Winter Multi Activity Holiday

A week of winter fun and adventure in the snow and ice of the French Alps without putting on a pair of skis!

A flexible winter multi activity holiday for people who want to enjoy the sun and snow of the Southern French Alps in winter without having to strap a pair of skis to their feet!

Enjoy the magnificent mountains of the Southern French Alps in all their winter glory with a cocktail of activities. You can choose up to 9 activities (full details can be found in the itinerary section) from our diverse range including: a moonlit snowshoe, ice climbing, ice diving, paragliding, igloo building, sleeping in an igloo, snow mountain biking, a giant tyrolean zip wire (fastest in Europe) husky dog sledding, speed riding.... and more

In your free time, when you aren't on organised activities, there are lots of events, markets and other sightseeing opportunities such as the ice sculptures in Valgaudemar that you can visit. We'll give you up to date information when you arrive.

And of course you have your snowshoes and poles for the week so when you aren't on organised activities you can explore the winter wonderland on foot. We will give you maps and route guidance on where is safe to go on your own.

For accommodation we have a wide range to suit all budgets and tastes: chalet style ski apartments, luxury chalet with private hot tub, classic farmhouse bed and breakfast, luxury bed and breakfast, 2 star friendly hotel, rustic but modern auberge......

We highly recommend you self drive rather than let us drive you to and from the activities for this holiday as the area has so much to offer and for you to explore in your free time. However, if you would like a quote for a transport included holiday, please just lets us know when you make your enquiry. For groups of 6 or more this can sometimes work out better value for money than self driving.

The nearest airports are Marseille and Grenoble and the nearest TGV stations are Grenoble and Aix-en-Provence. Gap is the nearest local train station. We can organise a hire car for you from any airport or train station.

0845 009 8501

Itinerary / Highlights

This is a flexible week so you pick the activities you would like to do and leave the organisation to us!!

The Activities

We have a diverse range of activities to choose from and of course they are not all the same price!! So to make it easy for you we have divided the activities into four categories, Green, Blue, Red and Black.

Each colour is worth a number of points:

Green Activities are worth 1 point
Blue Activities are worth 2 points
Red Activities are worth 3 points
Black Activities are worth 4 points

With this holiday you have nine points, so you can choose a mixture of activities from each colour to make up your nine points. Please note that a couple of the activities fall between categories and require an extra 1/2 a point. You can choose 2 of the same activity - eg 2 half days guided snowshoeing

GREEN ACTIVITIES - 1 point

Moonlit Snowshoe The glow of red and orange as the sun sets over the mountains is a truly beautiful scene. And what better way to enjoy it than in the peace and tranquility of the high mountain environment on snowshoes. This is a guided evening snowshoe walk looking at the sunset and / or the stars (depending on time of year) Find out more about snowshoeing

Half a day snowshoeing Half a day of guided snowshoeing. Choose from a list of themed snowshoes from Chamois spotting to snow security or just a straight forward walk! Listen to the crunch of snow beneath your feet as you snow-shoe through the alpine wilderness. Look out for chamois and Ibex. It is possible to upgrade to a full day using 1/2 a point.

Cross Country Skiing (self guided) A days cross country ski hire and piste pass. Give your lungs and legs an aerobic workout as you explore the alpine winter landscapes. The Champsaur and Valgaudemar valleys have an extensive range of cross country skiing pistes including a high altitude circuit. If you have never cross country skied before, you may want to choose the blue option with a lesson.

Snake Sledge A roller coaster ride down the pistes in a collective snake sledge. Each person sits on a segment of the sledge which all joins together to make one big snake. The snake sledge descends at the end of the day once skiers have left the piste. Lift pass included.

BLUE ACTIVITIES - 2 points

Giant Tyrolean Zip Wire Travel at speeds of up to 140km per hour head first through the Alps. An extreme adrenalin buzz on the largest tyrolean zip wire in Europe (1.9km long)! Lift pass to get to the start included.

Igloo Building - have a go at building your own igloo in the snow! There are several techniques to choose from to build a perfect igloo! And as you will see the end results vary - enormously! This is a guided 1/2 day activity and usually involves some snowshoeing to get to a good igloo site!

