It snowed! We skied & boarded. It was fun!
What a day! Don't let anyone tell you you can't have good days in a bad season!
A week into February and it snowed a lot - we thought it would be rude not to get out and enjoy it!
Not Everyone Can Be As Cool As Us - 8th February
AND THEN THE SUN CAME OUT…
WOW! Having had some great skiing in the trees and lower down in the last few days the sun came out!
What a day!
and then the sun came out.... - 9th February 2017
Just a Short Walk to Some Amazing Snow!
If you know where to go you can get some amazing runs with limited hiking.
Rich went with a couple of freinds to ski the Arbaron in Le Grand Massif - you need to be very careful if you are skiing off piste and take great care, be well prepared and kitted up with the right equipment.
If you don't know the area then take a guide - the guys in this video know the area very well and they still had a close call.
You can never be too careful.
Have fun but be safe!
Blue Monday - Powder Day in Le Grand Massif January 2017.
Remember Blue Monday in January? We went and played in the powder instead!
Remember Blue Monday back in January when we were meant to be depressed and down and well life was all too much?
We did as fortunately it snowed so we went out and had fun instead!
An Arbaron Adventure - February 2017
WINTER IS HERE!
Winter seems to have arrived at last!
Rich is in the Alps and can report that snow is falling and the wind is blowing!
Check out all the latest deals and availabiltiy by cleicking here.
Rich Reports from a very wintery Alps on 4th February.
TIGNES & VAL D’ISERE LIFT PASSES - THE 2017 ULTIMATE GUIDE
This is a guest blog by Becky from Ski Bonjour who run chalets in Tignes - check out their chalets by clicking here.
The Tignes & Val d’Isère lift passes are covered under the vast Espace Killy ski region which stretches from Tignes les Brévières right over to Le Fornet in Val d’Isère with an altitude range from 1550m to 3456m at the top of the Grande Motte cable car. This ski region offers over 300km of piste with varied terrain which provides for both beginners and extreme skiers & boarders alike.
Your Val d’Isère and Tignes ski pass ‘Espace Killy’ will connect you to 154 slopes via 79 ski lifts which include chairlifts, gondolas, cable cars, funiculars, drag lifts and magic carpets. Here’s some vital resort information:
Altitude: 1550m – 3456m
Number of slopes: 20
Easy: 68
Medium: 40
Difficult: 26
Total Number of runs: 154
Number of lifts: 79
Kms of piste: 300km
Hectares: 10,000
Glaciers: 2
Snow Cannons 900
The resorts of Tignes & Val d’Isère have created brand new apps so that you can check out the piste and ski lift openings, weather forecast and webcams at your finger tips. Download them via your app store or visit www.valdisere.com or www.tignes.net. You can also stay connected with free wifi hotspots thanks to the ski area and mountain restaurants – just look out for ‘Tignes neospot’ & ‘Val-free-wifi’ in your wifi settings.
Types of lift pass & deals
There is a ski pass that suits everyone for all ages, ability and pedestrians. If you are planning to stay with Ski Bonjour, we can pre-order the Espace Killy passes for you so that they are ready for you to collect at the chalet so you don’t waste a moment on your first day of skiing.
Adult
The age considered to be adult is from age 14-64 inclusive.
Senior & Child
Children aged 5-13 and Seniors aged 65-74 are entitled to a discounted pass rate.
Tignes / Val d’Isère Days Adult (Age 14 to 64) Child / Senior (age 5-13 or 65-74)
Espace Killy (whole area)
6 Day Pass
Adult - €278.00
Child / Senior - €222.50
Under 5s & Over 74s!
The biggest perk is when you’re up to 4 years old or 75+ as you will get a free pass! Proof of age will be required and a photo may be requested.
Family Pass
A family pass offers a child rate to all family members for 6 or 7 days only. There must be at least one/two adults and two/three (or more) children either school age or up to the age of 21 if they are students in full time education. Everyone must be from the same family and proof of age and student identification may be required.
Family Pass Days 2 adults and 2 children (both age 5-13) 2 adults and 2 children (age 5-13 and 14-17) 2 adults and 2 children (both age 14-17) 2 adults and 3 children (all age 5-13)
Espace Killy family pass
6
€890.00
€890.00
€890.00
€1112.50
Pedestrians
There’s also pedestrian passes available to purchase in resort for those wishing to make the most of the mountains without skiing.
Tignes only lift pass
The lift pass ticket system seems to have changed this year in that you can only get the local area pass in resort with either a day or half day option.
Days Adult (Age 14 to 64) Child / Senior (age 5-13 or 65-74)
Tignes only
1/2 day
€38.50 / €31.00
1 day
€47.00 / €38.00
What’s included?
