There’s a lot going on in the Alps this summer – from yoga courses to film and music festivals, so how about taking a holiday in the Alps? The mountains are just as beautiful as in winter, and activities include road biking and mountain biking, swimming in natural lakes, hiking, golf and horse-riding. It’s a great way to keep your ski-fitness levels going!

Make sure you pack plenty of sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Don’t forget to reserve your airport parking at least 24 hours before you go – this is especially important during peak holiday periods. If you’re flying from Gatwick, Cophall Parking has some offers just for Welove2ski viewers.

It’s also worth finding out what the specialist travel agencies have on offer in the way of early bookings for next winter, such as SNO, Snowfinders and Ski in Luxury.

There’s good news about next ski season: early booking offers are underway and include some decent savings.

Summer Offers

Zermatt for £846pp with SNO
A seven-night holiday staying in Zermatt’s Hotel Rex is available for £846pp. Gatwick flights, resort transfers and B&B are all included in the cost, and the package is for travel on the week starting August 17. The four-star hotel has a central location as well as an indoor pool and spa. Bookings: SNO

Les Carroz whole chalet from €650 with Skiology
There’s availability in both Morzine and Les Carroz this summer, with five nights at Chalet Deux Freres in Les Carroz from €650 (for the whole chalet for six people) on the week of July 18. Alternatively there’s seven nights at Petit Ibex in Morzine on the weeks of August 10 and 25, and also in September from €1400 (for the whole chalet for 10 people). Other dates and chalets are also available. Bookings: Skiology.

Mayrhofen from £599pp with Inghams
Book a seven-night holiday half board at the four-star superior Hotel Neuhaus in Mayrhofen from £599pp. Price represents saving of £290pp and includes return flights from Birmingham to Innsbruck and airport transfers. The package is valid for travel departing June 26. Bookings: Inghams.

Summer Activities

Highlander Games Hopfgarten
Hopfgarten is bringing a little Scottish flair to the Austrian Tirol on August 16-17. The Brixental Valley welcomes 3,000 fans and 320 competitors for the Highlander Games Hopfgarten. During this event, the clans will battle it out, showing off their strength, coordination and nimbleness as they throw tree trunks over ditches, complete an obstacle course and climb 30-metre trees. Information: Visit Tirol.

Val d’Isere summer sports
Val d’Isere has a range of summer sports activities on offer, including 15 hiking itineraries on cleared paths and various road cycle routes around the resort. Alternatively, there are 160km of enduro, downhill and e-biking trails. Those looking for peace and quite an head the excellent fishing, with the Lac d’Ouillette hosting an annual fishing competition, on July 14 and August 15. Stay: l’Avancher Hotel & Lodge.

Les 2 Alpes Outdoor Festival and the Mountain of Hell
The resort is opening on June 21 and the summer kicks off with the third Les 2 Alpes Outdoor festival. It’s a weekend of fun with ski, snowboard, mountain biking, trail running and skateboarding. This year’s programme include a freestyle contest called Duo Pepito on the glacier, mountain bike and e-bike rides, a MTB enduro race, trail running races for all levels (from 3km to 39km) and a skateboard contest in the new skate park. The following weekend (June 28-30), the resort is holding the 20th downhill mountain bike race: the Mountain of Hell. The best riders normally take between 30 and 40 minutes, the highest speed reached 127kph, and a thousand mountain bikers are expected to take part. Stay: Chalet Mounier
 
St Anton Mountain Yoga Festival
The fourth annual Mountain Yoga Festival takes place in St Anton on September 5 to 8 and you’ll be able to roll out a yoga mat surrounded by awe-inspiring peaks. This year the event will revolve around the theme of water, and aside from yoga classes, hikes and mountain meditation, there will be lectures given by international yoga experts and a Yoga Bazaar featuring local exhibitors. Stay: Hotel Himmlhof.

Yoga in Chamonix
Here’s more yoga – this time it’s in Chamonix from July 5-7, when the town welcomes internationally-renowned yoga teachers to lead a variety of classes in the mountains, as well as meditation sessions, and tips on breathing practice and different massage techniques. Tickets from one to three days can be bought from the Chamonix Tourist Information Office. Stay: The Heliopic Sweet & Spa

Verbier E-bike Festival
On August 15-18 there’s a host of activities dedicated to road, downhill, and cross-country disciplines in Verbier. It’s the perfect opportunity to try out an e-bike if you haven’t done so before. Access to the trial area costs £11.50 and allows you to test as many bikes as you want. Activities range from gastro-cycling tours to full-day discovery tours, scenic races and a race for kids. There will be four amateur team places for the first ever E-TMB (E-Tour du Mont Blanc). Stay: Hotel Vanessa.

