Both in winter and summer, the mountains are a great destination for a healthier body and mind.
Several studies, including one carried out on behalf of Auvergne- Rhône-Alpes Tourisme by SPRIM, a leading agency that specialises in medical and scientific monitoring, have shown that the mountain environment has a noticeable positive impact on human health.
Observed benefits include:
Stress reduction
Improved cardiovascular health
Resistance to obesity
Strengthened immune system
Together, these factors demonstrate the positive effects of the mountains on life expectancy and the quality of life. Such rewarding virtues can only enhance our relationship with the mountains.
And that’s before we even mention the extraordinary scenery to feast your eyes on.
A holiday in the mountains oxygenates you with a breath of fresh air. It gets you away from city life and closer to nature. It puts you on a high (literally) and lightens your heart. Did you say Les Gets ?
It seems the ideal atmospheric pressure to re-en- ergise you is found at elevations of between 800 and 2 000 metres.
Like top athletes who train at high altitude before major events, we can strengthen our organisms by breathing that fresh mountain air, not to mention the memorable experiences to be had that boost our minds and overall wellbeing.
So YES, we can shout it on the mountain tops. Mountains for health !
Yet how beautiful the mountain is… Jean Ferrat must surely have walked around of Les Gets to find inspiration for his song ‘La Montagne’. Here not only the mountain is beautiful but there are beautiful plants too, edible or medicinal, yet rare and precious.
Little arnica
The daisy was formerly called little arnica or arnica of the plains. Used like ladies fingers in a tea or maceration, it relieves trauma and bruising. It also has firming properties, and is used in the care of the bust, chest and face contours. Get ready for the bikini !
A biodiversity to preserve
« We are lucky to have extremely well-preserved sites where we discover plants which are rare elsewhere but abundant here. »
Michel Rostalski, a specialist in wild flowers, sets the scene: Les Gets is a small paradise for the amateur herbalist and the curious hiker. Walking boots on, carrying a wicker basket, the incomparable heritage of generous nature is revealed, alongside the challenges of biodiversity. Coltsfoot, to be used in doughnuts, Alpine spinach, wild garlic and caraway are just some of the edible species that make their way into the kitchen. For the medicine cabinet, there’s soothing valerian, ribwort plantain or common lady’s mantle for female ailments.
Arnica, a plant for every occasion
But for Michel, the cream of the crop is arnica, which can be found on the slopes of Mont-Chéry, in its preferred acid soil, sheltered from the wind. « Arnica is a very precious plant, it heals blows, bruises, and muscle pain but it is also a great help in emotional shocks and troubles. As an oil, ointment or mother’s tincture, it works wonders. »
Not just one nor two, a beautiful armful of arnica fills the basket, but only one flower out of ten, to preserve the heritage and to ensure responsible picking. Then it’s time to don the apron for the preparation. Here there is no chemistry or smoking mixtures, these are remedies that come from tradition, a nod to our grandmothers whose knowledge continues to travel down the corridors of time.
A small plant with big effects, prepare to be surprised by its benefits.
Do It Yourself : your arnica-based products
Solarized arnica oil
Arnica ointment
Solarized arnica oil
• 200ml of vegetable oil (50% olive, 50% sunflower) • Arnica flowers Fill a small clear glass bottle with arnica flowers, without packing down. Add the vegetable oil. Leave the bottle outside in the sun for 3 weeks. Filter. Rub it onto bruising. External use only.
Arnica ointment
• 3g of beeswax (from a bee-keeper or organic shop) • 45ml solarized arnica oil • 5 drops of lavender essential oil (optional) Melt the beeswax in a bain-marie. Add the solarized oil and mix. Add the lavender essential oil and mix again. Pour into a clean container and leave it to set. Use in massage on twists and muscular pains.
In summer or winter, spend carbon-free holidays at Les Gets, the resort that’s committed to green tourism, with a wide choice of eco-friendly activities.
So to preserve the mountain while enjoying your holiday, here are some simple and nice ideas to adopt.
