Samoëns
SWIMMING POOL – Samoëns boasts a large open air swimming pool complex which is open every day from late June to end of August/beginning of September. Featuring three individual pools (training pool, beginners pool and baby pool) plus a slide, this exceptional facility also boasts a large grassy area of 6000m2 (perfect for sunbathing) and a ball park. Swimming and aquagym lessons are also available during the season. Accessed from the pool is a Snack Bar, serving hot and cold snacks and drinks. 
LAC AUX DAMES LEISURE CENTRE – a large area of approximately 10 hectares, built around its two lakes. Many activities are offered throughout the Summer season, as follows:
- Le Bois Aux Dames – One of the largest cultural, sports and congress centers in Haute Savoie. With a large amphitheatre plus meeting room, part of this complex is used for cultural activities – (exhibitions, concerts and other shows) as well as for banquets and business events. The other part is dedicated to sports activities, with a large gymnasium consisting of a court for ball games (basketball, handball, volleyball), a dance hall, a judo room and a climbing wall. There is also a café serving food, drinks and ice cream in the same building.
- Tennis Courts (0033 (0) 4 50 34 94 36)
- Beach volleyball
- 5-a-side football pitch
- Basketball court
- Petanque/boules
- Childrens’ playground
- Golf driving range and putting green
- Fishing
- Fitness equipment/trail
- Horse/poney riding
PARAPENTING – Flying over the Giffre Valley is a fantastic experience. Pégase Air Samoëns, located next to the swimming pool in a small brown cabin, offers two-seater flights or even pilot training for those who wish to fly alone.
RAFTING / CANOEING / KAYAKING / HYDROSPEED / CANYONING – “Whitewater” activities are also available around the local area. Intense and committed but also playful with quiet passages, an outing on the Giffre is very fun as an individual or in large groups. We recommend:
- ECOLORADO RAFTING – located just outside Samoëns (direction Sixt), about 500m on the right hand side.
- NUNYAK SAMOËNS – they have a small office in the centre of town and a larger office/meeting place with restaurant in the centre of the beautiful village of Sixt.
ROCKCLIMBING – VIA FERRATA – Accessible to beginners and experts alike, these exciting and adrenaline-fuelled activities can be practiced locally. We recommend ZIGZAG, whose office is in the village center.
MOUNTAIN BIKING – Along the valley floor from Sixt Fer à Cheval to Taninges, there are many trails that are accessible at all levels. Mainly flat but with more challenging hilly trails, these are superb family itineraries where you can discover beautiful villages, lakes and waterfalls. For the more adventurous mountain bikers, take the Grand Massif Express gondola (open all summer) and try your luck on one of the more than 120 km of enduro/downhill trails. You can also connect to Carroz where you will find a large bike park with trails for all levels, as well as in Morillon with its varied terrain.
ROAD BIKING – There are some fantastic itineraries to discover from Samoëns. Enjoy the flat valley loops or push yourself by heading up one of the many challenging cols in the area. The Col de Joux Plane is a particularly beautiful but challenging climb, which starts directly from the village centre – unsurprisingly it has been featured in the Tour de France 12 times.
BIKE HIRE – for both road and mountain bike hire, we recommend the following:
- MOUNTAIN SPIRIT, located near the town centre, next to the cinema/Sherpa supermarket.
- ANTHONIOZ SKI, located centrally, near the Pharmacy.
- XTREME GLISSES, located opposite the Grand Massif Express gondola on the edge of town.
For a more personalised alpine adventure bike trip, contact Arno de Jong at ALPS ADVENTURES. From a 1 day mountain adventure to a 5 day tour involving sleeping in mountain refuges, he can tailor a bike trip to suit you. Along with his wife Jess de Jong from DAILYCIEUX who can provide delicious food on the mountain or in your chalet as a “PRIVATE CHEF”, they make an unbeatable team.
Jamie, who runs RIDE THE ALPS, can also organise a fully guided bike tour in the French and Swiss Alps, for adventurous mountain bikers.
- Ride the Alps RIDE THE ALPS
WALKING / HIKING – There are many walking trails in and around Samoëns. These are marked, or you may prefer to pick up the Samoëns walking map from the Tourist Office or local shops. We also highly recommend hiking at ‘Sixt Fer à Cheval’. Continue up the valley through the village of Sixt and pass through a few small villages until you can drive no further and come to a large car park. From here, there are kms of walking trails through the National Park, and probably the most breathtaking scenery to be found in the whole Giffre valley and abundant wildlife too. A must!
For the more adventurous there are other hikes in the valley, lasting from one to several days, some ranging between 700m and more than 3000m altitude. For more information contact the local tourist offices.
Morillon
The majority of the activities in Morillon centre around Lac Bleu, or certainly within a short stroll of the lake, situated just 500m from Morillon village centre (direction Verchaix/Taninges).
LAC BLEU – With its beautiful sandy beach, supervised by lifeguards during the summer months, the lake is ideal for swimming…although cold, the crystal clear “blue” water is so refreshing. Other activities around or near the lake include:
- Stand up paddle boards and canoes, which can be hired directly at the lake or in advance at Morillon Tourist Office
- Restaurant La Covagne, right next to the lake
- Childrens’ playgrounds
- Equestrian Centre (Equita Passion)
- High ropes course (Les Aventuriers Accrobranches)
- Le Splash (Wibit Inflatable and acrobatic course on the lake)
- Inflatable park (Le Mali’s Parc)
- Mini golf
- Pump track
- Beach volleyball
- Tennis courts