What to do in Les Menuires?
A magnificent winter sports resort, Les Menuires is located in the middle of the Savoy region, in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. In summer and winter, you will find many activities to do as a couple or with your family. Skiing, hiking, dog sledding: enjoy the thrills or relax with the best outdoor activities in Les Menuires. So, what to do in Les Menuires? Discover our list of fun and original activities for all generations!
Les Menuires, more than a ski resort
For mountain enthusiasts who want to be close to the slopes in a luxury mountain atmosphere, the Chalet Hotel Kaya is the place to be. Located at 2000 metres above sea level, right at the foot of the slopes, you couldn’t be closer to all the best mountain activities.
Les Menuires, a high-altitude resort, at over 1850 metres, has great snow and sunshine. Les Menuires is part of the 3 Valleys greater resort, which also includes Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Val Thorens, Courchevel, Méribel, Orelle and Brides-les-Bains. The 3 Valleys provide access to the largest ski area in the world, with almost 600 kilometres of slopes.
All the slopes and mountains are accessible to everyone, with slopes adapted to all levels. But because skiing is not the only activity possible in the mountains, Les Menuires also offers a wide choice of other activities.
What to do in Les Menuires in winter
Sledging
What to do in Les Menuires in winter apart from skiing? Have fun on the Rocn’Bob, a toboggan run that looks like a bobsleigh track. Go down this 4-kilometre-long track with 22 turns. A few surprises are in store for you along the way! Perfect with family or friends to have a good laugh and a good time.
Scuba diving under the ice
A really unusual activity to do in Les Menuires is to go ice diving if you like extreme sensations. At the Lac du Lou (altitude 2,035 metres), you will go down under the frozen lake with an instructor, under 50 centimetres of ice for about 20 minutes. You will be equipped with a waterproof neoprene suit, as the water temperature does not exceed 1°C. But underwater, you won’t believe your eyes: multicoloured rays of light illuminate the waters of the lake.
Igloo building
Here is an activity that will delight young and old alike: building an igloo. With the ESF instructors, build a shelter with snow cubes piled on top of each other. You will learn the different building techniques so that your igloo is solid and does not fall on top of you. Patience and skill are the key words for this activity, but the instructors will accompany you every step of the way. This is the perfect family activity!
Fatbiking on snow
Are you familiar with the fatbike? It’s a kind of mountain bike with two tyres and an electric motor. It allows you to cross large areas of snow without effort and without sinking into the snow. The electric assistance helps you to save your strength. In Les Menuires, fatbikes are available for hire so that you can venture into the mountains and enjoy this winter activity with your friends and family!
Ski joëring
Finally, what can you do in Les Menuires that is original and surprising? Ski joëring! This sport combines skiing and horse-drawn carriages: wearing skis, you will be pulled by a horse tied to your waist. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s not tiring because you don’t have to make any effort. In the resort proper, you can also enjoy its variant with the joëring sledge. The sledge is of course used to slide on. The horses used will always be adapted to the size of the person for their safety (ponies for children and draught horses for adults). What a great way to go for a ride!
A first flight in an ultralight or paraglider
What to do in Les Menuires to get even higher? If you are in the mood for thrills, discover the valley from another angle with a paragliding or ultralight (motorised paraglider) flight. Enjoy an exceptional moment in the air and admire the magnificent landscapes of the Alps. Great memories guaranteed!
Hiking with or without snowshoes
With more than 75 km of marked itineraries and groomed footpaths, Les Menuires is a great place for you to spend some time relaxing in nature. Discover the magnificent and rich landscapes of the Alps in a different way. It is possible to be supervised by guides or monitors, who can teach you a lot about nature and the region.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country (or Nordic) skiing is a fun way to discover the wilderness. If you don’t like crowds, it’s the best way to have a good time in the mountains. It is perfect when you are looking for something to do in Les Menuires to get some fresh air while doing a sporting activity. The resort of Les Menuires offers cross-country skiing trails adapted to all levels. And if you wish, you can hire a guide to accompany you in this moment of freedom in the middle of nature.
Moments of relaxation the Hotel Le Kaya
The Chalet Hôtel Kaya offers a variety of ways to relax during your stay in the mountains. For those with a sweet tooth of all generations, the hotel bar offers snacks by the fire. You can take advantage of this to tell each other about the day’s exploits!
The Hôtel Kaya also has an area dedicated to children so that they can have fun and relax with their friends. The chalet also offers film and cartoon screenings every evening in this same area.
But the absolute must-do is the hotel’s relaxing spa! One of the most appreciated in the whole resort of Les Menuires. You can relax in the swimming pool with a view of the snowy mountains, enjoy the sauna and hammam, or exercise in the fitness room. And if you like to be pampered, tailor-made treatments are also available. Now you know what to do in Les Menuires!
Crédit photo : Gilles Lansard