Ready for a challenge ?
1.Travel green to Les Gets
It couldn’t be easier! Just take a high-speed and/or regional express train (TGV/TER) to Cluses or Thonon-Les-Bains, then jump on an Altibus shuttle bus to reach the resort.
Carsharing is another possibility. Its a practical, economical and friendly way to travel. A third option is to drive here in an electric vehicle. The resort is equipped with E-vehicle charging stations that you can use during your stay.
Once you’re here you can again choose green travel solutions. In this human-sized resort you can make many of your trips on foot. In summer, the little tourist train of Les Gets runs between the resort and the Lac des Ecoles lake, and also proposes a heritage tour. In summer, you can also use the self-service Getslib bikes with electrical assistance.
In winter, the same little train travels back and forth between the Mont-Chéry and Chavannes gondola lifts whenever the slopes are open, and shuttle buses operate all day long between the centre-resort and the hamlets. If you book ahead, you can even use them in the evening.
Sports, culture, leisures, heritage, well-being… the range of activities is so vast that the hardest thing of all is to choose! We can’t list them all here, but we can still make a few suggestions :
During the summer
A whole mixture of summer activities awaits you – walking, hiking, trail running, mountain-biking, cycling, Ebiking, lake-swimming at Lac des Ecoles, dog-hiking (with the dog attached to your waist), paragliding and much more. Why not make your golfing debut on a green that’s very… er… green! The 18-hole course at Les Gets is at the golfing forefront in environmental terms. Another must-try: a voice-guided relaxation session in the middle of nature. Or, for something totally different: nourish your inner child on a visit to the incredible museum of mechanical music.
The list of eco-friendly activities is just as long in winter, with snowshoeing, Nordic skiing and ski-touring, as well as electric snowmobiles for children, fatbikes (mountain-bikes with huge tyres), yooners and dog-sleds! When it comes to downhill skiing, the resort’s ski-lift management company is the first in France to boast a power supply based entirely on renewable energy sources.
Open all year round,the Alta Lumina conceptis a first in European resorts. It is a finely-tuned spectacle that follows a trail in a natural environment amid shows of light, a video screening and some highly original sound effects. The concept focuses on the preservation of wetlands and works around these environmentally sensitive areas in order to keep disturbances to wildlife and vegetation to a strict minimum. Furthermore, the site’s power supply comes entirely from renewable sources.
Getting to know a habitat is an important step towards preserving it! Here’s your to do list, full of Les Gets experiences not to be missed.
Among other must-dos, plan a visit to the botanical gardens of ̀Father Delavay (certified bý the Conservatoire des Collections Végétales Spécialisées) to ́discover some plants you’ve probablý never heard of. A hike across the Loex Plateau, a site certified by the Natura 2000 European network, is a life-sized lesson in local biodiversity. As for the wetland of Les Boittets at Lac des Ecoles, this is an ideal place for educating people on issues pertaining to mountain water resources. And you’ll have plenty of opportunities to gain insight into the richness – and the fragility – of the Les Gets habitat which is part of the Chablais UNESCO Geopark.
6. Promote local sources
Local distribution channels are only natural in Les Gets!
So, do your bit by shopping at the lovely market organised every Thursday morning, when the small retailers of Les Gets propose the entire array of local flavours and savoir-faire.
Or you can go to the farm shops to meet the producers. Léa and Manu, for instance, whose delicious cheeses can be found at the Chèvrerie des Félires goat dairy.
Les Pâtres des Reines is a farm run by Pauline and Valentin, an enthusiastic young couple who champion “poetic agriculture” with a passion that respects available natural resources and the principle of locally-distributed produce. Gourmets will appreciate the quality of their meat, cheese and other dairy products.
Meanwhile, Caroline and Noël organise delicious encounters and tastings at their farm, La Ferme de Caroline, to showcase their work as mountain farmers alongside their herds of goats and the famous Herens cows.