Tignes opens the world’s largest and highest aerial cable-car
The revamped cable-car in Tignes opens this Saturday, after more than three years’ work. The new Grande Motte cable-car has a panoramic roof terrace and 360 degree views. Its two cabins can each accommodate 100 people and from June 22 a round-trip ride on the rooftop can be enjoyed by 20 people at a time. Stay: Hotel Levanna.

Film Festival Kitzbuhel
Kitzbuhel will once again become a stage for filmmakers from all over the world on August 19-15, with an opportunity for industry professionals, media and the cinema-going public to see a feast of new releases. The seventh edition of the Film Festival Kitzbühel will take place over six days at a variety of venues throughout the town and feature a specially created drive-in cinema and an outdoor screening on the Kitzbuhel Horn. Stay: Sporthotel Reisch.

Oz-en-Oisans treetop leisure park
The park in Oz-en-Oisans is for families who want some adrenaline-fuelled fun and those who venture to the top will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Belledonne mountain range as they clamber over obstacles and along zip wires. Three courses are for different age ranges and the park is open Tuesday to Sunday during July and August. New for this year is a Marmotte course for the three to five year olds. Also new is Hotel Eterlou in the hamlet of Pré Genty, with five rooms including two family rooms with a cabin to accommodate two additional people. The reception room, where breakfast is served, has a fireplace and is equipped with games and books, and there’s also a sauna and hot tub.

3 Valleys cycling area opens
In July, Courchevel and Meribel open a new pass dedicated to bikers. The 2304-metre-high Loze Pass is the first French pass over 2000m to be cleared of snow and the first step towards the forthcoming VIA 3 Vallees. This four- to five-metre-wide path will enable cyclists to cross the 3 Valleys. Stay: Hotel Mont Vallon in Meribel.

Innsbruck New Orleans Festival
Innsbruck will be celebrating its own New Orleans Festival from July 18 to 21. Innsbruck is` twinned with New Orleans and the summer festival in the Alps brings the feeling of the city on the Mississippi delta to Innsbruck. Stay: The Penz Hotel.

Les Gets for a yoga and pottery workshop
This new therapeutic and creative activity in Les Gets involves learning to throw and model clay through yoga, with a focus on breathing. The resort is also back on the international MTB circuit and will be one of the new destinations to feature on the UCI calendar, by hosting the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup on July 12, 13 and 14. Stay: Chalet-Hotel Crychar.

Telfs Hill Vibes Reggae Festival
Telfs in the Austrian Tirol is holding the Hill Vibes Reggae Festival on July 24-27. The festival showcases reggae music set amongst the spectacular mountains. This year’s line-up includes Busy Signal, Chuck Fenda and Junior Kelly. As well as music, there will be vendors serving international treats from across the world. Stay: Hotel Martina.

Winter Deals

Val d’Isere free half term lift passes with Le Chardon Mountain Lodges

Val d’Isere at half term has world class skiing conditions and endless activities to keep the children entertained. For February half term bookings (week starting February 9 or 16), there are free lift passes for the whole group on any sole-occupancy lodge bookings confirmed by the end of June. Bookings: Le Chardon Mountain Lodges.

Avoriaz with Ski Collection
Stay in the four-star L’Amara apartments with their spacious rooms and south/south-west facing balconies or terraces. There’s access to the Deep Nature Spa with heated pools, and wellness area, as well as a library and a bakery delivery service. Save 10-20% of selected weeks when bookings are made by September 25. For example, seven nights in a two-bedroom apartment is from £325pp (was £396pp) including return Eurotunnel crossings with free FlexiPlus upgrade on most dates. Price based on five sharing on the week commencing December 14. Bookings: Ski Collection.  

St Anton for £1,278pp and 2-1 equipment hire with SNO
Get 2-for-1 equipment hire when you book an area lift pass with selected Austrian chalets. One property available with this deal is St Anton’s Chalet Cristal, which sleeps 14 and has a sauna. Including the Arlberg area lift pass, a seven-night stay with Heathrow flights, resort transfers and chalet catering costs £1,278pp. The price is valid for travel on week beginning January 4. Bookings: SNO.

Le Grand Bornand Christmas from £348 with Peak Retreats
Le Grand Bornand has a short transfer time from Geneva airport and you can stay in luxury self-catered apartments at Le Village de Lessy. Found in the centre of Chinaillon these well-appointed apartments have access to an indoor pool and spa centre, reception lounge area. Save 15% on the week commencing December 21; 10% off all other weeks in the season (except arrivals on February 15 and 22; plus four-bedroom apartments arriving December 28). All bookings need to be made by October 31. For example, seven nights in a two-bedroom apartment from £348pp (was £402pp) including return Eurotunnel crossings with free FlexiPlus upgrade. Price is based on five sharing on the week commencing December 21. Bookings: Peak Retreats.