A wonderful vacation in the mountains of Europe is all you need to refresh the family bonding. A cherry on the top can be a divine skiing experience. The Alps offer a lot of skiing spots and from amateur skiing to professional ones, the mountains have a bag full of surprises for all. In case you are wondering how to decide which will be the best place to visit, here is the solution. French Alps is probably one of the perfect destinations to enjoy the best family ski holiday you will ever experience in your lifetime. Scroll down before you pack your bag and board the flight to the best time of your life.
Changing beauty with changing seasons
The French Alps has a beauty of its own in different seasons. Be it Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, all the seasons show a different side of the Alps.
Spring
As the winter snow starts melting from April, this season is ideal for the mountain bikers, water sports lovers, cyclists and other such adventure activities. The best thing about spring is the first bloom of the flowers after a long period of winter hibernation. Many flower enthusiasts visit during this time of the year.
Summer
The weather is comparatively more stable during this time of the year. You can expect a guaranteed sunshine in the Southern Alps. Though, this doesn’t mean you won’t get a dramatic thunderstorm during this time. A little bit of rain will let you enjoy the French Alps in a totally different way which you can never expect. As you go towards the north, the weather is a bit unpredictable. Rock climber, mountaineers, paragliders tend to plan around this time.
Autumn
With a lesser chance of thunderstorms, the nights are cooler with a warm morning. A warm jacket is advisable during this time of the year. The autumn is perfect for walking, climbing. during the end of October, the weather becomes cooler just before the first snowfall of the season before November. If you are planning for mushroom hunting, this is the perfect time to be there.
Winter
This is the season of skiing as the snow engulfs the entire area. Most of the ski resorts open during mid-December. The best time for skiing is the month of January as the weather is cooler with shorter days. During this time, the snow covers almost the entire Alps and different kind of skiing activities can be seen during this time of the year.
Must do activities
The different seasons bring an opportunity to experience different kinds of activities. Winter is the best season for skiing. As the vast landscapes get covered with the powdery snow during the winter, you can enjoy activities like skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing and many more icy activities. Apart from that, one can go for ice climbing in the French Alps. Building an igloo is also another unique experience and it is also possible during winter. The sledges pulled by the Huskies can be seen during this time of the year.
On the other hand, skiing is not possible during summer as the snow starts to melt down from April. But this time of the year offers a number of other activities like paragliding, canyoning, caving, mountaineering, mountain biking etc. Various mountain trails open up during this time so enjoy some hiking with your family. However, if you really want to ski, you can always reach some of the higher altitudes where you can find some powdery patches to quench your snow-thirst.
Must visit places
French Alps is extremely beautiful and when it comes to activities around there are plenty of places to go to. But there are a few places which you can never afford to miss.
Morzine
Situated very close to the Swiss border, Morzine is the best place for beginners skiing. It’s part of the Portes du Soleil ski area and is linked by lifts and cable cars. It is a perfect place for summer trails as well. The intermediate terrain makes the area well suited to beginners and less-seasoned skiers and snowboarders. Morzine is quite popular for the family tours. The closest airport to Morzine is Geneva Cointrin International Airport, Switzerland.
Tignes
This high-altitude skiing resort is comprised of five villages; Val Claret, Tignes le Lac, Le Lavachet, Tignes Les Boisses and Tignes-les-Brevieres. Grande Motte glacier is one of the striking features of Tignes as it offers year-round skiing experience. Tignes is one of the best ski resorts. Along with the nearby Val d’Isère, it forms the “Espace Killy” ski area which is very popular among the professional skiers.
Val-d’Isere
Situated near Tignes, Val-d’Isere is a ski resort in the French Alps near the Italian border. It is a part of Espace Killy area which is regarded as the world’s best skiing destination. Apart from usual winter affair, Pissaillas Glacier offers a summer ski as well. A free shuttle bus runs between the villages in the valley, providing free transport throughout the towns of Val d’Isere.
Les Gets
Les Gets is situated in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. Les Gets offer skiing experience for the beginners and also for the intermediate skiers. Les Gets have many great spots for off-piste skiing and snowboarding and is definitely one of the favourite places for the skiers. It also has an area of the mountain for little skiers holding weekly treasure hunts as well.
Things to remember
If you are looking for just skiing and snowboarding, winter is the right time. Though there are summer skiing options at high altitude ski resorts, it is always better to keep your options open while going for a winter skiing experience. Keep adequate medicines and other important medical supports along with you. Carry the documents that you will need on your journey. French Alps is one of the best holidaying experience you will have but you wouldn’t like to spoil it with unwanted experiences. So it is always better to keep a track of the weather condition and take steps accordingly.
Holidaying at French Alps will be a lifetime experience. Apart from just skiing and snowboarding, French Alps is the place for different fun activities with your family. It is absolutely the perfect family vacation you can ever have. With adventure sports and other fun activities, the place is becoming a favourite destination for many across the world.