Another must-do is the authentic Fruitière des Perrières dairy, which collects milk from local farms and turns it into delicious Abondance, tomme and raclette cheeses.
Last but not least, make sure you pay a visit to the traditional pottery studio for an out-of-the-ordinary experience and a chance to take away a handy utensil or decorative souvenir made in Les Gets. There’s a sheep farm here too!
A view over the Pointe Percée for starters? Lake Geneva and the Pointe de Nyon as a main course? Mont Blanc for dessert ? Les Gets has plenty of stunning viewpoints where you can stop for a picnic.
Up in the mountains or nearer the centre resort, here are our 7 best tips for enjoying your sandwich or salad surrounded by the Alps in all their splendour.
The unmissable
Lac des Ecoles
Strong point: easy to reach and close to activities
It’s barely a 15-minute walk from the village to reach this well-known spot in Les Gets, the famous Lac des Ecoles swimming lake. Or you can make the climb on a self-service Ebike as there’s a GetsLib station at the lake. If you have a lot to carry or just don’t fancy walking or biking, there’s a bus service and, in summer, even a little tourist train to take you to the site. For your lunch or dinner, don’t forget the steak to take advantage of the self-service barbecues which you’ll find there too. This is the perfect place for a family picnic on a vast beach with grass and views over the Marcelly peak and Mont Chéry.
Besides your picnic: in the daytime, you can enjoy an after-lunch nap followed by a dip in the lake, or take the children to the Wibit park (floating inflatable play) or even go exploring on a trail bike or an electric quad bike. Our best recommendation for the evening is to try Lumina, an enchanting nocturnal trail. This brand new feature, the only one of its kind in France, is open near the lake since August 2020.
Fish-spotting
Lac du Plan du Rocher
Strong point: an interesting lake that’s easy to reach
It is also known as the Lac des Pêcheurs (fishermen’s lake). Which is no surprise because swimming is not allowed in this lake where the rainbow trout is king, much to the delight of anglers. This no-frills site has a certain unspoilt charm and is ideal for a picnic with the children.
Besides your picnic: watch the fishermen in action and why not have a go yourself? You may even leave with your dinner fresh from the lake! (fishing permit compulsory/day pass for visitors: €21.50).
Access: No real difficulty, take either the Chavannes chairlift of the shuttle bus (plus a 15-minute walk), or walk from the village (about 1 hour, heading for Les Chavannes via Lac des Ecoles).
In a teepee
The Refuge des Trappeurs
Strong point: an original spot to delight the children
What do trappers and American Indians have for a picnic? We’ll leave it to you to decide what to bring in your rucksack! Head for the Refuge des Trappeurs in the Grand-Cry sector to enjoy your meal in one of the freely-accessible teepees. It’s a great way to get the children walking! In winter, the site is right on the slopes of the Grand-Cry fun area, and the teepees and picnic tables remain here throughout the summer season. A freely-accessible picnic room that seats 30 people with toilets is also available close by.
Besides your picnic: why not play along with the theme of American Indians and trappers? The children will love it! Games, disguises, make-up, making your own bow… Use your imagination!
Access: From Les Chavannes, it’s about a 10-minute walk. Head towards Lac des Pêcheurs or Ranfolly.
When the sun is at its highest point, or at the end of the day when it turns scarlet red just before setting behind the mountains, you almost certainly won’t be the only ones to have organised a picnic here! This breathtaking spot has a picnic table placed just below the cross, or you can picnic on the grass. You’ll be captivated by this village setting amid Alpine pastures and revitalised by the natural decor.
Besides your picnic: walk a little further, along the ridges and/or to Mont Chéry and meet the local fauna and flora. You may come across cows, goats and maybe even a Black Grouse.
Access: by car plus a 10-minute walk, or a 1-hour walk from the village centre, or on the Mont Chéry gondola lift followed by about an hour on foot
Worth the effort
The secretive Chapelle de Jacquicourt
Strong point: a site concealed in a splendid, remote setting
It takes a bit of effort to reach this unspoilt haven which offers views over the mountains and the Loëx plateau! It takes between 1 1/2 and 2 hours on foot from the centre of Les Gets to reach the protected biotope of this listed Natura 2000 site.
