We know about skicross and boarder cross, and we have even tried ski-joring, but we’ve certainly never heard of Canicross before. It’s just one of the many sports you can take part in when you book a summer holiday to somewhere like Alpe d’Huez. Here, and elsewhere in the Alps, you can go cycling or MTB, hiking, play golf and take part in myriad other activities.

Also see our advice on keeping fit between ski seasons and the best resorts for summer skiing for tips on where to go over the next few months.

La Rosiere for £220pp with Peak Retreats
Spend 14 nights at the recently built Les Cîmes Blanches in La Rosiere for £220pp. The four-star self-catered apartments have use of a private indoor heated swimming pool, Jacuzzis and saunas, and are located 900m from the village centre. The price is based on the week commencing August 13. Bookings: Peak Retreats.

Hinterglemm mountain biking from £599pp with Inghams
Visit Austria’s premier mountain biking area where you’ll receive a free Joker Card which allows free access to all lifts, walker’s buses, guided walks, entrance to the outdoor pool, mini golf, tennis, bike parks, sightseeing train to the end of the valley and discounted rates to many other local attractions. Stay seven nights chalet catering at the four-diamond Chalet Hotel Pinzgauerhof in Hinterglemm from £599pp, saving £50pp departing August 13. Price includes return flights from Birmingham to Salzburg and resort transfers. Bookings: Inghams.

Mayrhofen from £416pp with Thomson Lakes
Stay seven nights B&B in three-star Hotel Obermair from £416, with a saving of 22% or £120pp. The departure date is August 13 from Gatwick to Salzburg, including resort transfers. Flights are also available from all major UK departure airports. Bookings: Thomson Lakes.

Alpe d’Huez Canicross from £105pp per night with VIP
As part of the internationally renowned Trophée des Montagnes, Canicross is an annual race where competitors can take part with their dogs. The first part of the event takes place on August 6-8 in Oz-en-Oisans, when more than 250 participants. Nearby Auris-en-Oisans will then host the final stage from August 14-16. The competition is open to all levels and all breeds, and anyone can come along and watch. For more information on the competition, rules and how to register, visit here. Stay in one of five chalets in Alpe d’Huez (in the same area), which have between five and eight bedrooms each. If you book the entire chalet you can bring dogs for a luxury break after competing in Canicross. From £105pp per night for a week’s self-catering, based on a minimum of three-nights and including daily cleaning and welcome hamper. Click here for Canicross information. Bookings: VIP Ski.

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Win one of five Trek bikes in Verbier
Throughout the summer, Verbier will hide five Trek bikes, one for each discipline of biking: the enduro, downhill, cross-country, road and e-bike. Every three weeks, Verbier will be releasing a video clip as the starting gun for each of the five treasure hunts, containing clues to the hiding place. The first person to find the Trek bike can keep it. To find out the launch dates for each discipline, visit the Verbier website or like the resort’s Facebook page. Subscribing to the newsletter will allow you to view the videos 12 hours ahead of everyone else, and to be automatically entered into a prize draw at the end of the summer.

Winter Deals

Arc 1950 apartment from £1,104 with Erna Low
Stay the week commencing April 1 from £1,104 for a standard one-bedroom four-person apartment in Arc 1950. This is a saving of 20% on the usual price, but the price can only be guaranteed until July 11 when ski prices will rise. Bookings: Erna Low.

Aussois for £89pp with Peak Retreats
Book before October 15 and you’ll get 10% off a seven-night holidays staying at La Combe in the traditional village of Aussois. It now costs £89pp (it was £99pp) staying in the three-star self-catered apartments with great views of the village and the surrounding mountain peaks. The prices is based on the week commencing January 14. Apartment prices are based on five people sharing and include transport. Accommodation-only holiday packages are also available. Ski packs, insurance and transfers also bookable. Bookings: Peak Retreats.

Les Arcs for £179pp with Ski Collection
Stay seven nights from January 7 in the four-star Le Coeur d’Or apartments near the slopes of Arc 1600 and – provided you book before October 31 – you’ll pay £179pp (it was £199pp). The lovely self-catered apartments have the use of Le Centre Ô des Cîmes Spa. The accommodation is just 800m from the Eurostar train station. Apartment prices are based on five people sharing and include transport. Accommodation-only holiday packages are also available. Ski packs, insurance and transfers also bookable. Bookings: Ski Collection.