Things to expect on a Mountain Bike Holiday in Morzine

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Things to expect on a mountain bike holiday in Morzine

It’s been an epic summer here in Morzine, the weather has been incredible, we’ve got more bikers than ever exploring our terrain and you may be wondering what all the fuss was about, so we’ve teamed up with our friends at Riders Refuge to tell you all about what to expect on a mountain biking holiday with them and some super handy tips if it’s your first venture…!
So if you have never been on a mountain bike holiday before, here’s a little guide to what to expect on a catered chalet holiday with Riders Refuge.

Mountain Biking in Morzine

Morzine is the perfect place to come for a mountain bike holiday it is part of a huge area known as the Portes Du Soliel and it is linked by 26 chairlifts which will take you and your bike up into the mountains.
There is every type of mountain biking available right here with plenty of trails which are graded according to the level of difficulty, green being the easiest to the hardest which is graded black. Make sure you pick up a free map so you can plan your route. Whatever type of mountain biking you prefer be it downhill, cross country, trail riding, single track, gravity enduro….. it’s all available to you on Morzine’s doorstep.

Morzine is only a short drive from Geneva Airport and most of our guests travel here by plane, we include transfers with all our catered holidays and we will organise this for you so we ensure you get to resort as quick as possible, it only takes about 70 minutes. Some of our guests prefer to drive and we have parking at all our chalets. So if your thing is repeated adrenaline runs down the Pleney mainline or more of a big day out in the mountains riding some amazing single track it’s all here in the Portes Du Soleil for you to take advantage of.

Getting your bike to the Alps

Many of our guests bring their own bike, you can include your bike when booking your flight some airlines charge extra for this for example easy jet charge is £35 each way. You need to make sure your bike is packed in either a bike box or bike bag and make sure you pack it well, pipe insulation is perfect for fitting round you frame, forks etc. Make sure you protect your rear mech and forks well so that they are not damaged in transit, most of our guests arrive with their bikes as they packed it but occasionally we have seen some bike bags or boxes damaged, the most common issue is a bent rear mech. Once you arrive at your accommodation you will be met by your chalet host, shown to your room and more importantly the bike store and your holiday has properly begun. All our chalets have secure bike stores with tools and workstands so you can prep and maintain your bike at the chalet, we also have washdown areas for you to clean your bike after a day on the trails. Don’t worry if you prefer to hire a bike there are many bike shops in Morzine where you can rent bikes and many different brands and specs of bike are available. We are happy to assist you with this.

Our Package

Our chalets offer breakfast which will fuel you for a day’s riding, afternoon tea is there for your return which consists of a freshly baked cake plus fresh bread with a selection of jam, there is always tea, coffee, cordials, cookies and fresh fruit for your help yourself to when you choose. Dinner is three courses of delicious home cooked food and we do a barbeque one night a week, let us know at the time of booking about dietary requirements and we can provide for that too. Our chalet hosts have a Wednesday off which allows you to sample one of Morzines restaurants of which there is many to choose from and we are happy to make recommendations and bookings for you.

Typical Morzine Summer Weather for Mountain Biking?

Although this summer we have had heat wave here in Morzine with temperatures reaching 40°C and lots of dry dusty trails the weather in the alps can be very changeable. The temperature difference between the valley floor and high up in the mountains can sometimes be as much as 10°C. We recommend you bring a small back pack to take with you on your ride.
Useful items in your back pack

Wind/water proof Jacket
Spare inner tube
Multi tool
pump
Spare Mech hanger
small 1st aid kit – antiseptic wipes, plasters, asprin, bandage
Sunscreen (even on a cloudy day)
Museli/chocolate bar

Depending on the weather conditions you may need other items to keep you warm and dry. The sun is pretty strong at altitude and it can be deceiving if there is a cool breeze so sunscreen is important.

What to wear
You will need a helmet for all riding in the alps and if you are doing more downhill then a full face helmet is recommended plus elbow and knee pads. Many people choose to wear neck braces and full body amour but there are a range of different trails here and you should always ride within your capabilities and wear what protection you are comfortable with.
Riding tops and shorts are personal preference but we would recommend a technical base layer to keep you comfortable and so you can enjoy your day and not be too cold or too hot when going up the chair lifts, doing an extra bit of climbing or nailing that descent. A good pair of riding shoes will also be beneficial when riding in the alps. Even on cross country rides you can come across some downhill so it is important that you plan your route and take what protection you think is appropriate for your ride.

