40 good reasons to go to the French Alps in winter when you don't ski!

There are many ways to get to the French Alps in winter even when you're not skiing.

Can you really go to the mountains in winter, without skiing, and not get bored?

The answer is YES!

There are plenty of reasons to go to the mountains in winter, even if you don't practice any snow sports: the beauty of nature and landscapes, the very fun leisure activities that will leave us with excellent memories, and an extraordinary playground for different types of sports.

AlpAddict.com offers you 40 ideas for activities to discover in the French Alps in winter, and a selection not limited of stations where you can practice them!

Rediscovering the Nature of the French Alps without skiing!

The mountain is above all a preserved natural environment. Whether at the bottom of the valleys, or along the slopes, nature changes depending on the altitude and exposure, which gives an incredible palette of landscapes during your experiences.

In winter, you can easily explore forests, river banks, and frozen lake shores for inspiring and relaxing sessions that will make you feel well and refreshed.

Do you prefer to walk, take your time, recharge your batteries?

Hiking : several resorts have marked out winter trails for walking in the forests or admiring magnificent viewpoints. Armed with good mountain boots, and why not hiking poles, the silence and peace of the snowy woods will accompany you during your walk. Where? Everywhere!

Snowshoe walks : Following a path is nice, but not very adventurous. So to satisfy your desire for adventure you can discover the forest differently, and from its clearings and thickets, by walking with snowshoes on your feet. What's the point? To avoid sinking into the thick layer of snow, and to progress safely both up and down. Where? In all the resorts you will find suggestions for snowshoe walks and often outings with a guide are possible. When possible, don't miss the night outings, with torches. You will find them in modern resorts like Les Ménuires or Pra Loup as well as in nature resorts like La Féclaz.

Pulka hike : These are hiking trips that are self-sufficient and follow routes offered by specialized organizations, or solo to reach two distant points by carrying all your equipment and belongings on a sled (the Pulka) that you will pull as you progress through the snow. There is also a variant with dogs pulling the Pulka and who can also help you. It is a real micro-adventure that lasts several days and takes you through pristine regions. Night in a refuge of course. Where? The Vercors, Queyras, Briançonnais are wild enough to allow you this kind of activity.

Wellness Stays : going to the mountains is above all about recharging your batteries, finding yourself, taking a break. This is what is offered by a whole range of activities around snowshoe yoga – snowshoe walks punctuated by yoga breaks (Val Thorens, Le Grand Bornand, Chamonix), mindful walking (Chartreuse), yoga-skiing (Morzine-Avoriaz). To discover for a break that is both sporty, relaxing and revitalizing. You can also enjoy outdoor thermal hot water baths in a snowy environment, like in Monetier, one of the villages that make up the Serre Chevalier resort

Very natural experiences in the company of animals?

Horse-drawn carriage ride : to discover a village, or reach a small lake or a viewpoint, these gentle walks, to the sound of horses' hooves and the bells of their ornaments are a timeless experience. To be done when the route is calm and relaxing. Where? A Avoriaz, it is even the most common means of transport within this car-free resort. Sites like Le Grand Bornand or Les Saisies lend themselves well to this type of activity.

Sleigh dogs : An experience that will delight all fans of our four-legged friends. These dogs, mostly Huskies, love to race down snowy slopes at high speed, driven by a musher. You sit on a sled that bounces at every bump in the ground, picking up speed on descents and turns, which will leave you with memories of great laughs! Sometimes you can take the experience to the point of trying to be the musher yourself, or preparing the dogs for their walk. Where? Almost all resorts offer them. However, it is the resorts with forests and valley-bottom slopes that are the most exotic: Vercors, Les Saisies, the Val d'Arly, Briançonnais, Queyras, Haute Ubaye…

Horseback riding in the snow : horseback riding in the snow to discover winter landscapes. Where? Activities are offered in Val d'Isère and Superdévoluy for example.

Lama sled : in a small sled, you are pulled by a… llama! After all, why not? Where? In Névache, in Briançon!

Skiing is not the only fun activity for maximum fun and memories

Laughing and having fun with family or friends: this is often what we expect from vacations. Fun, new, exotic experiences, almost mini-adventures that we will take home as memories to share again together or with other members of our entourage.

The mountain in winter, with its typical activities, which often cannot be practiced in the plains or in the city, will offer you a huge choice of leisure activities that will leave you with unforgettable memories.

