Serre Chevalier (Hautes-Alpes) – Summer 2026 is set to be particularly busy in the Serre Chevalier Briançon valley. A bike park, legendary mountain passes reserved for cyclists, major festivals, new high-altitude activities, fun trails for families, and international sporting events... The alpine destination wants to confirm its growing status as a must-visit summer resort in the Southern Alps. The new addition: a large, fun high-altitude trail. This is one of the main new features for summer 2026. From August, Serre Chevalier will open a new fun trail in the Chantemerle sector, accessible from the high-altitude domain. The programme includes: a family loop...
Author: Romain Boisaubert
The slopes will be coming back to life earlier than expected at Les Gets. As of May 22nd, the Haute-Savoie resort will be launching several weekends of pre-opening for its bike park, to allow riders to get back to the dirt, berms and singletracks before the full summer season opens. In the Portes du Soleil, this event has become a must for downhill and enduro mountain biking enthusiasts. This year, the Chavannes sector will open progressively over four successive weekends, from May 22nd to 25th, then from May 29th to 31st, from June 5th to 7th, and finally from June 12th to 14th...
In the Alpine valleys, the cowbells are ringing once more. With the first departures for the mountain pastures, the traditional transhumances mark the return of an ancestral ritual that still dictates the rhythm of life in certain Savoyard mountains. In the Belleville valley, the Combes mountain pasture will kick off the season on 30 May. Approximately 180 Tarine and Abondance cows will leave the valley to join the high-altitude pastures, guided by the Collin and Poccard families, among the last producers of Beaufort «alpage chalet» in the area. The departure always takes place to the rhythm of the cowbells. At the front of the herds, shepherds Sylvain and Jean-Luc will lead the ascent to...
In Haute Tarentaise Vanoise, summer 2026 will be largely focused on cycling. Whether it's gravel, e-mountain biking, road cycling or family outings, the Savoyard region is multiplying new offerings and events to broaden its summer customer base. With new routes, road climbs and a mountain biking festival, the valley aims to establish itself as a playground accessible to all practitioners. A new loop between Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Tignes Among the season's new additions, «La Fario» is becoming one of the territory's key new routes. This e-mountain bike and gravel route connects Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Tignes over 40 kilometres. View this post on Instagram A post…
From 30 July to 2 August 2026, the Belleville Valley will host the first edition of the Grand Raid KipRun 3 Vallées – Moûtiers. An alpine trail running event that caters for all abilities, from amateur runners to ultra specialists, with starts reaching 3200 metres and a common finish in Moûtiers. The concept is simple: offer various formats to attract a wider audience. In total, seven races are scheduled, ranging from 10 kilometres to 170 kilometres. The most demanding event, the Ultra des 3 Vallées, covers 170 km with 12,000 metres of positive elevation gain.
Faced with rising coastal prices, several resorts are looking to reposition the mountains as an affordable option. In Vaujany, Flaine, Orcières, Valloire and in the areas operated by Altiservice, the summer of 2026 is being organised around the same objective. Offering free activities, multi-activity passes and combined deals to attract families and holidaymakers with controlled budgets. In some resorts, free access is becoming a central lever. In Vaujany, over fifty activities are offered each week at no cost. The programme alternates between sporting activities, cultural visits and festive events. Muscle wake-up sessions, tournaments, concerts or workshops for children punctuate the...
At Les 2 Alpes, the 2026 season is starting earlier than expected. From the weekends in May, the bike park will reopen partially, with a simple promise: to ride from an altitude of 3,200 metres down to Venosc at 960 metres. On slopes still marked by winter, the first riders will be back on the downhill trails come spring. The weekends in May and the early June bank holidays will serve as a relaunch phase. The Venosc and Jandri sectors will be the first to be accessible, with routes already familiar to regular visitors. For the most experienced, two trails directly connecting to the valley remain...
In Valloire, Savoie, the 2026 summer season is shaping up to be packed and lively. From June to the end of August, the resort will be hosting a string of sporting events, festivals, and cultural happenings. Between the opening of the Galibier, the passage of the Tour de France, high-altitude trail running, concerts, and artistic installations, the village is focusing on a continuous programme to attract holidaymakers and regulars alike. The Galibier opens the season for cyclists On 6 and 7 June, the Galibier Challenge marks the start of summer. The Col du Galibier, still bordered by walls of snow, reopens to cyclists in rare conditions. The road is closed to cars. Two routes are...
In the Hautes-Alpes, the Pays des Écrins is launching its season from the May bank holidays in 2026. With the reopening of high-altitude access routes, the first refuges becoming operational and the return of whitewater sports, the region is offering a gradual transition to summer, in a still unspoilt natural setting at the heart of the Écrins National Park. At this time of year, the mountains change their appearance. Paths are cleared, torrents swell with snowmelt and the valleys come alive again. Far from the summer crowds, the conditions offer ideal terrain for initial excursions. First treks towards high mountain country The progressive reopening of...
