Cervinia Zermatt, Italy / Joao Maximo

1. Cervinia Zermatt

Located in Italy, Cervinia Zermatt is a great option for those who wish to ski even when the summer sun is in the air.  The slopes are open all year round and they can be utilised by skiers from top to bottom all year round.  This venue is open to other activities as well.  Of course skiing can be completed on the mountain, with unique events being held to entice the consumer to the panoramic views that are gorgeous at any time, but there are other things as well.  Mountain biking is a common activity with races being held in the summer months for those who want to mix up their skiing efforts with another fun extreme sport.

2. Grande Mott Glacier

The Grande Mott Glacier in France offers a great option for those looking for a summer ski getaway.  There are several different options for skiers no matter what time of year it is.  Located in Tignes, the ski resort offers a choice of sixteen lifts and an amazing seven-hundred and fifty foot drop for the vertical enthusiast.  There is also a snow park open year round.  This includes activities like pipes and rails as well as bumps courses and jumping options making it a perfect choice for those who are seeking raw skiing and snowboarding without the frill of some of the higher end resort options.

3. Zermatt

Located in Switzerland, just near the Italian border, a hidden gem in skiing is located.  Zermatt is a beautiful location for summer skiing.  It has a history of great runs and many find it to be a great option for a skiing holiday during the summer months.  There is a lot of beauty in this location as well.  The Matterhorn is the background music to this skiing location making it both a popular and quintessential European skiing beauty.

4. Italian Peaks

Another great option for summer skiing in Italy are the Passo Stelvio and Passo Tonale glaciers.  These skiing locations offer summer skiing between June and July. The courses vary and can be limited by the summer weather however they offer great options for those who are looking for a summer ski getaway.

5. Stryn

Stryn is located in Norway and has a limited summer run, but a summer run none the less.  This course is available to skiers from May until July, making it limited but no less useful for those seeking a European ski course.  It is among the most popular in the country when it comes to summer skiing and offers many great events.  Beyond the skiing, there is a community of activities that are held around this location.  Included in this are the great partying adventures. (The activities that take place when the lights go down and the slopes close for the evening.) For this reason, it has grown not only in popularity because of its skiing but for the overall experience that can be had.

Luxury chalets can be found at all of the destinations listed above so if you want to head to a fun filled ski destination this summer, you have a lot of options to choose from.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Brett Jordan

Located at the south of Lefkas Island, Vassiliki is considered as one of the best and most popular windsurfing areas in Europe. Windsurfers love it here because the winds area is clean, the water is flat, the beach is gently shelving and has a sandy bottom, which are all ideal components of a good windsurfing beach. Usually, the beginners windsurf in the morning when the breeze is gentle, and the intermediate to expert windsurfers take to the water in the afternoon when the thermal winds kick in.

It doesn’t matter if no one in the family knows how to surf. Having your vacation and family activity holidays in Greece, especially in this part of the country ensures that after your vacation, all of you will at least know how to windsurf. Lessons are available for both children and adults. Aside from windsurfing lessons, sailing lessons are also being offered.

For children who are too young to windsurf or sail, there are other equally exciting activities on offer at the children’s clubs. Playing on the beach, biking, and court games are all for the taking. Adults who are not so much into water sports will surely enjoy mountain biking amongst the mountains and hills of Lefkas Island. With all these family activity holidays in Greece, each day of your stay is an adventure.

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Vikos Gorge is 20 km long and 400 m wide but at some places it is only a few meters wide. Its walls are high in some places over 1000 meters. Due to its size, the Vikos Gorge ranked the world’s deepest canyons and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Onno Zweers

Part of the Vikos Gorge is covered by the National Park Vikos-Aoos, which was founded in 1973. Except of canyon, there is also Tymfi mountain, river Aoos and several villages. The main part of the gorge stretches from village of Vikos to the village of Monodendri. The river Voidomatis flows through the canyon which constitutes the breathtaking scenery. Along the gap there are several view-points, offering breathtaking views. In the local unspoilt countryside there are many species of plants and animals such as bears, deer and foxes, which are protected by park.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Onno Zweers

The area around the Vikos Gorge is ideal for many sports. Among others, climbing, mountain biking and of course hiking, which is the most popular. It is better to hike with a guide as it is very easy to get lost here. There are ongoing organized excursions, including a tour through the Zagori picturesque villages and famous stone bridge.

You can get to the Vikos Gorge e.g. by public bus transportation service. The journey from Athens to Zagori takes about 7 hours.

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