Useful Checklist

Mountain bike with at least 100m of front suspension. We recommend a full suspension mountain bike.
Good downhill tyres of at least 2.35 if this fits your frame. Maxis Highroller 2 are a good choice for coming to Morzine
Spare inner tubes, downhill tubes are best.
Spare brake pads. At least one full set.
A backpack. One with a water reservoir is useful.
Your usual riding spares as mentioned above to go in your backpack.
Waterproof jacket.
Usual summer riding clothes
Helmet and goggles
Riding Gloves
Bike Sunglasses
Swimwear
Body armour. We recommend at least elbow and knee pads for riding in the Portes Du Soleil.

We hope that has whet your appetite for a mountain biking trip next summer.

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Chasing the snow – summer skiing in Europe

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Chasing the Snow – Summer Skiing and Glacier Skiing in Europe

Summer skiing. You have to go high (over 2500m at least) but glacier skiing is definitely worth a trip, with resorts offering more and more each year.

You may think that’s it for skiing after the winter season ends and fear the price tags for jet-setting to Australia, New Zealand or South America may be too much to stomach. Fear not, here is a rundown of the places you can catch some snow closer to home this summer!

This sort of holiday – summer skiing – is great if you missed out on the traditional winter season and the beauty of all of these resorts is that you can combine a summer and a winter holiday, with most offering a package price that gives you access to the whole mountain with other terrains for mountain biking and hiking available lower down. It’s a great idea for active holidays or folks that want to mix up their activities between the snow and the lower peaks.

Keep reading >>

So, here are some of the major summer skiing resorts and (estimated) lift opening dates for each year – they can vary based on climate and weather, but over the years we’ve noticed from the last 10 years are covered the date ranges we’ve added here for summer skiing thus far. Take a look start planning your glacier skiing trip!

Tignes Glacier Skiing

End of June/Beginning of July to August each year
There is 20km worth of slopes up on the Grand Motte glacier, they even have a terrain park and around 12 lifts running in the summer, take the funicular train from Val Claret to get access. Or why not try out Acroland on the lake, if you fancy hurtling down a ramp into the icy waters (on your choice of bike, skis or even just your stomach!)

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

Ski-Lifts offer private transfers to Tignes from Geneva & all surrounding airports throughout the summer!

Book Tignes transfers now >>

Hintertux Glacier Skiing

From Mid May through to October
Here you will find 60km of varied pistes, the park is still open with a huge superpipe, plus rails and boxes, plus access to some freeride terrain. Hintertux even offers a tour inside the glacier (Nature Ice Palace) with ice chambers and deeper into the caves with stalagmites and stalactites to see.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

Reach Hintertux from Innsbruck & other airports with Ski-Lifts this summer!

Book Hintertux transfers now >>

Saas Fee Glacier Skiing

End-of-June to mid-September
It is worth a visit simply for the incredible view to be seen from the top of the revolving restaurant. Saas Fee’s Allalin Glacier may be one of the more expensive summer ski stops but the pistes certainly don’t disappoint, neither will the impressive summer snow conditions at a massive 3,600m. During the summer ski season, you’ll see plenty of ski teams race training as the conditions here are second to none. And for the rest of us – the glacier offers 20km of slopes, suitable for all skier and snowboarder levels.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

We offer airport transfers all through the summer, that includes to Saas Fee from Sion & other surrounding airports.

Book Saas Fee transfers now >>

Les Deux Alpes Glacier Skiing

June to the beginning of September
Les Deux Alpes also boasts a height 3,600m and the lifts are open from 7 am till 12.30 to ensure the snow conditions are good. They have 17 lifts open made up mainly of drag lifts and a couple of chair lifts. The terrain is more focused on beginner-intermediate levels with mostly blue runs available however their snow park remains open and it is one of the best.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made. You can read our guide to summer skiing in Les Deux Alpes too, for more info.

Head over to Les Deux Alpes for summer skiing from Grenoble, Geneva & other surrounding airports.

Book Les Deux Alpes transfers now >>

Stubai Glacier Skiing

Start of May to the start of July
Stubai in Austria is known for glacier skiing. Stubai has a massive 62km of runs open until July, one of which is 10km long! There is a good range of challenging pistes including one black run and the lift prices are also very reasonable considering the slopes are open all day. A little lower down there is also ice grotto and kids playground. It’s a high one – over 3,600km above sea level – but obviously, well worth the trip.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

Book ski transfers from Innsbruck now >>

Zermatt Glacier Skiing

May – November
Zermatt’s glacier – Theodul – reaches 3,883m with 21km of groomed slopes and plenty to do for freestyle skiers and boarders in the Snowpark -which offers a half pipe, boxes and rails. The view of the Matterhorn and surrounding mountains is worth the trip and it is also a popular place for ski race training.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

Ski-Lifts provide transfers from Milan Malpensa, Geneva Airport to Zermatt & other surrounding airports to Zermatt throughout the summer.