In winter, we often want to slide! And there are plenty of opportunities

Luge: who hasn't tried to go down a snowy slope with a sled? Whether it's made of wood, old-fashioned, or with a colorful plastic shell, it goes down, it slides, it picks up speed, you end up with your face covered in snow, and you take great photos and videos of memorable falls! The braver you are, the higher you climb to pick up speed. You quickly get exhausted, but the red cheeks and the laughter leave unforgettable memories. Where? Everywhere! This is probably the easiest activity to organize, sometimes even with a simple garbage bag (not to be left in nature, of course!!!)

Yooner : an old-fashioned sled revisited… You sit on a cushioned seat that rests on a skate that looks like a ski. When seated, it is the feet that will help to steer and brake as well as a handle held in the hands. It is a small snow kart, it is fast but the sensation is good especially if you slide on a groomed track. In fresh snow it tends to sink; it will be better to take a simple sled. Where? The resorts of La Clusaz, Avoriaz, Tignes, Morzine and Sainte Foy Tarentaise have authorized it (it often descends among the skiers).

Snow tubing : it's a buoy in which you sit and let yourself slide... well, you don't have much control anymore, and the buoy tends to turn on itself so you sometimes find yourself with your back to the slope! That's what's fun! You need a bit of space on the slopes, and sometimes the snow buoys have their own track with small jumps, or a big jump on an inflatable mattress! Where? Whether in large resorts like Tignes or Orcieres-Merlette 1850 or in smaller village resorts, the toboggan area is often equipped with a snowtubing track. Nothing stops you from taking your summer tubes and trying a slide on the snow front!

Snakegliss or collective luge : a chain of sleds attached to each other. The more the merrier, especially on the bends! Where? From Val Thorens to Les Sybelles, from La Plagne to Les Contamines Montjoie, from Risoul to Pra Loup, practically everywhere you can go sledding you can do Snakegliss.

Toboggan on rail : we are getting closer to the amusement park for this very fun activity. A sled fixed on rails hurtles down a slope taking turns that you would never have dared to take on your own! A little short, sometimes with the air of a merry-go-round, but we love being a child again! Or ? Val d'Allos, Les Ménuires, Montgenèvre, Les Orres, Chamonix, Les Saisies, to name just a few, and even with a virtual reality headset to be transported into imaginary worlds in Alpe d'Huez or Le Carroz!

Bobsleigh : lovers of sliding and thrills, this is for you! Going down an Olympic Bobsleigh circuit is possible in France, in La Plagne. You will have the choice between two versions at 80km/h or 130 km/h. In the first case you will benefit from automatic piloting, and in the second case you will have a pilot on board! Wow! Where? Only at La Plage.

Motorized vehicles for walking on the snow…

Segway on snow: the Segway, or Segway, looks like a large scooter with two wheels that surround a platform on which you stand. No need for balance, it's so heavy that it stands on its own. By tilting your body forward, the Segway will move forward, and by leaning to the sides you will turn. It's easier to do than to describe, it's so intuitive. Once you've got the hang of it, you can explore discovery trails in the forest or on small circuits. A noise-free experience! Where? Val Thorens, Les Karellis, Saint Sorlin d'Arves, L'Alpe d'Huez, Pralognan la Vanoise, Valloire, Samoëns, Le Grand Bornand, and many other resorts offer it!

Snowmobile ride : a classic of the Great North. To enjoy it, it is better to be in large "virgin" spaces, and not on the edge of a resort or a slope! It will feel more like an adventure. It is a little noisy, and not very eco-friendly, but it remains a pleasure that many appreciate! Where? All the big resorts offer them of course: from Val Thorens to La Plagne (with very beautiful landscapes), from Risoul to Vars, from La Toussuire to ChamrousseHowever, to live a Great North experience, there is nothing better than the Vercors.

Activities on the ice:

Rink : ice skates! How wonderful it is to skate when you know how to do it, but you have to start somewhere! So, take the plunge and end up doing a few laps on your first outing. Outdoor skating rinks are the most enjoyable during the day and at night, but when they are natural on frozen lakes, you feel transported to Scandinavia or Canada. Where? We will go then on the Plagnes lake near Abondance, or on Lake Tignes. Otherwise, in almost all ski resorts you can skate in the open air on artificial slopes on the snow front in the centre of the resorts.

curling : playing boules on ice? It's a bit like the spirit of curling. It's a sport (yes!) that is played on an icy surface, such as an ice rink or a lake, and which consists of sliding heavy granite stones on the ice surface so that they stop in a circular area, which is the target. Roughly speaking, a mix of bowling for the skill and the weight of the object and pétanque for the concept of target. Not easy, very technical, but ideal for enjoying the fresh air and playing with several people. In some regions like Tyrol, it is a traditional sport. Where? Megève, Pralognan la Vanoise and Saint Gervais Mont Blanc have curling rinks. But you can sometimes find spaces for learning curling in the ice rinks in the resort.

