Holidays to La Clusaz

La Clusaz is a French mountain village that invites hikers into the great outdoors – and always with a chance of glimpsing Mont Blanc on the horizon

La Clusaz sports a suitably evocative name – from the French “cluse”, for a path between the mountains. Sure enough, in the 1900s a road was laid through, transforming La Clusaz from a remote mountain village into a magnet for winter sports devotees. These days, it’s still a beloved ski region in winter and lauded for its walking trails and Tour de France-approved cycling routes in summer. And yet La Clusaz has managed to hold on to its village charm, filled with alpine hotels, a church-topped square and meadow-swept valleys that on a clear day offer a peek of the mighty Mont Blanc massif.

Summer holiday in the great outdoors

La Clusaz quietly delights in its dramatic locale. The village sits 1,000 metres up on the Col des Aravis – a mountain pass that has seen Tour de France cyclists fly by – and so welcomes those who love diving into the great outdoors. It’s not all for pro pedallers, either. All levels of walking and cycling paths unravel in the Aravis mountains surrounding La Clusaz, as well as paragliding, via ferrata and the luge d’ete summer toboggan.

Walking paths between the mountains

Walking holidays to La Clusaz reveal a range of walking and cycling paths, from family-friendly rambles to mountain treks and challenging via ferrata routes. Some footpaths start from the village, or you could catch the cable car (open during selected months) to the Beauregard Plateau for forest and valley hikes set to the distant chime of cowbells. Keep your eyes peeled for luminous blue lakes, elusive mountain marmots and showstopping views of Mont Blanc.

Village life in La Clusaz

La Clusaz gathers around Sainte Foy Church (easily spotted by its rounded baroque bell tower) and square. Here, a market pops up every Monday morning, selling mountain specialities such as dry-cured Savoy ham, spruce-spiced sapinette liqueur, and heaps of homemade bread. Corbassieres dairy farm, accessed by the Patton Path, is the place for local produce – and for fondue with a view. There’s plenty to celebrate in summer too, with concerts in the church, folk and music festivals, and a whole day dedicated to honouring the local Reblochon cheese.

Village-hopping in the Aravis

La Clusaz isn’t the only charming village in the Aravis region. Riverside Grand-Bornand is another favourite of the Tour de France, while Manigod is all sleepy chalets and a sporty crowd, thanks to the running trails and outdoor pool. Walk or catch the bus to Les Confins – a mountain-ringed plateau lake with restaurants en route. Fancy a day trip? Spend a day in Annecy, one of the prettiest cities in the Alps.

Why book a summer holiday in La Clusaz with Inghams?

At Inghams, we do walking holidays differently. With no fixed itinerary, you have more time in your destination and the freedom to walk as much or as little as you like, discovering some of La Clusaz's best walking routes and activities at your own pace.

With 90 years of outdoor travel experience, our holiday packages to La Clusaz include flights, transfers, and accommodation, so you can relax and leave the small details to us. Our experts can help you choose the best holiday for you, and our team in resort can give you the inside scoop on how to spend your time away with us.

Added value

24/7 Support and advice: Over the phone from our local resort team

All holidays include flights from the UK and transfers

Walking in and around La Clusaz

On an Inghams walking holiday, you have the freedom to explore the area at your own pace. Make each day a new adventure, with as much or as little walking as you like.

Why we love walking in La Clusaz

We love walking in the charming village of La Clusaz, its one of the lesser known summer alpine destinations but that's what makes it so special. Walks in the area vary in ability from family friendly walks to challenging hikes and with quieter trails to discover you get to enjoy the rolling alpine meadows and dramatic peaks - keep your eyes peeled for wildlife along the way with marmots and ibex often found in this area, just make sure to keep your distance. The other sight to look out for is the Mont Blanc, on a clear day and on certain routes you may be able to capture a glimpse of it. You'll also find plenty of mountain refuges dotted around, if you're lucky and pass one that's open we recommend popping in for a refreshing beverage and if its on the menu (which it probably is) then make sure to try the local reblochon cheese.

Getting around La Clusaz

You'll find that July and August are the warmest months and when most of the summer lifts and public transport are running. Those looking to travel in quieter (and cooler) months may enjoy May, June and September - just note that bus and lift services are reduced.

Summer Lifts

The lifts in La Clusaz are a great way to reach new scenery and hiking trails. During the summer, opening times and dates can vary but generally they're open every weekend from around June 10th and every weekend in September, continuous opening is usually from July 1st to August 27th (payable locally, weather dependent and subject to change).

Public Transport

In the summer months there is a bus service running to connect La Clusaz to nearby towns and villages. It’s a small service but great for seeing the local area and you can always connect to other routes in neighbouring towns to go further (some of the routes are even free). Please note that the bus service is more limited until mid-July. More frequent routes run during August and become limited again in September.

