Issue No.26

Hikes, bikes and spas - Summer in Les Gets
Hike
Majestic mountains surround the village of
Les Gets and they’re perfect for hiking and
biking for all levels. There are chair lifts and
cable cars working throughout the summer
which makes reaching the summit a bit of a
doddle. You’ll get stunning views over Mont
Blanc and scenery that looks like something
out of your imagination.
I took the Mont Chéry gondola lift and then
hiked about an hour on the Chavannes
slopes up to the restaurant Les Chavannes.
It took me longer because I stopped so many
times to soak up the views. I passed herds of
goats and cows wearing bells which sounded
like an orchestra of elves. There are lush
forests and meadows of wildflowers,
cascades of fauna and flora and waterfalls
which look like a curtain of diamonds.
Traditional style chalets dot the slopes and
paragliders float overhead. The summer sun
shone down but high up in the mountains,
it’s still cool. You can get a map of hikes from
the tourist office (they’ll even suggest the
best picnic spots) and follow the marked
footpaths or go with a guide. There’s a little
tourist train that stops at the restaurant too,
though it isn’t frequent.
There are lakes you can take a dip in, secret
chapels, cheese farms and fabulous potters
in the hills, plenty to tempt as you wander.
Bike
Les Gets is heaven for cyclists. It’s reputed to
be the best mountain biking terrain in the
alps. Road bike, mountain bikes, enduro and
e-bikes – you’ll find it all here.