Book Zermatt airport transfers now >>

Cervinia Glacier Skiing

July to the start of September
Breil Cervinia, on the Plateau Rosa Glacier, reaches 3,480 and offers great conditions for summer skiers. It is one of the biggest summer skiing areas as it also grants access to Zermatt’s pistes. The ‘Indianpark’ (freestyle Snowpark) is also considered one of the best parks in the Alps.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

Book your transfer from Turin to Cervinia & other surrounding airports throughout the summer with Ski-Lifts!

Book your Cervinia transfer now >>

So, as you can see, Europe has an immense set of glaciers to choose from when it comes to chasing the snow for summer skiing.

Get yourself out to the Alps this summer where you can ride the pistes or park in the mornings, before enjoying an afternoon of alpine activities (and there is a lot to offer, just check out our previous blog entries and summer pages to see how much you can do!).

And of course, Ski-Lifts are here to get you to any of these places with our transfers throughout the summer.

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Summer Mountain Biking and Hiking Lift Opening Dates in the Alps

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Summer Mountain Biking and Hiking – Lift Opening Dates in the Alps

Well winter may be over here in the Alps, but dust off your walking shoes and bikes, as its mountain biking and hiking that are now the activities of choice. So let us tell you when and where you can access the breathtaking summer scenery the Alps has to offer.

Portes Du Soleil
With 650km of mountain bike trails across the valley, there’s a great variety for all levels as well as well marked hiking trails. The ‘PassPortes Du Soleil’ event is the major event to mark the start of the season and is a must for any keen mountain bikers. http://www.passportesdusoleil.com/passportes-2015-edition.html

Lifts are open between these dates:
The Pleney and Morzine – 13^th June – 4^th September
Point de Nyon –13^th July – 21^st August (Hikers only)
Les Gets – 20^th June – 6^th September
Avoriaz Prodains – 26^th to 28^th June and 4^th July to 31^st August
Chatel -26^th June- 6^th September

Chamonix
With hiking being the resorts main focus, there is something for all levels. If you are up for the challenge, try the Tour of Mont Blanc, a 200km trip around France, Italy and Switzerland, only for accomplished hikers it takes around 8-10 days. Threes plenty of mountains biking trails too, just beware of some restrictions during the busy summer months.
Aiguille du Midi – 1^st June – 1^st November
Vallorcine Cable Car – 27^th June – 20^th August
Grand Montets – 27^th June – 13^th September

Verbier
With the now legendary Bike Park, Verbier has plenty to offer for walkers, bikers and climbers.
Les Ruinettes – 18^th – 22^nd May, 25^th – 29^th May, 1^st – 3^rd June, 8^th – 12^th June, 15^th – 19^th June and 22^nd– 26^thJune
Le Chable – Les Ruinettes (Bike Park) Weekends from the 6^th to the 28^th June. It is then open through the summer, then back to weekends from 26^th & 27^th September to the 25^th October.

Alpe D’Huez
With 100km of mountain biking terrain, and some lifts that are free for pedestrians (Mont de Lans) the great views from the resorts glacier are definitely worth a visit.
4^th July -23^rd August

Les Deux Alpes
The resort has recently updated their summer activities, with a new bike park, 100km of tracks and 5 cross country routes, in addition to vast hiking routes for all levels.
20^th June – 29^th August

Kitzbuhel
1000km of hiking trails and 800km of cycling and biking trails Kitzbuhel sets a high bar for other resorts. They even have their own mountain bike festival (20-28^th June) called Kits Alp Bike celebrating 20 years this year. (http://www.kitzalpbike.com/en/)
Hahnenkamm Cable Car 13^th June -26^th October, plus Every Friday, night rides from 26^th June to 18^th September.
Kitzbüheler Horn Cable Car – 9^th May – 4^th of October
Horn Cable Car to the summit – 16^th May – 4^th of October

Mayrhofen
Not as well known for its biking the Zillertal valley has plenty on offer, from hidden lakes and wildflowers for hikers and plenty of mountain biking with 800km of trails available.
Ahornbahn – 23^th May – 18^thOctober
Horbergbahn – 4^th July to 06^th September

If you have more dates or events to add, for any other popular resorts, please let us know and we’ll add them to this list.

The Ski-Lifts Team

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Things to expect on a mountain biking holiday in Morzine

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There is a lot more to Morzine than the winter…

Here at Ski-Lifts we don’t try to hide the fact that we love Morzine – it’s where it all started for us after all and we know a lot about the place.

