Budding explorers: active vacations at altitude for 8-15 year olds
As children grow up, so do their desires for adventure. Between supervised thrills, unusual discoveries, life-size challenges and immersion in exceptional landscapes, the mountains are a veritable adventure playground for 8-15 year-olds. Canyoning under the stars, giant zip lines, via ferrata above the void, survival courses or bivouac expeditions… Mountain resorts offer a cocktail of activities tailor-made to feed their taste for play, their need for freedom and their growing curiosity. Here’s a closer look at these powerful, formative experiences, designed with tomorrow’s young explorers in mind.
Adrenalin at altitude
Verbier
On the slopes
In Verbier, altitude becomes a playground with three exceptional routes between sky and rock. The via ferrata des Gentianes propels adventurers to heights of over 2,800 m, with a choice of two itineraries: the first to take in the panoramic views, the second more challenging, punctuated by vertiginous passages. Higher still, at 3,330 m, the Via Cordata du Mont-Fort combines hiking, climbing and glacier progression, an unforgettable 3h30 ascent before a comfortable return by gondola. A change of scenery at Gorges de Mauvoisin, where a via ferrata suspended above the tumultuous waters of the Dranse offers two levels of difficulty: “Saxifrage” for a gentle introduction, and “Tichodrome” for a tough challenge. Supervised by guides, these experiences promise a mix of adrenalin, wonder and self-transcendence.
Information: www.guideverbier.com
Valloire
Mountain Kart: guaranteed thrills and fun for the whole family
The three-wheeled Mountain Kart reinvents the summer sliding experience! After taking the chairlift up to Lac de la Vieille, participants receive a helmet and instructions before setting off on the Lièvre piste, specially dedicated to the activity, for a wild descent to the Plateau de la Séa. As close as possible to the ground, feet firmly planted in the footrests, everyone feels the sensation of speed and the vibrations of the terrain as they play with drifts and 360° turns. Contemplative riders need not worry: with its powerful disc brakes and wide handlebars, the kart can be driven with ease, allowing those who so desire a more relaxing ride, carried along by the slope while enjoying the panoramic view of the Aiguilles d’Arves and the Galibier.
Info: Accessible to all, this unique experience is equally suited to thrill-seekers and those who prefer to savor the moment.
Price: 16 €/person (from 10 years old accompanied or 14 years old alone)
Vaujany
Rock climbing in natural surroundings: take to the heights at Vaujany
Would you like to try your hand at rock climbing in an exceptional natural setting? The Bureau des Guides offers an introductory rock-climbing course starting from the hamlet of La Villette, just a stone’s throw from the La Fare waterfall, a wild, unspoilt spot with a breathtaking view over the surrounding valleys. Easily accessible to beginners, this cliff offers a varied and fun style of climbing, supervised by experienced guides. On site, participants will learn to master balance, coordination and self-confidence, while evolving in a grandiose alpine environment.
Information: From 6 years old. ½ day activity – info@guidesoisans.com – 04 76 80 42 55.
Price: €75/person (equipment provided).
Font-Romeu Pyrénées 2000
Sensations at altitude: a giant double zip line
The Font-Romeu Pyrénées 2000 ski area is home to a vertiginous new attraction. Head for the La Calme sector to try out this double zip line. It’s a unique aerial experience that takes you close to the peaks and plunges you into a breathtaking panorama. With 678 metres of cable stretched between sky and mountains, the adventure begins at an altitude of 2,203 metres, with a gradual descent suspended 45 metres from the ground. The 155-metre difference in altitude gives you a sensation of flight, where adrenalin mingles with contemplation. At 70 km/h, the journey stretches out, offering time to admire the immensity of the landscape from a new angle. And to share the emotion, the experience can also be enjoyed by two! It’s a unique opportunity to take off in tandem and vibrate together to the rhythm of the void and the relief. Accessible in all seasons, this XXL zip line promises an intense immersion in nature, between thrills and freedom. A must-try for all mountain thrill-seekers!
Info: from 12 years old, +35 kg and max 120 kg – cumulative weight of 2 people max 150 kg
Prices: €35/adult and €30/child (8 to 17 inclusive) I €60 for duo
Water as a playground
Haut-Giffre
Canyon by night, a unique adventure
Latitude Canyon offers a unique experience that pushes you out of your comfort zone. Accessible to all, night canyoning offers new sensations thanks to moonlit courses, with slides, jumps and abseils. Supervised by Gilles Leroy, an expert in survivalism, this activity allows you to overcome your fears and heighten your senses tenfold. Groups are limited to 10 people, and all equipment is provided.
More info Latitude Canyon – www.latitudecanyon.fr
Price: from €45 per person or €165 for a family package.
Oisans OZ 3300
Canyoning: a refreshing break in the heart of nature
From slides down natural chutes to jumps in crystal-clear pools and abseiling down rock faces, canyoning is one of summer’s top mountain activities. Located on the road to OZ 3300, this spot, perched at an altitude of 1,170 m, offers holidaymakers a refreshing break. Suitable for children aged 10 and over and supervised by the Bureau des Guides de l’Oisans, this aquatic adventure is ideal for those who want to enjoy the charms of the natural setting as much as for thrill-seekers. A unique immersion in the heart of mountain torrents, perfect for unforgettable memories!
