In the summer months

The Alps in the warmer months (June to October) are delightful.  Getting out into the mountains to walk or cycle makes you glad to be alive.  For the adrenalin junkies there are activities like mountain biking, high wire adventures, canyoning, parapenting the list goes on, and on!

 

For the younger members of the family there is the local outdoor swimming pool with water slides for hours of fun, a special ‘high’ wire activity, pony trekking etc.

 

After all this activity you may want a day off, you could wander the Wednesday morning market in Samoens, have a pamper session at a local beauty salon or just lie in the garden watching the antics of the La Tibolire chickens or the grace of the soaring rare bearded vultures and the red kites.

 

If you would like a day away from the Giffre valley then you might consider Annecy, Venice of the Alps, you can take a boat trip, wander the pretty old town or just sit on the shore of the lake and watch the world drift by. Chamonix where you could take the cable car to the aiguille du midi and eat at the highest restaurant in Europe or visit the famous ‘mer de glace’ on the little red train.  Alternatively visit Aosta in Italy; only a couple of hours drive from the apartment, this pretty town has incredible roman ruins, super shops and of course Italian food!  Yvoire is a delightful medieval fishing village on the shore of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) and is an easy drive from apartment La Tibolire.

 

In winter

Skiing and other winter sports are the reasons to be in the Alps from December to April.  Sixt has beginner (green and blue) pistes and sledging pistes, which are open subject to snow conditions. This means your nearest skiing can be just a 400m walk from the apartment.   Apartment la Tibolire is a wonderful base for families with small children as you can return to the apartment easily for afternoon naps!  Sixt is an ideal safe place to learn to ski for any age, the ESF (école du ski Français) has a few English-speaking teachers and there are private schools that specialise in the English speaking market.

 

For those who have progressed on from blues and greens the entire Grand Massif ski area can be accessed from Samoëns, which is less than 10 minutes in the car or on the free ski bus.  If the 139 pistes of the Grand Massif aren’t enough for you then in less than an hour by car you can reach Les Gets, Avoriaz, Morzine, Praz de Lys and Chamonix to name but a few!

 

Mark is a devoted downhill skier and can give you suggestions for where to ski and indeed where to eat!  Melissa is an experienced cross-country skier and similarly can give you advice for how to enjoy this beautiful valley.  If you want to try other outdoor winter activities (ski touring, dog sledding, Fat biking, snow shoeing etc.) we can put you in touch with companies that can help.

 

However you spend your days you will be glad to come home to your cosy apartment for a relaxing meal with friends and family to relive the experiences of the day.  Then maybe a game of Scrabble or cards before falling into bed to recharge for the next glorious day.

 

Apartment La Tibolire     Sixt Fer à Cheval    74740     France