The villages, lakes and surrounding areas offer you the ideal family destination. Perfect for children of all ages to participate in a wide range of activities all on your doorstep ranging from swimming, to adventure parks and inflatables, to sporting activities specifically designed for the young. From our own experiences here at Alps Accommodation, we know that holidays abroad with younger children can be a struggle, so we hope these suggestions will be useful. Alpine family holidays are gaining in popularity, as you really don't need to suffer with the heat on a packed beach, to have a fabulous family summer holiday. The real focus of the summers here are the families, which is evident in the list of suggestions we have made below designed to keep your toddlers and children of all ages happy and amused. Here are our recommended top things to do with children in Morillon, Sixt, and Samoëns in summer.
Samoëns has a large open air swimming park with a 60m water slide, a 25m swimming pool, a medium sized pool, and a large baby pool with mini slide. It is set in 6000m2 of immaculately kept lawns, enabling you to relax and enjoy the stunning scenery. There is a shaded picnic area, plus you can lay out your picnic in the grounds, or you may simply chose to go the swimming pool cafe/restaurant. Here you can also enjoy an area designated for ball games. More information.
Our beautiful valley has natural lakes scattered near and far which are ideal for swimming. The most child friendly of these are the beautiful Lac Bleu in Morillon and the Lac aux Dames in Samoëns, which have designated swimming areas with life guards (July and August), and a long sandy beach area at Lac Bleu, plus they're free of charge to use! The lakes are surrounded by a huge number of other activities well suited to children, plus excellent family friendly cafe/restaurants at both lakes, of course, stunning scenery!
Offers a vast array of varied hikes, Samoëns and the Haute Giffre valley is the perfect choice for families. Whether it's a gentle stroll along the river Giffre between Samoëns and Morillon, or a walk around waterfalls and at Le Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval, an adventurous hike to one of the many family friendly refuges in the area, groups with children of any age are catered for. Visit our Hiking page for route information.
The villages of Samoëns and Morillon themselves offer super walking routes with lots for kids to enjoy. The most popular being the Botanical Gardens, open all year and offering a great little walk past several waterfalls to the famous little chapel for the best views of Samoëns.
The Samoëns area offers a wide range of cycling opportunities, catering for every ability and age.
For younger children, the most popular routes follow the Giffre river from Taninges, through Samoëns and Morillon, to Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval on a wide, well surfaced gravel track with several deviations and fun sections through the woods. The route takes in waterfalls, the lakes of Samoëns and Morillon, and features several bars and restaurants for refreshments.
If you have very young children and wish to cycle around the villages, you can hire a 4 wheel bike with secure seating at the front for kids! We recommend going from Samoëns along to the beautiful hamlet of Vallons. It's a flat route and you can cycle past little chapels in this quiet hamlet boasting some of the valley’s finest traditional Savoyard architecture.
The Grand Massif lift network offers some great mountain biking for more experienced and adventurous children, however the trails are generally steep and technical. The bike park in Les Carroz offers some great family friendly trails.
Our bike rental partners off a great selection of mountain bikes, road bikes, and e-bikes, visit our Mountain Biking page for more information.
The tree-top parks of Samoëns and Morillon are perfect for adults and kids alike! Rope slides, zip slides, suspended bridges and walkways high in the trees. There are a range of levels to suit all ages from 2 years old. Visit our Summer Activities page for more information.
There are a couple of parks and play areas ideal for young children. Three of these are set by the lakesides, so a perfect spot to also enjoy a picnic, with designated picnic areas and seating available. Or feel free to set up anywhere in the acres and acres of grassland. The parks are well equipped with all you would expect from a playground including different sized swings, mini and larger slides, roundabouts and climbing frames.
Samoëns lakeside has an inflatable jump bag from 4 years, with 2 heights of drop to perfect your somersaults, plus a small bouncy castle for toddlers.
At Lac Bleu in Morillon is the extremely popular Le Mali's Park with 6 different areas for kids of all ages. Plenty of shaded areas and sun beds, parents can relax while children play.
The lifts in Samoëns and Morillon offer a perfect opportunity for families to easily get to a mountain peak for amazing views!. And you can spot wildlife along the way.
The Grand Massif Express, followed by the Chariande Express whisk you up to over 2000m, offering wonderful views of Mont Blanc.
We also strongly recommend taking the Esserts and Bergin Chairlifts in Morillon Les Esserts to the Igloo restaurant for lunch in a wonderful family restaurant. There are toys and table tennis for the kids, plus a huge terrace with dining and plenty of deckchairs. Either take the lift back down, or walk down spotting pictures of alpine animals and birds hidden in the trees.
Lift opening dates are available on our Summer Activities page.
A tourist train on which you can enjoy 20 minute guided tours of Samoëns village.
Located approximately 6km from Samoens and 10k from Morillon. Sixt Fer à Cheval offers the vastest natural reserve in the Haute-Savoie, over 9200 hectares, making it a favourite place for wildlife and mountain fauna. There are numerous easy walking paths of this natural reserve of Sixt, and if you are lucky, you may see chamois, ibexes and marmots (binoculars are recommended!). There are a few cafes and restaurants dotted along the way, plus other activities such as horse riding and a small visitors centre, home to the enormous stuffed vulture found in the valley! Sixt Fer à Cheval is also home to dozens of waterfalls, so offers an ideal day (or 2!) out with plenty to see and do and keep the kids amused.
The Clos Parchet Farm Folk Museum. Located just outside Samoëns, take a step back in time by visiting this traditional authentic farm restored to its former glory from 1815. They have brought together a collection of period utensils to illustrate everyday life as it was.
Perfect for all ages and abilities, and a great way to explore the valley.
Visit our Summer Activities page for more information.
Samoëns has a driving range with a difference allowing you to hit your balls out onto a lake! Club hire is 2 Euros, as is a bucket of balls, which is more than enough to keep you busy.. There is a large kids park directly next to the driving range, so younger kids can also be amused. Find out more
Next to Morillon lake is a fun mini golf course. lovely shady spot, ideal on a hot day with picnic benches also available.
With an age limit of around 5-8 years, kids (and the parents!) can also enjoy further activities to include climbing (from 5 years), via ferrata, parapenting, rafting and canyoning (from 8 years).
Visit our Summer Activities page for more information.
Push chairs can be hired from J'aime Sport in Samoëns. Find out more
Cots and high chairs are available in all chalets and apartments listed on our website.
