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Ski Holidays in Italy – The Monterosa Ski Area
Italian ski holidays in Alpe di Mera & Alagna – The Soul of the Monterosa Ski Area
Looking for a different destination for your ski holidays in Italy?Hidden on the southern slopes of the Italian Alps lies one of Europe’s most authentic and awe-inspiring ski destinations. Alpe di Mera and Alagna, part of the Monterosa Ski area, offers over 180 km of pisted runs and a world of off-piste adventure.Linked with Gressoney and Champoluc, this vast region stretches across three valleys — each with its own personality — and all accessible on the same ski pass. Yet despite its scale, Monterosa Ski remains one of the Alps’ best-kept secrets.If you’ve skied the big-name resorts and are looking for something more soulful, more Italian, and less commercial, this could be your next mountain destination.A Place Where Time Moves Slower — in the Best Way
Alagna and Alpe di Mera aren’t about rushing from one crowded piste to another. They’re about the rhythm of the mountains, the quiet crunch of snow under your skis, and the incredible views of Monte Rosa’s 4,600m peaks.Alagna Valsesia is often called the “Freeride Capital of the Alps” — a mecca for serious skiers who value challenge and wild beauty. But what’s remarkable is that even if you’re not a freerider, the entire area still feels untouched and genuine.Alpe di Mera, just across the valley, brings a gentler side. Its wide, sun-soaked slopes look directly toward Monte Rosa — one of the most spectacular panoramas in Italy. It’s family-friendly, calm, and refreshingly free of the rush that defines so many Alpine resorts.180km of Slopes, 3 Valleys, 1 Spirit
Your Monterosa Ski pass opens up three full valleys — Alagna, Gressoney, and Champoluc — linked by efficient modern lifts.Here’s what makes each special:- Alagna Valsesia: Rustic charm and legendary freeride routes, including access to Punta Indren at 3,275m. No neon lights, no fast food — just real mountains.
- Gressoney: The central hub. Great snow reliability, long, flowing red runs, and the perfect base for exploring in both directions.
- Champoluc: The most developed and sociable of the trio, with a relaxed après-ski scene, elegant hotels, and beautiful woodland runs.
This is a ski area where you can carve perfect pistes in the morning, explore hidden descents in the afternoon, and still be sipping espresso in a wooden rifugio by 3pm.Italian Soul, Alpine Heart
Unlike many big ski areas, Monterosa has kept its Italian heart intact. Prices are reasonable, food is exceptional, and service feels personal. Expect to pay a fraction of what you would in France or Switzerland.Lunch might be homemade pasta with wild mushrooms and a glass of Nebbiolo, eaten while gazing at Monte Rosa’s ice cliffs. Dinner might be a quiet trattoria in Alagna, where the owner knows every guest by name.This is skiing without the gloss — but full of quiet and classic style.Why It’s Worth the Effort
Alagna and Alpe di Mera take a little more effort to reach — about 1.5-2 hours from Milan or Turin — but that’s exactly why they’ve stayed special. You won’t find mass-market tour groups here. You’ll find space, character, and a sense of discovery.Come here if you:- Crave empty pistes and endless views.
- Value authentic Italian mountain life.
- Want real skiing, not resort hype.
- Prefer connection over crowding.
It’s the kind of place that stays with you — where the mountains feel bigger, the silence feels deeper, and every turn feels earned.Where to Stay
Through Chalets Direct, you can find the beautiful, independently-run chalet Ponte della Valle, managed and owned by husband-and-wife team Dean and Grainne.
This stunning and unique chalet is now available for an unforgettable Christmas week at an amazing price of just 6, 392 euros for up to 10 people, fully catered. You can fly to Milan or Turin, and transfers each way are just 35 euros per person. There are also private shuttles to take you to both Alagna and Alpe di Mera, whether you’re chasing first tracks or heading back early for après and hot tub time. More details ….
Ponte Della Valle is only 1.15hr transfer from Milan. Alpe di Mera is just 9 mins or Alagna 25 mins in private car service. The chalet is a unique place to stay, originally an 18th century water mill, it is now a beautifully renovated space with amazing views. It sleeps 8/10 and is fully catered with a professional chef.Dean and Grainne can tell you which runs catch the best light, which rifugio serves the best polenta, and their cuisine is exceptional. They will tell you all you need to know to make the most of your Monte Rosa adventure.In a Few Words
If you love skiing for its feeling of freedom, flow, and connection with nature, the Monte Rosa region — and Alpe di Mera in particular — is a place you’ll never forget.It’s not about being seen. It’s about seeing clearly again. -
La Plagne high altitude skiing – exciting developments for the future!
