Chamonix, France by Leo-setä

So what sports can you expect to find catered for in Chamonix? Here is a rundown of the most popular:

Skiing

Unsurprisingly, skiing is the most popular activity in Chamonix, attracting thousands of people every winter. Ski holidays in France are very popular, and Chamonix is one of the most visited areas. Due to the relatively high slopes, snow reliability is good, and the off-piste skiing is also a major draw.

One of the most popular off-piste runs is the Vallée Blanche. This famous run can be accessed by taking the cable car to the top of the Aiguille du Midi, and is certainly one for real enthusiasts. Built in 1955, the cable car was once the highest in France and it still provides a real thrill.

Mountaineering

Mountaineering in Chamonix is another of the major activities in the region and it is hardly surprising when you consider the dramatic options available here. Chamonix is located near to the Aiguilles Rouges massif and the Mont Blanc massif, both of which contain some seriously big mountains.

There are some very popular routes that attract mountaineers from far and wide, especially during the summer months. One of these is the route up the Aiguille du Dru, also known as the Dru, a mountain located near to the village of Les Praz. The highest summit is the Grande Aiguille du Dru at 3,754 metres.

Another popular mountain is the Grandes Jorasses, the peak of which stands at 4,208 metres. Then of course, there is Mont Blanc itself. The south-facing side is particularly popular, as are the various routes to the summit.

Trekking

The stunning views and mountainous peaks mean that it is hardly surprising that trekking is one of the major activities in Chamonix. There are a number of popular hikes that attract visitors to the region, all of which offer dramatic scenery and are suitable for a range of levels.

One popular hike involves taking the cable car up the Aiguille du Midi to the mid-station and walking down from here to Chamonix. The hike takes about three hours in total and is all downhill, making it a popular option for less-experienced trekkers.

There are also hikes that take in mountain lakes, such as those that go through the Aiguille Rouge nature reserve, and glaciers such as the Mer de Glace.

Aiguille Rouge Nature Reserve, France by Guillaume Baviere

Other Popular Activities

As well as skiing, mountaineering and trekking, another popular summer activity is mountain biking. The tracks around the region are suitable for various levels of experience and they are all well maintained. Other activities that attract enthusiasts throughout the year include rock climbing, canyoning, ice climbing, rafting and even paragliding.

Get Active in Chamonix

If you want to visit one of the most exciting places in France for adventure sports, Chamonix is the place to go. With so many activities on offer throughout the year, there is something for everyone here. And with the stunning mountain scenery and first-class facilities on offer, it really is the ideal place to get active and enjoy an adventure.

The post Discover the Excitement of Chamonix Mont-Blanc appeared first on Europe Explored.

If the average cycle through the park just isn’t enough to get the blood pumping through your veins, then check out our list of adventure sports in the Aberdeen area and get ready to experience some serious thrills and chills…

Cycling in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK by kellyhogaboom

Cycling

Cycle your way to your own set of “thunder thighs” with an afternoon of mountain biking. If you don’t have your own set of wheels, not to worry – outfits like Cycle Highlands can get you out of the Granite City and onto the trails.

They even offer special guided packages like the “Secret Singletrack” and “Discover Mountain Biking” to help you along whether you’re a beginner or an old pro.

Mountaineering

Lace up for a challenging hike in the Scottish mountains outside Aberdeen. There’s a number of companies in the area – like Alpha Mountaineering for example – that offer guided walks for all ages year round.

Conquer the summit with an afternoon of hillwalking or scale the mountainside on a rock climbing adventure, the Highlands have plenty of high peaks to oblige you.

Snowsports

Think there’s no snow in Scotland? Think again. You can carve it out on the hills year round without ever worrying about the weather at the Aberdeen Snowsports Centre – this snowflex fun park has everything from rails to moguls for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy.

If you’d rather keep it conventional and feel the wind in your hair, a hotel in Aberdeen can serve as the perfect base for some of Scotland’s best hills come wintertime.

Situated in the Cairgorms, Lecht ski centre is less than two hours from the city centre and boasts some 18 runs for those of us who want to get bundled up in the great outdoors.

Zip Wire

Test your fear of heights and penchant for monkeying around at the Go Ape – Crates Castle. Zip, climb and swing through one of Scotland’s most beautiful forests on your tree top adventure – perfect for a family day out.

This treetop obstacle course isn’t for the faint of heart – at its highest point, the course is 8.6 metres off the ground, and has a Zip Wire some 125 metres long.

Kitesports

Remember when you were a kid and you’d head out to the park on a windy day and watch in awe as it glided around the sky? Maybe not. But either way – kitesports takes adventure sports to the next level. From powerkite to kitebuggy, kiteboard and kitesurf , Synergy kitesports offers courses to help you harness Scotland’s wind power and feel the rush.

What are your favourite adventure sports?

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.parkinn.co.uk/hotel-aberdeen

The post Adventure Sports in Aberdeen | Scotland, UK appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jason Blue-Smith

Mount Elbrus (5,642 m) is in the Caucasus Mountains in Russia. It’s the highest mountain in Europe, and has more than one summit. For less experienced climbers there’s the advantage of lift and cable chairs that take you up to 3800 metres. If you’ve got reasonable climbing skills you can climb from here, but if not, you can do a walking tour from the top of the lift run. You can easily find accommodation in hotels and lodges in the local area.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Martin F

At the borders between Switzerland and Italy, you can put on your climbing shoes to climb one of the most famous mountains in Europe – the Matterhorn (4,478 m). It stands out in the landscape like a giant rock pyramid and is considered by many to be the birthplaces of mountaineering. As such, it’s on most climbers’ must-climb lists.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by stefg74

In Greece, the home of the ancient Greek gods – Mount Olympus – is also a famous climbing spot. To get to the highest peak of Mytikas (2918 metres) takes two days’ climbing. Many people climb up in one day and rest overnight in their tents before descending the next day. It’s not a place for solitude though – it’s a very popular place to climb.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Vasile Cotovanu

Mont Blanc is found on the border of Italy and France. The closest towns are Chamonix in France and Courmayeur in Italy. It’s the second highest mountain in Europe, with a summit of 4,810.45 metres. Although it’s not the highest mountain, it’s probably the most challenging climbing spot in Europe. Even though a cable car takes you up to 1000m below the summit, the last 1000 metres is a real challenge. You’ll need high levels of fitness and will have to acclimatise to the altitude before completing the ascent.

Even people who go equipped with all the right rock climbing equipment can get into difficulty on Mont Blanc and the mountain rescue helicopter service is kept busy all summer recovering stranded climbers.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Thierry Gregorius

The highest peak in the UK is Ben Nevis. The Scottish mountain’s summit is 1,344 metres and it’s reached by thousands of climbers every year. It needs good fitness levels and climbing ability to attempt the day’s climb.

View Climbing highlights of Europe in a larger map

The post Climbing highlights of Europe appeared first on Europe Explored.