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 France
is probably Europe's number one destination for
winter sports. It has the highest ski areas in
Europe, and can be a great experience for both
begineers and advanced skiers. Choose from a great
selection of resorts, or go self catering and rent
a chalet for a week or two. Here we have
recommended some of the most popular ski
destinations.
Chamonix
Chamonix is at the heart of Western Europe in the
French Alps, very close to Mt. Dolent where the
French, Swiss and Italian borders meet. Located at
the foot of Mont Blanc, Chamonix is the highest
peak in the Alps and the second highest in Europe
(top elevation 4,810 m/15,771 ft). Chamonix is 612
km from Paris and just 80 km southeast of Geneva,
Switzerland and its International airport.
There are lots of activities to enjoy in both
summer and winter, in and around Chamonix, apart
from sking and all the winter activities, you
can enjoy mountaineering,
climbing, hiking, paragliding and biking. The most
famous cable car in the world the " Aiguille
du Midi" will take you on a two-stage
journey to heights of 3842m. From the mountain you can
enjoy a perfect 360° panorama taking in Mont
Blanc and much of the Massif.
A further treat is a
trans-glacial ride on the world's highest téléphérique
(cable car), which stops en route at skiing and hiking
destinations. The Mer de Glace is the second-largest
glacier in the Alps. It measures 14km (9 mi) long, 1800m
(5900ft) wide and is up to 400m (1315ft) deep. For a better
look at the glacier from the inside, you can tour an ice
cave that is carved anew each spring. There is also a train
that ascends to an altitude of 1915m (6275ft) and a number
of uphill trails, but traversing the glacier is dangerous
and should not be done without proper equipment and a guide.
The Swiss town of Martigny is only 40km (25mi) north
of Chamonix, should you wish to border hop for watch repair
or chocolate.
Val Thorens
Set in the Belleville valley, Val Thorens can
always provide the best snow conditions - the
resort offers a fantastic range of skiing, purpose
built convenience and access to the rest of the
Three Valleys.
We are currently
upgrading this section and will bring you lots
more information on sking and snow-boarding in
France shortly.
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Go2-Travel Limited 2003
