For a successful winter sports holiday, discover the best outdoor activities to do in Chatel. Chatel is a small Haute-Savoie village and a ski resort in the Portes du Soleil area.
In winter, the site offers many slopes for fun in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, or ski touring. In summer, outdoor activities are no less varied.
The estate promises nature lovers an exceptional stay with hiking trails, lakes, and impressive landscapes. And to help you plan your holiday, Travelvibe has put together a guide to the best things to do in Chatel.
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Here are the best outdoor activities to do in Chatel, France:
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Best Things To Do In Chatel in Summer and Winter
Best things to do in Chatel in Summer
Canyoning in Chatel in Summer
Thrill seeker? Discover Haute-Savoie through canyoning. Surrounded by valleys, Châtel guarantees you a canyoning session high in emotion.
On the program; waterfall abseiling, swimming, jumping, and slides. And all this in an exceptional setting. Haute-Savoie is also famous for its beautiful hiking spots. You can read it in detail here: Hiking In Haute-Savoie
This outdoor activity in Châtel is practiced on the stream of Crédin or at the Canyon of Nyon. Although canyoning requires an excellent physical condition, it can be practiced by beginners and experienced.
If you’ve never done one, an instructor guides you step by step to take the descents in the best way.
Via Ferrata in Chatel in Summer
Easier than climbing, via Ferrata, is one of the best things to do in Chatel in summer. For this, go to Saix-de-Miolène in the Abondance Valley. Here you move on a steep wall alternating rocky passages formed by vires, dihedrals, or overhangs.
Metal equipment is equipped to facilitate your movements throughout the route and guarantee your safety.
Paddleboarding in Chatel in Summer
Located near Lake Geneva, Châtel allows you to paddle. Standing or sitting on your board, you are right in the middle of this beautiful body of water. All around you, nature is omnipresent and allows you to enjoy a moment of absolute relaxation.
And even if you are not a great sportsman, the paddle is accessible to all. Just keep your balance and paddle to explore the treasures that surround Lake Geneva.
Hydrospeed in Chatel in Summer
Hydrospeed, also known as whitewater swimming, offers you new sensations. Thanks to a float and fins, you are propelled on the rivers. To practice this sliding sport, it is essential to know how to swim and be comfortable in the water.
And even if you’ve never done one, an instructor guides you to help you get through the obstacle-ridden course in the Abondance Valley.
Ramble in Chatel in Summer
Essential outdoor activity to do in Châtel; is hiking. Sporty or not, a trek allows you to enjoy nature while getting some exercise. One of the best trails is located at the Mont de Grange
Alpine pastures and is suitable for all levels.
For beginners, escape for a few hours to meet the chamois and other wild animals that inhabit the mountains. And for the more experienced, do not hesitate to leave for several days and enjoy a raclette hike.
MOUNTAIN BIKING in Chatel in Summer
Bike lover? Come and practice this outdoor activity in Châtel. With its many hilly trails, the resort is the ideal place for sportsmen. A Bike Park is even planned. It includes about twenty tracks, some specially adapted for children.
Whatever your level, there will be a path that will transport you. Accessible by chairlift, the park is 1,778 meters above sea level.
It is possible to rent your mountain bike for 49€, although prices vary depending on the type of bike chosen.
Escalation in Chatel in Summer
For all athletes, climbing is one of the best outdoor activities to do in Châtel. The town offers its visitors two sites to satisfy everyone. That of Plaine Dranse includes four blocks adapted to different levels.
If you have never practiced climbing, a guide accompanies you to tell you where to put your hands and feet. This makes it easier for you to progress to the top. Once up there, you will be impressed by the path traveled and the view of the mountains.
Paraglider in Chatel in Summer
What things to do in Chatel? Paragliding is then the ideal solution. Accompanied by a state-certified instructor, you overlook the Abondance Valley.
Once in the sky, you’ll feel like you’re flying. In addition to offering you a unique experience, paragliding allows you to discover Haute-Savoie in another way.
If you have never practiced this activity, opting for the discovery flight is recommended. You fly more than 1,500 meters above sea level for about fifteen minutes.
