Discover the Palais Megève climbing wall and other outdoor sensations
In the heart of the French Alps, Megève is a great destination for those who love a wide variety of activities. Boasting an exceptional natural setting, Megève is surrounded by the Aravis massif and the Aiguille des Glaciers. It offers an unrivaled playground for a wide range of sports.
Climbing in Megève is one of the activities to discover and practice. This Mont Blanc resort offers a comprehensive approach to climbing: modern and comprehensive indoor facilities and spectacular natural sites. Whether you're a beginner looking to discover the joys of verticality or an experienced climber seeking technical challenges, Megève offers a wide range of possibilities.
The Megève Palace for indoor climbing
The equipment of the Palais Megève
Le Palais Megève is home to one of the most impressive climbing gyms in the Alps. With 740 m² of routes ranging from 3A to 8A and more than 5,500 holds, the Palais climbing area delights seasoned climbers and gently introduces beginners. This considerable surface area allows for a wide variety of activities and guarantees optimal comfort, even during busy periods.
Among the hundred or so routes in the climbing wall, a beginners' area allows you to safely experience the first sensations of climbing, while an inclined surface allows professionals to defy the laws of gravity. This thoughtful design ensures natural and safe progression for all levels.
Designed as an authentic living space open to all, it offers climbing areas for all levels with a great variety of profiles: vertical, slab, overhanging. This technical diversity allows climbers to develop all facets of their technique, from route reading to effort management and learning the movements specific to each type of wall.
A philosophy of sharing
The Palais Megève climbing wall goes far beyond the concept of a simple gym. It's the base camp for seasoned climbers, mountaineers, adrenaline junkies, thrill seekers, as well as amateurs, families, and beginners looking to try a new discipline. This multifaceted vocation makes it a unique meeting place where all types of people meet.
A true link between the village and the mountain, the Palais Megève climbing wall is a place for exchange and sharing, encouraging encounters and good humor. This social dimension constitutes one of the establishment's major assets, creating a friendly atmosphere conducive to learning and surpassing oneself.
Professional supervision is another pillar of the Palais' excellence. To further develop practical skills and share valuable advice, a team of professionals is available to support you in your projects and guide you in achieving your goals. Passionate about their work, they also manage equipment rentals.
This activity is fun and accessible to all. This remarkable accessibility makes the Palais Megève a privileged place for families wishing to discover the joys of climbing together, in a safe environment adapted to everyone.
Climbing in the great outdoors around Megève
The exceptional massifs
Megève enjoys a privileged geographical position that provides access to some of the most beautiful climbing terrain in the French Alps. The Aravis massif, a major site in Haute-Savoie for the quality of its limestone, offers particularly interesting cliffs and climbing sites.
The diversity of the surrounding sites caters to all levels and ambitions. Well-equipped cliffs in the Arve Valley and around Chamonix offer a wide range of possibilities, from beginners to the most demanding multi-pitch routes. This proximity to the Chamonix Valley, the cradle of modern mountaineering, gives a strong historical and symbolic dimension to the practice of climbing in the region.
The region's most beautiful routes are chosen according to your level and experience, and allow for adapted and safe progression. Local guides, with their intimate knowledge of the terrain, select the most appropriate routes based on weather conditions, the required technical level, and the objectives of each outing.
Iconic sites for outdoor climbing
The Megève region is home to some real gems for rock climbing, each offering its own unique characteristics and attractions. The Larses cliff, located above Passy at an altitude of 1,400m, facing the Mont Blanc massif, is a quiet, rural spot, far from the crowds of climbing schools in the valley. This 20-meter-high, 50-meter-wide cliff offers 11 well-equipped routes offering fine climbing on small flakes and bumps, with grades ranging from 4b+ to 6b.
