In winter, La Clusaz is a ski resort. In summer, it reverts to what it has always been: an alpage village in the Aravis valley, at 1040m altitude, clustered around its onion-domed bell tower. Its name comes from the cluse, the narrow passage carved between the cliffs that guards the village entrance. Here, farms still produce Reblochon, herds still move to the high pastures in June, and the village’s most celebrated champion, Candide Thovex, learned to ski on the slopes that are now hiked or mountain biked once the snow melts. It is this double life that makes a summer in the Aravis so compelling: real mountains, a real village, and far fewer crowds than on the shores of nearby Lake Annecy.
La Clusaz in summer: practical information
- Altitude: village at 1040m, at the foot of the Aravis range.
- Lifts open in summer: Beauregard, Patinoire, Crêt du Merle and Crêt du Loup, weekends from mid-June then daily in July and August (2027 calendar to follow).
- Summer passes: walker/hiker pass and mountain bike pass daily rates; tariffs published by the resort.
- Access: Annecy approximately 30 minutes’ drive away, Geneva airport approximately 1 hour away.
The Aravis on foot, from plateau to peaks
The finest introduction requires no effort at all: the Beauregard cable car, which departs from the village centre near the skating rink, deposits you within minutes on the Beauregard plateau, a balcony of high pastures where paths wind between alpage chalets, wooden fences and herds of Abondance cattle. Before you, the entire Aravis range. You can walk here for an hour or half a day, and the return can be made on foot to the village.
The other valley worth knowing is the Confins, a few minutes from the centre. Its small lake nestled beneath the cliffs, its chapel and balcony paths make it the favourite destination for regulars and the starting point for more serious routes to the peaks. The lake circuit, flat and accessible, is the subject of a dedicated guide. Keen distance walkers will aim for the marked Bélier trails, 13km or 24km across the massif, traced for the end-of-summer event and accessible throughout the season.
AEC tip. Go to Lac des Confins towards the end of the day, once the coach parties have left: the raking light catches the Aravis cliffs and the water regains its calm. For Beauregard, it’s the opposite, head up early, and the high pastures are yours alone.
Mountain biking and road cycling: the Aravis playground
La Clusaz has become one of the Alps’ leading mountain-bike destinations. Its bike park, served by 3 lifts, offers 6 downhill trails and 6 enduro trails, from green to black, within a domain of 125km of marked paths that extends across the entire valley.
On the road, the Col des Aravis remains the local monument: 1487m, the border between Haute-Savoie and Savoie, a chapel at the summit and Mont-Blanc as backdrop. Regularly featured on the Tour de France route, it climbs steadily from the village, a gradient many cyclists happily link with the Croix-Fry or the Manigod valley. And for those who prefer to fly, two paragliding launch areas await at the summits of the Crêt du Merle and Crêt du Loup chairlifts.
What to do in La Clusaz this summer
Our selection of experiences worth the journey, from the Beauregard high pastures to the village terraces.
Must-see
Peaceful
Thrills
Road cycling
In the air
Local produce
CultureLe Hameau des Alpes
The story of Reblochon and skiing, in an interactive chalet museum.
Family
Event
Way of lifeWandering through the village
Terraces, onion-domed bell tower and shops, at the pace of summer.
Land of Reblochon
The Aravis are the birthplace of farmhouse Reblochon AOP, and summer is the best season to understand why: the herds are in the high pastures, farms produce morning and evening, and several open their doors for visits. In the village centre, Le Hameau des Alpes tells this story in an interactive chalet museum, open in summer (2027 opening hours to follow), with workshops designed for children. The highlight is the Reblochon and Craftsmanship Festival, early August: production demonstrations, craftspeople, parades and dancing in the heart of the village.
With the family
La Clusaz in summer is very much a child-friendly destination. Lac des Confins and its flat surroundings suit first steps and picnics, the Beauregard cable car puts the high pastures, their cattle and marmots within reach of an all-terrain pushchair, and Le Hameau des Alpes occupies a late afternoon intelligently. The village itself, compact and lively, is walked through between ice-cream shops, boutiques and the church square.
The main summer events
Two events structure the season. Early August, the Reblochon Festival transforms the village into a celebration farm. In September 2027 (dates to follow), Le Bélier returns: three days of races and hikes across the Aravis trails, from children’s courses to the 84km for the most enduring, with hiking formats of 13km and 24km open to all. The atmosphere is that of a village on the move, and it’s wise to book accommodation early for that weekend.
When to visit, how to get there
The lifts run daily in July and August, and weekends from mid-June: this is the ideal window to enjoy the plateau and bike park. June offers flowering high pastures and absolute peace and quiet, July and August full-season activities, early September golden mountains and deserted paths. Detailed timetables are published each season by La Clusaz tourism office.
| From | Distance | Approximate travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Annecy | ~32km | ~35 minutes |
| Geneva airport | ~50km | ~1 hour |
| Annecy railway station | ~32km | then bus or taxi |
| Lyon | ~150km | ~2 hours |
Where to stay
Three settings share the valley. The village heart puts terraces, shops and the Beauregard cable car within walking distance. The Confins valley offers the peace of the high pastures, the lake as your horizon and hiking departures at the path’s end. The Crêt du Merle slope, finally, sets chalets facing the Aravis range, closest to the bike park and chairlifts. A summer stay in the Aravis is best savoured from a chalet, with mornings facing the cliffs and evenings on the terrace: our selection of chalets and apartments in La Clusaz has been chosen with this in mind.
Frequently asked questions
When are mechanical lifts open in summer at La Clusaz?
Four lifts operate in summer (Beauregard, Patinoire, Crêt du Merle and Crêt du Loup): weekends from mid-June, then daily in July and August (2027 calendar to follow). The prices of walker/hiker passes and mountain bike passes are published each season by the resort.
What is there to do in La Clusaz when it rains?
Le Hameau des Alpes, a living museum of Reblochon and skiing in the village centre, occupies an afternoon pleasantly. Direct-sale farms and village shops take over, and Annecy, its old town and lake, are half an hour’s drive away.
What kind of break is La Clusaz in summer?
An authentic mountain break: hiking from the Beauregard plateau to the Aravis peaks, mountain biking at one of the Alps’ finest bike parks, road cycling at Col des Aravis, Reblochon terroir and village pace. It’s also an ideal base for families, 30 minutes from Lake Annecy.
How do I get to La Clusaz?
Geneva airport is approximately 1 hour’s drive away, Annecy 35 minutes. By train, take Annecy railway station then reach the resort by bus or taxi. On site, the entire village is accessible on foot.
What are the major events of summer 2027?
The Reblochon and Craftsmanship Festival early August in the village centre, and Le Bélier, scheduled for September 2027 (dates to follow), one of the great Aravis trail races, with race formats from 7km to 84km and hikes of 13km and 24km.
Can you drive up to Col des Aravis?
Yes, the Col des Aravis road (1487m) is open in summer and connects La Clusaz to La Giettaz, on the Savoie side. At the summit: a chapel, alpine restaurants and one of the finest views of Mont-Blanc in the valley.
And when the first snows return, La Clusaz simply changes its appearance: the Beauregard high pastures become cross-country trails, and the 125km of the ski domain take over from the hiking paths.
La Clusaz right now
The latest images shared by the tourist office.
