Winter holidays have never been so trendy. Despite inflation, the French favor snowy destinations, from the Hautes-Pyrénées, to Isère and Savoie, via the Hautes-Alpes, the Vosges massif and the Massif central. But in the context of global warming where France is seeing the number of snow days inevitably decrease, the time has come for decarbonization at altitude. There is a desire for everyone to consume differently and to seek to recharge their batteries while better respecting nature. As if at the top of the peaks its fragility was felt more. Hence multiple activities for everyone: hiking on snowshoes, hurtling down the slopes of the most beautiful ski areas, looking at the stars, meditating in the middle of nowhere, immersing yourself in cold water, exploring wild landscapes and rich wildlife, climbing an ice waterfall, relaxing in a Spa, sleeping in a treehouse, an igloo or even a cave, etc. A short tour of France’s ski resorts based on your expectations.
– Culture. From Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the funicular climbs Arch 1600 in the center of the Paradiski area linked to La Plagne (425 kilometers of slopes, 6-day pass, €369). One week won’t be enough to explore everything. But we always find a moment to be introduced by a guide-lecturer to the architectural concept of Arc 1600 and 1800, of which Charlotte Perriand was a major promoter. Visit the places on foot or by night, free. • ‘Friendly hotel’ La Cachette 4*, from €254.50/night/2 people. in March. lesarcs.com
– Met. Meet at Gets, resort with great charm, with a beautiful ski area which opens onto the 600 km of Portes du Soleil slopes (6-day package, from €275). • The Ski Gathering company, in partnership with Montagne&Tradition, offers Les Suites de l’Alpe for stays intended for solos. The idea: to share a vacation in the same place with other solo travelers, while maintaining your freedom. Open to all open minds. theskigathering.com
– Astronomy. An inexhaustible source of wonder, the site of the observatory Midi peak (2,872 m) is accessible by cable car from La Mongie. After a few steps on the pontoon in the void, a small interactive museum, a planetarium and an observation dome immerse you in stellar magic. Then, good skiers head off-piste towards the Grand Tourmalet area (+100 kilometers of slopes, 6-day pass, €260; unlimited Pic + Tourmalet pass, €64/day). • New 4* La Voie Lactée hotel, with an eco-responsible approach, from €265/night/2 people. n-py.com/fr/grand-tourmalet And picdumidi.com
– Luxury. The ski area of Valley of Isere, connected to Tignes (300 kilometers of slopes, 6-day pass + 1 free, €396), is among the most varied on the planet, from the long Diebold to the legendary face of Bellevarde. • Here, Club Med has just been renovated to become an “Exclusive Collection”, using an eco-construction approach which has earned it double certification with the BREEAM label. From €3,080/week/2 adults in March. valdisere.com
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– Relaxation. Everest in 4 descents, it’s Alpe-d’Huez Grand Domaine (250 kilometers of slopes), where the slopes of Sarenne, Tunnel, La Fare, evoke the dizziness of skiing. Departing from Pic Blanc (3,330 m), there are 4 ski routes, each with a vertical drop of up to 2,270 m in one go (6-day package, from €248). • The Grandes Rousses 5* hotel & spa has undergone a fundamental eco-responsible transformation. Its spa in the Alps specializes in mountain therapy, plant-based, mineral, cold treatments… From €1,820/7 nights/2 people. alpedhuez.com
– Tribe. 3 floors, a small swimming pool, a sauna, a bar, a billiards table, a garage… Chalet Cerf Che accommodates 12 people over 400 square meters, less than fifteen minutes by shuttle from the ski area of Serre Chevalier (250 kilometers of slopes, 6-day package €315). From €5,500/7 nights. cherche.fr
Initiatives for greener heating
• HAS BresseVosges station Labellemontagne, geothermal heating of the central building (services, restaurant, swimming pool, hotel) will be effective in 2024, or 1 million euros to save 240,000 liters of fuel per year.
• Since 2009, a biomass boiler room has covered the needs of 90% of the services and accommodation of Plagne-Centre.
• HAS Vaujany and to Orcièresthe energy produced by making the ice in the rink heats the pool.
Day stays
– Witness to mountain culture and craftsmanship, livestock farming plays a major role in local life in the resorts. HAS Saint-Jean-d’Arveson the Sybelles estate, you will visit a farmer’s farm, with a tasting of gruff milk (€2/person, free for under-3s, sybelles.ski). While at Comblouxat GAEC Les Montagnards, Delphine introduces you to the daily life of the farm, animal care and cheese making during a participatory workshop.
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