When travel restrictions end and the world gets back to a more familiar way of living, the first thing many of us will do is look to escape the confines of our living room and go on holiday again… and when it comes to choosing a destination, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Les Portes du Soleil in the French Alps – a truly idyllic location for everyone, all year round.
During the winter months, France is widely regarded as the best country in the world for skiing and snowboarding, and with over 650km of pistes, Les Portes du Soleil is home to the second largest connected ski area in the world.
Local resorts include Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets, with the region also bordering with Switzerland, giving you the chance to ski in several different resorts and two different countries, in the same day!
No matter whether you are a novice or an expert skier or snowboarder, the region has so much skiable terrain, there is plenty to cater for all tastes – including an endless variety of activities off the slopes.
For more adventurous off mountain activities, there’s everything from ice diving to zip wiring experiences. For the more relaxed day out, you can go snowshoeing or take a horse drawn sleigh ride through the pedestrianised streets of Avoriaz 1800, not forgetting a host of fun filled après-ski bars including the infamous La Folie Douce – with its table dancing, confetti-filled, DJ hosted, daily outdoor dance parties.
Nestled in the heart of Les Portes du Soleil is family-owned chalet business Chilly Powder, a catered hotel and collection of self-catered chalets, founded by the Eyre family in 1996.
The ski-in, ski-out accommodation truly feels like a home from home, welcoming families, couples, singles and groups from around the world – with a hotel bar, hot tub, massage room, pool table, games room, crèche facilities and more – ensuring all your holiday needs are more than taken care of.
The food at Chilly Powder is exquisite, with half board accommodation packages including a buffet breakfast, with cooked breakfast options daily, and a five-course gourmet evening meal, cooked with locally sourced produce and served with handpicked organic wine – with the menu rivalling any Haute-Savoie restaurant in terms of quality and taste.
When the snow melts and the flowers begin to grow, the resort really comes alive – with even more activities to enjoy during the summer months.
As many people who live in the region say, “We came for the winter but stayed for the summer”, and once you’ve experienced summer in Les Portes du Soleil, it’s easy to understand why.
With hiking, trail running, golf, white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, horse riding, quad biking, via ferrata and more, the list of available activities during the summer is almost endless. Whichever activity you pursue will be surrounded by stunning scenery and picture postcard views.
For many years, the region has been famous for its downhill mountain biking – offering some of the best single-track terrain in the world, and also playing host to major international competitions such as Crankworx.
The area is also a regular stop off point in the famous Tour de France and a hub for road cycling, with Chilly Powder having hosted tour winning teams and riders over the years.
You can also cool down in the Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool in the centre of Morzine, or unwind on the lazy river at Aquariaz water park, which also boast outdoor hot tubs with sensational mountain views.
With so much time spent indoors over the past year, we certainly can’t think of a better place to escape to than the mountains.
Chilly Powder operates all year round, so it’s perfect whether you’re looking to hit the ski slopes or hop on your mountain bike. There are extensive winter holiday packages on offer for individuals, groups and families with winter prices starting from £850 per week, based on two adults sharing a standard bedroom, or £2,300 per week for two adults and two children sharing a standard family room. Prices based on a half board basis with wine included in evening meals.
Childcare facilities are also available with prices starting at £275 per week and ski school for £250 per week. The chalet also runs a summer programme and is available for weddings and events.
Chilly Powder is offering a 100% credit note for all new bookings, should a booking have to be cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions in place during dates of a scheduled trip. To learn more about the guest guarantee or to make a booking, contact Chilly Powder on info@chillypowder.com or 020 7289 6958 or visit chillypowder.com
