Planning my mini Tour de Mont Blanc – French Alps

May 3, 2010 by admin
Filed under Accommodation, Europe, France, Hostels, Leisure, Nature, Walking

I’m dreaming today of my late summer break in the French Alps, walking in the mountains above Chamonix. There’s a well known walking route that takes you on a circuit around the high Alpine paths through Switzerland, France and Italy,known as the Tour de Mont Blanc or TMB.

View from Brevent overlooking Chamonix

The Tour de Mont Blanc can only be completed in the summer months once the snow has melted and would normally take up to 10 days, demanding a good level of fitness. As I’m walking with a friend and neither of us have 10 days holiday to spare, we’re planning our own mini tour covering 3 days walking with stops for 2 nights in the mountain refuges. There is an annual mountain marathon over this route but we’ll be taking things at a more relaxed pace, with plenty of time to stop and admire the views of Mont Blanc and Chamonix below.

Refuge de Bellachat near Chamonix

We fly from the UK to Geneva and take the super-efficient Swiss train system to Chamonix in France, starting our walk at the small town of les Houches and climbing up through steep forested slopes to spend the night at Refuge de Bellechat. The mountain refuges that you stay in on this route offer simple dormitary accommodation and usually an evening meal but there isn’t much luxury unless you count sunning yourself on a terrace with a view of Mont Blanc a luxury.

If you want to do this kind of walking as a day trip from the valley below it’s easy as there are a number of cable cars used for ski-ers in winter and walkers in summer that can transport you up to the top of the mountain, and usually a cafe there too. We’ll be passing the one at Le Brevent before we reach the second refuge at La Flegere where we plan to stay that night,and then the next day descend backdown to the valley and back towards Geneva from where we’ll fly home the next day.

Near Brevent, Chamonix

I’m looking forward to seeing the wild mountain ibex that live on these slopes, stretching my legs on the long walks and taking in the mountain scenery, cairns and wild places on the high slopes. I’m not looking forward to the steeper stretches that require you to climb up metal ladders, but we’ll hopefully be travelling light with just small rucksacks and walking poles.

If you’ve walked in this area or done the Tour de Mont Blanc, I’d love to hear from you and get some more information on what we might expect, and I’m also looking for recommendations for the best places to stay and eat in les Houches or Chamonix.

This is posted as part of Mondays are for Dreaming hosted over at Mother of all Trips. If you’re dreaming of some far off place, or small corner of the world that might inspire you, head over here to see what everyone else is dreaming of.

Photo Credits: SNappa2006, RKTecture, Dio5

What’s the best ski resort for your next ski-ing holiday?

April 15, 2010 by admin
Filed under Canada, Eating and drinking, Europe, France, Guest post, Leisure, Misc, Ski, USA, World

4 Comments

If you’re hoping to catch some late season snow or starting to plan next year’s ski holiday my sponsored post from Eclipse Ski will help choose the best resorts for you.

Not all ski resorts are made equal. All will provide some snow and slopes for you to ski down, but some may be more appropriate than others, depending on what you look for in a ski holiday. With that in mind, here are Eclipse Ski’s recommendations of the best ski resorts for different needs.

Alpe d'Huez in France

Best ski resort for families

Alpe D’Huez, France – Although it’s next to impossible to pick just one resort for any of these categories, Alpe D’Huez in France is a great one for family ski holidays due to its well rounded slopes that are suitable for all abilities. It is also famous for its outstanding ski school making it an ideal place for children to learn. By offering free access to the large outdoor pool and ice skating rink with a full area lift pass, Alpe D’Huez is a winner for children.

Best resort for non-skiers

Vail, USA – Although an excellent ski resort itself, Vail is also perfect for non-skiers with a wide range of activities to enjoy whilst the rest of the group out on the slopes. During the day there’s dog-sledding, horse riding, snow tubing, ice skating, tobogganing and even an adventure entertainment centre at the top of the gondola. For the evening there are endless restaurants and bars to relax in. Counter-intuitively, what makes Vail perfect for non-skiers is that it is also an excellent ski resort, meaning that everyone in the group will be happy.

Nordic Ski with the family in Vail, Colorado

Best resort for snowboarders

Banff, Canada – Banff offers three unique areas for snowboarding and skiing: Norquay, Sunshine and Lake Louise which all offer exceptional powder trails. The best thing is that with a ‘Tri-Area’ lift pass provides easy access to all three areas so no day’s snowboarding need be the same. What really makes Banff ideal is the sheer number of snowboard gear shops, many of which also provide hire should you need it.

Snowboarding in Banff, Canada

Best après ski

Whistler, Canada – One of the most popular ski resorts in the world, Whistler offers all kinds of après ski options. There are endless slope-side bars, clubs and restaurants. There are plenty of fires to relax by, bands to hear, food to eat and drinks to be had. Whistler’s popularity means the après business is booming here. Be careful not to have too much après fun though – Whistler in Canada is one of the few resorts to offer heli-skiing.

Ski in Les Deux Alpes, France

Best all year resort

Les Deux Alpes, France – Les Deux Alpes is one of France’s oldest and prestigious ski resorts, and thankfully available all year round due to its height and glacier. It offers everything you need for a group or family ski holiday – slopes for all abilities, snowboarding, activities for non-skiers and a bustling night-life.

Thanks for these tips to Eclipse Ski who offer a wide range of deals on ski holidays and specialise in family and group ski holidays.

Have you skied in any of these resorts? If so do tell me what your experience was and the places that you’d recommend….

Photo credits: Alpe d’Huez in France by Chris Parker, Nordic Ski with the family in Vail, Colorado by Visit Colorado ,Snowboarding in Banff , Canada by Little Lebowski Urban Achiever ,Ski in Les Deux Alpes, France by ricardo_skim4ever on flickr.

Living on holiday all year round in Brittany – France

February 26, 2010 by admin
Filed under Europe, France, Leisure

9 Comments

Imagine if every day you woke up and this was the view from your bedroom window. Imagine if you came downstairs and sat eating your breakfast looking out at the boats bobbing on the water. And on sunny days, you walked through the garden gate in the hedge in your swimsuit and dived off the jetty in front of your house. Well, this is the view that my French friend, Isabelle has from her front terrace and this is her life.

The Marina at Conleau near Vannes in Brittany

On dull days in the city like today, my mind wanders to places like Conleau near Vannes where my friend lives. She told me once that living in this house was like being on holiday every day. I love being beside the sea and the feeling of space and calm that it brings and I have to admit I’m not a little envious.

Conleau near Vannes in Brittany

This is the view back towards the house from the early morning ferry we took when we went Fishing for Crabs on Isle de Houat, when I went to visit last summer. Sigh….. I wish it would be summer again, and that I lived on holiday all year round – don’t you?

This is posted as part of Photo Friday hosted at Delicious Baby - head over and see all the other photo Fridays too.