Most people who are familiar with the town, will know it for skiing or snowboarding, or for downhill mountain biking in the summer months and it goes without saying that it is one of the best destinations in the world for both of those. But one thing that puzzles us is why more people don’t take advantage of the town and what it has to offer, outside of the two peak seasons?

For one thing, if you were to travel here outside of these peak periods, you can get cheaper flights and much cheaper accommodation, as demand is lower. Yet the weather can still be fantastic especially through May, June and September and if you are here to enjoy the mountains you don’t have to go far to pretty much experience them all to yourself. Plus there are always a few shops, restaurants and bars open all year, because unlike many other ski resorts, Morzine is a village where people live – not a purpose built resort.

Obviously, one downside could be that the lifts aren’t open on the mountain, so to get up there and enjoy them then you’ve got to use your own steam – but that’s all part of the fun and sense of achievement! Plus, pretty much any other activity on offer through the main summer season that doesn’t require the lifts, is still available in these quieter times and can actually be better.

For example, if you are into road biking, then getting out and tackling some the famous climbs, such as the Col de Joux Plane (one of the most famous climbs of the Tour De France), or the climbs up to Avoriaz, can actually be more enjoyable outside of the main summer months as the temperatures are more comfortable and the roads have less traffic.

In the last couple of years, Morzine has become well known as a base for triathlon training because it has something to offer for all three disciplines. The cycling we’ve mentioned, there’s plenty of nice trails to get out for a run and for the swimming there is an Olympic size pool and Lake Montriond. It’s why some of the biggest names in world triathlon are now using this as their base.

And if you prefer your biking of the off-road variety, then you can take on the numerous cross-country trails around and not have to contend with other riders getting in your way.

Finally, you can’t forget one of the oldest ways to enjoy the mountains, which is getting out and hiking – whether it’s in the forest on the lower slopes, or up in the high mountain pastures, the spring and end of summer months are arguably the most pleasant time to really get out there and experience it.

It goes without saying of course, that should you take our advice and come and visit Morzine outside of the peak seasons, we’re still running our airport transfers, so it couldn’t be easier.

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Lift opening dates for French Ski Resorts 2013-14

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Lift opening dates for French ski areas 2013-14 season

Following on from our last blog post where we gave you the lift opening dates for the Portes Du Soleil, here is a run down on the season dates for the other major ski areas throughout France.
Our best advice is always to check with the local tourist office before booking for the start or end of season as dates are subject to change based on snow conditions.

Chamonix Valley
The Grand Montets area in Argentiere will be the first to open, with a partial opening on the 7th December 2013 and full opening from the 21st December.
The full area will close on the 28^th April 2014, but some lifts will remain open until the 4^th May.

Les Houches will be fully open from the 21^st December 2014, with a closing date of the 13^th April 2014.
The Brevent area in Chamonix will be fully open between the same dates as Les Houches, but will have selected lifts open from the 14^th December.

Grand Massif
Flaine is the highest of the resorts in the Grand massif and therefore has the longest season, with lifts open from the 14th December 2013 until the 27th April 2014.

The other resorts such as Samoens, Morillon and Les Carroz open one week later on the 21^st December, until the 21^st April 2014.

3 Valleys
The Three Valleys will be open from the 7^th December 2013 until the 25^th April 2014.
Some lower lifts, such as in La Tania, are scheduled to open one week later on the 14^th December.

Val Thorens will be open longer, from the 23^rd November 2013 until the 11^th May 2014.

Espace Killy
The full Espace Killy ski area (Val D’Isere and Tignes) will be open from the 30th November 2013 until the 4th May 2014.

However, the Tignes glacier is already open and will not close until the 11^th May 2014!

Paradiski
The resorts that make up the Paradiski area (Les Arcs and La Plagne) all open from the 14th December 2013, although the connecting lifts to open up the full area do not open until the 20^th December.
The lift system closes on the 26^th April 2014.

The Southern Alps
And finally a run down on the opening dates for the major resorts in the Southern French Alps.

Alpe D’Huez is open from the 6^th December until the 26^th April, although some of the satellite resorts will close earlier on the 21^st April.

Les Deux Alpes is open from the 30^th November until the 26^th April.
Because of it’s glacier skiing, they also plan to open next week for school half term (26^th October until the 3^rdNovember)!

La Grave is also open from the 21^st December until the 4^th May.

Serre Chevalier plans to open from the 14^th December until the 21^st April 2014.

Wherever you are going, we hope you have a great time and don’t forget that we can provide transfers to all of these resorts and more.

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