Besides your picnic: birdwatching for beginners! Indeed, no less than six bird species have been spotted in this sector, including the boreal owl, the black grouse, the hazel grouse and the spotted nutcracker. Keep your eyes peeled! For heritage fans, this lovely little chapel was originally built in 1679 on the territorial border between the villages of Les Gets, Samoëns and Taninges, but was demolished soon afterwards. It was rebuilt by the local people in the late 1980s.
Access: on foot, the return trip from Le Sincerneret takes about 3 hours on fairly easy woodland paths.
Sporting challenge with panoramic view from the top of Mont Chéry
The top of Mont Chéry
Strong point: views to die for…
Hikers, trail runners, mountain-bikers and paragliders… All these outdoor sports enthusiasts cross paths at the summit of Mont Chéry. Get comfortable on the grass to watch them, observe the paragliders taking off, and enjoy the 360° panorama over the Roc d’Enfer, the Mont Blanc massif, the Chablais summits and the Aravis mountain range which won’t fail to amaze you!
Besides your picnic:prolong your walk by heading for one of the goat farms present on this mountain pasture, and learn to recognise the surrounding peaks with the help of the viewpoint indicator.
Access: a 1 to 1 1/2-hour walk along the ridge from Mont Caly. Or you can walk all the way up from the resort. The elevation gain is 600 metres!
Another, less energetic option is to take the Mont Chéry gondola lift and the Pointe chairlift.
Modern comforts
The belvédère des Nauchets
Strong point: a picnic site installed in the heart of nature
If you love a picnic but don’t want to sacrifice those creature comforts, then head for the Belvédère des Nauchets, via the “Tour des Mouilles” hiking path or the Encape mountain-bike trail, for lunch at a comfortable picnic area. The 120 m² platform offers the comfort of a “terrace” where the views are perfect for a leisurely bite to eat.
Besides your picnic:walk off your meal by following the nearby hiking paths and/or enjoy a comfortable nap on one of the sunbeds to recharge your batteries in the middle of nature.
Access: it’s about a 35 to 40-minute walk up from the centre of Les Gets. Alternatively, take the Chavannes Express chairlift. From the top, it’s a 15 to 20-minute downhill walk.
Located on the prestigious Route des Grandes Alpes, Les Gets offers a complete package for all cycling lovers! Varied itineraries passing through the biggest mountain passes in an exceptional natural environment in the heart of the mountains …
The resort is recognised for the organisation of international mountain bike competitions and also hosted the Grand Depart of the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2016. The event that year was enriched by ‘La Montée du Chéry’, a time trial that was over 9% more difficult than the average. This is likely to become an unmissable for cyclists.
The « Accueil Vélo » label
Thanks to the Accueil Vélo label and Escale Vélo charter, Les Gets resort is equipped to welcome cycling enthusiasts in the best possible way: infrastructures for mountain biking, accommodations are listed and services adapted to cyclists (hire companies, repairers, road cycling courses, etc.).
Les Gets road is a part of the Route des Grandes Alpes for long distance cyclists, but is also taken by those who attack the mythical passes from the Tour de France, which surround the village, such as the Joux Plane pass.
We have selected for you three routes that we particularly appreciate !
The Joux Plane pass, tackled manytimes by Tour de France competitors, is one of the most difficult Alpine climbsin. The start is very hard, then the climb is difficult with a maximum average of 13% at the hamlet called «La Combe Emeru».
To warm up
Excursion to the Arve Valley
The roads, which are wide and well surfaced, are far from difficult but by no means uninteresting. This is an ideal circuit to get into shape before tackling harder climbs nearby.
Stunning views
Roc d’Enfer Tour
A route presenting no major difficulties that the «Morzine – Haut-Chablais cyclosportive» which takes places every June.
