Top 5 snow activities to Leman Mountains Explore

Nestled between Lake Geneva, the Swiss border and the Portes du Soleil ski area, Leman Mountains Explore is a half-Alpine, half-lake destination, accessible, diverse and a true refuge from the snow. This vast territory guarantees a holiday away from the crowds, rich in discoveries. There’s nothing complex about it: here, you can learn about the mountains at any age and in your own way, whether it’s sporting, gentle or wild… here are the top 5 snow activities for winter!

On the slopes to learn how to glide

1. Learn to ski in the Montagnes d'Evian ski area

Discover a ski area that offers slopes designed for beginners, with different sectors and special beginners’ areas. Choosing Les Montagnes de Leman Mountains Explore for your next vacation is to treat yourself to panoramic, accessible skiing… and at a very low price!

PAYS D'EVIAN VALLEE D'ABONDANCE : Un territoire à explorer

2. Nordic skiing in the Abondance valley

The Vallée d’Abondance Nordic ski area stretches along the banks of the Dranse River in two resorts: La Chapelle d’Abondance and Châtel. A real life-size playground, it offers over 25 km of trails and eight Nordic itineraries at altitudes of between 1,000 and 1,500 m.
Biathlon, nordic park, orienteering and toboggan runs are just some of the ways to enjoy the area.
Shooting ranges equipped with laser rifles and electronic targets offer a safe introduction to biathlon for all.

Introduction to biathlon :

Ages 8 and up, from beginner to advanced.
ESF Abondance 04 50 73 00 67
ESF La Chapelle-d’Abondance 04 50 73 50 15

3. Snooc, the best of sledding and skiing.

Similar to the paret, the snooc is a new, modern, ergonomic and comfortable ski-mounted sled. Sitting low to the ground, the sensations are intense, any falls only a few centimetres high, and just like skiing, the turns are precise and the skids exhilarating!
What’s more, easy to get into and great fun, this new sport brings good skiers and non-skiers together.

It brings together skiers of all ages in a single activity, without having to go through the ‘learning’ stage… a great way to share intense emotions! For an easy introduction to the sport, head for the Leman Mountains Explore resorts (Abondance, Bernex, La Chapelle d’Abondance and Thollon-les-Mémises). For a more committed version of snooc, we test snooc-touring with a model specially designed to transform into a touring snowshoe. In these conditions, it’s all about the pleasure of accessing vast stretches of pristine wilderness before the thrill of sledding down off the beaten track.

HORS PISTE, the gentle mountain off the beaten track

4. Snowshoeing: a wide range of possibilities

Nature reveals itself in all its splendor and diversity in the ideal playground of the Evian-Vallée d’Abondance resorts. In all, almost 100 kilometers of marked trails criss-cross the region. From one-hour family walks to four- or five-hour steep hikes, there’s something for everyone. Contemplative or more athletic, this winter pastime has never been better! Combining freedom, accessibility and well-being – notions that are all the rage – snowshoeing is also building its success on the ever-growing desire to reconnect deeply with nature.

With trails in forests, on ridges, around traditional hamlets or at higher altitudes, no fewer than 31 itineraries (listed in a brochure available from Tourist Offices or for download) enable you to discover the Evian-Vallée d’Abondance region in complete freedom.
Outings with mountain guides are a sure-fire way to understand the landscape around us, and enjoy an even greater experience. Fondue at the summit, trapping or moonlight, here’s our selection:

Snowshoeing and fondue in the great outdoors!

If the benefits of physical activity are self-evident, what remains to be discovered is the pleasure of combining it with enjoying a fondue in the great outdoors… and above all, in the heart of nature!

After a few hours’ walking, you’ll head for the dining room, in a snow-covered summit version of course, to enjoy a delicious fondue comfortably seated on a snow table and chair you’ve built yourself…

Price: €30 / person, including snowshoes and fondue
Reservations: Cédric Cordonnier 06 13 12 19 45

Family outing with trappers

Learn to spot and decode animal tracks. All this during a fun outing with snowshoes, ending with marshmallows toasted on a campfire… That’s what Alp’Evianature offers. For half a day, children (and parents) will be introduced to Canada’s Far North!

From age 4. Prices: €16 / child, €20 / adult
Alp’Evianature : 06 48 78 65 44

Moonlight snowshoeing by moonlight

To make the experience complete, no headlamps or torches are allowed. Here, you’re guided solely by the light of the moon… a rare and privileged moment to reconnect with nature and yourself. Once a month, when the lunar calendar permits, a guide takes you on a magical 100% nature hike at night.

The starry sky and twinkling village lights are the stars of the show!
Various routes and gradients.

Duration: 2h – 2h30
Price: 22 € / person (snowshoes included)
Alp’Evianature : 06 48 78 65 44

5. Ski touring The freedom of the great outdoors

Ski touring is a rejuvenating activity that immerses you in nature. It allows you to enjoy snow-covered landscapes at your own pace, and to get away from it all. Off-piste, this activity is subject to weather and snow conditions (risk of avalanche), which is why resorts are developing marked and signposted itineraries for safe ascent. Progressive itineraries for beginners and individuals have been created in the Evian-Vallée d’Abondance region.

New marked trails in the Abondance area, including the climb from the village to the Pointe des Follys and its magnificent panorama of the Dents du Midi and Lake Geneva. Winding through mountain pastures and forests, the route combines comfort and freedom all the way to the Pointe des Follys. The green itinerary starts from the gondola arrival point, with just under 300 m of ascent, and the red itinerary starts from the village, with 744 m of ascent.

The first, ideal for beginners, takes you up to the finish of the Pré Richard chairlift in just 400 m of ascent. The second, with its 1,000 m elevation gain, is a little sportier and takes you up to the Pointe de Pelluaz, the resort’s highest point at 1,912 m altitude. Both routes then take you back down to the red and blue pistes of the Bernex ski area. Plus: panoramic views of Lake Geneva on the way up and down!

For beginners to ski touring, or for those who want to discover untouched areas in the calm and beauty of mountain landscapes far from the crowds of ski lifts, our ski instructors and guides are there to accompany you!