French Alps attract with skiing, spas and luxury options – 02/21/2024 – Tourism

Looking around, all you see are white, snow-capped mountain peaks and the blue sky. From so close up, it looks like you could reach the top on a hike. If you look closely, you can see little black dots sliding down these hills.

This is the landscape of Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe. The complex is located at an altitude of 2,300 m, with peaks reaching 3,200 m, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in France. The main routes are via the airports of Lyon, 220 km away, or Geneva, Switzerland, 150 km away.

A paradise for ski and snowboard enthusiasts, Val Thorens is located in an area called Três Vales, which has 600 km of slopes divided into four levels of difficulty — it is the largest area of ​​its kind in the world.

These slopes can be accessed for half the year, as the ski season lasts seven months (from November to May), the longest period in Europe due to the altitude.

The resort was designed 50 years ago to welcome experienced athletes, but it also works for beginners, who, with a few lessons, can glide down the mountains.

There are five ski schools, with varying prices. In this region of the Alps, a one-week package of classes for adults costs, on average, 200 euros (around R$1,069), excluding equipment rental.

Around 70% of tourists are from outside France. Brazilians are few: only around 4,000 visited the station in the 2022-2023 season, according to official figures. Most stay at Club Med, an all-inclusive luxury resort.

The public is made up of families, couples and young people looking for snow sports and the excitement of “après-ski”, a type of happy hour. To this end, the village brings together bars, restaurants and nightclubs, such as the traditional Malaysia.

The club is under snow and is open daily. Screens with LED lights on the ceiling and walls show projections that accompany the songs, selected by DJs. The space receives around 900 people, with tickets costing 10 euros (R$ 53).

For those who prefer to relax after an afternoon in low temperatures, the village offers a range of spas and hotels with saunas and heated pools.

95 km from Val Thorens is another station off the classic route and little explored by Brazilians. Megève, however, has everything to please those who enjoy destinations such as Campos do Jordão and Gramado.

With the size of a city, it deviates from the sporty style and has its own charm. Quiet, it has a historic center surrounded by wooden buildings, restaurants, cafes, designer stores, spas and museums.

The region has 227 slopes and two of the ski areas are accessible from the village, from where it is possible to see Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the country, at 4,809 meters above sea level.

Snow trails, called “snowshoeing”, are another program. Armed with a type of racket fitted to the shoe and hiking poles, visitors sink their feet into soft snow and walk through forests with trees dotted with white, the bases of mountains and streams. The goal is to enjoy nature and panoramic views. The tour price starts at 30 euros (R$ 160) per person.

Megève is a gastronomic mecca in the French Alps. It has 135 restaurants, three of them with Michelin stars, serving so-called mountain cuisine, with cheese and bread. Among the places is Rural, run by celebrity chef Marc Veyrat.

A middle ground between the two ski resorts is Avoriaz, 70 km away. The village was built to welcome those who practice snow sports, but it has charming architecture, in shades of brown that blend into the landscape, and beautiful surroundings. From the window of any accommodation, it is possible to have a privileged view of the sunrise or sunset.

Opened 58 years ago, the station is located at an altitude of 1,800 meters and is a pioneer as a pedestrian-only resort. Cars are parked at the entrance. Through the snowy streets, people move around with buggies, sleds, skis or snowboards.

Or even by electric bike, one of the tours offered in the region. The bike has thicker tires and a motor helps with momentum, but you need strength to pedal on the soft ground. The scenery pays off and the tour goes through forests and mountain edges. It costs around 65 euros (R$347).

For skiing, there are 50 slopes. One of them, at an easy level, cuts through the small village. There are restaurants, bars, shops and a cinema concentrated there. At lunchtime, families with dogs and groups of young people gather on chairs spread out in the open air.

The main point for “après-ski” is outdoors, the Folie Douce party. A DJ plays electronic music while a duo on stage entertains the crowd, who leave their equipment outside and dance in sportswear.

The snow season runs from December to April. On the return trip, Avoriaz is 90 km from Geneva airport, Switzerland, a more practical option for catching a flight back to the heat of Brazil.

_{The journalist traveled at the invitation of Atout France and Air France}