PORTES DU SOLEIL
This network of 12 resorts straddling the French-Swiss border has been a firm favourite with British riders seeking downhill thrills since the early 2000s. Between them, the bike parks of Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel and Champéry-Morgins have more than 50 DH runs on offer, from beginner blues to World Cup tracks. Beyond the well-worn descents, however, there’s a massive network of wilder trails waiting to be explored, from classic alpine singletrack to hand-cut enduro lines. One lift pass gives you access to all 12 areas and hundreds of kilometres of trails, linked by 22 chairlifts and gondolas. Just don’t overdo it on the Mützig (strong lager) in Morzine’s Bar Robinson or you won’t be able to make the most of the riding!
1 PORTES DU SOLEIL FRANCE
THE LOWDOWN
TRAVEL
Flights from London to Geneva start from around £70 return (outside of school holidays and not including any extra fees for luggage and/or bikes). From there, many accommodation providers can arrange a shuttle. Alternatively, it’s driveable from the UK in a day.
STAY
We’d recommend Morzine (busier) or Les Gets (quieter). There are lots of chalets and hotels to choose from, either self-catering or half-board. Morzine has camping, too.
TRY
The annual Pass’Portes du Soleil event takes you on a tour of the area, with amazing food stops along the way.
INFO
LES DEUX ALPES
Known for the legendarily brutal Mountain of Hell mass-start race, Les Deux Alpes is also home to an expansive bike park with 98km of marked trails for all abilities, from cross-country to enduro and downhill, plus a pump track, skills area and more. Take the lifts up to the glacier – where you’ll find skiers and snowboarders even in summer – and you can descend all the way to the valley floor, 2,300 vertical metres below. A new snow mountain biking trail is set to open this year, along with a double-black DH run. Buy a six-day pass and you also can ride the lifts in nearby Alpe d’Huez and Montgenèvre for a day each.
2 LES DEUX ALPES FRANCE
THE LOWDOWN
TRAVEL
The nearest airport is Grenoble, but flights from the UK in summer are limited. You can fly to Lyon (from £70 return) and then get a shuttle, or drive from the UK.
STAY
There’s the normal alpine choice of chalets or hotels in L2A.
TRY
Buy the six-day pass (approx. £90) and make the 45-minute drive to Alpe d’Huez, home to the infamous Megavalanche track and more bike park and XC trails, as well as the famous Tour de France road climb.
INFO
www.les2alpes.com/summer www.alpedhuez.com/summer
QUEYRAS
in the Hautes-Alpes of south-eastern France is one of the most recent alpine areas to have its tourism infrastructure developed. As such, its unspoilt,
