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Saint-Gervais boasts an exceptional network of hiking trails, ranging from short family-friendly loops around the village to challenging hikes up to the peaks. Among the must-see highlights:
• Le Nid d'Aigle (2,386 m): the terminus of the Mont-Blanc Tramway offers breathtaking views of the glaciers. You can take the tram up or, for the more adventurous, hike up from Bellevue.
• The Prarion Plateau: accessible by cable car from Les Houches, it offers one of the most beautiful views of the Mont Blanc massif. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic with a view.
• The Bionnassay Waterfall: an easy and spectacular hike, perfect for families, featuring an impressive waterfall.
The Saint-Gervais Tourist Office offers guidebooks and maps to help you plan your hikes. Many trails start right from the village center or the surrounding hamlets.
Located along the route of the legendary Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), Saint-Gervais is also an ideal playground for trail runners. Several technical and scenic trails are marked around the resort, offering a variety of elevation gains and spectacular scenery. The trails in Bionnassay, Bellevue, and Col du Tricot are particularly popular with both locals and visitors.
With its man-made lakes, natural bodies of water, and ancient thermal springs, Saint-Gervais and the surrounding area offer plenty of great ways to cool off in the summer. It’s the perfect way to round out your days of hiking with a good dose of relaxation.
The Saint-Gervais Aquatic Center is open year-round and expands in the summer to include an outdoor pool equipped with a water slide. You’ll find a lap pool, a 43-square-meter family play area, a wading pool for little ones, and a wellness area with a sauna, steam room, and solarium. Group classes are also available: aquabike, aqua cardio sculpt, water trampoline… All with a view of the foothills of Mont Blanc.
Less than 10 km from Saint-Gervais, Lake Passy is the region’s premier lakeside destination. With a supervised beach, swimming, paddleboarding, windsurfing, electric boats, fishing, mini-golf, go-karting, and an orienteering course, there’s something for all ages and interests, all set against the backdrop of Mont Blanc.
About ten kilometers to the west, the Combloux lake is a unique attraction: it is the first ecological lake in France open for swimming. Its 1,500 square meters are naturally filtered by more than 10,000 aquatic plants. The water, warmed by the mountain sun, is of remarkable quality.
For a unique experience, Les Bains du Mont-Blanc offers a wellness journey in natural thermal water that has been flowing from the roof of Europe for over 200 years.
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One of the greatest joys of summer in the mountains is spotting marmots! These friendly rodents are easy to spot at altitudes of 1,500 meters and above. The alpine pastures around Prarion and Bettex are particularly good spots for sightings. Be sure to look up at the sky as well: ibex, chamois, and golden eagles are regularly spotted on the ridges.
Tip: Head out early in the morning (before 9 a.m.) or in the late afternoon to maximize your chances of spotting alpine wildlife.
Saint-Gervais carries on a fine tradition of alpine farming. Several farms open their doors in the summer, allowing visitors to learn how Savoyard cheeses—Beaufort, Tomme, Reblochon—are made and to meet the producers. It’s an authentic experience that’s very popular with families with children. Check with the Tourist Office to find out which farms are open to visitors during the season.
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The mountains can sometimes mean rain, too! And Saint-Gervais has plenty of ideas for those less-than-ideal days:
• The Saint-Gervais Thermal Baths: This spa is the perfect place to recharge your batteries on a rainy day. Baths, treatments, relaxation—a well-deserved break dedicated to your well-being.
• A tour of the village: the Baroque Saint-Nicolas Church, the narrow streets of the old town, and the local shops are best explored in the misty rain.
• A quick trip to Chamonix: just 25 minutes away, Chamonix offers museums (Espace Tairraz, Musée Alpin) and plenty of indoor activities.
• Food and wine: Take the opportunity to sample Savoyard specialties at the village’s restaurants and wine cellars.
The Saint-Gervais market is held every Tuesday morning, with local producers offering cheese, cold cuts, honey, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. It’s the best place to stock up on Savoyard specialties and meet the locals. In the summer, a few themed and artisanal markets round out the lineup.
