Adventure circuits
It was in the mountains, over ten years ago, that the idea of obstacle courses in the trees was started, Tarzan style, with footbridges, tightrope walking, etc. Today there are many sites all over the country, but the forests of the Alps, the Pyrenees or the Vosges are particularly suited to the activity. Designed and supervised by professionals, with state approval, these adventure circuits often have facilities that are accessible to children at least 1m30 or 1m40 tall (or from about 8-10 years old).
Prices: around €14 to 20 (children/adults).
Adventure Park
www.aventure-parc.fr (French only)
A pioneer organiser, present especially at Serre-Chevalier (Hautes-Alpes), les Gets (Haute-Savoie), Venosc - les 2 Alpes (Isère), Aramits (Béarn Pyrenees).
Indiana Adventures
www.indianaventures.com
A theme park for kids from 4 years old, at Morzine (a resort near the Portes du Soleil).
Forest Adventure
www.foret-aventure.com
A circuit on the shores of the superb Annecy Lake, in Talloires.
Bol d'air, in La Bresse (Vosges)
www.bol-d-air.fr (French only)
The Bol d'Air team offers a wide range of activities: adventure circuit, mountain biking, paragliding, etc.
Via ferrata and climbing
The “leisure” version of these metal ladders attached to the mountain faces and ridges (used in high altitude battles during the First World War in Italy) has been developed in the French mountains over the last twenty years. These "train tracks" open up vertical mountain tracks to novices. The technique is simple but makes adults aware of their responsibility, as they have to make sure of their own safety by clipping themselves on to a safety cable. Several circuits are also suitable for children, but with a professional monitor (mountain guide) or at least with very experienced parents. Another essential condition: the use of reliable equipment (helmet, harness, and roping to be doubly safe). So vertigo is under control, for a few hours of "cliff walking"! There are over a hundred equipped sites (freely accessible) in our massifs, including a few very well-known ones in the Briançon region, in the Maurienne Valley or in the Portes du Soleil skiing region.
The Aussois via ferrata
The Essaillon fortifications clinging to the cliff wall, overlooking the gorges de l'Arc, constitute the impressive setting of the vias d'Aussois (the Vanoise massif, near Modane and the Italian border). Among the famous range of routes of varying levels of difficulty, are the Diablotins and Angelots routes designed for children over 6, for an hour and a half of rock walking!
www.savoie-maurienne.com
The gorges de la Durance
Just south of Briançon, a private site with equipment rental, from Easter to the October half term (€5 per person) offering a children’s route (from 6 years) under parental supervision, or excursions with a guide (€150 for 1 to 8 people). The site also includes two giant zip lines, for a 500-metre "slide" some 200 metres above ground (booking necessary, with guide, for €25, for children over 12).
www.roc-aventure.com
Les Portes du Soleil
The via ferrata of Saix du Tour, climbing to the Avoriaz summits, is also suitable for young people.
Rock climbing is also available during a multi-activity holiday (mountain biking, kayaking, etc.) specially designed for teenagers, with freedom of choice and enjoyable evening activities. Organised by the well-known Annie Famose group: le Village des Enfants, in Avoriaz.
www.village-des-enfants.com
www.portesdusoleil.com
To find all the vias ferratas in France
A site created by very talented enthusiasts, listing all the sites in the French mountains.
www.viaferrata-fr.net (French only)
Climbing lessons in the Hautes-Alpes
A popular school and urban sport (with artificial indoor walls), climbing is even more fun on a natural rock face during the summer holidays! Girls in particular enjoy the activity!
Beginners’ lessons, 3 hours with a qualified instructor, from ages 6, 8 or 12 and up, at an average price of €26. This offer exists in nearly all the mountain resorts, especially those in the Hautes-Alpes.
www.hautes-alpes.net - Regional tourist board (French only).
To find out more about climbing and the via ferrata
www.ffme.fr (French only)
Water, air and exploration sports
Rafting, canoeing, kayaking, potholing or even paragliding are available for young people, and are especially attractive in the mountains. Downriver raft rides are possible from 12-14 years of age, with a professional guide, adult supervision, life jacket and neoprene wetsuit. Children of the same age can learn to paddle in a kayak in calm waters. They can also go exploring caves with headlamps, under the supervision of a qualified instructor. There is also a one-week’s beginner’s course in paragliding for teenagers from 14 years old. A wide range of activities to have a great time!
AN rafting
One of the many outdoor activity providers, this organisation has centres in the Southern Alps, Savoy and Auvergne.
A half-day downriver ride from about €38 - 40.
www.an-rafting.com (French only)
Canoeing and kayaking or canyoning for beginners
Children can learn to paddle on the small Blue Lake from 8-10 years of age, and can even try their hand at canyoning in easy streams; for example near Morillon, a pretty little resort in the Grand Massif, in the heart of the Giffre Valley.
www.ot-morillon.fr
Potholing
The best spots and therefore those with the most reliable teaching structures are found in the Vercors or the Jura. But the little known plateau of Albion, with its carpet of lavender, at the foot of Mount Ventoux, offers an incredible underground network of caves, and the services of the ASPA, a well-established organisation (high-quality instruction and holiday gite).
Contact: 33 (0) 4 90 75 08 33
www.spelealbion.fr (French only)
www.saultenprovence.com (Tourist Board)
Paragliding
To find the many paragliding schools, visit the website of the French Hang-gliding Federation.
www.ffvl.fr (French only)
Other ideas can be found on the mountain resort website portals
www.en-montagne.com
The "mountains in summer" page of the Skifrance website reminds us that all town sports (roller-skating, streetball, etc.) are just as much fun in mountain resorts, with specially designed areas where young people can meet.
And don’t forget the revival of those summer camps...
The Temps Jeunes association, based in Lyon, which organises summer holiday centres for 7,000 children and teenagers, was the first to be awarded ISO 9001 certification. It offers, for example, a "pony trekking holiday in volcano country" in Saint-Nectaire for 6-11 year-olds (13 days, €620).
Author: Philippe Bardiau |