The Colombière cliff, perched at an altitude of 1,800 meters and facing east, is ideal in summer and autumn when fog invades the Arve Valley. This exceptional site has around a hundred pitches spread over approximately 70 different routes, with grades from 3a to 8b. The cliff offers numerous routes in levels 4, 5 and 6, allowing for a variety of activities. An additional advantage: ibex often frequent the surrounding area, adding to the wild charm of this remarkable site.
For fans of great alpine routes, the region offers prestigious climbs such as the Aiguille de Warens in the Fiz massif, Pointe Percée and Mont Charvin in the Aravis massif. These iconic peaks offer varied routes, in magnificent settings facing Mont Blanc.
The climbing sites around Megève are distinguished by several characteristics:
- Rock quality: Compact Aravis limestone offering exceptional grip
- Modern equipment: Tracks equipped according to current safety standards
- Diversity of levels: From beginner (3a) to expert (8b) in the same sector
- Accessibility: Short approaches from Megève (15 to 45 minutes on average)
- Optimal exposure: Sites oriented to benefit from the best sunshine
- Exceptional setting: Panoramas of the Mont-Blanc and Aravis massifs
- Alpine fauna: Possible observation of ibex, chamois and birds of prey
This natural wealth makes Megève an ideal base camp for exploring the diversity of alpine climbing, in a preserved and authentic environment. Starting from the Ararat chalet, several options are available, both indoor and outdoor.
Via Ferrata: climbing accessible to families
For sport and discovery
Via ferrata is an accessible and safe approach to climbing in a natural environment, particularly suitable for families wishing to discover the sensations of verticality together. This discipline consists of a route on a rock face, equipped with specific metal elements to make the route accessible, secured by a cable that acts as a lifeline throughout the route.
Via ferrata alternates between hiking, rock climbing, and traversing modules using your arms and legs. Throughout the course, you're attached to a lifeline by two tethers for safe movement. This unique combination of activities allows for a progressive approach to climbing, without requiring significant prior technical skills.
In the immediate vicinity of Megève and your chalet, there are several via ferrata:
- The Saint-Gervais Via Ferrata: it offers an aerial route through a gorge with several rope bridges, including an impressive 46-meter one. This remarkable installation offers nearly 3 hours of outdoor activity in an unusual landscape, combining physical effort and technical management in a preserved setting.
- The Curalla Via Ferrata in Passy: Located on the Assy plateau in Passy, this relatively easy route offers incredible views of the Aiguilles de Chamonix and Mont Blanc. A 500-meter route with a Nepalese bridge, a rope bridge, and two beams. It is accessible from May to October.
- Via des Evettes at La Flégère (near Chamonix): Inaugurated in October 2016 on the site of La Flégère, in a sumptuous setting, with a 200m drop and a Himalayan bridge.
Tailor-made experiences for a demanding clientele
Megève has top-notch professional support for climbing in all its forms. The Megève Guides Office has 16 high mountain guides and 14 mid-mountain guides, forming an expert team capable of meeting the most diverse expectations and levels.
The teaching approach prioritizes adaptation to the specific needs of each participant. Climbing sessions take place in group classes or private sessions, allowing you to begin and progress with confidence with your guide.
You will learn belaying techniques, rope handling, and rock climbing. This transfer of technical know-how is accompanied by constant attention to safety and respect for each participant's pace.
The private offer guarantees a perfect fit for your level, with the guide adapting to your needs so that you experience a session that meets your expectations. This personalization allows us to optimize each outing, whether it's a first discovery of climbing or a technical improvement on demanding routes.
Megève offers an exceptional playground for climbing, whether on the Palais climbing wall with its 740 m² of routes or on the surrounding natural sites. From Chalet Ararat, you benefit from privileged access to this diversity: the Palais Megève is just a few minutes away, the Aravis cliffs and the via ferrata are less than 45 minutes away.
The expertise of our local guides guarantees personalized guidance for experiences tailored to your group. Chalet Ararat's strategic location makes it the ideal starting point for exploring climbing in one of the most beautiful settings in the French Alps.