Updated for 2026
Looking for summer activities for the kids while you’re in Thollon or nearby?
Or just searching for a little inspiration generally?
Here’s a selection of some brilliant things to do in the Chablais and a little further afield.
Some days are simply meant for playing
Stop kicking the table! But I’mmm bored…. well, go and tidy your room then…no…feed the cat….no…. read something….no, but I’m reeeelly bored….and on it goes.
Whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, or just a big kid yourself, you’re probably familiar with the plaintiff cry of the mini me, it goes something like …..
….‘whaaaaaat are we doing todaaaay’?
It’s a cry that can strike fear into the heart of the most dedicated children’s entertainer, bottle washer, and general tidy upper.
Instead of slipping into panic mode or reaching for the gin, here are some cool, fun things to do close to the eastern end of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman).
Updated September 2026: I’ve checked the opening times, age limits, prices and booking links throughout this article. Details can still change, so it’s always worth checking the linked official website before setting off.
✦ At a glance
- Best for animal lovers: Donkey trekking and Barryland
- Best for adventurous children: rock climbing, via ferrata and Léman Forest
- Best for a hot day: La Beunaz Water Park
- Best for a wet day: the Olympic Museum
- Best for the whole family: Château de Chillon
Let’s start with the great outdoors
Here in the Chablais, we’re surrounded by ‘the great outdoors’. We have mountains, alpine meadows, rushing rivers, cycle tracks, lakes, beaches, and so much more.
✦ Rock Climbing with Alp’Evianature
Are you looking for something a bit more adventurous than just a walk in the hills? Perhaps a little rock climbing could fit the bill.
Alp’Evianature organises ‘discover rock climbing sessions’ for children from the age of 6. All the necessary equipment is provided, and climbs are adapted to suit different ages and levels of experience.
Prices and session formats vary. At the time of writing you can expect to pay €50 per adult, while private half-day sessions start at €240.
For current prices, availability and booking, see the official Alp’Evianature website (which is in French). An English-language introduction and contact details are available on the Évian Tourism website
✦ Via Ferrata with Alp’Evianature
A Via Ferrata is a route across a rock face equipped with metal rungs, ladders, and walkways. There’s a continuous safety cable to which you can attach yourself using specialist safety equipment.
It’s an exhilarating experience for children from the age of 12 upwards and perfect for big kids as they offer adult sessions too. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and no dogs are allowed.
the mud will wash off but the memories will last a lifetime
Prices and session formats vary. At the time of writing you can expect to pay €50 per adult, while private half-day sessions start at €240.
Again for up-to-date prices, availability and booking, see the official Alp’Evianature website (in French).
The English-language introduction and contact details can also be found on the Évian Tourism website
✦ Léman Forest adventure park in Saint-Gingolph
A great way to burn off some energy and enjoy some outdoor fun is at Léman Forest. A woodland adventure park on the French-Swiss border.
It has six treetop courses, numerous zip wires, rope bridges, tunnels and nets. There are more than 100 challenges among the trees, so there’s plenty to keep the whole family occupied.
Adults and children from the age of eight can spend up to three hours tackling the courses, which follow a mountain stream. They offer stunning views over Lake Geneva and the surrounding mountains.
play is a super power
One of the red courses includes a zip wire that crosses the French-Swiss border, while the particularly challenging Black Course is reserved for those aged 16 and over.
Younger children have their own section. There’s two Lutin courses for children aged five to eight, and two Bambino courses specially adapted for children aged two to five. Children must stay under their parents’ supervision at all times.
If that’s not enough activity for one day, there’s also an outdoor laser game for children from the age of six. There’s also a snack bar, terrace and picnic area with panoramic views.
Booking is strongly recommended. Opening days and hours vary throughout the season —generally April to October — so check the English-language Léman Forest website before travelling.
You can also phone +33 (0)4 50 76 74 74
✦ Meet the St Bernards at Barryland
Here in the Chablais, we’re not far from the historic home of Switzerland’s famous St Bernard dogs. 
Barryland in Martigny was completely rebuilt and reopened in 2025. It’s the only theme park in the world devoted entirely to St Bernard dogs.
Its interactive exhibitions explore more than 300 years of history. This includes the dogs’ legendary Alpine rescue work and their place in Swiss culture.
Visitors can also watch the dogs going about their daily routines. Presentations take place twice a day and might include grooming, training, games or physiotherapy, while feeding time is at 5pm.
Puppies may also be at Barryland at certain times of the year. Check the website for the latest arrivals.
Barryland is open daily from 10 am until 6 pm.
Hiking with St Bernards at the Great Saint Bernard Pass
During July and August, you can walk with two or three St Bernards in the spectacular mountain landscape surrounding the Great Saint Bernard Pass.
The walk lasts between 1h30 and 2 hours and reaches an altitude of around 2400 metres. This is a challenging mountain hike with steep sections, rather than a gentle dog walk. You’ll need to be in good physical condition.
Children must be at least eight years old, and walking shoes with a good grip are compulsory. Suitable clothing is also a very good idea.
Groups are limited to eight people, and participants can take turns holding the dogs’ leads. You can’t bring your own dog and in poor weather the route may be adapted.
kids don’t need more toys – they need more adventures
These walks are extremely popular and the entire 2026 season is already fully booked, so book well in advance through the Barry Foundation website if you’re planning a future visit.
Children’s workshop
I wish I’d been able to do something like this as a child!
Barryland runs small workshops where children can learn more about St Bernards through observation, discussion and guided activities. It isn’t simply a dog-petting session, but a chance to understand the dogs and how best to behave around them.
There is one catch for English-speaking visitors: the workshop is conducted entirely in French, and both the child and accompanying adult need to understand and speak the language.
Dates vary and places must be booked in advance through the Barryland website.
