Holistic skiing holiday in the French Alps
| country: | France |
| location: | French Alps |
| departures: | 2009: 19 Dec 2010: 10 Jan, 17 Jan, 1 Feb, 7 Feb, 7 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr |
| price: | From €675 (8 days) excluding flights, based on sharing a twin room. €350 single supplement. €450 Children under 18. |
| more info: | Airport transfers €35 per trip per person. Free train pick up from Cluses if you come from your home. Ski lift and village shuttles for the week: €40 for the week per person. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is more than a ski holiday.
We offer a unique skiing experience. The atmosphere and energy here is very special, and we will provide a unique skiing experience. It has been suggested that it is more like a Hip 21st C commune here than a chalet! This is one of the few places that you can sneak away mid-winter, and re-source. Whether you are a powder skier or beginner, we are famous for giving you a long lasting experience that goes way beyond expectations.
Many of our guests come alone, or with friends. There are many courses to choose from, our guests usually team up according to their skiing standard. If budget allows, there are many courses to choose from too – an eco ski week off the lift system, a winter mountain immersion for beginners, a ski touring and off piste ski week, and a yoga ski week, etc.. or you just come and stay here and ski. Your hosts are avid skiers and outdoor professionals. Duncan McCallum, is the TV Presenter for the BBC’s Adventure Show, and Saskia McCallum is an adventure sports filmmaker and Yoga Teacher. A Yoga-stretch session is offered 3 mornings a week.
The Sunday Times described the eco-renovated barn as ‘the best eco Lodge in the Alps’. ‘Stunning,’ ‘Beautifully restored’, ‘The most amazing place I have ever been in!” It is in an authentic rural Alpine hamlet 5 minutes drive from the ski lifts.
The Grand Massif is the 3rd largest ski area in Europe and the ski touring is outstanding. The Valle Blanc and Chamonix are 45 minutes away.
You will not be pampered as you might in a 5 start hotel, but you will feel a lot more relaxed, in touch, and ‘at one’ as you chat to new mates around our 18th C oak table. You’ll have delicious wholesome organic breakfasts, home made teas and cakes and 3 to 4 course vegetarian dinners (we can cater for meatatarians) with wine. We get milk from the cows next door in the morning.
A week with us includes:
7x nights at the accommodation 7x organic continental buffet breakfasts 5x home-made cakes or biscuits for tea 5x delicious 3+ course largely organic and vegetarian dinners with wine 5x light room cleaning service Wood fired hot tubs 5 x 20 minutes of pre-ski yoga stretch Ski and Lodge hosting and assistance organizing guides, tuition and activities.
We offer a unique skiing experience. The atmosphere and energy here is very special, and we will provide a unique skiing experience. It has been suggested that it is more like a Hip 21st C commune here than a chalet! This is one of the few places that you can sneak away mid-winter, and re-source. Whether you are a powder skier or beginner, we are famous for giving you a long lasting experience that goes way beyond expectations.
Many of our guests come alone, or with friends. There are many courses to choose from, our guests usually team up according to their skiing standard. If budget allows, there are many courses to choose from too – an eco ski week off the lift system, a winter mountain immersion for beginners, a ski touring and off piste ski week, and a yoga ski week, etc.. or you just come and stay here and ski. Your hosts are avid skiers and outdoor professionals. Duncan McCallum, is the TV Presenter for the BBC’s Adventure Show, and Saskia McCallum is an adventure sports filmmaker and Yoga Teacher. A Yoga-stretch session is offered 3 mornings a week.
The Sunday Times described the eco-renovated barn as ‘the best eco Lodge in the Alps’. ‘Stunning,’ ‘Beautifully restored’, ‘The most amazing place I have ever been in!” It is in an authentic rural Alpine hamlet 5 minutes drive from the ski lifts.
The Grand Massif is the 3rd largest ski area in Europe and the ski touring is outstanding. The Valle Blanc and Chamonix are 45 minutes away.
You will not be pampered as you might in a 5 start hotel, but you will feel a lot more relaxed, in touch, and ‘at one’ as you chat to new mates around our 18th C oak table. You’ll have delicious wholesome organic breakfasts, home made teas and cakes and 3 to 4 course vegetarian dinners (we can cater for meatatarians) with wine. We get milk from the cows next door in the morning.
A week with us includes:
7x nights at the accommodation day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | You can be picked up at Geneva Aiport. After a short orientation, we all sit down together for a communal dinner. The food is delicious, largely organic, vegetarian and wholesome. |
| Day 2: | We’ll take you to collect ski gear and then we’ll escort you to the slopes for a resort orientation. |
| Day 3: | When you come back from skiing, tea, and hot chocolate and home made biscuits or cakes will await you. |
| Day 4: | On Wednesday, there is a big market in the village and the children can take the little train or go ice skating. |
| Day 5: | On our chef’s night off, we recommend you go to a Mongolian Yurt for a fondu! |
| Day 6: | We can organise a day out in the backcountry – snowshoeing and building an igloo. |
| Day 7: | Last night to soak in the wood fired hot tub under the stars. |
| Day 8: | We will bring you back to the airport. |
lower carbon travel
Geneva Airport transfer is 35 euros per person, per trip - or there free pick ups from the train station. 40 euros for local transfers for the week
how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
We offer incentives to all of our visitors who come by train. In the winter we encourage eco-ski trips (skiing outside of the lift system). We have an especially designed eco- kitchen with recycling and composting. Nearly everything is recycled – paper, glass, metal, plastics (and compost goes into the garden) so we have minimum waste. All of our appliances are A+. Our heating and hot water is low energy bio mass and the house is super insulated. Our toilets are flushed with source water (and are dual flush) and our waste water is cleaned, filtered and goes back into the stream as clean water. We grow our own organic veg, and buy the bullk of our food from wholesale local organic suppliers and local farmers. We use local guides and have an emphasis on ‘protecting the mountains’ and environmental awareness on all of our courses. We encourage minimum use of water, the option for un-ironed sheets and 1 towel and the use of spring water vs mains (which can be pumped into the house from our Source). If people stay more than 1 week, we encourage them to keep their sheets and towels and give them a big financial incentive. We only use the dryer when absolutely necessary. The bulk of our cleaning products are sourced wholesale from a eco-friendly supplier. Community We use local guides who understand the ethics of the ‘spirit’ of our courses – we don’t conquer the mountains but flow in harmony with them! Our courses promote engaging in sport from the ‘Inside’ and a respect for the natural environment. If we camp, we teach everyone ‘no-impact’ camping and carry out all of our waste. We encourage our guides to expound on the local culture, flora and fauna. We hire equipment from local shops and encourage going to local restaurants and the village market. Our food is vegetarian except by request. We use the local plumber and electrician who promote ecological plumbing and electricity. |
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. |