Sledging in Megève: the Luge 4 Saisons, Summer and Winter

7 min read

The Luge 4 Saisons earns its name: built on rails at the foot of the Jaillet gondolas, it is designed to run all year, in August as readily as in February. It is one of the few things to do in Megève that needs no equipment, no ski ability and no lift pass — and one of the only ones that also runs after dark. We checked the figures with the operator, Les Portes du Mont-Blanc, and with the Megève tourist office: here is what the track actually is, what it costs, the age rules, and what to confirm before you drive up.

The track: what the 715 metres actually give you

The descent runs 715 metres over 95 metres of vertical, an average gradient of 13.5%. The line has 13 bends, tunnel sections and several banked turns, with a top speed of 36 km/h. The operator gives an average ride time of seven minutes, climb included. A speed camera shows your speed on the way down, and a photo is taken at the entrance to the arrival tunnel.

That climb is what sets this apart from most summer toboggan runs in the Alps: the ascent is motorised and built into the rail. You get in at the bottom, ride up sitting in your own sledge, and come back down — no chairlift to take, no pass to buy, no sledge to carry. Stated throughput is 300 sledges an hour, which keeps the queue moving even in high summer.

Running on rails has two practical consequences. It needs no snow, which is where the name comes from. And it runs in bad weather, with Plexiglas hoods that close over the sledge when it rains. In a village where most outdoor activities cancel in the wet, that matters more than it sounds.

Each rider controls their own speed with a brake lever, and the seatbelt stays fastened throughout. You can brake at any point on the run, so a cautious descent is entirely possible — which puts this well within reach of people who would not describe themselves as thrill-seekers.

Prices, access and parking

Prices for the season running 1 May 2026 to 25 April 2027:

• Single run: €9 per sledge.
• 6-run card: €44.50 — about €7.40 a run.
• 10-run card: €69.50 — €6.95 a run.
• Souvenir photo: €3 in winter, €2 in summer, card payment only.

The multi-run cards are valid for one year from purchase and do not have to be used in one visit. For a seasonal stay that is the detail worth knowing: a 10-run card bought in July still works the following winter, and it can be shared between several people. From three runs upwards in a single stay, the 6-run card already beats single tickets.

The address is 821 route du Jaillet, 74120 Megève, at the foot of the Jaillet gondolas and about five minutes from Le Palais. Parking is free for up to seven hours with a blue disc — worth keeping one in the car, as it is the rule across much of the valley. The site is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, with assistance.

Summer and winter: what changes

The track itself is the same all year. What changes is the timetable and the atmosphere.

Summer is the straightforward season. In 2026 the run is open daily from 4 July to 30 August. Night sessions run on Wednesdays until 10 pm between 15 July and 19 August, with the track lit and music playing — by some distance the best time to go. It is cooler, the queue is shorter, and descending in the dark is not the same activity at all.

Autumn opens a short but useful window: in 2026 the run reopens from 17 October to 1 November, over the Toussaint half-term. It is the only opening between the end of August and the start of the winter season.

In winter, opening follows the Jaillet sector and the French school holiday calendar. For context, the operator gives a provisional ski area season of 19 December 2026 to 21 March 2027. During the holidays the run generally opens for the full day; outside them it often shifts to reduced afternoon hours, and some periods are closed altogether. This is the one thing we will not give you firm dates for: they are republished each season and change from year to year. Call +33 (0)4 50 21 01 50 or check the Portes du Mont-Blanc site the day before rather than trusting any article — including this one.

The rest of the shoulder season — roughly April to June, then September, then November and December before the ski area opens — are the least predictable. Like most facilities in Megève, the luge cuts its hours or closes between seasons. If you are here then, check before making the trip.

Going with children

The rules are simple and strictly applied:

• From age 3, always accompanied.
• From 3 to 9, the child rides on an adult’s sledge, with the adult driving.
• From age 9, riding solo is allowed. In poor weather the minimum age to ride alone rises to 14.
• 150 kg maximum per sledge, adult and child combined.

In practice one adult-driven sledge carries a child in front, so a family of four with two young children takes two sledges rather than four — which changes the budget. It is also one of the few activities in the resort that genuinely works with a three-year-old and a teenager in the same group, each going at their own pace.

If you are planning a wider family stay, our guide to Megève with family covers the rest of the child-friendly activities season by season.

What to check before you go

• The day’s opening hours, especially outside school holidays and in the shoulder seasons. This is the only real trap.
• A blue disc in the car, for the seven hours of free parking.
• A bank card if you want the souvenir photo — it cannot be paid in cash.
• How many runs you will realistically do during the stay, before choosing between single tickets and a card.
• The weather, but not anxiously: rain does not close the run, the hoods come down. Strong wind and storms can stop it.

The luge pairs well with the rest of a day at the Jaillet, and it is one of the activities we cover in our article on what to do in Megève, winter and summer alike.