The Ski Blog

Why the mountains are a great summer destination too!

 

The ski season is almost over - there's a few resorts, such as Val d'Isere, which are extending their winter for a little longer due to bumper April snowfall, but the majority have closed or will be closing in the next few days.

But did you know that the mountains are a fantastic summer destination too? Here's just a few reasons why:

1. Amazing scenery: the Alps offer stunning natural beauty with majestic mountain peaks, rolling hills, and crystal-clear lakes. This makes it a great destination for hiking, cycling, and other outdoor activities. Most resorts have dedicated hiking and mountain biking trails. It's incredible how different a resort you know and love in the winter will look when the snow has gone. 

2. Great temperatures: summers are typically mild and sunny, with average temperatures ranging from 15-25°C. This makes it a comfortable climate for outdoor activities such as golf, tennis, climbing, paragliding etc. With the extreme heatwaves that occurred across Europe last year, resorts at altitude provided a welcome respite. It's best to be prepared for the odd rainy day however, as the weather can be more unpredictable than your average beach town. 

3. Lots to do: we've already mentioned hiking, cycling, mountain biking, but there's also swimming, rock climbing, white water rafting, and more. You'll find lots of cultural and historical attractions too, such as museums, castles, and picturesque villages in the local areas - so a car can certainly be a bonus for visiting some of the most beautiful towns dotted around the Alps. Alpine towns and villages also preserve and celebrate local heritage - with charming, picturesque markets and summer festivals.

4. Delicious cuisine: The alpine region is known for its delicious cuisine, which features hearty dishes like cheese fondue, raclette, and schnitzel. The region is also famous for its cheeses, wines, and beers.

5. Relaxation and wellness: with the growth of summer tourism, the mountains are also a great destination for those looking for relaxation and wellness. There are many spas and wellness centres in the region that offer massages, saunas, and other treatments. 

Overall, the Alps offer a great combination of natural beauty, outdoor activities, delicious cuisine, and relaxation, making it a perfect destination for summer holidays. So what are you waiting for? Check out our range of summer holidays here!

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!

Traditional Coq Au Vin - recipe from Bon Appetit

If you're planning an alpine getaway to the Morzine, Les Gets, Samoens area this summer, or next winter, and don't want the hassle of shopping, cooking or always eating out, then there is a great solution available.

Bon Appetit is a gourmet frozen meal service which will deliver superbly-cooked dishes to your door, so all you have to do is heat and eat. You can order online in advance of your holiday or even order when you're in resort for next day delivery. The menu is broad and mouthwatering, with dishes ranging from traditional Tartiflette to Thai Green Curry.  

Bon Appetit is the brainchild of Martin Clare, a professional chef from London who has always had a love for the mountains. Now based in the Northern French Alps, Martin can combine his two loves of skiing and creating wonderful food. 

Martin has shared with us here the recipe for one of his favourite dishes - a traditional Coq au Vin with a twist. As the British summer is on hold for a few days, why not give it a try! 

Coq au Vin

• 1 bottle of Burgundy or pinot noir,
• 6 chicken legs in two,
• 1 small leek in rounds,
• 2 sticks of celery in sticks,
• 2 carrots in thick long slices,
• 3 springs of thyme,
• 3 bay leaves

Marinate all the above overnight in a saucepan.

Remove legs from liquor and lightly sauté in butter till golden brown, pop back into the pan with 350ml chicken stock, 1 pinch of pepper and a good pinch of salt.

Take the saucepan to the heat, bring to a simmer and let it tick over for about 45 mins.

You will now have time to sauté 250g sliced button mushrooms, 24ish baby white pearl onions, 200g lardons.

When the leg meat is nearly falling from the bone, remove from liquor and set aside.

Lightly thicken with 30g of cornflour. 

Chefs tip: add 2 beef OXO cubes, a dash of balsamic vinegar and 30g good very dark chocolate, this will cut the acidity and give it richness and depth of flavour.

Add back the chicken, mushrooms, onions and lardons. Bring back to the heat for 5 mins, finish with roughly chopped parsley and serve from the pot. Serve with mash or dauphinoise and green beans, Dijon on the side. Bon Appetit!

Click through for more information about Bon Appetit where you will see full details of their menu and how to order.