What’s new in La Plagne for 2023-24?
There is huge change happening this year for La Plagne’s high altitude skiing, and we are very excited to see the first phase of that coming to fruition writes Johanna at Ice and Fire .
Live3000 is an ambitious 26 million euro development project between Plagne Bellecote and the La Plagne glacier which aims to improve access to the 3000m high altitude skiing in La Plagne.
Opening for the 2023-24 winter season, will be the new 10-seater Glaciers cable car. Starting from the Roche de Mio, the new cable car will climb to a mid-station at the Col de la Chiaupe and a summit at an altitude of 3000 metres, offering a panoramic view over the Vanoise glaciers. La Plagne is just one of a handful of resorts in the area with altitudes up to 3000m so making this area more accessible is an important strategic decision for the resort.
Work has already advanced well with the lift stations and pylons in place. The cabling has been added recently, and we hope that we’ll see them working within a few weeks. The cable car will be open to visitors from early December.
The new glacier cable car will provide faster, more reliable access to the glacier with a much larger visitor capacity. For 2023-24 the pistes surrounding the glacier will have been redesigned to maximise the usable space and improve the visitor experience. Non skiers haven’t been forgotten and it will be possible to use the cable car to access a 3000m experience on foot. La Plagne intend to use this facility to educate children, families and students about the mountains, glaciers and the global warming which is affecting them.
Tempted to go and try it? Ice and Fire offer catered chalet holidays in the La Plagne ski area.
Télécabine des Glaciers – Déc 2023 from Compagnie des Alpes on Vimeo.
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The Three Valleys and its Three Snowparks
Based full time in the Three Valleys for over 20 years, Clare from Ski Magic has brought up her two children here, with winters spent exploring this huge ski area (and of course that means plenty of time hanging around the various snowparks and fun areas!)
Here’s her guide for anyone planning a ski holiday with older children, teens or people whose idea of fun is flying off jumps or sliding along rails.
Where are the best Three Valleys’ snowparks?
There are several snowparks across the Three Valleys which are dedicated to freestyle fun. Each has its own ‘personality’ and style, and each one has an area for beginners, intermediates and experts so you can gain experience and confidence just like on the pistes.
The actual elements (the jumps/things to do) in each snowpark changes during the season, depending on the amount snow and the creative inspiration of the team that builds them, so you can’t guarantee there will be the same things each year, but usually the snowparks are located in the same places which are shown on the Three Valleys piste map.
Not sure what some of the freestyle terms mean? Scroll down for our lingo explainer!
Here’s our guide on where to get your kicks in the 3 Valleys for freestyle.
Courchevel Family Park
From the name “Family Park” you’d think this was a bit tame, but actually a lot of local freestylers come here instead of heading to Meribel. Stronger beginners and intermediates will definitely enjoy the boardercross (to the right as you go through the entrance), with its rollers and hairpin turns. Go one at a time, or race between two (any more than that and it’s a bit crowded!)
At the Family Park you’ll also find kickers rated S, M, L and XL, and often within these graded routes are rails and boxes.
The site itself is not enormous but actually that makes it easy to do a few quicker laps using the drag lifts Sources/Rocher de l’Ombre, or Biollay chairlift.
There are also two Big Air Bags alongside the Family Park – one is for skiers/boarders, and there’s also one for sliding down whilst sat in a tractor inner tube style ring. There are a few picnic benches at the bottom so you can watch the jumpers or have a snack.
How to get to Courchevel Family Park: Located in Courchevel 1850. Take the Verdons gondola lift or the Sources/Rocher de l’Ombre drag lifts. It runs parallel to the blue Verdons piste so anyone that wants to avoid the snowpark can do that and meet up again at the bottom.
Laps: Sources/Rocher de l’Ombre drag lifts.Meribel Snowpark
Meribel’s Open Park is much bigger than Courchevel Family Park, and has loads of different features for all levels with some really challenging elements. The route starts with a half pipe, then there are kickers, boxes and rails in Small, Medium and Large, with a quarter pipe lower down. You’ll also find a ski cross run to the left. The ‘Experts’ zone has the biggest XL jumps, which are for ‘experts only’ as the signs say.
How to get to Meribel Snowpark: At the top of the Plattières bubble.
