Swimming near Les Carroz d'Arâches: lakes & Aquacîme

At 1,140 m above sea level, summer in Les Carroz d'Arâches stays pleasantly cool. But when the July and August sun beats down on the terrace, nothing beats a dip. The good news: between the village's panoramic pool and two lakeside leisure parks less than twenty minutes away by car, there's no shortage of places to cool off around the Lodge Le Chamois. Here are our favourite spots for a swim in the heart of the Grand Massif.

Aquacîme, the panoramic pool in Les Carroz

There's no better place to start: Aquacîme is right in Les Carroz, just minutes from the Lodge. This aquatic centre, perched at 1,140 m, features heated outdoor pools that open onto the peaks — you swim with your eyes on the mountains. A water slide, paddling pool and water games keep the children happy, while the wellness area (sauna, steam room, salt cave and solarium) awaits the parents after a day of hiking or mountain biking. It's the ideal option on uncertain-weather days, since it runs both summer and winter.

Morillon's Lac Bleu, the family leisure park

About fifteen minutes down into the valley, Morillon's Lac Bleu is the go-to summer spot for families. Just 500 m from the village centre and served by free car parks, it offers a sandy beach and shaded lawns, with a swimming zone watched over by lifeguards. Activities line the water's edge: a treetop adventure course, a playground, inflatable structures on the lake (Le Splash), a pumptrack, beach-volleyball courts, kayaking and paddleboarding, plus a bar-restaurant and picnic areas. Anglers can even fish for trout here. Plenty to fill a whole day without a dull moment.

Samoëns' Lacs aux Dames

A little further along the Giffre valley, the Lacs aux Dames leisure park in Samoëns spreads across around ten hectares of countryside surrounding two lakes, a short walk from the village. Entry is free, and lake swimming is open and supervised from 6 July to 1 September, 12pm to 6pm. The site is packed with things to do: a large playground for younger ones, football and basketball courts, tennis, an adventure course, an open-air swimming pool (three pools and a slide), paragliding, boules, two bar-restaurants and a large free car park. It's also a lovely starting point for a family stroll along the Giffre, all the way to Morillon's Lac Bleu.

Cooling off without leaving the Lodge

For days when you'd rather stay home, the terrace's wooden Nordic bath happily doubles as a cool plunge in summer: a bracing dip facing the pines before an aperitif by the fire pit. Our finest hikes also lead to alpine lakes such as Lac de l'Airon, perfect for a refreshing pause along the way. And to plan it all, our complete guide to Les Carroz d'Arâches gathers our best day-out ideas.