Summer holidays aren’t only on the beach.
Travel into the mountains and you’ll find fewer people, cooler weather and beautiful settings for outdoor adventures.
These are holidays for active people who like to be out in nature, who want to know about trails rather than the beach clubs.
These active holiday ideas in Europe’s mountains can be for families and couples. And up in the mountains you’ll find some stunning hotels too.
Schlosshotel Fiss, Austria
Outdoor adventure for families with young kids
Schlosshotel Fiss is both a natural playground and full-service resort for all ages in Austria.
Hiking trails in the surrounding Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis area have been specifically designed for young children.
Pirates’ Trail is suitable with a baby stroller and goes in search of Captain Pepper’s ghost ship and treasures. Explorer Trail in Ladis (one hour) and Witch Trail in Fiss (three hours) have their own themes of quest and discovery.
You can travel higher into the mountains via the cable car for more ambitious hikes. There’s loads of mountain biking for beginners and alpine lakes like Wolfsee Högsee to explore too.
The SHF Kids Club takes children from two years old, the teenagers’ room has a bouldering wall, there’s a wave slide and 48-metre water slide, plus a dedicated family spa.
For many years, Schlosshotel Fiss has received great feedback from our clients, notably for its intimacy and personal approach. It’s been run by the Domenig family since 1992 – see our interview with General Manager Simone Domenig.
There are various interconnecting room options we can recommend, along with the Schlosshotel Fiss Chalet.
Alpen Tesitin or Felder Alpin Lodge, South Tyrol
Hardcore adventures for adults
High in the Dolomites you’ll find serious adventure activities, like rock climbing, hikes including the famous via ferratas, mountain biking and white water rafting.
The best of this alpine landscape isn’t very accessible to children and we suggest you avoid August, when the region is very crowded. June, July, September and October are the best months for trekking.
Alpen Tesitin is a great all round property with stunning facilities. It’s one of our favourite wellness properties globally and is superb for gastronomy. Children are welcome but the vibe is intimate and grown up. An excellent base for a varied activity program.
An alternative for groups of up to six friends is the mountain chalet Felder Alpin Lodge. More rustic and fewer facilities, but still excellent service, a sauna, barbecue and four hectares of private land.
Felder Alpin Lodge has its own Pinzgauer all-terrain vehicle and helipad. This means we can customise a multi-day hiking itinerary that explores areas all across South Tyrol, really the best of the best high alpine trails, made accessible by helicopter and the Pinzgauer.
Cervo Mountain Resort, Switzerland
Rock climbing and soft adventures with kids
We’re inspired by how Cervo Mountain Resort balances true sustainability with modern luxuries. It’s powered by geothermal and solar, and almost all food and materials comes from within a 150-kilometre radius.
It’s a fun little Swiss base with kids as well, especially for rock climbing. The mountains surrounding Zermatt provide spaces to climb with a mountain guide. It’s at the foot of the Matterhorn after all.
But before that, you can improve your skills on a climbing wall and boulder area that’s located inside the resort.
We really like this option for families with children aged eight to 14. You can be outdoors in nature, doing real mountain adventures, many of which can start directly from the hotel.
Plus the climbing wall is located next to a mountain spa, so children can enjoy guided climbing while you relax in the pool and sauna.
Zannier Hôtels Le Chalet, Megève
Great all rounder for couples and families
Megève is a great base for outdoor holidays, even if most people only know it for the ski season.
The Mont d’Arbois Gondola, Rochebrune Cable Car and Petite Fontaine Chairlift open from early July to early September, although note that the last ride each day is 17:45. So you can easily enjoy the hiking and climbing you’d expect in the French Alps.
You can sail on Geneva Lake, enjoy adventures like canyoning, whitewater rafting and paragliding. Electric mountain bikes are a good option too. Maybe consider a private flight above Mont Blanc too, or a sunrise hot air balloon ride.
Zannier Hotels Le Chalet is our favourite base for a summer trip, because there’s loads to do in the immediate vicinity, with very cosy accommodation that creates a feeling of home.
The property’s partnership with Somewhere Club creates opportunities for some extremely unique experiences too, like dining with a three-Michelin-starred chef or adventures with Olympic athletes.
Deplar Farm, Iceland
Adventure mountain biking in a mostly unexplored area
The best trails are unexplored trails and they don’t come much wilder than the remote north of Iceland.
Deplar Farm is the place to stay, a property that is redefining the concept of isolated luxury in Europe. It’s magnificent on all levels, best known for winter heli-skiing.
In summer, Deplar Farm has a four-day mountain bike experience that can be either a standalone adventure, or part of a longer Iceland holiday. It’s for experienced mountain bikers.
Day one hits the double track over a pass on the northern Troll Peninsula coastline, an introduction with sweeping views and a tough climb. Day two explores the best single track route in Iceland, with aggressive downhills in Akureyri.
On day three you’ll try Reykheidi, a technical ascent through an iconic Iceland valley, then a steep flowing downhill into Ólafsfjörour valley. Deplar Farm created their own single track network too, your destination for day four.
Lyngen Lodge, Norway
For Nordic style outdoor adventures
Another remote high-quality lodge that will completely immerse you in nature, with the focus in Norway being on Nordic-style adventures.
Like hiking on glaciers and fishing for salmon in the rivers or deep sea fishing off the coast. You’re completely at one with nature here, from whale watching to hikes that lead to waterfalls.
With almost 24 hours of daylight you can be super active. Kayaking and standup paddle boarding on Lyngen Fjord, e-mountain biking, horseback riding, riverboat tours and the unmissable hike on Strupbreen Glacier.
Strupbreen requires crampons and ice axes, although it is suitable for almost all ages and fitness levels, as the guides can tailor a climb to you.
Lyngen Lodge accepts children from the age of four although we feel it’s best with older children, due to the style of activities.
Forsthofgut, Austria
Horseback riding for families
Forsthofgut is a nice property that’s close to home, with a keen specialism in horseback riding.
There are many similarities with Schlosshotel Fiss, like a waldSPA for family and kids, kids club for children aged two and above, plus the stunning natural surroundings.
Tennis, adventure and football camps are offered throughout the summer. The highlight for us are the new riding stables.
Children from the age of six can take lessons, independent of their parents, on riding ponies, plus also Haflinger and fjord horses. The indoor and outdoor riding arenas are complemented by the rich green meadows stretching into the distance in all directions.
An Outdoor Adventure for you this Summer
These seven ideas are our favourite inspirations right now, but of course there is so much more across Europe.
What do you like to do outdoors? Where do you like to explore?
Our travel designers will create custom ideas for your summer holiday.