If you have more experience, you can choose higher and longer tours for maximum sensations. Depending on the options chosen, prices vary between €85 and €380. It is one of the best things to do in Chatel in the summer.
Rafting in Chatel in Summer
To refresh yourself during an outdoor activity in Châtel, there is nothing like a rafting session. Aboard an inflatable boat, you navigate between the sections of the river, alternating rapids and calm waters. Rafting is an ideal sport for families or groups of friends.
Once on the river, you must paddle while synchronizing to guide the raft. Châtel is a top choice for rafting. A unique landscape will surround you with impressive vegetation density along the way.
Wakeboarding in Chatel in Summer
Close to Lake Geneva, the resort of Châtel offers a thousand possibilities for outdoor activities. Among the options, you can wakeboard on the lake. Towed to the back of a boat on a skim or surfboard, you must stand while taking the waves.
This allows you to have a great time with your friends or family. Even when you’re not on the board, you’re sure to have fun watching the performance of your loved ones.
Best things to do in Chatel in Winter
Off-piste skiing in Chatel in Winter
Châtel is ideally located between Lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc massif for skiing. The resort is an ideal playground if you are a winter sports enthusiast. And if you want to get off the beaten track, why not opt for off-piste skiing.
At the top of the mountains, you benefit from a wide variety of corridors to slalom between obstacles. In addition to all these sensations, this outdoor activity is an excellent opportunity to admire an exceptional landscape.
The ESI Pro Skiing offers you half a day (4 hours) or a day to practice free hiking with a qualified instructor, from 200 € for a group.
Among the best trails, we recommend the Pointe de Chésery, the Tête du Géant, the Combes de la Leiche, or the corridors of Morclan.
Snowshoeing in Chatel in Winter
Why not diversify your hiking method with snowshoeing if you like to walk? This outdoor activity in Châtel combines all the advantages of trekking with the possibility of moving easily on the snow. It is the perfect sport for outings with friends or family.
And that’s good because the Portes du Soleil are full of trails adapted to snowshoes:
- Loop of cockroaches: following the path of ramines, you alternate between snow and forest trails. Throughout your walk, open your eyes to admire the landscape that surrounds you;
- Fox Trail: on the Swiss border, this six-kilometer path is reserved for experienced walkers;
- Edge of Dranse: between Châtel and Abondance, this itinerary takes you on a journey between the forests and meadows of the region.
Ski touring in Chatel in Winter
Less technical than downhill skiing, ski touring allows you to explore the hidden lands of Haute-Savoie. Practicing this outdoor activity in Chatel combines the pleasure of board sports with exceptional landscapes.
Ski touring can be practiced on various paths and usually allows you to get off the beaten track. If you are going alone, paying attention to the avalanche corridors is imperative. It is one of the best things to do in Chatel in winter.
Snowboard in Chatel in Winter
If you want to change skiing during your stay in Chatel, try snowboarding! You slalom between obstacles with both feet on a board for maximum sensations.
Among the best spots to practice this outdoor activity, we recommend Linga and Pré-La-Joux. These areas contribute to the reputation of the slopes of the Portes du Soleil.
It is possible to take snowboard lessons for 30€. It is one of the best things to do in Chatel in winter.
Sled dog in Chatel in Winter
Live an unforgettable experience by driving a team of sled dogs. You start this outdoor activity in Chatel by meeting your four-legged companions.
Then, the instructor explains the installation of the harnesses and the driving course. As soon as everything is in place, you start the walk surrounded by the snowy landscapes of the Abondance Valley.
Snowmobile in Chatel in Winter
The last outdoor activity to do in Chatel is snowmobiling. Comfortably seated in your vehicle, you drive an all-terrain machine capable of defying the coldest temperatures.
To offer you extraordinary landscapes, you head to the most beautiful sites of Haute-Savoie, such as the Chaîne des Aravis, the Carroz d’Arâches, Geneva, or Mont Blanc.
If you do not want to drive, it is possible to stay in the back of a loved one or let yourself be guided by an instructor.
We have tried to compile the best things to do in Chatel in both summer and winter. So, which best outdoor activities in Chatel are you going to do on your trip?