 

 

 

 

 

Try a Summer Yoga and Reiki Retreat in the Alps

 

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Feel like you need to press the pause button? Look no further! Icebreaker chalets is working in collaboration with Yoga in Nature to offer 5 transformational summer Yoga, Sound and Reiki Retreats in their flagship alpine accommodation which sits at an altitude of 1250 metres in beautiful Les Coches, part of the magnificent Paradiski valley surrounded by mountains, forest and stunning views including Mont Blanc in the distance.

Imagine waking up and beginning your day with Meditation and an invigorating Morning Yoga practice amidst breathtaking views before breakfast. Days will be filled with optional activities including taking a chairlift or hiking through the forest to the mountain tops, swimming in a crystal-clear alpine lake, mountain biking, horse riding, white water rafting, visiting a local market or just chilling out at the chalet in the reading room, jacuzzi or heading out for coffee in the sunshine. An optional Lecture will be available on afternoons, and evenings will be spent enjoying a deeply relaxing and rejuvenating Yin Yoga practice before dinner and followed by a Reiki Drumming or Sound Bath before bed.

Unplug from the stresses of everyday life and detach from outside responsibilities to give yourself some well-deserved ‘you time’. You really won’t have to lift a finger as there is also a professional chef who will prepare nutritious and creative vegetarian meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The programmes have been carefully designed to embrace the eight limbs of yoga through meditation, yoga, self-enquiry, yogic philosophy, reiki and sound healing. They will also incorporate aspects of ancient wisdom, Chinese medicine, the Chakra system, Reiki and Sound to nurture, heal and enhance your experience and yogic journey leaving you feeling fully refreshed, deeply relaxed and rejuvenated. The aim of each retreat is to offer you an unforgettable experience, and the information and tools that you can take back home to enrich your life.

Click below links for detailed information about each yoga retreat

http://yogainnature.co.uk/advanceyourashtanga/

http://yogainnature.co.uk/theartofbalance/

http://yogainnature.co.uk/unplugandrecharge/

http://yogainnature.co.uk/fullmoonandflow/

http://yogainnature.co.uk/chakra-awakening/

.... and take a look at Icebreaker Chalets too!

 

 

Verbier and the Swiss 4 Valleys - an Infinite Playground for summer and ski holidays!

Summer Holidays in Verbier with the VIP pass

Verbier has kicked off its summer season and has launched the excellent VIP pass for all summer holidaymakers!

The VIP - "Verbier Infinite Playground" - pass gives you free entry or great discounts on the top attractions that the Swiss 4 Valleys has to offer. For example mountain bikers get 50% off  mountain lifts  and for hikers all mountain lifts in the Verbier - Savoleyres - La Tzoumaz area are free - including the ascent up to Mont-Fort!

There's also a lot of other advantages to having the VIP pass. You also get free entry to the lovely outdoor swimming pool, the local postal bus network is free, and many of the attractions or activities are either free or have 50% off! What's more the pass itself is free - you can either get it from your accommodation supplier or from the Tourist Office itself. 

Alpenchalets can offer you some beautiful holiday chalets in La Tzoumaz, a cosy, family-friendly village in the 4 Valleys area - see the charming Chalet Michelle as an example. La Tzoumaz is situated high above the Rhone Valley amid vast Alpine pastures facing the Bernese Alps. The area is a great destination for both winter and summer. There are the famous mountain peaks, turquoise mountain lakes, flowering meadows and picturesque villages - a perfect spot for all sorts of activities.

Walking
The area of La Tzoumaz has approx. 150 km of marked walking trails. There are easy walks without major differences in altitude along the "Suonen" (historic irrigation channels), e. g. Bisse de Vex.  Take the path from La Tzoumaz up to pass Croix de Coeur (2.174 m) where you have an amazing view over the Rhone Valley and to the 4000 m high peaks of Combins mountains. From Savoleyres continue to Pierre Avoi (2.473 m), a rock high above the valley with stunning views over the mountains to the Mont Blanc area.

Mountainbike
There are 500 km of trails and signposted tours, e.g. the "Tour du Mont Fort“ or the tour from La Tzoumaz to Verbier that is suitable for families. You can take your bike up in the cable car. New bike park in La Tzoumaz.