Laps: on the chairlift Chatelet.Val Thorens Snowpark
The original Three Valleys snowpark is in Val Thorens, and it’s still a good one! There are several elements and features for different levels: a boardercross, three freestyle zones depending on how big you want to go, plus rails, boxes and a half pipe.
You’ll also find an airbag next to the Le Roc drag lift at the Rond Point des Pistes and is open in the afternoons.
How to get there: Via the Moutière chairlift.
Laps: on the Plateaux drag lift.What are the fun areas for younger children in the Three Valleys?
The Three Valleys is well set up for smaller children too. There’s the Elements Fun Park at the top of the Legends chairlift from Meribel Chaudanne, as well as Inuits and Yeti zones. Courchevel’s Family Park has a boardercross which is nice for kids who aren’t yet ready to fly off the the jumps but want the sensation of flying!
In Meribel there’s also the Piste des Animaux with info points and sculptures of the local animals, like eagles, marmottes and wolves.
How to stay safe in the Three Valleys snowparks:
- Start small, and try out the S jumps to get a feel for it, especially if it’s your first time, or your first day back on skis/a snowboard.
- Once you’re ready to try the M kickers, wait at the top to watch others hit them first, so you can get an idea of the speed needed to clear the jump – the last thing you want to do is go too slow and end up landing too short.
- In general, snowparks are busier after lunchtime once the snow has become softer and nicer to land on. If it’s busy, you know conditions are ideal!
Freestyle ski and snowboard lingo explainer:
Features/Elements: The fun parts of the snowpark, ie. the jumps, rails etc.
Kicker: a jump
Rail: looks like a handrail, made of metal. For sliding sideways on.
Box: A long metal/plastic ‘box’ with a flat top. Slide either forwards, backwards or sideways.
Boardercross/Ski Cross: a route with ‘rollers’ – little hills – to go up and down. You can ski or snowboard on it.
Air bag: A huge inflatable cushion – slide down the kicker and fly into the air, then land safely on the bag.
Park rat: Someone who hangs out at the snowpark a lot.
Switch: Skiing or snowboarding backwards
Flip: back flips or front flips can be done on the largest kickers.
180 or ‘one eighty’: A spin to face the opposite direction, ie. if you’re skiing forwards and do a 180 jump, you’ll land in switch (backwards!)
360/720 etc.: If you do a 360, you spin all the way round, 360 degrees. The numbers go up, the further you spin, ie. 540, 1080…. It’s usually said ‘three sixty’ etc. rather than ‘three hundred and sixty’!
Grab: Whilst in the air, grab different parts of your skis or snowboard and hold for a couple of seconds until you start to descend back to the snow.
Send/sendy: if it’s a big or sendy jump, you need to send it, to make the landing.
Butter: putting all your weight onto the tip or tail of your skis or snowboard to slide and spin.
Stack: If you don’t land a jump, you’ve ‘stacked it’!
Steezy: Looking good (think style + ease)
Gnarly: A person or a jump can be gnarly. Basically means terrifying!
Thanks to Clare for all the valuable tip and insights! Ski Magic have catered and self-catered chalets in Courchevel, La Tania and Meribel. With tons of experience and expertise they have been offering amazing ski holidays in the Three Valleys for over 20 years! Check out their chalets here!
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Ski Life Stories: The Free Range Chalet, Bagneres de Luchon, French Pyrenees
This week's Ski Life Story takes us from the Alps to the Pyrenees. Geoff and Victoria's journey took them from the UK to the Alps and then to Bagneres de Luchon in the French Pyrenees, where they now call home!
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, far away we were both practising civil engineers. We have always been big lovers of the outdoors and our particular passion was skiing. For many years we considered working a ski season, but it wasn't until the summer of 2010, when Victoria was made redundant, that we felt we finally had the opportunity to work "just one" ski season before "returning to real life". That was over 10 years ago and we're still here!
We both had connections in Morzine, so that was where we started our search for jobs as chalet hosts. It was only after we'd accepted jobs that we realised quite how big Morzine is! Luckily after a dozen or so interviews we were offered positions hosting a chalet alongside a professional chef. We were amongst the oldest chalet hosts in the town (we were in our early 30's in 2011), but loved the experience to the fullest. From a work perspective we learnt an awful lot about standards, food and professionalism in that exhausting season.It turns out that we'd loved it so much, that when we were offered a 2nd season with the same company we jumped at the chance. This time around we did all of the food prep, cooking and serving alongside the other chalet duties and we had a floating 3rd pair of hands to help out. It was part way through this 2nd season when we started to think that we'd quite like to do this for ourselves, and having more responsibility opened our eyes to the amount of spare time we'd have to focus on the admin in the background.
