Parc de Merlet snowshoe walks
Snowshoe walk in Chamonix's animal park with marmots, chamois and ibex
Parc de Merlet is a great place to spot some local animals in a nature reserve, rather than a zoo. The park is perched on a large sunny plateau high above Les Houches with stunning views across to Mont Blanc.
Accompanied by a qualified mid-mountain guide, this moderate snowshoe walk will take you through woodland and meadows where you can come face to face with several of the local alpine creatures in their natural environment. The three hour circuit takes in around 200m of altitude gain so a decent level of fitness is required, although this time includes plenty of stops for explanations and photo taking.
Usually taking place every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, depending on weather conditions. Ticket price includes snowshoes, poles and minibus transport from Les Houches railway station to Coupeau.
Group size minimum of five, maximum of eight people. Children from aged eight years old.
Advance booking is required - call +33 (0)6 78 50 03 96 from 1 December 2024. No reservations by email.
Jump to
Venue
Parc de Merlet. Meet Les Houches railway station.
Rules
The activity may be cancelled in adverse weather conditions.
Bring high-top waterproof hiking shoes / boots, warm layers, a water bottle and snacks, and don't forget your camera.
What to see
Sights in Chamonix
See all Sights in Chamonix-
Parc de Merlet
Parc de Merlet is a great place to spot some local animals in their natural environment. A nature reserve, rather than a zoo, the park is perched on a large plateau high above Les Houches.
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Les Bossons glacier
This small two person chairlift is only open for a short time in summer, but it's great if you want to take a close up look at the bottom of the Glacier des Bossons.
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Montagnard museum
Situated in a house dating back to the 1750's, this museum showcases mountain lifestyles from the reconstruction of three pieces of traditional housing and objects from everyday life.
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Les Houches summer lifts
Les Houches sits at the bottom end of the Chamonix Valley and is a popular place for hikers, mountaineers and mountain bikers in the summer months.
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Le Brévent, Chamonix - Town
Brévent is the closest summer lift to the centre of Chamonix and its impressive rocky summit rises to 2,525m above sea level.
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Espace Tairraz Crystal Museum
Discover the minerals from the Mont Blanc Valley, famous throughout the world, and learn more about the art of mountaineering.
Where to lunch
Restaurants in Les Houches
See all Restaurants in Les Houches-
Kitsch Inn Bar & Restaurant
Quirkily decorated, as the name suggests, this restaurant has different rooms for different moods. Grab a quick coffee and a snack at the breakfast bar, enjoy a casual meal in the retro formica kitchen area, or sit and take your time over dinner at one of the large tables in the dining room. They also have a large sunny terrace where they serve up a nice BBQ in the summer and a kids play area.
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Rocky Pop Restaurant
This restaurant is part of the popular Rocky Pop Hotel, opened in December 2016, whose ethos is "joy and togetherness".
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Le Hors Pistes Restaurant
Brilliantly located in the heart of the Les Houches Prarion ski area.
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Gandhi Restaurant
This restaurant serves tasty, good value Indian cuisine for lunch, dinner and to takeaway.
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Les Vieilles Luges Restaurant
An authentic Alpine farmhouse with a charming ambience and great food. Located right in the middle of Les Houches ski resort, this chalet serves delicious home-cooked local produce.
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Le Basilic Restaurant
Just across the road from the Bellevue lift in Les Houches, this is a perfect spot to recharge your batteries after a day on the mountain, or pop in for lunch.
