For summer visitors the range of activities is endless. There is walking for all levels of fitness directly from the Chalet door, mountain biking is popular in the area along with parapenting, via ferata, rock climbing, swimming, horse riding and golf. A chair lift regularly operates from above the chalet throughout the summer accessing Mont Lachat. Taking your mountain bike up with you is possible and allows an enjoyable descent back to Le Chinaillon/ Le Grand Bornand of between 2 and 7 miles approximately.

Le Grand Bornand is where most of the organised summer activities take place, based around the area by the swimming pool complex. Information and booking of activities canbe done at the Tourist Office in the town square.English speaking assistants are available. There is a good range of shops including a small well stocked supermarket and some some quality craft/gift shops in Chinaillon and more still in Grand Bornand including a weekly market on Wednesday mornings. We are located in the quiet hamlet of Le Chinaillon which is on a high, sunny plateau surrounded by spectacular views and flaura and forna. It is quiet and has a pleasant rural feel to it. There is a Tourist Office opposite the supermarket which also has English-speaking assistants, and next door is the cinema.

Outside the villages the small farms are scattered over the mountainside, many of them selling dairy produce at the door. As you go up the mountains you will come across the herds of cattle grazing on the high summer meadows, their bells ringing across the valleys.

In August there is the annual International Children's festival, Au Bonheur des Mômes; a week long festival of puppet shows, theatre, circus acts, mime, juggling etc.There are also lots of workshops and events that children of all ages can participate in. It finishes with a huge firework display and street party on the last Friday night.

There are village fêtes all through the summer in some of the smaller hamlets, including Le Chinaillon's Fête d'Alpage, which celebrate traditional mountain activities. There are sheep dog trials, cattle competitions, wood sawing and chopping demonstrations and local food and drink in abundance.

Hiking:
There are numerous mountain paths and routes throughout and across the mountains. Some of the lifts continue to run for those who prefer to only walk down hill and many mountain restaurants remain open throughout the summer. Many routes can be accessed directly from the front door- the beauty, flora and fauna are amazing. As is the peace, tranquilty and fresh clean air.

We provide details on recommended walks together with maps within the apartment.

Swimming:
There is a large outdoor pool complex in Le Grand Bornand which includes a water slide, a paddling pool with a water fountain and a proper swimming pool.. There is also a pool in La Clusaz and you must try swimming in the lake at Annecy- Talloires beach is beautiful.


Cycling:
The Tour De France often passes through in 2007 there was an overnight stop on Bastille day. There are Grimpee’s and other cycling events throughout the season not forgetting the mountain biking trails!

Pony Trekking:
Pony trekking can be organised from just a one-hour ramble or a two-day trek to a mountain refuge.

Paragliding:
Paragliding is one of the most popular summer sports in the area. Le Grand Bornand is well known in the paragliding world as one of the best places to fly in the mountains. The World Championships were held here a few years ago. You can learn to fly solo in a week-long course or take a tandem flight with an instructor just to get a feel for it.

Via Ferrata:
This is a route up the side of a mountain with a continuous safety wire attached from top to bottom. There are three Via Ferrata in the area including one in Chinaillon. A guide can be hired at the Tourist Office.

Golf:
There are several championship standard Golf courses within 1-2 hours drive as well as a challenging 9-hole course in Grand Bornand where tuition is available.

Other:
In Grand Bornand, near the swimming pool complex, there are areas dedicated to trampolines and acrobatics, archery, tennis, volleyball and yoga amongst others. All the activities are supervised and tuition is available.

Day trips:
Annecy and it’s beautiful lake with swimming and water sports is about 30 mins drive away. Further details of what is available canbe found  within this site. La Clusaz is only 15 mins drive and is worth a visit. Chamonix, Megeve, Lyon (the second city and Gastronomy capital of France) are all accessible for an interesting day trip.