The next summer, we were offered roles hosting a chalet for a walking & hiking company in the Pyrenees. This was our first experience of the French Pyrenees, although we'd both been to Andorra regularly. We were immediately struck by the differences between the two mountain ranges, and slowly began to realise that if we were going to start our own business it would be here in the Pyrenees.
Fast forward 2 years, via a winter in the Pyrenees (one of the best ski seasons we've ever had), and another year in Samoens, and we'd bought our Villa in Bagneres de Luchon. A whole 12 months of renovation followed.We employed a builder, a plumber and an electrician to handle the major stuff, but we tackled everything else ourselves. This was a complete change to our chalet host lifestyle. We only really took off the decorating clothes on a Friday evening to visit a local bar for a couple of beers and a takeaway pizza. We opened The Free Range Chalet in December 2015.
We love our vocations (it's not a job, it's a lifestyle choice!) and seeing our guests have the very best time. Holidays are precious and we will do everything we can to make sure that you have a hassle and stress free break with The Free Range Chalet. We are your hosts, chefs, chauffeurs and much more (or less if you prefer) during your stay and we look forward to welcoming you into our home.
The highlights of the last 6 years are simply all of the guests we meet and introduce to the lesser known Pyrenees Mountains. We've met some truly wonderful friends along the way. But the lowlight has to be our trusty old minibus dying on the very first Saturday of the February Half-Term 3 years ago with the entire weekly shopping in the back. Our proudest moment has to be winning a Small Business award from Theo Paphitis (which led to us meeting him) back in the summer of 2018.
I'm not sure there's a great deal we'd change along the way. We're lucky to have found something we love to do together and we're conscious that we're the only people who can make decisions for the business – so once we're committed you have to stick with it whether it turns out to be the best decision or not.We decided early on that we wanted to do this for ourselves, and set about learning the trade, realising that not only could we learn from the things that were done really well, but crucially, that we could avoid things that make guests feel uncomfortable or frustrated."
Villa Gracieuse is the beautiful Free Range Chalet, located in the spa town of Bagneres de Luchon and surrounded by dramatic peaks. It's a fabulous base for exploring the Pyrenees in both winter and summer! Check it out on Chalets Direct!
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Ski Life Stories: Ascensus Ski, Les Carroz, Grand Massif
Eight years ago, Richard and Xavier decided that enough was enough – rather than dream of a life in the mountains they were going to make it happen. This is their story!
Ascensus Ski, Les Carroz, Grand Massif
When I first met my French partner Xavier he told me that he was a keen skier and loved being in the snowy mountains! So, when in 2004 after a hard day at the office he told me that he had found us a great French resort, with skiing suitable for all abilities, a real mountain village and with a reliable snow history, I was eager but apprehensive as I had never skied before and don’t have a head for heights!The village Xavier had chosen was Les Carroz, a village in the Grand Massif ski domain, with Geneva airport just 55 minutes away. We LOVED Les Carroz and could never tire of the many differing pistes and the stunning scenery with views of Mont Blanc. We also enjoyed the traditional mountain feel of the village, the hospitality and family friendly atmosphere of the bars and restaurants.
We loved it so much, we came back every year to Les Carroz for our annual end of January ski week and some years we even came back in March to ski and enjoy long weekends here!! We have stayed in self catering apartments; ski hotels; catered chalets owned by large tour operators, but we much preferred owner run catered chalets. Why?The owners had real pride in their accommodation; cooked excellent food and went that extra mile in terms of service.
In January 2012 at the end of yet another fantastic ski week with our ‘ski posse’ on the minibus transfer back to Geneva, Xavier said that was it, it was now or never, that when we get back to the UK, rather than the normal two weeks of feeling the blues from missing our ski adventures, we would put plans in place to quit our hectic London lives and our stressful City careers!!
In January 2013, having quit our jobs, sold our home and most of our belongings, we said our temporary goodbyes to friends and family. We drove in our small Peugeot, filled to the roof with what we thought we would need, plus our two Cairn terriers and our cat, Mitzi!! You guessed it, we had decided to see what opportunities we could find in Les Carroz – we wanted to Work to Live not Live to Work!
