Although winter may seem like it’s an eternity away, now’s the time to start planning your family skiing getaway. This is especially true if you don’t want to break the bank when booking your trip and your catered chalet. La Plagne is the perfect winter resort for those with small kids, as there is a friendly atmosphere, great beginner skiing and an abun-dance of child-friendly activities on offer. Here are a few of my personal favourites to check out.
Ice Grotto
The enchanting ice grotto is always popular with little ones, especially around the holiday season. Step into the spectacular ice cave at the top of the Plane Bellecote, situated at an altitude of 3417m. Here you will find magnificent ice sculptures, as well as other in-triguing figures. The different layers inside the grotto allow for a wide range of stunning colours, including deep blues, bold greens and more.
Cascade de Tyrolienne
La Plagne has lots of thrilling activities away from the slopes, which are perfect for keep-ing active kids happy and engaged. This includes the exhilarating zipline experience in the Valley de l’Ours. Here you will find eight ziplines of varying lengths that will whizz you through the forest for an adrenaline-inducing experience and wonderful views of the surrounding area.
Olympic Bobsleigh
Another family activity that will get your children’s blood pumping is the Olympic Bob-sleigh run. Jump in a bobsleigh and you will reach blistering speeds as you fly down the winding track. This is an exciting activity that you will all be chatting about for hours after. It is understandable that some parents have reservations about this activity due to the sleighs’ groundbreaking speeds, but I can assure you that they’re completely safe – not to mention fun!
Geocaching
This relatively new activity has become hugely popular in La Plagne, and is a superb ac-tivity for families. It is, essentially, a treasure hunt where you use the GPS system on your phone to locate the treasure. Once you find it, you write your name in the logbook and replace the goods with something new … you never know what you might get! As you can imagine, geocatching is a great way to explore the area, get some fresh air and spend quality time together.
Husky Dog Rides
Got some animal lovers in the family? Then you must try this lovely activity, in which a team of beautiful Huskies whisks your family through the picturesque winter landscape. The cute dogs love what they do, and this is evident with just how happy they are before setting off. A guide will teach you how to instruct the dogs to stop and start before allow-ing you to take control. You’ll then follow the guide’s team down winding forest paths and wide stretches of untouched powder. What could be more epic?
Night Skiing
This is a terrific activity if you don’t want to spend an evening cooped up in your catered chalet. La Plagne offers night skiing at La Grande Rochette, which provides mesmerising views of Mont Blanc, Courchevel and an endless blanket of twinkling stars. After ex-periencing the serenity of moonlit skiing, you can enjoy a traditional two-course Savoy-arde meal and either take the blue runs back to La Plagne or jump in a special Taxi Ski service to take you home.
These are just a few of my favourite family friendly activities to try, but there are plenty of others, too. Why not find out for yourself why La Plagne, catered chalets and all, is an ideal holiday destination for families with young kids?
Belinda Smythson works for Ski Amis, a specialist ski travel agency and booking service that has been helping avid skiers craft their perfect winter holiday for over a quarter of a century. If you're planning a break in a catered chalet, La Plagne has some excellent options. For the best chalets in La Plagne, La Tania, Espace Killy or Chamonix Valley, Ski Amis is the go-to company for winter sports fans searching for the holiday of a lifetime.
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