During July and August you can also head to the Arlysère community to make use of the free shuttles (subject to change) and head to the picturesque villages to the south of the Aravis La Giettaz and Flumet.

Our Favourite Walks

Circuit des Cascades

  • Easy walk
  • Elevation gain 130 metres
  • Approx. 45 minutes walking time

Begin this walk with a bus journey and head to the starting point in Thônes/Morette on the road to La Balme de Thuy. This walking route has a rich history, with the rock shelter of La Balme de Thuy, home to men nearly 10,000 years ago. Being surrounded by pine to act as fuel, water with plenty of fish and wild game to hunt, the area made a great settlement back then and offers beautiful nature and history to admire today. You can also find the Necropolis of Morette and its history during World War II.

La Croix de Fer

  • Easy walk
  • Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes of walking
  • Elevation of 160 metres

The starting point of this walk is around 7km from the village and a short bus ride away. You’ll begin in the Col des Aravis car park before heading into the mountains to enjoy fantastic scenery and even capture a glimpse of the Mont Blanc.

Lac de Tardevant 

  • Elevation of 842 metres
  • Approx. 4 hours 30 minutes walk
  • Short bus ride to the start of the walk

You’ll begin the walk from the L’Arpettaz Les Confins (4 km from the village), only a short bus ride away. Les Confins is a beautiful plateau below la Chaine des Aravis, with a small lake. It’s a slightly longer walk which is expected to take around 4 hours 30 minutes to complete. On route there are two restaurants, great to stop and enjoy a bite to eat for lunch (subject to opening times and dates) before arriving at the top where you can marvel at the views over the lake “Lac de Tardevant”.

Plateau de Beauregard 

  • Approx. 4 hours 15 minutes of walking
  • Elevation of 650 metres
  • Option to extend the walk

Starting from La Clusaz village you’ll walk through the mountain vista until you reach the top of the peak. It’s a bit of a challenging walk with approx. 650 metres of elevation but you’ll be rewarded with views of the beautiful “La Chaine des Aravis”. You can also take the cable car to reach the "Plateau de Beauregard", where you can walk for a further if you wish.

Le Danay

  • Approx. 2 hours of walking
  • Elevation of 354 metres

Walk from “Les Confins Chapelle” and enjoy walking for approximately 2hours before reaching the top of the mountain and admiring the views of the cross and "La Chaine des Aravis".

The La Clusaz Tourist Office will have a variety of walk options, resort activities and maps to help you make the most of your holiday.

Useful & General Information

Recommended equipment

Suitable walking shoes with good grip, appropriate clothing, rain jacket, sun cream, insect repellent, sun glasses, rucksack, at least a litre of water, a re-usable water bottle, a snack and cash. You may find walking poles useful. Equipment is not available to hire in resort but there's a few places where you can buy high quality kit if you need anything.

Hiking guidelines

The mountains are a natural paradise, with lots to explore and discover. To help it stay that way, and remain an enjoyable and safe place for everyone, we recommend following our little list of do's and don'ts:

  • Plan your route well and don't overestimate yourself
  • Check the weather forecast
  • Tell someone where you're planning to walk and what time you're expecting to be back
  • Take all the recommended equipment
  • Make a note of emergency numbers
  • Don't leave the marked trails or go onto a glacier without a guide
  • Let nature stay wild by not picking alpine flowers (it's illegal in some places) or getting close to/making contact with wild animals
  • Always leave gates as you found them and don't climb over fences
  • Leave no trace

Check out our Responsible Walking insider guide if you want more tips for your summer walking holiday.

Hotels in La Clusaz

  • from£879pp
  • @accommodation.PropertyRating

    5 Rating

    We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official star rating.

Piscine Soirée Ludovic Di Orio

Enjoy a luxury escape to the Hotel au Coeur du Village, take advantage of the Cristal Spa and the hotels fantastic central location in the beautiful village of La Clusaz. 

  • from£989pp
  • @accommodation.PropertyRating

    3 Rating

    We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official star rating.

ALPEN R D31A8307 2

The Hotel Alpen Roc provides a comfortable base in the mountains for you to enjoy La Clusaz, experience delicious food, a great location and a small wellness area.

  • from£699pp
  • @accommodation.PropertyRating

    5 Rating

    We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official star rating.

Les Cimes Reception Matthieu Cellard 1 BD

Enjoy flexibility in this luxury self-catered accommodation. Residence Les Cimes is situated a short walk from the centre of La Clusaz, perfect for those wanting to explore the village or hit the hiking trails.

  • from£804pp
  • @accommodation.PropertyRating

    3 Rating

    We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official star rating.

DSC 0223

The Hotel Christiania is a fantastic choice for those wanting a great location in La Clusaz. Rooms are comfortable, the food is delicious and the service is always friendly and welcoming.