We began searching for what we thought would make the ideal chalet but nothing met our exacting criteria. So always having one eye open on the local property market, and with no experience of running a catered chalet we decided to rent a property and learn the role hands on. 3 years later our ‘Dream Property’ which we had already visited two times already was still for sale and we decided that we just had to have it – it felt like it had been waiting for us! A stunning renovated mountain farmhouse dating from 1877 with spacious accommodation next to a stream, just 2 minutes from the telecabine and village centre, that could welcome 16 people! So Chalet Ascensus was born!!Winter 2021/22 will be our 10thYear! We welcome guests, mostly in winter, but also throughout the year as there are so many mountain activities to enjoy (not only skiing) from walking to mountain biking and visiting the beautiful nearby towns of Annecy and Geneva or even Italy!
A couple of winters past, after a busy Saturday changeover day, we had a chalet full of guests, one group of returning guests and two smaller groups of new guests. When, due to a heavy storm the entire electricity supply to the southern half of our village went out, including us!! We were just about to start putting dinner in the ovens and were serving guests welcoming drinks and canapes. In stunned disbelief but with our ‘game face on’, we asked the guests if they would prefer us to drive them to a nearby village for a hot dinner but after getting out loads of tealights, candles and torches. The various groups of guests were getting on so well that they said they would actually prefer to stay and eat a cold dinner – whatever we could provide in the comfort of the chalet and with the warmth of the open log fire. Needless to say, Xavier and I had lots of handwashing up to do later that night and the electricity was off for a total of 13 hours!! These Guests still return each year!
The best things we have found about running a chalet is making friends with new guests and their families and the personal satisfaction you feel in providing an excellent chalet experience. We also have immense pride in that we have several groups who return to stay with us year after year, who like us adore the Grand Massif and the comforts of Chalet Ascensus and the warm hospitality that Xavier and I provide. We have featured in numerous ski blogs and even the Telegraph on line!!Check out Chalet Ascensus on Chalets Direct!
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Ski Life Stories: Alpine365, La Plagne, France
Continuing with our Ski life Stories series, which brings you the faces behind the places. Get to know the people who decided to risk it all and head for the mountains! This week we're in the Paradiski region of France, home to Alpine 365, the dream of Duncan and Toorna Salmon. Back in 2007, Toorna was an absolute beginner and had never skied! Fast forward fourteen years, with two daughters born and bred in the Savoie, the mountains are definitely the family home.
Duncan & Toorna Salmon, Alpine365
When I first had a conversation with my boyfriend, Duncan about ‘our dream jobs,’ little did I know that in 2 years’ time, we’d be married, giving up our marketing and advertising jobs in the UK and running a ski chalet in La Plagne! Although Duncan had skied since he was 8 and absolutely loved it, I’d never even been on a winter holiday in the mountains, let alone skied. My (Indian) mum was bewildered as to why anyone would want to go on holiday somewhere so cold! But I had always wanted to live in a different country, run my own business such as a B&B, and what better, than combining two passions and running a ski chalet?We went on a chalet holiday in Les Arcs in 2007 to check that I enjoyed skiing in the first place! Luckily for us (and our relationship!), I fell in love with it – the skiing, the mountains, the views and the lifestyle. On the last day of the holiday, Duncan proposed on the Grizzli chairlift in Vallandry (thankfully not with the real ring!) and Alpine365 soon became a reality.
Montchavin and Les Coches in La Plagne are wonderful resorts – beautiful tree-lined skiing, really friendly, family-oriented and simply the best place to be located to ski both La Plagne and Les Arcs.
We were delighted when we found our first chalet in Les Coches, and after a hectic 6 months where we got married; spent our honeymoon on a ‘gourmet cooking course for chalets’ in glamorous Milton Keynes and set up a website and business in France, we finally moved to France in 2008.The first year was tough – the financial crisis of 2008 hit, destroying the sterling-euro rate. Neither of us came from a cheffing background but we wanted to have first-hand experience in running the chalet ourselves. We were keen to serve the nicest food we possibly could, so we spent a lot of time stuck in the kitchen! In between guests, we were trying desperately to get bookings (many hours spent on Chalets Direct Solution Room!), our French was rudimentary – and of course, we didn’t get that much time on the slopes.
We quickly made the decision to get out of the kitchen ourselves and employ professional chefs with restaurant experience to look after our guests, and over the years we’ve had the pleasure of working with chefs that have worked under Michelin starred chefs or in prestigious hotels – one of them was even on Masterchef the Professionals!
