Autumn half-term in Les Carroz d'Arâches: things to do

Between the end of summer and the first turns of the season, Les Carroz d'Arâches enjoys a quiet interlude: the French autumn half-term, known here as les vacances de la Toussaint. A fortnight of golden forests, empty trails and family-focused events — at rates nowhere near those of February. Here's how to make the most of it.

Autumn half-term 2026: the dates

Good news if you're planning a stay: this year all three French school zones break at the same time. The 2026 autumn holidays run from Saturday 17 October to Monday 2 November 2026 for zones A, B and C. A full fortnight at 1,140 m, at the foot of the Grand Massif.

The rail sledge: autumn's headline act

This is the resort's signature attraction, and it reopens specially for the half-term. The track plunges straight through the forest from the Kédeuze gondola: banked bends, runs beneath the pines, changes of gradient and speed. Clémentine, who looks after our guests, always suggests two rides — the second wearing the virtual-reality headset for a fully immersive version. As a guide, last autumn it ran from 2 pm to 6 pm, closed on Mondays.

Aquacîme and mini-golf: unwind and play

Aquacîme also opens its pools for the autumn fortnight. After a day in the crisp air, the indoor relaxation pool, massage jets, sauna and steam room make perfect sense. Next door, the mini-golf course fills a late afternoon without denting the budget. Last year both opened 1.30 pm to 6.30 pm, closed on Thursdays, with Aquacîme entry at €5 for under-5s, €13 for ages 5 to 15 and €15 for adults. The 2026 times and prices will be published by the tourist office nearer the dates.

Halloween, cinema and evening events

Ciné Carroz, at 3 place de l'Ambiance, reopens for the holidays with around ten films on the bill: comedy, drama, science fiction, animation. And on 31 October the cinema turns itself into a haunted house for the "Peur au cinéma" event — gloomy corridors, creatures and guaranteed shivers, free entry from 4 pm to 7 pm, over-10s only. Across the rest of the fortnight the resort lines up board-game evenings, woodwork workshops, jam-making sessions, shows and fireworks. The full programme goes online on the tourist office website a few weeks beforehand.

Autumn walks and the village market

This may well be the finest season to walk here: the broadleaves turn gold, the trails belong to you, and the cold air opens up the views. Our favourite routes are set out in our guide to walking in Les Carroz, and our piece on autumn in the mountains rounds out the picture. For supplies, the village market runs on Tuesday mornings from 8.30 am: fruit, vegetables and local produce. Add a stop at the Pierre à Laya goat farm or a farm cheese sale at Ballancy and the evening board is sorted.

Evenings back at the Lodge

This is where the shoulder season really earns its keep. The 45 m² south-facing terrace holds the heated wooden Nordic bath facing the pines, plus the fire pit and barbecue: little beats soaking at 38 °C under an October sky with a blanket to hand. The 83 m² apartment sleeps six across three bedrooms, with covered private parking (Green'Up charging point) and a heated ski locker on the ground floor — handy if you're using the trip to scout the slopes ahead of winter.

Why book off-season

Half-term means the resort without the crowds: easy parking, tables still free at the restaurants that stay open — Le Carnotzet, Le Poirier, Bistro-Grill Le Gron, Le Yéti — and rental rates far gentler than in peak weeks. Getting here takes about 50 minutes by road from Geneva, or the A40 to exit 19 then 15 minutes to the residence.