THE GUIDE WINTER 2021/22


Brave the cold and try ice floating in the beautiful surrounds of Tignes… don’t worry, you get to don a dry suit


du Dévoluy is a hybrid of via ferrata and caving, in which you spend an hour exploring a 300m cave, following along a lifeline, and cross a monkey bridge and a footbridge. It’s the perfect adventure for sporty types. www.ledevoluy.com


Wellbeing


Not all leisure activities are designed to thrill, of course – some are designed to chill. A touch of wellbeing en plein air is, after all, good for the soul. Try snowga in Oz-en-Oisans (www.oz-en-oisans.com), wild walking on new trails in Vars (www.vars.com/en/winter), or forest bathing in Contamines-


138 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Oct/Nov 2021


Montjoie (www.lescontamines. com/winter). In Sainte-Foy- Tarentaise, experience walking in full consciousness on an Afghan Walk (www.saintefoy- tarentaise.com/en) with mountain guide Olivia, who says a tonic walk in the forest is better than any vitamin supplement known to mankind. Here are a few more of our favourite relaxations…


Ice fl oating in Tignes A new form of meditation straight from Finland is on offer in Tignes. Pop on your dry suit, immerse yourself in the crystal clear water of Lake Tignes (around 5°C!) and fl oat away as you reconnect with nature. At


night, the experience under the stars is simply magical. Too relaxing? Try ice diving instead. evolution2.com/en/tignes/ ice-fl oating


Yoga Toumo Yoga Toumo – Yoga of the Cold – hails from Tibet and this year will be offered in Pralognan-la- Vanoise by yoga teacher Caroline Favre. The idea is that the cold stimulates our natural defences and cell regeneration, working as a powerful analgesic and boosting our self-esteem. The yoga is followed by immersion in the snow or a cold bath to get your senses tingling. pralognan.com


Grignan Truffl e Experience Although the mountains are a huge draw, winter in France isn’t all about la neige, and for foodies we have just the ticket. The rabasse (truffl e in Provençal dialect) is found from mid- November to mid-March so if you’re looking for a gastronomic winter holiday, head to Grignan, where you can caver (hunt for truffl es) with a trained dog and its master. On Saturdays head to Richerenches for the largest truffl e market in Europe and inhale the indescribable fragrance in the air – and be sure to pop into a local restaurant and try a delicious truffl e omelette. Throughout the winter, many


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IMAGE © B GRANGE


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