13 years later, we live all year round in nearby Bourg St Maurice, with our 2 daughters, Tia and Lyra, both born and bred in France – true Savoyards! We have 6 chalets in Montchavin Les Coches and we have purposefully kept the number of chalets manageable so that Duncan and I can still pop in and visit our guests during the week, some of whom have been staying with us since we first started.
Covid has obviously been disastrous for the ski industry but bookings for next season are looking extremely promising. We’ll be ready to welcome guests again as soon as we can!
Keen to find out more? Check out Alpine 365 here!
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Five reasons to make Courchevel Le Praz your next ski holiday destination
Clare from Ski Magic gives us the lowdown on her home and favourite place to be!
Courchevel Le Praz has a loyal fan-base of snowboarders and skiers who love the chic French vibe and the picturesque forested slopes as well as the easy access to the enormous Three Valleys ski area. Here are 5 reasons to make it the next choice for your ski holiday…
- Two high-speed lifts: The brand new Alpinium building (opened in December 2019) houses a speedy new gondola which whizzes up to Courchevel 1850 in just 5 minutes 50 seconds. The covered Foret chairlift, installed in 2014, takes you to the Bouc Blanc above La Tania from where you can head over to Meribel in just one more chairlift.
With Courchevel Le Praz as your base you’re at a great starting place to access the Three Valleys ski area:1 lift – Le Praz bubble = you arrive in Courchevel 1850
2 lifts – Foret and Dou des Lanches chairs = ski straight down into Meribel. - Pretty forest setting: The tree-lined runs of Le Praz are an ideal place to play in snowy weather, the trees allowing greater visibility than higher up on more exposed pistes. Being amongst the trees is also great for secret powder stashes which don’t get tracked out so quickly as more popular haunts. (Shhh, don’t tell everyone!) The chalets and village are on a plateau beneath the slopes and have incredible views across to the other side of the valley and the mountains of the Vanoise National Park.
- A real French village: With strictly low-rise chalets and apartments, you really feel as though you’re part of an authentic French ski resort when you stay here – Le Praz is very popular with French skiers who have holiday homes in the village and very few British skiers have cottoned on to this charming mountain village resort, despite the towering ski jumps which were built for the 1992 Albertville Olympics and are Le Praz’s famous landmark. You can often spot daredevils training on the jumps from the Murettes piste.
- So many restaurants! With atmospheric vaulted wine bars, posh Michelin star dining, burgers and chic hotel restaurants, you’re spoilt for choice on chalet night off. Meander the winding streets and your tummy will be rumbling as you read the restaurant menus… Prices are often more reasonable for a lunchtime menu than the mountain restaurants, so it’s possible to try out several during the week! For après-ski, try a vin chaud or two in the sunshine outside the Table de Mon Grand-Père (Ski Magic’s director claims it to be the best in Courchevel!) or dance to one of the live bands in L’Elephant.
- A new perspective on a ski holiday: Take a couple of hours away from the pistes and try something new. How about:
– Cross Country (Nordic) skiing– there’s a lovely track winding through the peaceful forest and you can hire equipment from the local ski shop. Start from the track opposite the bottom of the ski jumps and enjoy a peaceful couple of hours discovering this graceful sport, seeing the scenic village and surrounding mountains from a viewpoint that not many visitors experience!
– Ski touring – why use the lifts when you could walk up the mountain?! If you enjoy a challenge then this is the sport for you – the ‘ski de randonnee‘ track takes you into 1850 or even higher if you’re still feeling energetic… You’ll need special equipment including ‘skins’ for the bottom of your skis, which can be hired locally. If you’re in training for a summer event then this could help you keep your fitness levels up during your holiday!
– Tandem paragliding– You’ll be blown away by the bird’s eye view of the Courchevel ski area – the white peaks go on for miles and miles… Landing in Le Praz you’ll also be just a moment away from the Table de Mon Grand-Père terrace!
All in all, Courchevel Le Praz is a fantastic way to experience the enormous ski area of the Three Valleys, with plenty of activities, lovely walking trails for non-skiers, a friendly village atmosphere and scenic views…
At Ski Magic there are two Courchevel Le Praz chalets to choose from, both in our flagship range which include swimming pools which make them perfect for 3G family ski trips. What's more Le Loup Blanc still has some availability for March – so why not try a luxury spring ski holiday in this amazing resort!
Le Loup Blanc with private swimming pool in Courchevel Le Praz.