Even stronger sensations?

Paragliding : we all know paragliding. We climb to a summit or the edge of a cliff, we launch ourselves and we fly without a sound (apart from the whistling of the air on the sail) over a snowy landscape. Well, the only limitation is that we have to reach a place high up, and that we often go up by ski lifts. But there is always the option of hiking, or transport by snowmobile! To be seen according to the resorts. Where? In all stations.

paragliding on skis : the ski version of paragliding! Makes sense, right? Instead of landing in a field, you land on a runway and finish the race by sliding on your skis. Where? Flaine, Avoriaz, Isola 2000 among others!

Zipline : suspended from a cable, you feel like you're flying at breakneck speed over forests, valleys, and resorts! And in winter, the cold becomes biting! Where? The most beautiful in the Alps in France: Val Thorens-Orelle, Orcieres-Merlette 1850, L'Alpe d'Huez, Valfréjus… But be careful, you often have to go up first with ski lifts!

What sports can you do in winter in the French Alps when you're not skiing?

Of course, the main sport in the mountains is skiing and its sliding variants, such as snowboarding or telemark. Whether it is downhill (alpine skiing) or more fun (freestyle skiing in snowparks), or new trends such as wingjump (skiing slowed down by a braking suit like the wingsuit) you will need ski lifts to practice them.

Other sports with skis, but without ski lifts

Nordic skiing : It's practical when there are no ski lifts, when you want to get off the slopes and wander around the mountains (be careful, do this with a guide if you don't know the area). Skis on your feet, "seal skins" - which are now synthetic textiles - attached under the skis so you don't have to go backwards with each step when you're on a slope, and you climb. It's hard, it's a real sport, and the fun comes on the way down since you ski on the slopes or off-piste to go back down. Where? Everywhere! But with caution!

Snooc Touring: The idea is to use skis for ski touring, and transform the whole thing into a "sled", "yooner" style (see above) to go back down, even in powder snow. Complicated? No! The advantage compared to ski touring is that if you are afraid of skiing down in powder snow, you feel reassured sitting on a Snooc. It's a new approach to snow sports, a 2 in 1! Where? La Plagne, Chamrousse, Serre Chevalier have already approved the snook on the ski slopes and lifts, but of course off the slopes, and in ski touring mode, you can do it anywhere!

speedriding : a small paraglider sail on your back, and you ski down slopes making very long jumps. Obviously it is a sport that is not practiced everywhere, since it would be dangerous to fly in the middle of other skiers. Where? You can try your hand at Speed ​​Riding in Valfréjus, Les Arcs, Val d'Isère and Tignes and get started in La Plagne or Les 2 Alpes.

Snow kite (also called paraski) : like a kite surfer, you let yourself be pulled by a sail, a kite, to move on the slopes. Where? Autrans, and Font d'Urle in the Vercors, Le Semnoz, and passes like Lautaret, la Madeleine, les Aravis, Petit Saint Bernard.

Ski-Joëring : the horse pulls you on your skis along a course. If it starts galloping, the sensations are extremely strong, and are similar to water skiing! Or ? In Alpe d'Huez, La Clusaz, Les Orres, Les Arcs, Serre Chevalier. You can also be pulled by dogs; Where? in Bogève, or Chamonix.

Cross-country Skiing : we walk or run rather, or even skate with thin and light skis. A discipline necessary to cover the great Scandinavian distances, we find it in the Alps, rather in the valley bottoms or on plateaus. All the resorts or almost offer at least one loop, but the beautiful courses are in the forest or along the waterways. Where? Les Saisies, the Chamonix Valley, the Val d'Abondance, the Val Montjoie, the Grand Bornand, the Vercors, the Haute Maurienne (Bessans and Bonneval sur Arc), the Briançonnais and the Queyras offer the most beautiful courses.

Biathlon: we do cross-country skiing along a course that regularly passes through a shooting range. We then take the rifle that we carry on our back and shoot at a target. Firm hand, controlled breathing, and race against time. Both explosive and mastered, this sport takes us back to the origins of man: movement and hunting. Later it was a military art. Today a full-fledged outdoor sport, and rifle versions with real lead shot or laser shots. Where? The major cross-country ski resorts also offer biathlon initiation. Several other resorts allow you to learn biathlon with a laser rifle.

