Mont Blanc family adventure holiday in France
| country: | France |
| location: | French Alps, Mont Blanc |
| departures: | 2010: 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug 2011: 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug |
| price: | From £795 - £845 (8 days) per adult & £795 - £845 per child including flights from the UK. Single trip insurance £29. From £665 - £695 excluding flights. Minimum age 5 years |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Aside from the incredible mountain views, glaciers, sharp granite spires and the highest mountain in Western Europe, there are many things in Chamonix to keep everyone in the family busy. Walking, cycling, rafting, horse riding, swimming, summer bobsleighs and adventure rope parks are just some of the activities available.
In the relaxed atmosphere of Chamonix, there are pavement cafés, small shops, child-friendly restaurants and a traditional French market. We have designed the trip with children in mind (age 5 - 11 years) so that no activity is too long and there is free time to either relax or take optional activities. In addition to having fun, we have introductions to local food, such as cheese fondue, and ample opportunity to try out your French language skills.
On our mountain days we will chat about the environment, and search for animal tracks and Alpine plants. We will discuss why the glaciers are getting smaller and have fun with map reading and a treasure hunt on the last day. Our two adjacent chalets are ideal for families with 8 well-appointed twin rooms and a large dining area where everyone eats at the same table. The garden has a jacuzzi and barbeque area and there is a nearby forest to run off any excess energy. We provide good quality, filling meals that will be familiar to children but may have a local twist: foods that children tend to enjoy include cheese fondue, baguette, pain-au-chocolat, barbeques, fresh fruit and the ice creams!
Special highlights:
In the relaxed atmosphere of Chamonix, there are pavement cafés, small shops, child-friendly restaurants and a traditional French market. We have designed the trip with children in mind (age 5 - 11 years) so that no activity is too long and there is free time to either relax or take optional activities. In addition to having fun, we have introductions to local food, such as cheese fondue, and ample opportunity to try out your French language skills.
On our mountain days we will chat about the environment, and search for animal tracks and Alpine plants. We will discuss why the glaciers are getting smaller and have fun with map reading and a treasure hunt on the last day. Our two adjacent chalets are ideal for families with 8 well-appointed twin rooms and a large dining area where everyone eats at the same table. The garden has a jacuzzi and barbeque area and there is a nearby forest to run off any excess energy. We provide good quality, filling meals that will be familiar to children but may have a local twist: foods that children tend to enjoy include cheese fondue, baguette, pain-au-chocolat, barbeques, fresh fruit and the ice creams!
Special highlights:
- Mont Blanc. The highest mountain in Western Europe.
- Trekking to see a glacier.
- Adventure park. With rope swings and aerial runways.
- Biking. In the shadow of the Alps.
- Practicing your French language.
- Optional activities. Rock climbing, rafting.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Join tour Geneva; transfer to Chalet. Arriving at Geneva Airport we transfer in just over an hour to our Chalet at Grassonnet, a few minutes drive from Chamonix town. There are spectacular views of the Chamonix Valley and the Mont Blanc range. 7 nights chalet H+. |
| Day 2: | Morning biking; free afternoon or optional activities. We collect our bikes and spend a leisurely morning exploring and getting to know the Chamonix Valley. We follow easy trails through the forests and occasionally cross quiet roads. We end the ride at the chalet in time for a picnic lunch. The afternoon is free to relax at the chalet or take part in an optional activity, such as rock climbing, horse riding or going to the local swimming pool which has 2 indoor pools, an outdoor lake and a 'death slide'. The teenage departures allows for some slightly tougher biking. Please note that this optional excursion is not guaranteed to be available. The afternoon is free. (Included meals: B, L, D). |
| Day 3: | Les Contamines Adventure Park. Driving 45 minutes brings us to Les Contamines – a small village surrounded by big hills and located on the Tour du Mont Blanc – one of the most famous trekking routes in the world. We spend the day at the Adventure Park which has lake swimming, pedalos, tennis, horse riding, and an aerial ropeway with tree slides. There is plenty of open space to make ourselves comfortable and ample opportunity for your children to meet French children in a relaxed environment. Parasols are provided at the lake side and there is a small restaurant selling drinks, ice creams and snacks. If you are feeling energetic the leader will organise a walk on a section of the Tour du Mont Blanc. (Included meals: B, L, D). |
