THE GUIDE WINTER BREAKS 2016 Winter breaks 2016


Above and right: Skiing at Serre Chevalier, Aquamotion at Courchevel


Morzine luxury chalets Morzine is a superb ski resort right in the middle of the Portes du Soleil, a ski area that claims to offer the largest network of marked pistes in all of Europe (over 650 kilometres across 14 valleys). There is skiing and snowboarding for all levels, featuring “tree-lined blues and greens to wide, cruising reds and challenging, steep-faced, mogulled blacks”. Some of the best accommodation is offered by Chillout Mountain which has six chalets, accommodating between 6 and 11 people, either catered for or self-catering. www.chilloutmountain.com


Alpine tours


1786 was the year Mont Blanc, western Europe’s highest peak, was summited for the first time. It was two young Frenchmen,


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Jacques Balmat and Michel- Gabriel Paccard, who reached the top in August that year. Another young Frenchman, Damien Beaulin, has set up an Alpine tour service which he has named Voyage 1786 in tribute to Balmat and Paccard’s achievement. While no one’s suggesting you climb the 4,808 metres to the top of Mont Blanc, they do offer a wide range of different tours exploring the towns, villages, lakes, food, wine and, of course, mountains of the region. “Breathtaking, beautiful places,” is how Damien describes them. Fortunately he grew up in the Alps so he knows the area like the back of his hand. www.voyage1786.com


Skiing in Praz de Lys If you’re put off by big ski resorts, motorway pistes and


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