Learn to ski or snowboard in the French Alps
| country: | France |
| location: | French Alps |
| departures: | 2010: 17 Jan, 31 Jan, 7 Feb, 28 Feb, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr |
| price: | From €1315 (8 days) excluding flights, based on room share. |
| more info: | Price includes: Ski, snowshoe and ski de fond hire, 4 days lift passes, private ski instructor x 3 mornings, walking and ski de fond guide x 2 days, all local transport, a catered week at our beautiful eco ski lodge. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Learn to ski or snowboard.
Learning to ski as an adult is not the same as a kid. As a child, you are generally sent to ski school... but adults sometimes prefer something more civilised! We have designed a special week that goes well beyond physical dimensions! You will be staying in 'the best eco-lodge in the Alps' and will be well looked after with nutritious and delicious and largely organic, local and vegetarian food.
Our eco-lodge seems to magnetically draw like minded people so there is always a friendly and supportive atmosphere here. Your hosts are Adventure Sports TV Presenter and Yoga teacher Duncan and Saskia McCallum. You will learn to ski with one of the best instructors in the valley who understands that skiing is as much mental as physical. But one of the great things about this week, is that you go beyond the ski lifts into the back country and learn about the wild natural alpine winter wilderness. This is a ski week that takes you to your potential!
Should I learn to ski or snowboard?
Well, skiing is more gentle to learn and less painful, but it takes longer to become accomplished. Snowboarding is tougher on the body for at least the first week, except for the knees. You get good quite quickly if you can let go of the mental challenge of having your feet strapped to one board.
We need 4 skiers or 4 snow boarders to run the beginners course.
Learning to ski as an adult is not the same as a kid. As a child, you are generally sent to ski school... but adults sometimes prefer something more civilised! We have designed a special week that goes well beyond physical dimensions! You will be staying in 'the best eco-lodge in the Alps' and will be well looked after with nutritious and delicious and largely organic, local and vegetarian food.
Our eco-lodge seems to magnetically draw like minded people so there is always a friendly and supportive atmosphere here. Your hosts are Adventure Sports TV Presenter and Yoga teacher Duncan and Saskia McCallum. You will learn to ski with one of the best instructors in the valley who understands that skiing is as much mental as physical. But one of the great things about this week, is that you go beyond the ski lifts into the back country and learn about the wild natural alpine winter wilderness. This is a ski week that takes you to your potential!
Should I learn to ski or snowboard?
Well, skiing is more gentle to learn and less painful, but it takes longer to become accomplished. Snowboarding is tougher on the body for at least the first week, except for the knees. You get good quite quickly if you can let go of the mental challenge of having your feet strapped to one board.
We need 4 skiers or 4 snow boarders to run the beginners course.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-3: | You will spend 2 hours the first 3 mornings of your trip learning the basics correctly. In the afternoon you will practice, practice, and practice. You can stay where you feel safe or venture to more challenging runs! Generally the group sticks together for moral support. |
| Day 4: | On day 4, weather permitting, you will need a break to allow what you have learned to sink in. Agniezka will take you on a journey away from the crowds, on snow shoes into the back-country. You will learn how to stay safe in winter conditions, dig snow holes to see the layers and condition of the snow and build an igloo. We can give you a bivvy bag, sleeping bag, dinner and a stove if you want to spend the night in it! |
| Day 5: | Day 5, we head up to the Col du Joue Plane to try another winter sport. Ski de Fond is really popular in Canada, Alaska and Northern Europe. It is a full body work out that will tune your buttocks as you glide past Mont Blanc! |
| Day 6: | On day 6, you can choose what you would like to do. We guarantee your skiing will be better after a break or you could relax at the chalet and have a Shiatsu. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
So many people only see the resort when they come on a ski trip - especially beginners. This week shows you the ski resort but also the vast beauty of the winter wilderness. By sensitising people to the raw beauty and fragility of the mountains, we increase environmental awareness and appreciation. We beleive that making a difference needs to come from deep within... it requires a shift in consciousness. Environmentalism is not a fad but a new way of seeing and it comes hand in hand with tapping into your own source. Our accommodation has been described as a 'posh commune' – you will experience an alternative family lifestyle with a communal, community and environmental ethos. The McCallum family moved from Scotland to France to realise an evolving dream – to reconnect with each other and our environment, to live in the mountains, create a sustainable venue and run 'life-enhancing' courses. It took 3 years and is now up and running and is becoming a 'phenomena'. Journalists have described it as the 'best-eco lodge in the Alps'. Guests often talk about the 'positive energy' here. Renovation: We used sustainable building techniques where affordable including extra thick Warmcell insulation, triple glazed windows facing North, glass walls facing South, a highly efficient wood pellet burner, low temp under floor heating, organic paint, etc. We have mountain source water on tap. We try to consume minimum energy. All our appliances are A or AA and 90% of our lighting is low energy. We recycle metal, plastic, glass, paper and cardboard and compost and the kitchen is set up to make this easy. Our linen is organic cotton and our cleaning products are environmentally sound. Community On this course we work with a hand picked local International Mountain Leader and Ski Instructor who are aware of the importance of the inner processes involved in engaging in a whole new sport, in an alien environment, as an adult. This week can have a profound effect on people. Positive and inspiring new experiences open new levels of consciousness and a greater understanding of ourselves and our environmental. Our instructors teach no impact travel and how to protect yourself and nature in potentially harsh winter conditions. We source 90% of our food wholesale from organic wholesalers and local farms. Our milk is from the neighbouring farm and we make our own rice milk. We will start growing our own vegetables this year. We also encourage guests to eat in the village, the mountain yurt and local farm restaurant, which are within walking distance. |
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. |