Saint-Gervais is actually a cluster of hamlets clinging to the mountainside. Le Bettex, Bionnassay, Le Champel, and Les Contamines-Montjoie right next door—each place has its own character. The walks among the chalets, the terraced gardens, and the paths connecting the hamlets offer pleasant local strolls, free of traffic and without excessive elevation changes.
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Saint-Gervais is an ideal base for exploring the entire Mont Blanc valley. In less than an hour, you can reach:
• Chamonix and the Aiguille du Midi: Europe’s highest cable car, the Mer de Glace, and the glaciers.
• Les Contamines-Montjoie: a charming village ranked among the most beautiful in France, located at the gateway to the natural park.
• Megève: just 15 minutes away, for shopping, Michelin-starred restaurants, and the village’s elegant charm.
• Courmayeur (Italy): via the Mont Blanc Tunnel, a very popular trip across the Alps.
• Lake Annecy: a 1-hour drive away, where you can swim in its turquoise waters and explore the old town.
• Best time to visit: July and August for guaranteed good weather; June and September to avoid the crowds and take advantage of lower prices.
• Altitude and cool weather: Saint-Gervais is located at an altitude of 820 meters. Days are often warm, but evenings are cool—be sure to pack an extra layer.
• Mountain weather: thunderstorms can develop quickly in the afternoon. Go hiking in the morning and check the weather forecast for the peaks the day before.
• Without a car: Saint-Gervais is accessible by train from Geneva and Paris. The valley lift and shuttle buses serve the various hamlets.
Choosing the right accommodation is often what makes all the difference when it comes to having a great vacation. Ideally located just 150 meters from the train station and the valley lift, and only 3 minutes from the highway exit, PlanB puts you right in the heart of all the best places to visit.
After a day of hiking, a swim in the lake, or a trail run, come enjoy the warm atmosphere of the restaurant and bar to catch up with friends or family. And if you’re in the mood for a late night, the bowling alley is there to round out the evening in style.
An ideal starting point for exploring Saint-Gervais and the Mont Blanc Valley, and a place where it’s nice to come home to in the evening.
In summer, Saint-Gervais offers a wide range of activities: hiking in the alpine pastures, trail running, swimming in streams and lakes, observing alpine wildlife (marmots, ibex), visiting alpine farms, taking rides on the Mont-Blanc Tramway, and strolling through the village and its markets. It is an ideal destination for lovers of nature and the great outdoors.
There are several options available to you: the municipal pool with its outdoor pool and water slide, Lake Passy (the largest in the Mont-Blanc region, 10 km away), the Combloux biotope lake for a 100% natural swimming experience, Lake Sallanches with its supervised beach in July and August, and the Saint-Gervais Thermal Baths for an experience in millennia-old thermal waters.
Marmots are easy to spot at elevations of 1,500 meters and above. The Prarion and Bettex areas, as well as the mountain pastures around Bellevue, are well-known for sightings. Head out early in the morning or in the late afternoon to maximize your chances, and stay quiet so as not to scare them away!
If it rains, the thermal baths in Saint-Gervais are the perfect option. You can also explore the village and its Baroque church, take a trip to Chamonix (museums, shopping), or enjoy the local restaurants to sample Savoyard specialties. A "slow" day in the village can also be a chance to truly relax between two beautiful hikes.
Saint-Gervais is ideally situated for exploring the entire region: Chamonix and its glaciers (25 min), Megève and its mountain charm (15 min), Les Contamines-Montjoie for hiking in the wilderness, Lake Annecy for swimming (1 hr), and even Courmayeur in Italy via the Mont Blanc Tunnel. The range of activities is virtually endless.
Several alpine farms are open to the public in the summer around Saint-Gervais. They offer tours and tastings of cheeses made on-site (Beaufort, Tomme de Savoie). Dates and locations vary depending on the summer grazing season—check with the Saint-Gervais Tourist Office to find out which farms are open to the public during your stay.
For a leisurely stroll, the village center and its narrow streets are a delight for those who love to wander. The paths connecting the various hamlets (Bettex, Bionnassay, Champel) offer beautiful, idyllic walks. For those looking for a more challenging hike, marked trails leading to mountain pastures and waterfalls start directly from the village or the gondola parking lots.