Alpine Chalet
| country: | Switzerland |
| location: | Swiss Alps |
| price: | From £140 per pod per night. Expedition pod £140, Canopy pod £160, Pavilion pod £220. N.B. Prices are per pod per night. Pods are based on single or double occupancy. N.B. We are closed for the season from 22nd April |
description
This camp’s origins lie in the owner’s desire to share a magnificent pristine environment with others, in an exclusive and ecologically sensitive way. A strong focus is placed on eco-principles with the aim of minimising the impact of human presence whilst maximising the benefits to the hosting community.
Set at 1500m and sleeping a maximum of 24 guests, this is a camp consisting of twelve pods (dome-shaped tents) pitched on raised wooden platforms around a traditional Alpine chalet.
All twelve pods are designed for double or single occupancy, offering uninterrupted views of the breathtaking surroundings.
Guest can choose between three types of pods: Expedition pods (20m2), Canopy pods (28m2) or Pavilion pods (50m2). The NEW Pavilion pods are set on two floors with the bedroom in the mezzanine and offer in-pod bathroom facilities and in-pod service and treatments.
These luxurious ‘cocoons’ come complete with wood stoves, petrol lamps, woolen throws and organic bedding ensuring superb comfort in style while IPods take care of entertainment. The Alpine chalet has been renovated to house a dining room, with outdoors terrace, the brand new spa and outdoors hot tub, as well as the bathroom facilities.
The camp is reached on foot or snowshoes. There are no busy streets. No traffic. No hotels. Once at the camp, guests are in absolute peace amid a pristine environment, surrounded by nothing but the breathtaking beauty of the scenery. During the day, guests can chose from a selection of activities ranging from using our private ski slope, snowshoe hiking and ski touring to name a few, or relax in the spa. A range of activities are also on offer including fondue at the Alpine refuge followed by skiing or dog sledding back to camp.
By air: The nearest airport is Geneva.
By rail: From Geneva, guests are directed to the train station just beneath the airport terminal where they take the direct train to the nearest station. From there, guests can be picked up by private transfer to the camp.
Set at 1500m and sleeping a maximum of 24 guests, this is a camp consisting of twelve pods (dome-shaped tents) pitched on raised wooden platforms around a traditional Alpine chalet.
All twelve pods are designed for double or single occupancy, offering uninterrupted views of the breathtaking surroundings.
Guest can choose between three types of pods: Expedition pods (20m2), Canopy pods (28m2) or Pavilion pods (50m2). The NEW Pavilion pods are set on two floors with the bedroom in the mezzanine and offer in-pod bathroom facilities and in-pod service and treatments.
These luxurious ‘cocoons’ come complete with wood stoves, petrol lamps, woolen throws and organic bedding ensuring superb comfort in style while IPods take care of entertainment. The Alpine chalet has been renovated to house a dining room, with outdoors terrace, the brand new spa and outdoors hot tub, as well as the bathroom facilities.
The camp is reached on foot or snowshoes. There are no busy streets. No traffic. No hotels. Once at the camp, guests are in absolute peace amid a pristine environment, surrounded by nothing but the breathtaking beauty of the scenery. During the day, guests can chose from a selection of activities ranging from using our private ski slope, snowshoe hiking and ski touring to name a few, or relax in the spa. A range of activities are also on offer including fondue at the Alpine refuge followed by skiing or dog sledding back to camp.
how to find us
By air: The nearest airport is Geneva.
By rail: From Geneva, guests are directed to the train station just beneath the airport terminal where they take the direct train to the nearest station. From there, guests can be picked up by private transfer to the camp.
rooms, food and facilities
Each pod comes with a wood stove and a basin with water in thermos except for the Pavilion pods which offer in-pod bathroom facilities. The main chalet accommodates the bathrooms, the lounge and dining room.Family friendly
Starting summer 2007, we will offer a nature program for children aged 12 to 16. It will cover a variety of activities, from wildlife observation to more active expeditions (rock climbing, mountain biking etc) and educational day trips. Minimum age: 12 years.
Read an article about this trip Richard Hammond tries the new luxury eco-camp high above the Swiss ski resort of Villars. More...
this tourism business won an award how this holiday makes a difference
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We minimise disturbance by limiting the camp facility to twenty four guests at any one time and ensure that local expertise is shared by guides who have lived and worked locally for years. We contribute to the safeguard and restoration of local landmarks through the establishment and support of projects. Our team includes a camp manager, a camp assistant, two beauty therapists, two receptionists, a chef and four mountain guides (as part of a group of 10 selected guides and ski instructors operating on a rotation system), all selected locally and employed directly. Our fresh produce is purchased locally, often directly from the makers and/or growers. Our wines have been selected and bought directly from the local growers. Our wood, used for heating, is supplied from local sustainable sources. The constructions of the platforms for our pods were carried out by a local carpenter, using Swiss sustainable wood.
Our method of construction (dome shaped tents pitched on raised wooden platforms) has been studied meticulously over the last 2 years to ensure that it bears little, if any, physical impact on the local environment. Our wooden platforms are secured to the ground by wood beams without the need for cement. Once the pods and the platforms are removed, they leave no trace. Visual impact is minimised as our pods are igloo shaped and white in colour. Once surrounded by snow, they disappear into the winter landscape.  All paper, ink cartridges, cans, glass and plastic waste are recycled in accordance with the local recycling program. There is no electricity in our pods. Lighting is provided by petrol lamps and torches powered with rechargeable batteries. Heating is provided by wood stoves, fueled by local sustainable wood. Our pods are insulated with the latest technology to maximise heat retention and ensure an efficient use of wood resources. The consumption of water is controlled by having shared bathrooms in our main chalet. Return transfers to the camp from Geneva airport are organised by public transport and transfers from the station are pre-arranged so they can be minimised. Our eco manual provides detailed information on our eco philosophy and promotes the many ways in which guests can contribute to sustainable living. Topics include minimisation of waste, water and energy usage, and recycling. A copy of our manual is available in each pod for guests to read and take away with them. Our guides also share tips on minimising negative environmental impacts prior to each expedition. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |