Alps Adventurers' Summer Secret Revealed

TIGNES, France - April 8, 2014 - PRLog -- The Alps – the skiing, the après, the snow… in summer everyone goes home and waits to rush back when the first flakes fall in December, right? WRONG!

Many thrill-seekers head directly to the adrenalin capital of the Alps – Tignes – in winter, but few realise that when the ski season ends and the snow melts, the resort transforms into a lakeside adventurers paradise with every type of activity on offer.

To spread the word, Alpine Antics, a group activity holiday company specialising in “stag and hen dos with altitude”, has been launched by local Tignes bar owner Jo Falconer and former Alps ski tour operator Steve Downs. They believe the renowned resort would be as popular with party-seekers in summer as it is in winter if people just knew what they were missing.

It’s a little-known fact that, two months after Tignes closes for the winter season, the resort re-opens for a summer shindig.

‘Natural adventure playground’

The huge lake at Tignes Le Lac, iced over in winter, becomes the centrepiece of a natural adventure playground with a huge waterslide, airbag water jump, water zorbing, sailing and canoing.

The mountain snow melts to reveal bike tracks, hiking refuges, rock climbing, aerial high ropes. You can even still ski on the glacier. Lush green forests and deep blue lakes replace the winter whiteout and can best be admired from a paraglider or helicopter ride.

Anyone looking for a less adrenalin-fuelled break can happily head to the Lagoon Spa and many cafes and restaurants.

Apres-ski becomes après-adventure in the many bars with the same enthusiastic nightlife on offer as in winter.

All this makes Tignes perfect for fun group holidays, hen and stag dos, says Steve.

“Groups are always looking for somewhere easy and cheap to get to, where they can all bond over an amazing experience. Leaping from a 30ft platform onto an airbag on a lake, then waiting for your mate to jump and catapult you through the air into the water, is definitely one of those!

“Then, re-living the moment on the sun terrace with stunning mountain views or with a drink in the hot tub makes the whole holiday unforgettable.”

Jo, who has run the popular Underground Bar in the town for 4 years, said many visitors expecting a quiet mountain hiking break are surprised at the après atmosphere and the huge amount of things to do.

“Talking to the regular skiers that love being in the mountains, we realised they weren’t aware that they could come back in summer and get their Alps adrenalin fix then too.

“The Alps is a completely different place in summer – hot, sunny, green – but the après and adventure are still there and we want to give more people the chance to fall in love with the mountains all over again like we did.”

To find out more about the activities on offer visit: www.alpineantics.com.

Contact Katie Cooksey +44 (0)7736307925 / Jo Falconer +33 (0)627593804