Other summer activities
Climbing, paragliding high above Verbier, tennis, golf course (in Verbier) and fishing, e.g. at Lacs des Vaux. Thermal spa resorts in Saillons-les-Bains, Ovronnaz and Leukerbad, also offering a wide range of wellness treatments. 

Excursions
La Tzoumaz is situated close to Italy and France and offers a couple of interesting excursions: The Aletsch glacier declared as UNESCO world heritage site; Zermatt with its exceptional view of the Matterhorn; the Mont Blanc-Express train to Chamonix; the historic center of Sion, the capital of the Valais; Lake Geneva; via the Grand St. Bernhard Pass to the Italian Aosta Valley.

Both winter and summer Alpenchalets has some excellent options! Don't forget to check them out!

 

Samoens' Wild West Weekend

As the USA gears up for the big July 4th celebrations this week, thousands of miles away, in the heart of the Haute Savoie, the charming alpine town of Samoens is also getting ready for its annual celebration of Americana. There'll be free Country & Western concerts, you can sign up for line dancing lessons, see the great parade of Harley Davidsons, classic American cars and cowboys, and enjoy special American-style menus in the local restaurants.

Samoens' American Festival is now in its 10th year and it promises 4 days of fun and entertainment, kicking off at 8.30pm on July 5th with a Country Ball. Throughout the weekend there's lots of opportunities to practise your country moves, shop for stetsons and cowboy boots, and see the best French barrel racers in the rodeo area. 

The entertainment is free, if you want to hone your line dancing skills there is fee for lessons but there's lessons for beginners right through to advanced dancers!

If you haven't discovered Samoens in the summer then it is a real gem. Set in the beautiful Giffre Valley and just an hour from Geneva airport, it's a great destination with a lot to offer whatever the season.

Alps Accommodation can provide some excellent places to stay for all kinds of group sizes and you can find the full summer line up of events on their website. They specialise in accommodation in both Samoens and Morillon.

July is a busy month in the French Alps, there's national celebrations for Bastille Day on July 14th, the Tour de France alpine stages will be coming through during the latter part of the month (more details here), and generally lots of festivals, fun and events for the summer months.

We'll keep you posted - and if you have any news of what's going on and want us to shout about it just send us an email!

La Plagne kicks off summer with it's 8th Motor Sportive Day

If you’re a sports car fanatic, you won’t want to miss the 8th Motor Sportive Day in Montchavin and Les Coches, La Plagne on 1st July 2018.

An enormous number of super cars, sports cars and super bikes are driven up to the resort for the day. The road is then closed between Montchavin and Les Coches and punters can pay to be driven between the 2 resorts in a car of their dreams. It’s fast, noisy and there are lots of hairpins. All the big boys will be there – Ferrari, Maclaren, Porsche, Lamborghini, Lotus, KTM and BMW to name a few.

Thanks to Alpine365 for the heads-up - and to see what else they have going on this summer see their summer news page! 

Alpine 365 have 4 great places to stay on Chalets Direct - and the beautiful Chalet Chocolat and Chalet Grizzli are also available for summer stays!

Savoie Porsche Cup in Morzine this weekend!

Fancy a quick break this weekend?

Check out the Savoie Porsche Cup taking place in Morzine from 22nd-24th June. 

This is a rally and car show dedicated to Porsche. Over 400 of these sleek and sexy cars will be gathering in Morzine and around 200 will take part in a mountain rally. Events kick off at 10am on Saturday and there will be various Porsche-related events going on throughout the weekend.

Of course as well as the Porsches you can expect spectacular scenery and a charming and chilled atmosphere!
More Mountain have some wonderful places where you can lay your head in between soaking up the atmosphere - either this weekend, later in the summer or in the winter. Check out their options!

Tour de France 2018 Alpine routes

©ASO/Pauline Ballet

A little under two months sees the Grand Depart for the Tour de France 2018. This year's tour is a little different to previous years, when the early stages have taken place outside France. The 2018 event is all within France and covers all points of the compass from north to south, east to west. 

Kicking off in the Vendee region on 7th July, the tour winds around the country and will arrive in the Alps for the first mountain stages on 17th July. Here the riders will face the gruelling Col de la Colombiere on their journey from lakeside Annecy to Le Grand Bornand.