Information: +33 (0)4 76 80 42 55 www.guidesoisans.com/canyon.php
Price: from €75/person
Saint-Lary
Kayak-raft: one-on-one with the river from age 8 upwards
Sitting in an inflated boat, paddle in hand, you become the only master on board. The kayak-raft invites you to set off on an adventure with the current: sliding, crossing and dancing on the eddies. The guide’s advice accompanies each crossing, but the magic works solo. Less technical than classic kayaking but more engaging than group rafting, kayak-raft offers a sporting experience where freedom of maneuver rhymes with adrenalin rush. Ideal for those seeking direct contact with the river.
Infos: https://www.loisirs-aventures-rafting.com/
Price: €45/person – book on 06 80 72 28 03
The call of the forest
Valmorel
Soft survival course, learning to adapt to nature
Departing from Doucy, this course invites you to explore soft survival, an accessible and immersive approach to better understanding and taming the natural environment. From age 8 upwards, in small groups of 8 participants, children learn the essential basics to evolve in the wilderness in complete autonomy. On the program :
. Campfire techniques
. Shelter construction
. Water filtration and purification
. Orientation and tracking
Inspired by ancestral know-how and enriched by modern tricks, this course offers a fun and educational experience in which each discovery becomes a real life lesson. It’s a great way to strengthen your independence, sharpen your sense of observation and develop a deep connection with nature.
Info: Tarentaise Altitude Sauvage – 06 81 72 03 83 – tarentaise-altitude-sauvage.com
Saint-Lary
Fishing break for amateurs and experts at Rioumajou
Damien Toussaint is an inveterate fisherman. A tracker in winter, he frogs in the cold water in summer in search of Pyrenean Fario trout. In partnership with the Tourist Office, this fishing guide offers a package of accommodation and fishing trips for amateurs and/or experts. In the unique and enchanting setting of Rioumajou, he explains the best stalking technique, helps you prepare your flies, and provides information on the underwater environment and the trout that spawn there. No-kill fishing is practiced here, and once the excitement of catching and releasing fish is over, it’s time to debrief on the terrace of the Hospice before confessing your fishing stories over dinner. The night in the rooms of the Hospice du Rioumajou is an opportunity to dream of the next day’s catch.
Information: Bookings through Saint-Lary Tour – 05 62 39 40 29
Price: The indicated price of 198€/pers. is based on 10 participants.
Flaine
New theme trail: Marcel’s notebook
This themed trail showcases Flaine’s natural and cultural heritage in a fun and educational way. A young architect working on the renovation of the Flaine chapel stumbles across a mysterious notebook in the vicinity of the edifice, while carrying out measurements on the building… At the same time… 600 kilometers from Le Grand Massif, among the collections of the Centre Pompidou Beaubourg in Paris, the model of the chapel begins to vibrate strangely… From the heart of Flaine and its Forum, to its lake, between scree slopes and hillsides, forest and even the old Epine coal mine, participants discover the fabulous landscapes and heritage of the area… With a bit of luck, they may discover a fabulous secret hidden in Flaine for over 2,000 years! An adventure hike for the whole family, starting in Flaine.
Info: approx. 4h to 4h30, including time spent at each stage of the game – www.flaine.com/fiche/sentier-thematique-le-carnet-de-marcel/
Price: €12 with Pass Flaine – €15 without.
Orcières
Raid Urcinia, 2 days of family adventure
For 5 years, the Raid Urcinia has been the must-do summer adventure for families! For two days, children and parents discover the mountains in a different way, like real explorers, with themed hikes on flora and fauna, a paddle race on a high-altitude lake and a night in a bivouac after an evening of star-gazing. Accessible from age 7, this mini-raid combines fun, sharing and immersion in a preserved environment.
Infos: 3 sessions : July 23-24 / August 6-7 / August 20-21 Accessible from 7 years old – 04 92 55 89 89 – orcieres.com
Rates: 60€ /adult, 40€ /child under 16 with bivouac (equipment supplied – down jacket not included).
Haute Tarentaise Vanoise – Petit-Saint-Bernard pass
The Sentier de la mémoire, a walk through the centuries
At the summit of the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass, the Sentier de la mémoire (Memory Trail) offers an itinerary to discover the multi-millennial history of this emblematic site between France and Italy. Three signposted trails of increasing difficulty enable visitors to immerse themselves progressively in the remains and landscapes of the pass: Roman road, hospice, military works… A historical and contemplative experience for children aged 7 and over, free of charge and open all summer depending on snow conditions. Maps are available from the Séez and hospice tourist offices. An accessible and sensitive way of reconnecting the walker with Alpine memory.
The playful spirit
Chartreuse
La Stass’ new 4-season activity base
On the heights of St Pierre de Chartreuse, a new activity base awaits visitors. At La Stass’, in addition to the peace and quiet, the view and the fresh air, intrepids can choose from a wide range of activities. Tyroliennes, trampolines, big air bags with and without equipment, tubbing, mountainboarding, caterpillar or roller skiing, all-terrain scooters, forest discovery trails, sports trails, games of skill, wooden games… will delight young and old alike!
Info and prices: Summer opening with a gradual start: the ski lift and big air bag open in May, followed by the other activities, including the zip line, between now and June.
Info: facebook.com/la.stass.dechartreuse/ – From age 3.
Prices: €25 to €50 depending on package chosen.