Free swimming and ice skating!
The Espace Killy lift pass allows you free access to the swimming pool of the Aquacentre Le Lagon in Tignes or at the Centre Aquasportif in Val d’Isère.
It also includes free ice skating in Tignes or Val d’Isère including the loan of skates.
Terms & conditions apply and access is allowed for each valid day of your ski pass (6 day ski pass = 6 days access to the swimming pool and ice rink). Your lift pass must be valid for 2 to 15 days.
Carré Neige
You can add an optional piste insurance to your Espace Killy ski pass which is known as Carré Neige (this is recommended in addition to your holiday insurance). Information about the insurance and what Carré Neige covers can be found here.
Rate per day €2.80
8 to 15 days €22.40
Family rate per person per day* €2.50
Family rate per person from 8 to 15 days* €20.00
*Rate available if all the family members subscribe to the insurance Carré Neige.
Free Bus
There is also a free ski bus which runs throughout the day and into the evening. There are two main bus routes in resort. Firstly, in Val d’Isère there is a circular loop connecting La Daille through Val d’Isère to Le Fornet and back. Secondly in Tignes there is a bus loop from Les Boisses, through Tignes le Lac to Val Claret and back and a Le Lavachet loop round Tignes le Lac. It’s a great service giving a good connection between the villages at both resorts. Guests staying in Tignes les Brévières can access this bus route via the pedestrian chairlift to Le Boisses.
Freestyle & Snowparks
The ski region benefits from two snow parks as well as three boardercross courses for beginners and experts. The Val park is at the foot of the Marmots chair and has a great range of kickers and 25 rails with lines for different standards. There is a popular half pipe and airbag located in Val Claret
FOOD & DRINK IN THE PRYENEES
This is a guest blog by Amber W.
I've been visiting France for many years and have always been surprised by the cuisine. I understand France has numerous world famous restaurants and chefs, it is known as a country of high quality dining and I've therefore been disappointed at the lack of variety in the meals available.
My ski holidays have been mainly in The Alps so the usual fondue, raclette and tartiflette on offer are no doubt delicious but - in my eyes - not particularly adventurous.
In other parts of France the menus I've seen are usually meat or fish with one vegetable on the side or a salad. There's nothing wrong with what's on offer - it just doesn't excite me.
Vegetarians have a notoriously difficult time eating in France, either a cheese omelette or salad and chips seem to be the staple options there. And vegans had better take their own supplies if they don’t want to live on chips all week!
In the Pyrenees the food was much more interesting to me, it was based on a lighter diet - more Mediterranean I felt. There were far more vegetables and I felt the dishes had more flavour.
To go off menu to suit a vegetarian or vegan diet appeared far easier and more acceptable than in a lot of the rest of the country. The impression I got was that in the Pyrenees the people in the kitchens were experienced chefs who were passionate about their menu, versatile and eager to please their diners.
The food we were served in every single case appeared to have been prepared with care, to our specifications and with quality ingredients.
This is highly rated wine area and this was certainly reflected in the wine we were offered. In short the food and drink here was delicious, fresh and of fantastic quality.
When I first arrived in the Pyrenees. I was surprised by the endless Bio (organic) shops we passed. They are everywhere, in tiny mountain villages, in the middle of nowhere as well as in the towns. Having spent a week here I now understand this better; there is a definite air here of people wanting to do their best for their health and the environment. The population and clientele here appear to take care over what they are eating and drinking - particularly where it's sourced from.
LES ANGLES - OFF THE SLOPES [VIDEO]
The Pyrenees is rich in history and around Les Angles there is plenty of sites that are attractions in their own right which makes it a great ski resort for those who want a bit more than skiing or a mixed group with non skiers in the group.
Rich discussing with Greg from the ESF what you can do in the area off the slopes.
Les Angles in The Pyrenees - Off the slopes
Les Angles - off the slopes - Mont-Louis
LES ANGLES - THE SKIING [VIDEO]
Les Angles as a ski resort is suitable for all levels of skiers.
Greg from the ESF explains why and how easy it is to progress in this resort from a beginner up to intermediate skier and what advanced skiers can expect.
Les Angles - The Skiing
FONT ROMEU - A SIT SKI EXPERIENCE [VIDEO]
Font Romeu may be small but they have loads of great ideas and one thing they do regularly is have an ‘open day’ for their sit skis.
These are usually for those who are disabled and unable to ski but here in Font Romeu they also use them to help get others who may want to ski with families but can’t or don't want to ski - for example grand parents who want to ski with their familes.
It is all staffed by incredibly enthusiastic volunteers and is great to see. We were fortunate to have a go and it was superb!
In this video Susie explains a bit more to Rich about it.