France
Action Outdoors, the UK arm of not for profit UCPA, has launched an expanded programme of ski and snowboard holidays for young people for the 2024-25 winter season.
Like all of its holidays, the emphasis is on all-inclusive value for money in UCPA centres in some of the top French ski resorts including Val d’Isère, Val Thorens and Les Arcs.
PHOTO: © Archives municipales de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Fonds Gay-Couttet
Iain Martin celebrates 100 years since Chamonix hosted the Olympics.
In the century since Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympics, the depth of the Mer de Glace has shrunk by more than 100 metres. The change is so great that in February 2024, a new gondola was opened from the glacier back to Montenvers to save skiers who have taken on the famous Vallée Blanche off-piste run from having to tackle the 580 steps that now exist back to the top.
PHOTO: © Vincent Colin
Action Outdoors, the UK arm of the not for profit UCPA holiday organisation, has launched its new 2024-25 winter season family holidays in six French ski resorts.
The holidays have gone on sale to the general public after being offered first to previous UK customers of the UCPA – some holidays have already sold out but there’s still availability across Christmas, New Year, February half term and Easter dates.
PHOTO: Sylvain Aymoz
Hils Everitt takes to the skies for a unique experience – paragliding on skis in the French Alps
Suddenly out of the almost silence, interrupted by the gentle whistling of the wind, came my pilot’s voice: “Are you OK; don’t feel sick?! Most people do. Just tell me when to stop if you need,” followed by a cheeky giggle.
In Avoriaz, revellers can celebrate the culmination of the winter season in style. With skiing at the forefront, the closing week promises a thrilling line-up including iconic après-ski sessions, lively concerts, festive parties, and the exhilarating soapbox race on snow known as the Fine-Cup.
This winter season, ski and snowboard holiday provider Inghams Ski continued their partnership with young person’s charity Snow Camp. For the second year running, young people from Manchester, London, Birmingham and Glasgow completed a UK-based apprentice scheme with Snow Camp, before travelling to Val d’Isère ski resort in France with Inghams.
Spring may see winter drawing to a close, but there’s still time to make Easter memories in La Rosière with Esprit Ski one last time. As Esprit celebrates its final season, the company have announced some excellent last-minute deals for families looking to swap the egg hunts at home for mountains of family fun.
Ski course company Snoworks, that specialises in all mountain skiing, has launched a new programme for kids that are already proficient skiers and want something that goes beyond the traditional ski school class.
Bear Lodge
In the ever-growing trend of multi-generational travel, VIP SKI has noted a surge in bookings for extended family ski holidays. VIP SKI provides an exceptional experience that caters to families of all sizes. Children aged between two and 12 represented 17% of VIP SKI’s guests last winter, and 120 babies experienced the mountains for the first time. One of the key highlights is the flexibility in childcare options, ensuring that parents can enjoy their time on the slopes worry-free.
The Spring Issue of Skier & Snowboarder is out now – offering a great combination of first person experiences from resorts throughout the world, holiday news, the latest equipment, UK slope and club news and more!
Ski Beat, the top UK package ski chalet company to France, is offering two new spring ski weeks for beginners to put a ‘toe in the snow’ and discover the mountain holiday that grips 1.5million British skiers each year.
Charlotte Ward, from Salisbury was rocked to her ski socks when her childhood sweetheart and partner of three years got down on one knee and proposed in deep snow, at the top of Europe’s highest ski area, while battling a skiing injury.
Max Laughland, a promising skier sponsored by VIP SKI, encountered a setback last week during training as he suffered a broken collarbone and hand.
Despite this setback, Laughland had recently achieved a significant milestone by securing spots in four events for the GB Team in the Junior World Championships, which commenced last week.
Hotel Mura
Each winter Iglu Ski makes arrangements for skiers in search of single rooms. Often it’s a couple of friends or a small group travelling together, who prefer their own rooms.
Sometimes it’s an odd number of people in need of a single room to add to a double. Some skiers go solo, and head for resorts where they know there’s a party in town, such as Bansko, St. Anton, Ischgl or Val Thorens.
Nothing can beat the stunning scenery of the slopes, and there is no better way to spend a romantic trip than surrounded by breath-taking snow-capped mountains. With the European slopes calling to skiers given the increased snowfall across the mountains, February is the ideal time for a ski trip.
PHOTO: © Vincent Colin
Action Outdoors, the UK arm of the not for profit UCPA organisation, with centres across the French Alps offering great value all-inclusive (full board, ski pass, equipment hire, lessons) accommodation, has two dedicated family weeks during the Easter school holidays.
February half term for most children is about a month away. You may think it’s far too late to book a ski trip, but ski expert Iglu Ski can still find snow-loving families the right holiday. Their top 5 tips to grab a top family ski trip for half term now are:
Vialattea, the leading Italian-French international ski region, and one of Europe’s largest ski resorts, has announced a new commercial and promotional partnership agreement with Trenitalia, the primary train operator in Italy.
As the majority of skiers and snowboarders wind down for the day or seek respite in the resort’s centre to explore the shops, a select few embark on a different journey back up the mountain, ready for a unique adventure on Pic Blanc in Alpe d’Huez.
PHOTO: © Pyrène Duffau
With four mountain ranges and 21 mountain resorts, France’s third biggest mountain destination, Isère, is a winter playground for all abilities. With unrivalled diversity of resorts and a wide range of activities to suit all, Isère definitely has a resort for everyone, from pretty, traditional villages to world-renowned ski destinations.