  • from£569pp
  • @accommodation.PropertyRating

    4 Rating

    We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official star rating.

Les Grandes Alpes Residence, Swimming Pool (1)

The Residence Les Grandes Alpes offers well-equipped, self-catered apartments, located in the centre of La Clusaz. Enjoy modern, chalet-style décor and some great shared facilities including an indoor pool.

Travel and Transportation

All our holidays include return travel to resort either by flight or train and then the transfer between the airport or railway station and La Clusaz. 

We offer departures on a Wednesday or Saturday with stays for 3, 4, 7, 10, 11 and 14 nights. 

Travel By Air

Flights to Geneva are available from London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol and Luton.

Transfer times:

  • Geneva airport: approx. 1 hour 15 mins by coach

Private transfers and self drive options are available.

Travel by Train

We offer holidays by train to La Clusaz, which depart on a Wednesday and Saturday. The journey takes around 9 hours and 30 minutes and you will get a taxi/coach transfer between Annecy station to your hotel in La Clusaz which takes around 50 minutes.

The provisional outbound timings are: 

Wednesdays & Saturdays

Arrive

Depart

London St Pancras

-

 07:01

Paris Nord

10.20

-

Change at Paris Lyon 

12.46

Annecy 

16.32

-

On arrival, you will transfer to La Clusaz by taxi/coach, which will take around 50 minutes depending on traffic. 

The provisional inbound timings are:

Wednesdays & Saturdays

Arrive

Depart

Annecy 

-

09.29

Paris Lyon

13.14

Change at Paris Nord

15.12

London St Parcras

16.30

-
Things To Do

With its beautiful mountain position, La Clusaz is an ideal destination for an active holiday. The surroundings provide a perfect playground for walking, cycling, summer toboggan and via ferrata, amongst others. There are also plenty of cultural aspects to explore, such as the local market, cheese farm and beautiful neighbouring villages, such as Grand Bornand and Manigod.

Cycling

There are a number of different cycling routes suitable for all ages and abilities, from beginners to experts. For more information, you can download the free app "Virées en Aravis", which gives a number of routes to take throughout the area, along with Tourist Office information for cycling. 

Summer fun

The summer toboggan run, luge d'ete, is a lot of fun, hold on tight as you descend 800 metres and zip past meadows, fields and mountains - its exhilarating. For more summer fun there’s the Aqua park that sits at the bottom of the mountains with great views and has an outdoor swimming pool to enjoy during those warm summer months.

Reblochon

Reblochon cheese is a locally made cheese that's not only delicious but even warrants its own festival. Held annually (usually in August) it’s a celebration of local farmers, makers and of course plenty of opportunities to try Reblochon. For those wanting to know more about this tasty cheese, head to the Hameau des Alpes interactive museum, it’s a great exhibition that details the history of Reblochon as well as the history of skiing in the area in a fun and interactive way.

Experience the local market

Open every Monday morning, held on the Church square in the center of the village. You will find all the local specialities including: Reblochon, Savoy ham, Aravis liqueur, clothing, local fruits and vegetables, honey, jam, bread, and local ready cooked meals.

Summer festivals and events

La Clusaz has some great events on during the summer months and we've listed a couple below.

Please note that events are subject to change and operating dates can vary year to year so please check prior to booking. For some events, booking in advance may be necessary and charges may apply locally.

La Clusaz Yoga Festival (usually held in July) - the La Clusaz yoga festival is great for those who don't know a lot about yoga and for those keen to learn more.

Savoyard party (usually held at the end of July) - enjoy traditional clothing, folk dancing and a great atmosphere.

Reblochon Festival (usually held mid-August) - celebrate the local cheese, Reblochon with this unique event.

Alps Music Festival (usually held towards the end of August) - enjoy traditional alpine instruments and music over the course of three days.

Good to know

Hiking trails: There are 101 kilometres of well signposted trails in the area to explore

Terrain: Mountain terrain that varies from steep and rocky underfoot to easier lower level walks

Best time to go: July and August are the warmest months and when most of the summer lifts and public transport are running. Those looking to travel in quieter (and cooler) months may enjoy June and September.

Best for: All walking abilities, nature and activities

Arrive into: Geneva Airport or Self-Drive

Travel from: Gatwick, Manchester, Luton, Bristol and Edinburgh Airports, London St Pancras or Self-Drive

Transfer time: approx. 1 hour 15 mins by coach from Geneva Airport 

24/7 Support and advice: Over the phone from our local resort team

What We Say
  • La Clusaz is the perfect spot for anyone looking for a peaceful holiday in the mountains. There's plenty of walking trails to discover and you have to try the locally made Reblochon cheese while you're here - its delicious!

    Zoe, Senior Product Executive
What You say
  • Everything from the booking process, the resort representative and the holiday itself was exemplary.

    Fowler, Inghams Customer, July 2023
Feefo badge