A Hautes-Alpes resort perched at an altitude of 1,850 metres, Orcières-Merlette is placing cycling at the heart of its 2026 summer season. With new infrastructure, major events and the arrival of the Tour de France on 23 July, the destination is asserting its position as a playground for all cyclists, from beginners to seasoned riders. In Orcières, the two-wheeled vehicle now forms the backbone of the summer offering. Both on the roads of the Champsaur and the trails of the bike park, cycling is available in all its forms. The recent awarding of the Accueil Vélo label to the leisure centre confirms this focus and is accompanied by a ramp-up of the…
Perched at an altitude of 2,188 metres between France and Italy, the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass stands out as one of the sites to rediscover this summer 2026 in Haute Tarentaise. Once merely a transit point, this high-altitude plateau is transforming into a destination in its own right, blending heritage, nature, and immersive experiences, accessible from June to September. As you arrive at the pass, the landscape opens up suddenly. The gentle lines of the alpine pastures contrast with the stone vestiges that recount centuries of crossings. On these peaks, people no longer just pass through. They stop, sometimes for several days, to explore a territory that...
A Savoyard resort located in the heart of the Tarentaise valley, La Plagne is launching its 2026 summer season from late June to early September with an expanded offering. Between new outdoor activities, major sporting events and well-being-focused proposals, the destination confirms its ambition to establish itself as a comprehensive playground in the summer. When the snow disappears, the resort changes its pace without losing its identity. The ski lifts open up to the alpine pastures, and hiking trails and mountain bike routes take over. Summer now represents a growing part of its activity, with over 737,000 overnight stays...
Hailing from Courchevel, a renowned restaurateur and former firefighter, Thierry Mugnier has been appointed president of Courchevel Tourisme following the municipal elections. At the helm of the tourist office and the security commission, he embodies a local journey, blending deep roots with high-end experience. In Le Praz, his name has been circulating for a long time. In this village that saw several prominent figures of the resort grow up, Thierry Mugnier belongs to a generation shaped by the mountains, even before Courchevel's international boom. Grandson of farmers and son of a ski instructor, he knows the territory intimately, its seasons, and its balances. His...
The flagship resort of Oisans, Les 2 Alpes is extending its summer season from 13 June to 30 August 2026, with a notable feature: almost continuous activity since spring. Between high-altitude skiing, mountain biking, trail running and new experiences, the destination is focusing on a non-stop model and a broadened offering for all audiences. At Les 2 Alpes, summer no longer truly begins in July. From May onwards, the resort enters a hybrid period where snow and the first dry trails coexist. Higher up, the glacier remains skiable, while lower down, the terraces reopen and the bikes take over…
From 25 April to 3 May 2026, Tignes will be closing its winter season with the second edition of Tignes Unlimited. An electro festival at altitude that mixes spring skiing and DJ sets on the slopes, with an international line-up spread between the summits and emblematic locations of the resort. In Tignes, the end of the season doesn't go out with a whimper. At the end of April, skis on, the resort switches to a different vibe. On the terraces, at the top of the slopes or in the heart of the ski area, music takes over from the sound of carving. The Tignes Unlimited festival is settling in for a…
The iconic Alpine resort will reveal another facet of its territory in summer 2026. Between new sporting activities, major events and immersion in the heart of nature, Courchevel is banking on a more authentic season, open from July 4th to August 30th. When the snow melts, Courchevel changes tempo. The white slopes make way for mountain pastures, skis for hiking boots, and the resort returns to a more peaceful rhythm. On the bend of a path, in a hamlet or by a high-altitude lake, a different mountain reveals itself, more intimate, almost secret. New features to broaden the Courchevel experience are not content with...
At Les 2 Alpes, the 2026 summer season brings several new features covering sports activities, developments, and local initiatives. The resort in Oisans aims to diversify its uses outside of winter, with an offering designed for both families and regular mountain users. A new range of activities on the trails High up in the Vallée Blanche, a new supervised activity is launching. Electric all-terrain scooter outings are on offer along marked routes, starting from the Molière sector (Vallée Blanche). Groups remain limited and supervision is provided…
From June to the end of August 2026, Val d’Isère is hosting a string of sporting, cultural, and festive events. Between major cycling events, high-altitude competitions, and village fêtes, the Savoyard resort is structuring its summer season around a packed calendar, designed to attract both athletes and passing visitors. From 21 June, the Col de l’Iseran road will be reserved for cyclists for nearly 30 kilometres. More than 500 participants are expected for this iconic climb up to an altitude of 2,770 metres, one of Europe's highest road passes. See this post on Instagram A post shared by Val d'Isère…
As summer 2026 approaches, the Belleville Valley is renewing its offerings with several openings and developments. In Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and Les Menuires, restaurants, accommodation and local produce-related activities are adapting to a rise in summer visitor numbers. Since this winter, Cime Caron has been opening for the summer season for the first time. Located at an altitude of 3,200 metres, the site is now accessible to pedestrians via the cable car. The completely redeveloped building offers a rest area with a panoramic restaurant and terrace. From the site, the view extends over a large part of the Alpine arc. The location is also intended to be a point of...
From 3rd to 5th April 2026, Vaujany's resort will be hosting the fourth edition of «Pâques des Films» (Easter of Films), a festival dedicated to adventure cinema. For three days, screenings and talks will follow one another with directors, scientists, and athletes. The event, which is free and open to all, is aimed at both residents and holidaymakers present at the resort. In the screening room, spectators take their seats from the first sessions. The festival begins with screenings for schoolchildren centred around the film "Hors piste sensible et sauvage". Workshops then follow, focusing on mountain-related professions. Over the weekend, the programme...
EN 
FR