When I visit the French Alps to ski in winter, I purchase the Carré Neige daily insurance. Is there a similar option for hiking and biking in the summer? The Carré Neige is a popular insurance option for skiers and snowboarders travelling to the Savoie region of France. For €4 (around £3.40) a day, it covers mountain rescue, so you don’t have to pay for evacuation or medical assistance upfront.
carreneige.com Unfortunately, there isn’t a similarly straightforward
insurance card for summer experiences. If you’re planning on taking part in activities such as remote hiking or mountain or road biking, ensure your travel insurance policy covers your chosen activity in advance. For high-altitude sports like
via ferratas and glacier hiking, it’s always a good idea to book an expert local mountain guide — this way, you’ll be in the safest hands and on the most suitable routes for your ability level. In Les Menuires, we also ensure all our paths are
maintained to a high standard throughout the year, from the glacier trails to the lower- altitude routes. In a number of French
resorts, you’ll often find ‘bike patrols’, which are tasked with maintaining bike trails. They’re also trained to react as quickly as possible in emergencies — for example, ours work closely with firefighters and local doctors at the medical centre in La Croisette, in the centre of Les Menuires.
lesmenuires.com MARLÈNE GIACOMETTI
I want to go on a summer trip to the Austrian Alps with my family. Which destination do you recommend? After visiting the Austrian Alps as a family last year for the first time, we’ve just booked to go again this summer. The resort of Saalbach
Hinterglemm is a summer playground in the literal sense, with adventure parks on the summits and family-friendly trails that feature slides and hammocks along the routes. Older kids can explore Europe’s largest high-ropes park or walk a suspension bridge. The area is also
Austria’s largest biking region, with gentle pedals along a river as well as dramatic downhill mountain-bike trails. Local transport is free and the area’s Joker Card — included at all Inghams hotels — offers free or discounted access to many summer activities and lifts.
saalbach.com Parents trying to placate
beach-loving children should also consider Zell am See, a resort on the western shore of Lake Zell, squeezed between the grassy hills of the Pinzgau region and the foothills of Hohe Tauern National Park. Kids can swim in the many
lakeside lidos and get active in a rowing boat or on a wakeboard or paddleboard. Back on dry land, walk or
cycle the easy seven-mile route around the lake, or hop in the gondola up to Schmittenhöhe mountain, where you’ll find a dragon- themed playground and mystical forest trail. Over on Maiskogel mountain in nearby Kaprun, the alpine coaster is an exhilarating way to get down the hillside, and there are play areas and a slide park.
zellamsee-kaprun.com
inghams.co.uk LAURA MASON
My husband and I have always been active, but he’s recently received an MS diagnosis that’s affecting his mobility. Can we visit the mountains in a more accessible way? Given the emotional and physical turmoil that comes with a life-changing diagnosis, be reassured that it’s still possible to do the things you love. For mountain trips, consider the
Dolomites in Italy. Plan your visit with local guides from Enrosadira, who are experienced in assisting travellers with conditions such as MS. They can escort you on the wheelchair-accessible Lagazuoi hike, a gentle route from the Passo Falzarego cable-car to the summit of Piccolo Lagazuoi, as well as with activities like accessible climbing and e-bike rides. Meanwhile, the Open Dolomites interactive map sets out accessible itineraries, viewpoints and mountain huts.
enrosadira.eu visitdolomites.com Most of the hotels in the range
will happily discuss your needs and tailor-make an itinerary for your situation. Family-run Hotel Adler, in the ancient village of Villabassa, is a great base for exploring the Drei Zinnen region, home to the Dolomite’s iconic Three Peaks. Four nights from €1,180 (£1,009), half board.
hoteladler.com Alternatively, there’s
Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region. Stay in Grindelwald, Wengen or Lauterbrunnen and take the accessible train to the mountain saddle of Jungfraujoch, known as the ‘Top of Europe’, Mürren village or the Schilthorn summit. Accessible kayaking is available on Lake Brienz with High Tide.
junfrau.ch hightide.ch CATHERINE COSBY
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