Your PerfectFamily-Friendly Vacation Rental in the Southern Alps of France
Popular cities
Auron
Discover Auron in the Southern Alps—where your family can hike sunlit trails, splash in mountain streams, and savor crisp alpine air together year-round.
Orcières-Merlette
Bring your family to Orcières-Merlette in the Southern Alps for mountain air, sunny lakeside picnics, gentle hiking trails, and fun-filled days in nature together.
Prunières
Discover Prunières in the Southern Alps—where your family can picnic lakeside, hike wildflower trails, and enjoy sunny days by sparkling Lake Serre-Ponçon.
Les Orres
Bring your family to Les Orres in the Southern Alps for lakeside picnics, mountain hikes, and laughter-filled days under blue skies—perfect for kids and parents alike.
Serre Chevalier
Discover Serre Chevalier in the Southern Alps—where your family can hike sunlit trails, splash in alpine lakes, and share laughter in cozy village cafés.
Pra Loup
Discover Pra Loup in the Southern Alps—where your family can hike flower-filled meadows, picnic by sparkling lakes, and play together under sunny mountain skies.
Montgenèvre
Bring your family to Montgenèvre in the Southern Alps—enjoy mountain hikes, sunny picnics, gentle bike rides, and playful days in fresh alpine air together.
Travel Tips
Embrace the Local Culture
When you visit Lake Annecy or Lake Geneva with your family, find shady picnic spots, let kids paddle, and try fresh cheese from local markets.
Respect Nature
When you visit the Southern Alps, let’s look for kea parrots, fantail birds, mountain daisies, and silver beech trees together with your family.
Be Flexible
Plan your Southern Alps adventure: hike Lake Tekapo trails, explore Queenstown’s playgrounds, and enjoy Wanaka’s winter ski fun or spring wildflower walks.
Support Local Businesses
For a budget-friendly family adventure in the Southern Alps, plan your trip during the off-peak season from April to October. During these months, you can find spacious 2-3 bedroom vacation rentals for about NZ$150-250 per night. Take advantage of the region’s natural beauty with free activities like hiking in Mount Aspiring National Park or swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tekapo. To save even more, prepare your own meals at your rental, as eating out can cost between NZ$20-40 per person.
Where Maritime Alps plunge toward Mediterranean azure, Lac d’Allos suspends sapphire at 2,228 meters—Europe’s largest natural high-altitude lake cradled within Mercantour’s limestone amphitheater. This glacial masterpiece, accessible only via two-hour trek from Val d’Allos, rewards families with swimming above treeline where golden eagles patrol thermals while children count marmots whistling between scree fields that tumble toward waters of supernatural clarity.
Refuge du Lac d’Allos provides mountain sustenance—tartiflette served at picnic tables where crystalline surfaces mirror Mont Pelat’s 3,050-meter summit. Morning arrivals discover mirror-perfect reflections before afternoon winds transform the lake into hammered pewter. Children scramble across moraines searching for ibex while parents photograph endemic lilies blooming impossibly at altitude.
Lac de Serre-Ponçon, further west, spreads turquoise tentacles through Durance Valley—France’s second-largest artificial lake where Savines-le-Lac’s relocated village church bell tower emerges during drawdowns like Atlantis revealed. Base Nautique de Serre-Ponçon teaches children wake-surfing while parents drift toward hidden calanques. August brings the Raid Écrins festival when ultra-runners circumnavigate the reservoir—20,000 hectares of engineered paradise where Alps meet Provence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to see what Southern Alps has to offer? Let’s tackle some of the burning questions you might have as you plan your visit!
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Yes, several lake cabins in Pyrénées-Orientales offer easy, no-stair access, making them ideal for grandparents or families with strollers. You’ll find gentle paths, accessible parking, and smooth walkways leading directly to the cabin door, ensuring everyone enjoys a comfortable, stress-free lakeside getaway together.
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Yes, you’ll find vacation rentals in the Southern Alps with easy access to dog-friendly trails, making it simple for your family and furry friends to explore scenic alpine paths together. Many properties welcome pets and place you near breathtaking lakeside routes perfect for outdoor adventures and memorable walks.
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Absolutely, you can find simple, family-friendly day plans in the Southern Alps that blend lakeside relaxation with short, scenic hikes. Imagine picnicking by Lake Brienz or Lake Annecy, then strolling easy trails through wildflower meadows and forests, with plenty of spots for swimming, skipping stones, or just soaking in alpine views together.
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In the Southern Alps, lakes like Lake Tekapo and Lake Wanaka offer calm shores and shallow water, perfect for families with young children. You’ll find picnic areas, playgrounds, and easy walking tracks nearby, so everyone can relax, play, and enjoy the stunning mountain scenery together.
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To quickly find family-ready homes with available open dates in the Southern Alps, visit Lake.com and use the search filters for family-friendly amenities, real-time availability, and preferred travel dates. You’ll see a curated selection of spacious, welcoming properties ideal for memorable lakeside stays amid stunning mountain scenery.