- Two high-speed lifts: The brand new Alpinium building (opened in December 2019) houses a speedy new gondola which whizzes up to Courchevel 1850 in just 5 minutes 50 seconds. The covered Foret chairlift, installed in 2014, takes you to the Bouc Blanc above La Tania from where you can head over to Meribel in just one more chairlift.
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New comedy festival launches in Les Gets this January!
20-24 January, 2020 – Let's Get Comedie in Les Gets
There's a new comedy festival in Les Gets this year which promises to deliver in both French and English, mixing and matching both languages within each event. It's the "Frenglish Festival du Rire"!
Let’s Get Comédie takes place over 4 days with shows that include improvisation, stand up, mime and musical comedy. Venues include the Salle de La Colombier in the resort centre and also The Marmotte Hotel and are split into après ski and evening sessions. Doors and a fully serviced bar will open from 8pm with shows starting at 9pm. Other shows will add to the festival vibe from après-ski right through to the wee small hours in local bars, restaurants and hotels.
Award winning international comics
Headlining acts include Paris based comic and TV funny man Paul Taylor, BBCR4 regular and Live at the Apollo headliner Marcus Brigstocke, Mash Reports Rachel Parris and French musical comedian Redouanne Harjane.
They will be joined on stage by mime sensation Men In Coats, well known improvisers Andy Smart and Ian Coppinger, Sing-a-long virtuoso Kirsty Newton, Stand-Up headliners Phil Darwin, Tom Wriggesworth, Nick Doody and Ian Moore.
There will also be daily après ski music featuring Hobo Chic, The Blakanic Project, Squid Lips and Les Lunettes.
The festival is organised by Les Gets Tourisme and Piste Productions (Taking The Piste Comedy, Piste Bash, Altitude Festival).
Accommodation and festival pass ticket packages are available through the official partner, Chalets 1066.
Full Line-Up and Prices
Ticket price for all shows (limited to the first 100 purchases), €50.00
APRÈS-SKI Session- Marcus Brigstocke – Tuesday January 21 – 18h, €10.00
HEADLINE ACTS- Rachel Parris – Monday January 20 – 21h, €25.00
- Marcus Brigstocke & Rachel Parris – Tuesday January 21 – 21h, €25.00
- Paul Taylor & Marcus Brigstocke – Wednesday January 22 – 21h, €25.00
- Paul Taylor – Thursday January 23 – 21h, €25.00
- Redouanne Harjane – Friday January 24 – 21h, €25.00
LATE AND LIVE STAND UP- Phil Darwin – Tuesday January 21 – 21h, €10.00
- Ian Moore – Thursday January 23 – 21h, €10.00
For tickets and more details letsgetcomedie.com
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Courchevel – New Developments for winter 2019
There's a lot going on this summer in Courchevel which should make it easier for skiers and snowboarders to get around and improve access to the ski area. The mairie is putting a huge investment into these developments and it sounds exciting!
Claire from Ski Magic has all the lowdown.
New for Courchevel Le Praz: The Alpinium
If you visited Courchevel in Winter 2018-2019 you can’t have failed to notice something was happening in Le Praz, as building work was already underway for the new ‘Alpinium’ lift station building.
Since the end of the season, the old ‘Praz’ gondola has been removed, as well as the whole building housing it, including the lift pass office and toilets.
The Alpinium will be opening in December 2019 and will be a smart new building very close to the previous building. It will be home to the new gondola, lift pass office, ski lockers, toilets and a children’s indoor play area.
The new gondola will transport 10 skiers per bubble and will take under 6 minutes to travel from Le Praz to Courchevel 1850. It will arrive in a much improved location – just over the road from La Croisette building in the centre of Courchevel 1850, which will make it much easier for beginners and children to access ski school meeting points and the beginner slopes using Jardin Alpin.
The opening hours of the bubble will be longer than the slopes are open for, meaning that you can either head up extra early to be first on the mountain, as well as meaning that you could stay up in 1850 for a drink after skiing and whizz down on the bubble afterwards.
The aim of the new lift is to try and reduce the number of vehicles on the one and only road up to Courchevel 1850 (estimated at a whopping 7,500 per day!)
The new building has been designed by the architects to fit subtly into its mountain setting. The roof of the building will have a football/rugby pitch in summer, and in winter 2023 for the World Championships, it will be the finish line for the men’s downhill run!