Events
Portes du Soleil Cycling race
A race organised in collaboration with the Portes du Soleil, the event offers 4 varied courses ranging from 40 to 120 kilometres to allow everyone to surpass themselves and enjoy the area’s mythical roads and passes.
It is a family event and accessible, as it is also possible to compete using an electric bike and to choose whether or not to be timed.
Peace be with you, with spas and yoga. For a feel-good experience and another way to experience the mountains, wellness is growing in popularity in Les Gets, with activities to help you develop your mindfulness.
With a front-seat view of Mont Blanc and a panorama that will take your breath away, the resort has all the ingredients for happiness. Take a deep breath of the pure, oxygen-rich air and its delicate scents of nature, admire the patchwork of colours between flowered meadows and virgin snow…serenity is at home here at high altitude. To bring these sensations within our reach, health and beauty therapists, yoga teachers and hypnotherapists have developed treatments that have become a huge success.
High altitude wellness
Spa, for pure relaxation
You can treat yourself at any time of the year. After a heavy day’s skiing or a wild mountain bike ride, a spa is the high-altitude relaxing break that belongs on everyone’s holiday schedule.
The skier’s massage, the Alpine energetics massage and the breath of fresh air treatment show that Sonia from the Clair Moment institute has incorporated every aspect of the mountains into the treatments she has created. Wellness procures relaxation and benefits from nature itself and is firmly rooted in its environment.
In the cosy wooden surroundings of the Séréni-Cimes spa, body and mind are guided together on the path to harmony. Follow up a draining hydrotherapy session with a peeling treatment, a wrap or an energising ritual. Say goodbye to muscle stiffness and soreness – the beauty therapists have the solution to all your tensions at their fingertips. The traditional aromatic Turkish bath and the chromatic meditation sauna, the ultimate in calm and relaxation, are an invitation to let go surrounded by scents and colours.
All roads lead to happiness!
Yoga
Mindfulness in the wilderness
Yoga for all
Performing sun salutations in scenery like this…Les Gets is a temple for yoga.
In the heart of the Alps, opposite the roof of Europe, serenity is the artist in permanent residence. What if all it took were to reconnect with your true nature and balance your body and your mind for wellness to come within reach?
For Barbara, who teaches yoga, the answer is obvious. The movements and poses practised mindfully help bring the body, the mind and the spirit together for total self-actualisation. On the terrace of the Grande Ourse restaurant in winter, warm up facing Mont Blanc and gently awaken your muscles to reach peaks of tranquillity before you tackle the slopes.
Since there is no right or wrong age to be happy, yoga at Les Gets is for people at any stage of their lives.
Sources du Chéry
A new natural approach to wellness
Les Sources du Chéry : the mere mention of this location sends a gentle warmth rushing through your body to pamper your mind.
This new space, devoted to wellness, beauty and beauty treatments, is a veritable invitation to discover all the benefits of nature, water and art…
A “mountain chic” ambiance is really body and soul with the elements that make up the history of the resort: water jetting forth from the surrounding springs and wood, the noble material from which the village’s name is derived, “giets” being an old French word for the channels used for transporting wood down from the mountains.
“Les Sources du Chéry” has three interconnected areas, based on the concept of unique, authentic & natural experiences:
An area reserved for adults with steam baths, saunas and cold water plunge pools, hydromassage jets and sunken benches, whirlpools, waterfalls, swimming lanes and salt caves, for the choice between a relaxing, revitalising or a sporting experience.
A kid zone has been specially set up under the supervision of an animator, for children between 3 and 11 years old, so that adults can serenely enjoy the SPA experience.
A wellness and beauty area with a warm atmosphere and massage rooms for both individual and couple’s massages. Teams of professionals are on-hand for massages and facials, using methods and products designed exclusively by Exertier Laboratories, a veritable activist for natural, French-made beauty treatments.
The brand’s authentic approach to beauty produces exclusive natural products inspired by nature in the Alps – such as mountain honey or the orchid of the Alps – also known as the “sabot de venus“.
