The summer months are perhaps the best time to visit the French Alps. With the long warm days, it offers a huge variety of activities for all ages. Whether your preference is summiting 4000 meter peaks across glaciers, or laying next to an outdoor pool and enjoy good food and wine, you will not be disappointed. A holiday at Chalet Sigismond offers you a central location to arrange a variety of easily accessible activities.

Why not try ballooning? Joe Roulet from the tourist office offers spectacular flights in Le Montgolfiere des Carroz. Joe’s Montgolfiere is the symbol of Les Carroz and is one of the most renowned in France.

Less than two kilometres from the house is the 'La Frasse' crag. It can be found in the Chamonix valley climbing guide book for details on routes. A beautifully carved rock face, it offers 2 / 3 pitches of sport climbing. It is particularly favourable to those who prefer climbing on slabs. It is a great spot for both beginners and experienced climbers and its potential for teaching and development is excellent. Climbing in the Mont Blanc massif and the Grand Massif means high mountains, superb granite and miles of limestone cliffs. Crags are usually equipped as bolted sport routes. However, mountain routes may be partially equipped with, at least, abseil points in place. Guide books are essential and can be purchased from shops in the town centre. Climbing walls are also very popular to start off with - there are some located in the valley so visit the tourist office for further information. If you want to go high, be careful, read a guide book properly, take the necessary precautions or hire a guide.”

Golf in the Alps is popular with holiday makers who want to take in the mountain air while enjoying a leisurely round of 9-18 holes. Chamonix has an excellent 18 hole course and there are also courses at Evian and Verbier.

For a physical challenge and a chance to enjoy the beautiful terrain without the adrenaline rush of some activities, hiking in the alps during the summer months is hard to beat. My first ever walking holiday 'Tour de Mont Blanc' in this regoin, is the reason I now chose to spend as much time as possible in the Haute Savoie. You will need lightweight boots and shorts, waterproofs, sunglasses, plus skin and lip protection. Always have a drink at hand as well. Walks are well sign posted. In the valley you can do one day walks from the cable car stations and further afield two day plus walks in surrounding French areas, Italy and Switzerland.

There are lots of mountaineering routes to do in the summer from valley cragging to the ascent of Mont Blanc. You must be aware of mountain safety, if tackling anything very dangerous then hire a guide. Most shops in the town centre will have books covering the routes also visit the tourist office.

The Grand Massif is well know as one of the greatest places in Europe for mountain biking. The facility of lift access with MTBs enables the uphills to be bypassed if desired, and maximum fun to be experienced on the descents. As with skiing in the alps, all routes are graded by technical level, or steepness using a colour code. Bike rental from stores in Les Carroz is easy and well priced and mapping is available from the Chalet or the tourist office.

Parapenting is a very popular sport in Les Carroz due to the high mountains and great winds. There are many takeoff sites in Les Carroz. You can try with Eric Mathurin of Air Passion or Alain Barnier. www.airpassion.org