The investment for the project is 26 million euros. Check out the plans here:
La Tania’s brand new green run
A new green run is under construction for La Tania, which will help beginners return to La Tania more easily. The current green Plan Fontaine is on the challenging side, the local council having acknowledged that the crossing sections (with the red Moretta Blanche and blue Folyères runs) are potentially dangerous. This new green run is completely separate and runs the other side of Folyères through the trees at a less steep incline than Plan Fontaine.
The new piste is part of a larger plan to develop the bottom of the slopes in La Tania. According to the Mairie website, there will also be a new area with two ‘magic carpets’ for beginners as well as a pedestrian tunnel underneath Folyères. There will also be public toilets installed as well as lights and a sound system for events during half term and new year.
La Tania’s cinema is also to be refurbished and reopened.
Project cost: 760k €
Cycling: Courchevel’s brand new traffic-free route
If you’re into road biking then you might be interested to know that a new tarmac road has been opened which links Courchevel with Meribel and creates a brand new ‘col’. Starting at the Courchevel Altiport, it is 7km long with the final 5.8km restricted only to cyclists. The average incline is 7% and the Col de la Loze is at 2304m.
The col was cleared of snow and opened to the first cyclists (who started from the bottom of the mountain at 900m!) on May 12th. Locals who were crazy enough to be among the very first up this new route said it was very cold indeed but appreciated the soup and BBQ!
Thanks to Ski Magic for the great info. They have a range of beautiful chalets in Courchevel so why not check them out!
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La Folie Douce comes to Avoriaz! Opening party 15th December!
Everyone in Chatel and the whole Portes du Soleil is super excited about the opening of the La Folie Douce Avoriaz this winter, with the opening party on 15 December bound to go off with a bang and set the tone for the rest of the season.With great live acts and DJs planned, all La Folie Douce Avoriaz needs to get the party started is for the skiers of the Portes du Soleil to get their dancing shoes on everyday from 2pm.
If you haven't yet experienced La Folie Douce, it really is something special! With locations in Val d'Isere, Meribel, Megeve and more, the Folie Douce experience takes apres-ski to a whole new level. It's all about live music, DJ's, dancers, great food and fun – all in one exciting venue with amazing views.
What to do to after La Folie Douce – Apres-Ski in Chatel
Juliet of Snow Situations has compiled this handy guide for the best apres venues in Chatel.
If you want to continue partying when you are safely off the mountain, Chatel has something for everyone when it comes to Apres Ski. A lively but not rowdy town with a great live music scene. Here is our round up of the best bars:Best For:
Cocktails and DJs: Nazca: A great sun terrace and fabulous selection of cocktails this is a bar providing a fun and chilled vibe with live music early evening from Saxaphone to reggae; post dinner this becomes the place to see and be seen attracting some of the best DJs in the area.Happy hours and happy people – Bar l’Avalanche: With happy hour starting at 4.30, this is a hub for post ski beers with everyone in great spirits discussing the day's adventures. A real pub in the alps, it is a gem of a place which is also great for those big rugby and football games.
Late lunch and real Ale – A good location to stop off before making your way back from La Chapelle d’Abondance (the bus takes 10 minutes if you have too many real ales to ski back!) if you are into beer and ale with a fantastic micro brewery and huge, tasty, good value bar snacks.
Live Music and Open Fires – Chevy Bar: With a beautiful central open fire and comfortable sofas, this is a great place to end the day when the weather is closing in or you have had an epic day and want a relaxed vibe with acoustic tunes and great service.
Rum – Bar L’Isba: Yes, that’s right – Chatel even has a rum bar!
Pub games – Le Chaudron: Great for teenagers as well as those adults who can’t resist, this place has bowling, table football, pool and live sports. Also serving a good selection of beers and pizza.
Clubbing –Sloopys: The best nightclub by default as it is the only one. With the great DJs at Nazca and Avalanche, you will probably be ready for bed by 3am if you don’t want to miss fresh tracks in the morning but if you really can’t resist the opportunity to experience a nightclub in the French Alps (which is quite an experience!) – Sloopy’s is the place taking us back to the days where techno met cheesy 80s pop.
EVERYTHING – The Exclusive Chalet Chatel by Snow Situations: With the best service in Chatel, in house bar, excellent sound system, an extensive wine list, private hot tub, balconies with panoramic views and sunbeds, quality musical instruments, TV room with all sports, large lounge with comfy sofas and armchairs, reading area and board games by the open fire – Why go out at all?One of the largest ski areas in France, the Portes du Soleil is a great place for your next winter holiday! Check it out!