For two-wheel fans:

Fat bike / Fat e-bike: mountain biking on snow, or its “electrically assisted” version. Much larger wheels than a mountain bike so as to grip the slippery surface well, and all types of routes: either downhill, with skidding, or on flat and hilly terrain like a normal mountain bike. Where? Fat Bikes can be rented in almost all resorts, but the descents at Val Thorens are quite legendary. You can try them out in Montgenèvre, Praz de Lys Sommand, Villard de Lans, Les Saisies and La Giettaz, where you will find the electric-assisted version.

X-bike, or snow scooter : Launched in Maurienne (Val Cenis, Aussois, La Norma) it is a scooter with mountain bike wheels. We go down the ski slopes with it. Or ? Well, in Maurienne, precisely !

Adventure sports!

Icefall climbing : you plant your crampons and an ice axe in the ice, climbing almost vertically. Artificial or natural ice falls in the middle of the forest, they shine with their translucent and elusive nature. You wonder how you hold on to them. It's the same effort as climbing on a wall with the difficulty of controlling the equipment and the biting cold! The installations or ice falls are often in the shade. Where? Oisans: Oz, Vaujany and Alpe d'Huez and Briançonnais offer sites for beautiful initiations. In the Northern Alps, Champagny in Vanoise offers you this activity.

Winter canyoning or Ice-canyoning : canyoning in the cold, icy waters of torrents in the middle of winter, in snowy settings! For fans of the big thrill… of the cold! Where? Morillon in Haute Savoie offers beautiful routes. But also around from Annecy, in Vercors, in Isère.

Diving in icy waters (Tignes) : want a polar experience? Why not dive under the ice of a mountain lake and see the frozen layer from below, in the company of a few fish? Unique sensation, invigorating experience! Where? Tignes is the most popular spot, but Lake Montriond near Morzine, and Lake Sollières near Val Cenis also offer some icy underwater excursions!

Cold Weather Survival Course : Test the life of a trapper? Live, or rather survive, two days, in the woods in complete autonomy in the heart of winter? Where? It is possible on the Glières plateau.

And to enjoy the mountains with family outings…

The purpose of vacations is to share and discover with family or friends, different ways of life, experiences, shows, games...

Visit to a farm or sheepfold : Children love animals, and visits to farms or sheepfolds, in summer and winter, leave them with wonderful memories. Don't forget to taste farm products, or even bring some back to share when you return from vacation. Where? In all the village resorts, where life doesn't stop after the ski season: the Abondance Valley, the Arly Valley, the Vercors, the Queyras, the Ubaye, etc.

Visit to a reindeer farm : And why not a reindeer farm? Yes! Precisely the ones that transport Santa Claus! Where? You can visit one at Megève !

Visit to a cheese factory : memories of winter sports holidays often revolve around cooked dishes made with cheese: raclettes, fondues, tartiflettes, etc. So why not visit a cheese production site. Where? Whether in the land of Abondance, in Beaufortain, Le Queyras, the Bauges… the cheese factories await you!

Cultural and artistic discoveries : all villages have art treasures to reveal to you. Contact the Tourist Offices to discover what secret is hidden in your place of stay! Churches, chapels, organs, old trades, old workshops, peasant museums, etc. An example? In the Pays du Mont Blanc, you can visit the path of baroque churches around Saint Nicolas de Véroce opposite the Mont Blanc Massif in the morning, and then in the afternoon admire inside theChurch of the Assy plateau (above Passy) works by Chagall, Braque or Matisse, and admire, as you leave the church, a sunset that shines on the Goûter refuge and turns Mont Blanc pink! Or in Saint Véran, in Queyras, understand how sundials work... Which just goes to show that in the mountains, culture isn't just in the fields!

Treetop adventure course in winter version: climbing trees, crossing a forest on cables stretched between the trees, in a magical, snowy environment. Where? These courses are not often open in winter, so when you discover one you have to mention it: Crest Voland, in the Val d'Arly.

Sensory journey : Be transported into an imaginary world where the play of light delights the eyes and minds. Where? It is the experience along an enchanted night route that offers Alta Lumina, in the resort of Les Gets.

Going to the mountains in winter means discovering lots of new activities, and benefiting from the fresh air and sunshine specific to the altitude. Breaking a routine, getting out of the gloom of the daily grind, sharing the joys of the snow, and adventures in the great outdoors.

The mountain awaits you!

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