This is a workshop where children aged 6-10 learn how to interact with dogs, how to gain their confidence and how to make a lifelong friend.
✦ Donkey Trekking in Thollon-les-Mémises
Another fun way to experience the spectacular countryside of the Chablais is donkey trekking.
La Ferme des Genti’Ânes at Thollon-les-Mémises organises donkey walks for children along quiet woodland paths rich in wildlife.
You can meander along little-known tracks with panoramic views in the company of one of their seven resident donkeys: Calicot, Igor, Gigolo, Casimir, Inca, Iris or Iola. Be warned though — Calicot’s very keen on investigating unattended picnic bags apparently.
You can set off for a morning or afternoon, or if you fancy spending longer with your new long-eared friend, amble along for the whole day.
At the time of writing , a half-day costs €50 per donkey and a full day €70.
The price includes a short introduction to caring for and guiding your donkey, a riding helmet for children and an annotated walking map.
You’ll need to bring your own picnic and drinks.
Find practical information in English on the Évian Tourism website, or meet all seven donkeys on the Ferme des Genti’Ânes website.
✦ A day at La Beunaz Water Park
La Beunaz is a natural mountain lake sitting at an altitude of 900 metres, close to St Paul-en-Chablais.
Popular with local families, it’s the sort of place where you easily spend a whole day, swimming, sun-bathing or enjoying a variety of watersports.
The park is open every day during July and August, with some activities also available at weekends and on public holiday in May and June.
Opening dates can vary, so check before travelling.
Image by Indianadventures – plage de la beunaz
In and around the water
There’s a swimming pool fed by the lake, two diving boards, a paddling pool for younger children and supervised swimming. The enormous floating Wibit course adds slides, trampolines, bridges and a climbing wall, although children must be at least six years old, over 1.10 metres tall and able to swim.
You can also hire pedalos, paddleboards and canoes, or cross the lake rather more dramatically on the Télébeune aquatic zip wire.
Back on dry land
The Indiana Parc has several treetop courses for different heights and levels of bravery, beginning with a course for very young children.
There are also trampolines, inflatables, table tennis, pétanque and beach volleyball for anyone who still has energy to burn.
If all that sounds far too energetic, you can hire your own furnished pontoon or little lakeside shelter. Some have loungers, tables, parasols and even a barbecue — just remember to bring the charcoal.
Sleep under the stars
If one day isn’t enough, you can spend the night in a tipi, yurt, wigwam or treehouse. It’s certainly a little more memorable than driving home, although don’t expect hotel-style-luxury, some of the accommodation has no electricity, and there are shared showers and toilets elsewhere on the site.
Overnight accommodation is offered during July and August, weather permitting, and needs to be booked in advance. See the different accommodation and current prices on the Indiana’Ventures website, which is in French.
The lakeside restaurant, À La Belle Étoile, serves lunch and dinner throughout the summer. Its opening days vary outside July and August, so check the restaurant’s website before making a special journey.
✦ Château de Chillon — a proper castle for all ages
Do you remember visiting a castle when you were a kid, maybe on a school trip, and thinking how incredible they were? Magical but a bit creepy all at the same time.
Well, whatever that was, Chateau Chillon has it in buckets. It has everything a proper castle should have… and more.
Firstly, there’s the moat, well, not actually a moat…more of a lake really, because the château sits in Lake Geneva, or Lac Léman as it’s known in French.
The castle sits on its own rocky island and is connected to the shore by a bridge, replacing the original drawbridge.
Another tick on the list of things a proper castle should have.
play is the highest form of research
It has turrets, covered wooden walkways with arrow slit in the walls, large rooms, small rooms, treasure chests and wine cellars and views to die for, quite literally. Because like all good castles, Château de Chillon has a murky history.
Down in the deep, dark underground rooms, you can still see the pillars where prisoners were once chained. The most famous was François Bonivard, whose imprisonment inspired Lord Byron to write The Prisoner of Chillon.
All in all, it’s a castle that fits the brief in every way, which is what makes it Switzerland’s most visited historic monument.
Tours and family activities at Chillon
If you visit on a Sunday between April and September, you can join a costumed guide and delve a little deeper into Chillon’s past. The 50-minute tour is included in the normal admission price and is offered in German at 2.15 pm, French at 3.15 pm and English at 4.15 pm.
Chillon also runs family workshops, children’s trails and special events throughout the year, so it’s worth checking the castle’s calendar before your visit.
Even without a special event, Chillon is made for exploring: underground chambers, sentry walks, spiral staircases, arrow slits and rooms leading into still more rooms. It’s magical, creepy and satisfyingly castle-like — which is exactly what a family day out at a medieval fortress should be.
You can get to Chillon Castle via the A9 motorway, Villeneuve or Montreux junctions. Chillon Castle is by the lakeside between Montreux (4 km away) and Villeneuve (2 km away).
✦ The Olympic Museum in Lausanne
Fancy owning your own Olympic torch or showing off your Olympic medals?
The Olympic Museum on the Quai d’Ouchy in Lausanne celebrates the history and spirit of the Olympic Games. Even children who aren’t particularly interested in sport should find something to entertain them among the torches, medals, costumes, films and interactive displays.
There’s plenty to prod, press and try, as well as the chance to discover some the stranger sports that have appeared at the Games over the years. The museum also runs changing exhibitions and family activities, so check what’s on before you visit,
And here’s a welcome surprise: admission is free for children under 16 when accompanied by an adult.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am until 6 pm, with last admission at 5 pm. It’s normally closed on Mondays except public holidays.
This is only a small selection of all the amazing children’s activities that are available around Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) . I simply don’t have room to include anymore!
I hope it’s given you a few ideas for those days when you’re racking your brains for something new or a bit different to do.
