geneva the other, its panoramic views were simply stunning. Both my girls forgot their fears of heights, posing for photos on the glass walkway, marvelled at the beauty around them.
We then hiked the rest of the way up Pointe de Nyon to an altitude of 2,019 metres. But what goes up must come down and we were soon on our descent. I was amazed at how nimbley the children navigated the winding paths. High on mountain air and high spirits they made easy work of our hike.
Within an hour or so we were at the Refuge de Nyon, nestled by a clear blue lake on the side of the mountain. The views were simply gorgeous. The other beauty which comes with all that exercise, is our lunch of cheese and chips felt fully justified. The glass of wine, glugged down by the adults, feeling similarly deserved.
After another hour of hiking took us to a much anticipated goat show further down the mountain. But to our disappointment it was no longer showing. Instead, we enjoyed ice creams as we watched a strange dog-hearding-ducks ‘spectacle’, at a small holding which incongruously sat among the mountains.
Morzine Swimming Pool
To complete day two of our Morzine family adventure holiday we made use of our multi passes which offer free access to Morzine’s large Aquatic Centre. Situated in the centre of the town it was a convenient walking distance from our apartment. With indoor and outdoor pools, slides and jumping platforms, it was the perfect opportunity to cool off. We spent a couple of hours unwinding and burned off the last bit of the day’s energy.
Day 3 of Morzine Family Adventure Holiday
Rafting on the Dranse River
Morzine being a mecca for adventure summer and winter is serviced by regular buses/ ski lifts. So there’s enough to keep you entertained without venturing far or needing a car. But this activity began near Thonon Les Baines, near Lake Geneva, around an hour’s drive away. The bus times didn’t quite work out so we booked a taxi. At 140 Euro’s for six of us to be driven there and back for the afternoon’s activity this was expensive but doable.
We arrived at the Evolution 2 rafting centre 10 mins early as recommended. But tasked with getting children (and ourselves) into wet suits – getting my children to put shoes on usually takes double that – I’d advise more time. Kitted out, we were soon on the bus for the short drive to the river. Whilst the centre provides different courses to suit all abilities, due to my daughter’s swimming ability, we opted for the gentlest option.
As we set off to the roar of the river upstream, I’ll admit having a pang of apprehension; It didn’t take long though for this to dissipate. Soon I was seeing the white froth of the cascades with anticipation and challenge. Bracing ourselves as the raft, in a rhythmic motion, surged upwards and flung us sideways. This was much tamer than previous rafting I’d done but suited our group perfectly, our attentive guide prioritising safety.
In the two hour trip we stopped numerous times to jump into the crystal-clear river. In the heat, donned in full wetsuits the icy coolness was definitely welcome. The buoyancy of our lifejackets meant we could lie on our backs, like a raft of sea otters, as the current floated us down stream. In our debrief after, this was everyone’s favourite bit.
All too soon we had reached our destination, and it was a short walk back at base. Relieved to ditch the wetsuits, but our appetite whetted, we agreed this was the sort of adrenaline thrill we’d be chasing again.
Lindaret: Goat Village
Having missed out on the goat show we decided to take a trip to Lindarets – the goat village. This required a bus journey journey from town, followed by a cable car and then a walk. The reward is a village overrun with goats that seem to spend the day posing for photos.
It is both a fun and slightly weird experience, to be unable to enter a souvenir shop because a pair of goats are blocking the door. Originally we intended to walk down the mountain from here, but storm clouds were brewing and we took the gondola back as rain began to fall.
Day 4: Avokart Descent – Avoriaz to Prodains
Researching this activity it definitely divided us, my partner’s children, noticeably keener than mine. After my daughter’s over cautious Luge, given the challenge of an entire mountain, I had wondered if we’d descend before nightfall. I could see that played on her too, apprehensively we boarded the Prodains cable car and collected our vehicles.
The Avokart is a three-wheel gokart crossed with a downhill mountain bike and a mini-monster truck. Your speed is controlled with individual brakes for the rear wheels on each side – which takes a little while to get used to. The trip is unguided, leaving you alone to combat the mountain at your own pace.
Looking out at our descent, the uneven path pitted with huge rocks and deepish crevices, I began to share her nerves. Yet the huge wheels made light of the terrain, soon we were all gathering speed and basking in the thrill of our descent. It certainly wasn’t for the faint hearted with some largish drops either side. The route was varied, transporting us through water, across wooden bridges and down forest dirt paths.
Whilst I’d opted to take up the rear to stay with my youngest, I was soon playing catch up. I was amazed the extent at which my oldest let go of all her fear, hurtling down the mountain eager to race the others. We had one crash as my partner’s son overturned his vehicle on some wet mud. Slightly scraped and bruised – mostly his pride – he got back on, determined to finish the challenge.
As we reached the cable car station at the bottom, we were covered in mud. Our faces brimmed, we had taken on the mountain and won, I couldn’t have been prouder. We were universal in our thoughts; this had definitely been our most exhilarating challenge and our favourite of the trip.
Other Morzine Summer Mountain Adventures
We only really scratched the surface of Morzine as there are so many other activities to try. Mountain biking in Morzine is some of the best in Europe, whilst there is also great cycling and e-biking options. Paragliders were regularly landing in the field opposite our apartment and there is everything from horse riding to mini golf on offer.
From climbing to kayaking to overnight camping and canyoning there is a new adventure around every corner. Or you can try your hand at more traditional sports such as tennis or volleyball. And the beauty of Morzine is you can enjoy it all from a proper town with a great vibe. There is even a spa at the aquatic centre if you have the time to relax…
Morzine Family Adventure Holiday Review: Conclusion
Being our first shared trip away with our children we hadn’t known what to expect. The combination of fun activities immersed in magnificent natural surroundings made Morzine the perfect destination. Having overcome fears and faced down challenges we had grown together and connected.
Whilst we crammed a lot into a few days it definitely could have been part of a much longer holiday. Was it relaxing? Not entirely, but it certainly was fun. Having planned in advance we knew what we were doing. Being entertained meant shared experiences, leaving little opportunity for boredom and discontent.
Seeing caution give way to courage was wonderful to see. My girls returned a little surer of themselves, more eager to try new things and proud of what they’d achieved; from a holiday what more could you want? And yes for next year we’re already planning what we’d like to conquer!
I hope you found this Morzine family adventure holiday review useful. Please check out the Morzine website for more information: www.morzine-avoriaz.com
