Water sports in the mountains

Windsurfing, boating, rafting, pedalo…combine the pleasures of the mountains and those of your favourite water sports on your next vacation.  Here, an overview of the multitude of activities you never knew were possible at high altitude !

Welcome aboard !  The sea is not the only place to discover the joys of sailing and other water sports.  In the mountains you will find no end to the lakes and water recreation areas where you can develop your taste for all things aquatic.  Windsurfing and Optimist on Lake Vonnes (Haute Savoie), catamaran at Angles (Pyrenees), kiteboarding and waterskiing at Lake Serre Ponçon, wakeboarding at Lake Annecy…the choice is yours, just follow your heart.  In the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Vosges, all of the « traditional » nautical activities and the pleasures of the beach are within reach.  One example among the many water recreation areas that the French mountains have to offer Combloux (Haute Savoie) is a protected biotope area open to swimmers from mid-June until September, located in surroundings of exceptional natural beauty with a view over the massifs.

Wild Water exclusive !

In the mountains, water sports include the white water of the rivers.  Choose among a multitude of incomparable options, to discover as a family, supervised by qualified guides for an unforgettable experience in complete safety.  The grand classic for rivers and rapids, the kayak is a symbol of athletic excellence for France, which collects an impressive number of medals in this sport in each of the Olympic games.  But the sport is also accessible to all, to share a moment of fun with friends or family, even without previous experience.  After an initial moment of adaptation, you can enjoy paddling your kayak all on your own.  And the fun doesn’t stop there – many other, more recent innovations are gaining in popularity when it comes to water sports.  For example, the air boat is an inflatable, easy-to-handle version of the classic kayak.

A current affair

The currents of the mountain rivers guarantee a thrill ! Rafting, a popular mountain activity, brings together 8 participants (children from 12 years and up) led by a guide for a delightful white water adventure.  Hydro speed also makes use of the currents, but is practiced alone, with a pair of fins, a wetsuit and a flutterboard.  Evidently, it is necessary to be in good physical condition and a strong swimmer.  Then, after a few moments to get accustomed to the sensations of the water, you are ready to go !  Canyoning, a form of hiking which follows the course of a river or stream, is a fun, adventurous activity which includes rappelling, jumping into natural basins, swimming, and ducking under waterfalls.  Fun and accessible, it is also a physical challenge in which you should be accompanied by a qualified guide, in order to take full advantage of the experience in complete safety.  

Photos : Anion, Aurelienc, Philippe Collignon, Thierry Burdin