Winter Itineraries

Off-piste skiing

The plentiful supply of off-piste descents in the area is the main reason why we established the chalet here. From the easily accessible opportunities such as the Tour de Charvet or the Grand Vallon in Val D’Isere to the little known Fogglieta in Ste Foy the available terrain is, in our view, unsurpassed. There is everything from powder preserving north faces to delightful south facing routes best skied in spring snow. The descents here have up to 2000 metres of vertical descent, starting in open fields of untouched snow, to beautiful trees, often ending in ancient stone villages inhabited only in summer.

Off-piste skiing however holds inherent dangers so we work with local guides Franck Grand and Severin Marchand. Both trained in Chamonix, they have a real passion for the mountains which comes through on every descent. They give a feeling of security and know the mountains inside out. Even when conditions are variable they know how to find the best snow and help make the best of the groups abilities.

Val D'Isere

Possibly the most famous resort in the region and just twenty minutes away. Val D’Isere has it all, superb intermediate cruisers, mogul fields and glorious off-piste. Continued investment has given it a state of the art lift system which ensures that you never queue. There are a host of ski schools and guiding operations to choose from and this competition ensures that standards are high. Val D’Isere hosts the first World Cup downhill of each season and will host the 2009 World Ski Championships.

Tignes

Forming part of the Epace Killy with Val D’Isere Tignes is a snowsure winter wonderland with incredible terrain. We enter the lift system at Les Brevieres just a ten minute drive away and make our way across to La Grande Motte- an impressive glacier which offers year round skiing and incredible snow. Our tour will take in steep bump runs or fast motorways depending on the group. This year Tignes is further developing its controlled off piste area at the Col de Ves where it offers free avalanche training to its clients.

Ste Foy

This little gem is just 10 minutes drive from chalet and offers a unique contrast to the bigger resorts. There are just three lifts here but they provide uncrowded slopes, beautiful trees and superb off-piste. Formerly a local secret this resort is rapidly growing its reputation as an alternative destination for those in the know. It occupies a beautiful location on a sunny shelf with views across to other neighbouring resorts.

Les Arcs

Recently joined to La Plagne to form Paradiski, Les Arcs is beginning to receive the plaudits it deserves. A ten minute drive from the chalet we enter the system at the charming hamlet of Villaroger. We take a giant loop around the area, skiing great tree lined runs wherever possible and stop to eat in a superb restaurant in Vallendry. Then we take the lift to the top of the Auguille Rouge to enjoy one of the finest descents in the world, the 2150 metre drop down to Villaroger, before falling into Le Ferme, run by the amiable Michel for a well earned beer. For snowboarders and new school skiers Les Arcs has several impressive terrain parks and half pipes where you can rub shoulders with the pros.

La Plagne

Spread across a myriad of traditional and purpose built villages. La Plagne is the collective name for the mountain adjacent to Les Arcs. Either by using the giant cablecar that links the two mountains or from sleepy Montchavin we make our way to delightful Champagny en Vanoise if snow conditions permit for an awesome view of the nearby 3 Valleys.

There is plenty of intermediate skiing here and for the more adventurous we can arrange a local guide to take us off the back of the Bellecote glacier down the north face to Peisey Nancroix. Another option would be legendary Col du Nant, considered by many to be the best off-piste descent in the region.

La Rosiere

Almost unheard of by the British ski community, this intermediate resort is linked to La Thuile in Italy’s Val D’Aosta in the shadow of Mont Blanc. We ski the sunny slopes of La Rosiere in the morning and then head across the historic Col de Petit St Bernard for a vast and inexpensive Italian lunch in one of the many restaurants in La Thuile. We’re back in France after a couple of hours more skiing. La Rosiere is ideal for families as the pistes are fairly tame and the sun shines endlessly. What few people know however is that La Rosiere actually receives more snow each year than Val D'Isere!