Snow Mountain Biking Catch the last lift up in the ski resort of Orcieres with your specially adapted mountain bike and, after a few top tips from your instructor, ride down! A great fun activity to finish off the day. Minimum age is 8. CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

Husky Dog Sledding A one hour sled driving your own team of huskies across the alpine snow fields of the Southern French Alps.

Cross Country Skiing Lesson Your instructor will spend the morning with you giving you top tips on technique. Then you have the afternoon free to go off on your own and make the most of the extensive range of cross country skiing pistes in the region!

Downhill Skiing in Orcieres 1850. Although this is a holiday aimed primarily at non-skiers, the lure of a quick blast on the slopes may be too much to resist! Includes lift pass and ski hire for 1 day.

Snowscoot This is a unique sport and consists of a non-motorized scooter type contraption with a surf board instead of wheels that you surf down the pistes on. Includes lift pass and snowscoot hire for the day. It is possible to arrange a lesson for an extra point (recommended if you have never done it before).

RED ACTIVITIES - 3 points

Night in an Igloo Wrap up warm and go 'eskimo' for the night. A truly memorable experience on a high Alpine plateau. Special mattresses and sleeping bags are provided and evening meal and breakfast is included. Minimum age is 4.

Ice Diving Explore the underwater world of a frozen high altitude lake. You will be one on one with an experienced diving instructor and will be kitted out in full dry suit and scuba diving kit. No previous diving experience is necessary. Minimum age is 16.

Ice Climbing Discover the magical world of icicles, ice sheets, snow gullies and other weird and wonderful snow and ice formations. This is a half day of ice climbing with a high mountain guide and all equipment included. It is possible to upgrade to a full day for an extra point. Minimum age is 8.

Paragliding Get the best view of the Alps as you fly above the mountains in the peace and quiet. This is a tandem flight with an experienced instructor. You will be in the air for approximately 10 - 15 minutes. Minimum age is 8. Ski pass to get to the top and skis not included.

Husky Dog Sledding A 1/2 day sled with your own team of huskies across the alpine snow fields of the Southern French Alps. Please note this activity uses an extra 1/2 a point (it is worth 31/2 points).

BLACK ACTIVITIES - 4 points

Speed Riding Skiing with a parachute - ski fast and furious with the aid of a parachute in specially designated off piste zones. A 3 hour taster session learning the basics of the sport. Only for experienced skiers. It is possible to upgrade to a full day (5 hours) for an extra point. Ski pass not included.

Overnight Igloo Building Expedition For a real eskimo adventure.... this is an overnight snowshoe trek into the snowy alpine wilderness where you will build your own igloo and sleep in it for the night. Evening meal and breakfast are provided. All technical equipment except sleeping bags included.

Ski Touring / Mountaineering Put skins on your skis and head off to explore the mountains in winter ... take in a col, climb a summit and enjoy the sun, spectacular views and ski down in powder..... A full day out with a qualified UIAGM high mountain guide. Suitable for intermediate skiers. Ski equipment not included but is available to hire for an extra point.

Please note that some activities are subject to minimum group numbers, weather conditions and availability. In the unlikely event we are unable to provide your first choice you will be offered an alternative or the possibility to pay a supplement to cover the extra guide costs.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

We offer a range of accommodation from self catering to hotel. We vet all our accommodation and choose our preferred suppliers for their quality, professionalism and friendliness.

With this holiday, we have the following possibilities but can also price up the package at a different accommodation if you see something else you like.

Self Catering Option with a choice of luxury chalets with private hot tub through to classic chalet style ski apartments - From 512€ per adult and 462€ per child (U12)

Bed and Breakfast Option with a choice of luxury 3 star bed and breakfast with jacuzzi through to classic alpine farmhouse bed and breakfast - From 776€ per adult and 698€ per child

Hotel Option with a choice of 3 star chalet style hotel through to rustic but modern auberge - From 798€ per adult and 647€ per child

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Any week from December through to April. Please note that self catering accommodation is from Saturday to Saturday with the exception of Christmas and New Year 2010 - 11.

As Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, some properties are offering a Saturday to Sunday (8 nights) Christmas week and then Sunday to Sunday for new year with a 6 day week in January to go back to the Saturday to Saturday system. Please check individual properties for detail

0845 009 8501