Winter

Close by Chalet Chocolat, in the heart of the Giffre valley and only an hour from Geneva, lies the village of Samoens nestled beneath the majestic beauty of the Criou mountain, a magnificent backdrop to the village which is the only French ski resort to be listed as a 'Monument Historique' and is the base from which the 8 person Express Gondola takes you up to the Grand Massif Ski Resort Area, in only eight minutes.

The region's proximity to Mont Blanc ensures its superb snow record on its 265 km's of pisted slopes that rise to an altitude of 2600 metres.

The Grand Massif is popular with families, as the terrain in the resort is varied and interesting with pistes for all abilities and many more km's of off piste runs for the more adventurous! In addition to this, for the snowboarders and freestylers, there are the 3 great terrain parks operating in different locations within the area, all with different themes. The Grand Massif is known for two famous runs in particular, and they are not to be missed! Firstly, the blue 'Cascade Run', the longest in Europe at 14km's in length, it runs from the top of the Flaine bowl, down past breathtaking scenery of the high mountain ranges, to the beautiful village of Sixt. The more experienced adrenaline seekers can ski the 'Combe de Gers', a black run, that drops down into a large, empty snow bowl and is of world renown.

The area is also paradise for those seeking other experiences to enjoy. There are 90 km's of marked cross country pistes and 60 km's of snow- shoeing tracks to explore and activities such as ski mountaineering, iceclimbing, dog sledding, paragliding, snowmobiling and ice-skating... to name but a few.

The apres-ski is friendly and relaxed with a choice of traditional restaurants, bistros and bars and even a night club for those with energy to spare!

There are three restaurants and bars in the immediate vacinity of Chalet Chocolat, for your enjoyment.

Skiing and Snowboarding
The Grand Massif is a superb ski area. The pretty alpine villages of Samoens, Morillon, Les Carroz, Sixt and the Flaine station are interconnected by 265 km's of tree-lined pistes and larger open snow bowls, offering a great variety of terrain, appealing to every ability level and with Mont Blanc (Western Europe's highest mountain) as a frequent backdrop it is also breathtakingly beautiful.

The resort boasts an excellent snow record and one of the best in France, due to its proximity to Mont Blanc and it's unique micro climate. The Grand Massif has a large percentage of north facing slopes and 128 snow cannons to ensure the entire area remains open from December through to Easter.

There are many authentic mountain restaurants to be found on the slopes, whether you choose to relax on a sunny terrace taking in the views, or go inside and get warm by an open fire. There are drinks and dishes at reasonable prices to suit everyone. Snowboarders have plenty to do when not powder -hounding, there are three jam parks in the resort with the most hard core and comprehensive location being at Flaine, with its half pipes, big air jumps, table rails and quarters. There are frequent, free snow parties throughout the season with DJ's and BBQ's and also a cool zone with a sound system. There are fun jam parks to be found in Morillon and Samoens too!

Chalet chcolat is 100 metres from ski bus and 2 minutes drive from ski lift.

Links
www.grand-massif.com

Ski Tuition
There are several ski schools offering tuition to boarders and skiers of all ability levels. The Ecole De Ski Francais (ESF) is the largest ski school in Europe with a well established reputation and offers group and private lessons at competitive prices in English as well as French. The ESF also offers provision for children as young as three to learn to ski in a happy and protective atmosphere in the form of the 'Jardin de Neiges', both at Samoens and Morillon.

A more personal touch can be offered by the two private ski schools based in Samoens, who can tailor their approach to suit individual needs. They are ZigZag and 360 International.

Nursery and playgroup provision is available for children from three months, please contact us for details.

Links
www.esfsamoens.com
www.zigzagski.com

Ski Hire
Many ski hire shops are available for all your needs both in Morillon and Samoens.

For Ski hire and for additional activity ideas, click here.