Words & Text by Beth Squire
The ten alpine villages of La Plagne have long been adored for all they offer in winter - from ski runs down crisp white slopes to the chance to zip along the only bobsleigh track in Europe. It is an undisputed winter wonderland, all snow-dusted pines and evenings full of mulled wine and tartiflette. So I was surprised to discover just how much there is to do in summer, when La Plagne is a region transformed. There are activities to suit all ages and abilities, from gentle strolls through the mountains to a via ferrata, which isn’t for the faint-hearted - although the adrenaline-fuelled clamber is more than justified by the view of Mont Blanc, regal upon the horizon.
It’s impossible to visit this ski area in summer and not succumb to itchy feet - for the view beyond the window, a kaleidoscopic display of green alpine perfection, beckons to all. So you hike, cycle, bask, canyon, geocache, horse ride or head for the water, depending on your inclination. Never one to refuse a spot of rafting, I leapt at the chance to dive in and paddle through the Isère Valley. Little did I know though that the expedition ended with a 30 foot cliff jump; plunging feet first into freezing water definitely sets your heart racing.
While there are only a few roads that weave between the snow-topped peaks of La Plagne, everything is remarkably accessible. You can wake up in your village, hop on a bike, and be in the mountains in no time, enjoying a picnic breakfast beneath the early morning sun. These trails - hidden under powdery snow come winter - offer secluded views impossible to spy from the road, or when flying devil-may-care down a black piste. All the more incentive to grab a bike and break a sweat with some pedalling.
For me, the most daunting (yet brilliant) activity of all must be the via ferrata; a climbing route where steel cables attached to rocks, along with a network of narrow ramps, ladders and zip wires, aid your 600-metre-long ascent. At the summit you’re greeted by a panoramic vista of alpine fields criss-crossed with walking tracks, restful cows and splashes of wildflowers, the crumpled terrain carved out by receding glaciers long ago. If you ask me, there is no better view and no better way to spend a French summer day ... if you’re brave enough.
This story first appeared in our France magazine.