The following two days sees further punishing climbs as they make their way further south through Savoie and into Isere culminating with the infamous ascent into Alpe d'Huez.

On day 11 - July 18th - the Tour leaves Albertville and heads up to La Rosiere. This is the first time this charming little alpine village has been a stage finish, so there will be lots of celebrations both before and after the tour rolls into town. 

The 11^th stage will set off from Albertville and pass through Beaufort, the Cormet de Roselend and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. The cyclists will then have a steep climb of 20km ahead of them (1,000m ascent) up to the resort. In total, they will pedal 108km, making it a relatively short stage, but one that promises some spectacular action. It is expected to be one of the key stages of this year's tour.

If you haven't yet witnessed the Tour de France up close, it's definitely worth it. The excitement and atmosphere are amazing. The small towns and villages along the routes pull out all the stops to make sure that the day is special. You can't help but be infected by the enthusiasm of the visitors and locals and enjoy the anticipation!

If you'd like to experience the buzz first hand then we have a few options. Chalet Pecchio is a great place to stay for that week. It's a large, beautiful, self-catered chalet which sleeps up to 10 and is a perfect venue for your friends or family holiday. You can book the whole chalet for just €2600 for the week!

Alpine Vista's Chalet Mathilde is also a great option if you want to catch the tour and if you want to ride some of the climbs yourself. Situated in the heart of the Savoie you can start and finish your rides from the front door. They offer catered packages for groups of up to 10 with prices starting from just £275 per person!

Summer Recipes from the Alps

Think of alpine cuisine and you might be forgiven for thinking of hearty, warming dishes involving melted cheese. But summer brings a wealth of local produce and culinary possibilities. Kumari at SkiVillaroger has shared with us two fabulous recipes - ideal for summer wherever you are!

Gooseberry and Creme Fraiche Tart

Gooseberries are in abundance in all our gardens and quite often a forgotten fruit. We picked lots yesterday and here is a great easy tart that's perfect to finish off a Summer BBQ lunch :-

INGREDIENTS

• Shop bought Short Crust Pastry
• 450g gooseberries topped and tailed.
• 100ml Creme Fraiche
• 2 large egg yolks
• 40g caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar.

Heat oven to 190 degrees

Grease a flan dish and line with shop bought short crust pastry. Prick the base and give it an egg wash before blind baking in the oven for 15mins. Remove when turning golden and reduce oven to 180 degrees.

Place gooseberries in flan case.

Mix together creme fraiche, egg yolks , sugar and vinegar.

Pour over the gooseberries and bake in oven for around 40 mins until set.

Let cool for 20 mins before serving.

If you have any remaining gooseberries, throw in a blender to make a compote to serve alongside the tart or for your breakfast yogurt / cereal in a morning.

 

Baked Figs with Goats Cheese

We are lucky enough to be able to obtain locally produced goats cheese here in Villaroger.

We can see the goats in the field and visit the farm where it is made.

We can also choose our maturity ie Fresh, under 1 week old, or Mature or more matured. For this recipe I tend to use a younger goats cheese so as not to take away the taste of the figs.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 ripe figs , put a cross on the top of each to open then up.
• 200g goats cheese
• Olive Oil
• Honey

Heat oven to 180 degrees

Stuff each fig with the goats cheese and season.

Brush with olive oil.

Place in oven for around 10 mins, then pour a little honey on each and cook for another 5 mins.

Serve on a bed of mixed leaves.

Make a dressing of Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar and a little bit of honey, not forgetting the bit of juice left from the tray you baked the figs on.

Pour over and serve immediately.  

Ski Villaroger are Jonny and Kumari and are based in Paradiski ski area. They offer week-long or short break holidays in both winter and summer. The area is their home and has been for several years, so the knowledge and experience you get when you stay with them is 100% first hand!

In winter you can choose to ski locally in the extensive Paradiski area,  or take advantage of the location and ski up to 7 different areas - Ste Foy, Val d'Isere, Tignes and La Rosiere are all close by.

In summer you can enjoy the charm of the local villages and there are many ways to explore the spectacular area - try hiking or road and mountain biking. It's a great base for a motorbike touring holiday too!