Samoëns in summer: hiking, biking & things to do

The lifts in summer

In summer 2026 the Grand Massif Express ran daily from 27 June to 30 August, and the Chariande Express chairlift above it opened the Tête des Saix to walkers, paragliders and mountain bikers. A return trip to Samoëns 1600 cost €11 and a return to the Tête des Saix at 2,120 m €16.50, with under-eights free, with day passes for mountain bikers. Summer dates and prices change every year, so check them before you go.

You can also drive up to the Plateau des Saix in about 15 minutes.

Walks from Samoëns 1600

The tourist office suggests three walks from the top of the gondola:

• The Tête des Saix, at 2,120 m. About 500 m of climbing and an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half up, for the view of Mont Blanc.
• The Lac des Gouilles Rouges, at about 1,740 m. An hour and a quarter there and back. The first small lake you pass is artificial; the second is the Gouilles Rouges.
• The Alpage de la Vieille, a working summer pasture at 1,585 m with cows, sheep and goats, reached from the Tête des Saix. You can walk back down through Morillon.

From the Tête des Saix you can also drop into the Combe de Gers, with its lake, gîte and restaurant. The Lac de Gers is one of the three classified sites in Samoëns.

In the valley

The riverside trail "Au fil du Giffre" follows the river on the valley floor: two hours there and back to the leisure area, or three hours 40 to the Chartreuse de Mélan in Taninges.

In the village, the Jaÿsinia botanical garden opens from 10:00 to 19:00 between 1 May and 15 September, entry is free, and guided tours cost extra. The Clos Parchet farm, 5 km up the Joux Plane road, has been an écomusée since 1994, and the stonemasons' association runs guided tours of the Frahans' heritage. The Wednesday-morning market carries on all summer.

Mountain biking

The downhill trails at Samoëns are technical enduro routes for experienced riders, according to the council, not a beginners' bike park. The council's page says the two black trails, Le Châble and the Abbadée Noire, stay closed "this season". If you want gentler riding, the tourist office lists easy routes along the Giffre and a 2.3 km hard-surfaced greenway loop on the valley floor, and the lift company sells a mountain-biking day pass for the Samoëns lifts. Shops in the village hire out e-bikes and children's bikes in season. The family mountain biking guide covers the easy routes, and the bike hire guide the shops.

Paragliding

The take-off at Samoëns 1600 sits at 1,632 m with 900 m of drop to the landing field, west of the village near the pool and tennis courts. The tourist office calls the site suitable for beginner pilots. Six paragliding schools work from Samoëns: Pégase Air, 2 Ski Fly, ABC Spirale Parapente, Les Hirondailes, Les Tontons Volants and the ZigZag ski school.

With children

• The Lac aux Dames leisure area has two lakes, a skatepark, tennis, padel and beach tennis, a football pitch, a children's play area, water golf, a fitness trail and two snack bars.
• The outdoor pool opened from 13 June to 13 September in 2026, with a 60 m slide and a paddling pool.
• The ice rink becomes a roller rink in July and August.
• Rafting on the Giffre and canyoning are among the activities listed locally. Choose an operator through the tourist office.

Events

Samoëns has a full summer calendar. Dates announced for 2027 include:

• Baroudeurs des Alpes, a cycling event, from 4 to 6 June.
• The Samoëns American Festival, country music, from 24 to 27 June.
• The UCI Cross-Country Marathon World Championships, on 1 September.
• Run & Fun du Giffre, on 11 and 12 September.

Getting around in summer

The Navettes du Giffre summer shuttles ran seven days a week from 4 July to 31 August in 2026, including lines up to Joux Plane and a new line over to Arâches and Les Carroz on Wednesdays and Thursdays. A day pass cost €2 and children under six ride free.