| Day 4: | Walk to see Mer de Glace. A 5-minute drive brings us to the start point for our trek to see a glacier. We walk on a well-maintained path through a pretty fir and larch forest with classic views of Chamonix and the great Alpine peaks. The highlight is the mighty Mer de Glace (sea of ice) – a huge, gleaming-white glacier with crevasses and steep sides. We will take lunch at a mountain hut. We will walk at a comfortable pace spending time looking at Alpine plants and trying to spot wildlife. The walk will take around 2.5–3 hours in total and climbs approximately 350m. If everyone is feeling energetic, we can extend the walk. At dinner we will have a fondue – traditional mountain food made from local cheeses. For teenage departures, the day includes a full day walking to Le Blanc including 900m ascent using well maintained paths and easy to use ropes and ladders. (Included meals: B, D). |
| Day 5: | Walk to Emosson Lake; free afternoon. A short drive from the chalet is the Swiss/French border. From here we climb up a steep road that brings us to the impressive Emosson Dam. This is a massive structure and holds a huge lake. There are panoramic views of the high mountains and we take a walk to another lake through wild, rugged scenery where dinosaur footprints have been found. Returning to the chalet in time for an early lunch means you have the afternoon free to relax or take some optional activities. For teenage departures, full day walking and includes a visit to see dinosaur footprints. (Included meals: B, L, D). |
| Day 6: | Free day; optional activities. A free day for everyone. There are innumerable activities to take part in, such as a ride up the spectacular cable car to the Aiguille du Midi at 3842m for arguably the finest view in the Alps. At this height you are among the great Alpine peaks and glaciers with unimpeded views from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn almost 100km away. There are lots of walks in the valley that start from the chalet or are just a small cable-car ride away. Other adventurous pursuits include rafting or rock climbing. You may also like to go to Chamonix's Alpine museum or spend time window shopping. Today is the chef's day off and so you will need to organise your own lunch and dinner. (Included meals: B). |
| Day 7: | Visit market; free afternoon. Traditional markets are still very much a part of French culture and the weekly event at Chamonix is no exception. Here you can find all sorts of local produce – cheeses, honey, fruit, herbs and spices and weird sausages. Next to the market is Chamonix’s Adventure Park which has rope swings, aerial ropeways, a bungee trampoline and a spectacular summer bobsleigh – at 900m long it is the longest in France. Most of the afternoon is free, until about 4pm when we do some basic map reading with the children followed by a treasure hunt. Assuming the weather is fine we will have a barbeque this evening. (Included meals: B, D). |
| Day 8: | Transfer to Geneva Airport; tour ends (Included meals: B). |
small group family holiday
This is a 'small group family adventure' - typically you will join several other families and travel in a group of approx. 16 people. The trips are great value and a great way for you and your children to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of time to yourselves. Most adventure kids tend to be aged between 7 and 15, but some are younger (minimum age is usually 5) and some older (perhaps travelling as part of a larger family group). Please check with the operator to confirm the minimum age for this trip award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2008 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Daily Telegraph, World Travel Market, Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society and BBC World News.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Aside from the incredible mountain views, glaciers, sharp granite spires and the highest mountain in Europe, there are many things in Chamonix to keep everyone in the family busy. From our locally owned chalet, you will take exhilarating day-walks walking along well-maintained paths through pretty fir and larch forest with classic views of Chamonix and the great Alpine peaks.
The highlight is the mighty Mer de Glace (sea of ice) - a huge, gleaming-white glacier with crevasses and steep sides. The leisurely mountain biking explores different parts of the valley, travelling through thick forests and open Alpine meadows following easy trails and quiet roads. The adventure park at Les Contamines has a range of activities including, horse riding and an aerial ropeway with tree slides, and at the park in Chamonix we try out rope swings and aerial ropeways. The chalet itself has employed an environmental policy including change towels and sheets once a week; re-cycling all rubbish according to the local law, one shop a week at supermarket thus saving on petrol and as the chalet is newly built, it is efficient in its insulation and heat loss as well as minimizing water usage including using showers. All staff are environmentally and culturally aware and the trained mountain guides have an inherent awareness of the impact of tourism on the environment. We encourage interaction with French and use local services, employ local guides, educate visitors about the country and a care for the environment including sticking to marked paths when walking; follow specially designated mountain biking trails; taking all picnic rubbish back to the chalet and using the same plastic bag for the packed lunch throughout the week. |
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