Portes du Soleil in Summer: Mountain Biking, Hiking and Lifts in the Heart of the Chablais
When people think of the Portes du Soleil, they tend to picture ski runs, snow-covered lifts and cosy Savoyard après-ski. But what many visitors don't yet know is that this Franco-Swiss domain, the world's largest cross-border ski area in winter, transforms itself each summer into an exceptional outdoor playground. Mountain biking, hiking, pedestrian lifts, trail running, lake swimming: the summer offering at the Portes du Soleil is as rich as it is varied, and the Abondance valley is one of its most authentic entry points. Here is everything you need to know to make the most of this territory in summer.
An exceptional domain that reinvents itself every season
The Portes du Soleil brings together 12 Franco-Swiss resorts: Châtel, La Chapelle-d'Abondance, Avoriaz, Morzine, Les Gets, Montriond and Saint-Jean-d'Aulps on the French side, with Champéry, Torgon, Morgins and Les Crosets-Val d'Illiez-Champoussin across the border in Switzerland. In winter, a single pass opens up 600 km of ski runs. In summer, the same cross-border spirit carries over into an equally impressive network: more than 650 km of waymarked mountain bike trails, 800 km of walking paths, 28 lifts open to walkers and cyclists, and over 70 activities accessible with the Multi Pass.
What makes the Portes du Soleil particularly appealing in summer is the ability to travel between resorts, between valleys and even between countries using the lift, exactly as you would in winter on skis. From the Abondance valley, you are a few kilometres from Châtel, within reach of Avoriaz, and a single chairlift from the Swiss border.
Mountain biking at the Portes du Soleil: Europe's largest bike domain
Mountain biking is the flagship summer activity at the Portes du Soleil. With more than 650 km of waymarked trails, 5 connected bike parks served by 22 lifts equipped for bikes, the domain is unanimously recognised as Europe's largest mountain bike area. Every discipline is represented: cross-country, enduro, downhill (DH), gravel and e-mountain biking.
The Châtel Bike Park, the first major trail hub accessible from the Abondance valley, is one of the most respected in Europe. Set on the Pré-la-Joux and Plaine-Dranse sector, it offers around twenty downhill trails for all abilities, maintained and secured by a team of 9 bike patrols. From gentle green runs for beginners to black lines that attract expert riders from across the continent, there is something for every level. A Kid's Shore, two slopestyle courses and a pump track round out the offer. The Pierre-Longue and Rochassons chairlifts provide access to the park, with extended evening opening on Fridays until 19:15 from mid-July to late August, perfect for a golden-hour session after a day in the valley.
Avoriaz, perched at 1,800 metres, is home to one of the most progressive bike parks in the Alps. Its dedicated learning area, the Pop Corn Bikeyard, is ideal for families with children wanting to discover mountain biking in a relaxed, pressure-free environment. The Super-Morzine gondola and Zore chairlift remain open until 19:00 on Fridays in July and August.
Les Gets is a long-established mountain biking centre with more than 30 years of history, offering 128 km of waymarked trails on site and direct access to the full 650 km of the Portes du Soleil domain.
A single Portes du Soleil VTT pass covers the entire domain and all its bike-equipped lifts, from late June to mid-September. Over the course of a week's stay, it is perfectly possible to ride a different resort each day, each with its own character and its own riding sensations.
The Pass'Portes du Soleil MTB: the event of the summer season
Every year at the end of June, the Portes du Soleil hosts one of Europe's largest mountain biking events: the Pass'Portes du Soleil MTB. In 2026, the 22nd edition took place from 26 to 28 June, with Avoriaz hosting the main bike expo.
This is not a race, it is a convivial mountain bike ride, open to all levels. The loop covers around 89 km with a heavily descending profile (around 6,000 metres of descent and just 1,000 metres of climbing), with 11 lifts integrated into the route and traditional food stops featuring local Savoyard specialities along the way. The whole route winds between France and Switzerland through some of the finest landscapes the Chablais has to offer.
More than 8,000 riders from 29 nationalities gather each year for this unique event. Several formats run alongside the classic MTB route: e-MTB, gravel, and a supervised Kids format for 9 to 14 year olds led by qualified instructors. A bike expo with more than 200 brands and free test rides on dedicated tracks completes the weekend.
Hiking: lifts that open up the mountains to everyone
The Portes du Soleil in summer is not exclusively for mountain bikers. Walkers and hikers find just as much to enjoy here, thanks above all to the pedestrian lifts that transform the mountain experience entirely.
With 28 lifts open to walkers and cyclists from late June to 23 August 2026, it becomes possible to gain altitude effortlessly and set off on trails that begin from the summits themselves, with sweeping views over the Franco-Swiss Alps. Hiking becomes accessible to everyone, families with young children, older visitors, those who prefer a gentler pace, while opening the door to high-altitude landscapes that would otherwise require hours of uphill walking.
From the Abondance valley and La Chapelle-d'Abondance, several chairlifts give access to alpine meadows and ridgelines. Waymarked trails then allow you to connect the resorts, cross into Switzerland, or simply explore the high country for a morning or afternoon. Panoramic walking paths are available from every Portes du Soleil resort, with routes graded to suit different abilities.
For families, the pedestrian lifts become an attraction in their own right: a chairlift ride up, a view over the peaks, a picnic on an alp, then a gentle walk or lift back down, a memorable day for children without excessive effort.
The Multi Pass: the essential card for summer at the Portes du Soleil
Whether you are a hiker, a mountain biker or simply looking for a relaxing mountain break, the Portes du Soleil Multi Pass is the card that simplifies your holiday. Valid from 22 May to 13 September 2026 across all 12 resorts in the domain, it provides free access to more than 70 activities: pedestrian lifts, swimming pools, lake bathing areas, tennis courts, mini-golf, summer luge, inter-resort shuttles, panoramic trails and much more.
From the Abondance valley, the Multi Pass makes it easy to take the pedestrian lifts into the alpine meadows, catch a free shuttle to Châtel or La Chapelle-d'Abondance, or access partner swimming pools. It is the ideal formula for family stays, allowing you to alternate between activity and relaxation without constantly purchasing individual tickets.
The Multi Pass is available at the lift ticket offices. Accommodation providers who are registered partners of the scheme pass on a QR code to their guests to simplify the purchase process. A rechargeable card holder (3 €) is required and can be reused in winter as well as summer.
Important note: the Multi Pass covers pedestrian lift access but not bike transport. A separate Portes du Soleil VTT pass is required for mountain biking.
A territory to explore from the Abondance valley
What makes the Abondance valley particularly interesting as a base for exploring the Portes du Soleil in summer is its central position and its authentic character. Unlike a purpose-built resort such as Avoriaz, entirely devoted to tourism, the Abondance valley is a living, inhabited territory with its active alpine pastures, its cheese dairies, its medieval abbey and its hiking trails that are every bit as beautiful as those in the neighbouring resorts.
From Abondance, Châtel is ten minutes by car. La Chapelle-d'Abondance is five minutes away. The Châtel bike park is within easy cycling distance. And the local hikes, Lac de Tavaneuse, Pointe d'Autigny, the tour du Lac des Plagnes, complement perfectly the days spent on the Portes du Soleil domain.
It is this interplay between the unspoilt mountain landscape of the valley and the infrastructure of the domain that makes a summer stay here so rewarding. You can spend one day riding the Châtel bike park, the next hiking up to Lac de Tavaneuse under your own steam, and the following day taking the pedestrian chairlifts for a high-altitude family walk. Every day feels different.
At Hôtel Les Touristes, Sabrina and her team are happy to help you put together the ideal programme for your stay, based on your interests and the abilities of your group. Whether you are experienced riders, families with children or walkers in search of peace and quiet, the Portes du Soleil in summer has something to offer everyone.
Enjoy a wonderful summer in Abondance and across the Portes du Soleil!
The Les Touristes Team
Ready to discover the Portes du Soleil this summer from the Abondance valley? Book your stay at Hôtel Les Touristes, your ideal base for exploring Europe's largest mountain bike domain.