Ask the average person which pursuit they would most commonly associate with the Alps and the answer is unlikely to surprise you. Spanning 1,200km across eight European nations, the Alps plays host to over a third of the world?s ski resorts, with skiing, and to a lesser extent, snowboarding, attracting the vast majority of the 120 million tourists who visit the region each year.
While resorts at the very highest altitudes can remain open year-round, for most, the height of the ski season lasts just five short months – from December to April. Far from shutting down for the summer, tourism in the Alps thrives year round, with the infrastructure that supports the region?s winter sports – from ski lifts to luxury ski chalets – making it the worlds premiere hiking destination. Picking up where the ski season leaves off, the alpine walking season lasts from May to October. We?ve highlighted our three favourite trails in the region below for you to best enjoy your summer holiday in the Alps. 1. The Summer Haute Route

Beginning in Chamonix and ending in Zermatt, the Summer Haute Route links two of the Alps? best known hiking and mountaineering centres, and will take you on a journey from lush meadow to towering glacier via ten of the twelve highest peaks in the Alps.

Pass through the stunning village of Verbier, one of the finest Alpine destinations, which offers snow-covered regions for most of the year. Featured as one of National Geographic?s top ten world...