It is normal for us to share our ‘summer best bits’ with you at this time of year. The French Alps provide a unique, restorative and adrenaline-filled holiday experience for families, couples and groups of friends during the summer months. But don’t just take our word for it. Instead, we asked Marie Walker, an apartment owner at Annapurna in Les Gets, for her thoughts on summer holidays in the mountains.

Marie purchased her Alpine Lodges apartment at our Annapurna residence in 2018. Along with her family, she discovered the resort of Les Gets and was attracted to its village charm and the family-friendly feel. “It’s a lovely village!” Marie explains. “We love the fact the so many local people live here, which makes it lively and vibrant all year round.” Here, Marie tells us about her family holidays in Les Gets.

How often do you visit Les Gets and your Annapurna property each year?

We usually come for a few weeks throughout the winter season and we come in the summer, as we love it so much at this time of year. Les Gets is a great place to recharge the batteries and get the kids active!

Do your days in Les Gets during the summer have a routine?

We always start with a lovely breakfast of croissants and a baguette from the local bakery (the French touch!). We are out and about every day doing lots of different activities. We sometimes take a picnic and have lunch in the mountains, or we go to all the amazing restaurants in the area. We usually come back late afternoon and kick back in the spa at Annapurna whilst the kids have a splash in the swimming pool.

L'espace bien-être de la résidence Annapurna

What is your favourite activity in Les Gets during the summer months?

I’m not sure where to start! We walk every day with our dog, he loves it. The views are breathtaking and there are so many trails for every level, making it easy to walk with little ones too!

We love to go to lac de Montriond, which is our favourite place in the world! We go kayaking or paddle boarding, my girls love the high ropes courses through the trees and can spend the whole day up in the forests enjoying fun adventures. My children also love rock climbing and have been doing it a few times now. The next time we visit Les Gets in winter, we want to see the huskies and go sledding with them.

We also love watching all the mountain bikers going down the trails of Les Gets whilst we enjoy an aperitif! The Lac de écoles area is also a favourite of ours, the Wibit inflatables are so much fun. Via Ferrata is also on our mind when the girls are a bit bigger.

Do you find the atmosphere in the village changes between the summer and winter months?

We love the summer atmosphere. There are lots of fêtes and amazing activities organised within the village itself. The mountains in summer are beautiful and we feel energised as soon as we arrive in Les Gets. We don’t have the same routine as in winter as we don’t have ski school to go to, and this makes it more relaxing in my opinion. The village is buzzing with all the cyclists, we find it invigorating!

What are your favourite places to eat in the village?

We do love the restaurants of Les Gets! At Vina Annapurna, the in-house restaurant within our residence, the food and service are always stunning. We often enjoy an aperitif and lunch at Hotel le Bellevue on the Chavannes, where the staff are so nice and always welcoming. We also like the BBQ evening at La Biskatcha, as they have a play room to entertain the children. One of our favourite walks in the mountains takes us to le Vaffieu on a plateau between Les Gets and Morzine for a very welcome stop.There are so many restaurants to choose from!

The Vina Annapurna restaurant

Do you and your family travel further afield to other villages or towns during your summer holidays? Where would you recommend?

We go to Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval for the breathtaking views and walks. There you’ll find pony riding and our girls love it. We also go to Avoriaz and the goat village in les Lindarets. It is such a good day out. We love going to Morzine for the luge and Lac des Mines D’or too.

What is the best thing about Les Gets during the summer season?

We love the buzzing village, the activities and the spectacular views that Les Gets has to offer. The community has been working so hard to make it a vibrant village and it has really succeeded. We love being outdoor every day, away from screens and in a place that has so much to offer for little ones as well as grown ups! It is such a privilege to come back year after year and enjoy the summer mountain life. We always recommend Les Gets to our friends, suggesting that they come along and discover the mountains in summer. If some of them were not convinced at first, they have all changed their mind and now opt for a holiday in Les Gets instead of the beach!

Apéritif dans l'appartement A302

When Marie and her family are not enjoying their Annapurna apartment, they rent it for the enjoyment of other holiday makers through Alpine Residences. “The team at Alpine Residences are always eager to help. As we live in the UK, it’s great to know they are on hand; this gives us peace of mind!”

If you’d like to rent an apartment in the Annapurna residence in order to enjoy a superb summer experience in the mountains, tap HERE. Alternatively, you can discover our full range of Les Gets destinations HERE. For further advice and information, don't hesitate to contact our teams for all inquiries.

We warmly thank Marie Walker and her family for participating in this interview.