Skiing and snowboarding? We love it. But to be honest, sometimes we feel a bit lazy about putting on our skis... Because our thighs are still sore from the day before. Because it's white out and your stomach's a little queasy. Or simply because you feel you've had your fill of turns for the day and you're hungry for something new.
Do you feel the same way? Good news: ski vacations without skiing (or at least with less skiing and more of something else) are all the rage. Let's take a look at this trend that's sure to please!
"Vacation" and "routine": two words that don't go together
In everyday life, there's something reassuring about routine - or rather, routines. Practical, even. They save us time, energy and brain space, so we can be more productive at work and at home.
But once we're on vacation, do we still need to be productive? On the face of it, no! If anything, the opposite is true: vacations are the ideal time to allow ourselves a certain inefficiency. Forget about waking up. Let yourself be carried away by your desires of the moment. Get rid of deadlines and statistics (and that connected watch that puts pressure on you to count the number of runs and kilometers covered during the week).
Skiing every day from 9am to 5pm? No more! From now on, you can ski whenever you like, thanks to the most flexible ski passes: 2 days here, 3 hours there. And you can pick up your ski pass at the last minute (handy once you've got your ski pass: simply top it up online, with no need to go to the lift ticket office).
The rest of the time? Complete the picture with activities that require little or no organization (such as a self-guided snowshoe hike on the marked itineraries starting from La Plagne, or a hot chocolate on the terrace of a high-altitude restaurant accessible with a simple pedestrian ski pass).
The desire to vary the pleasures of mountain vacations
What do we love about skiing? The scenery! The friendly atmosphere! The fresh air! The adrenalin! And just as well: it' s not only on skis that you can fill up on all the things you love. A little secret you may not know if you ski all day, every day (and have no energy left to try other activities once the slopes close)...
Once or twice a week (or every day if you're a multi-passionate skier), keep your feet under you. Shorten your ski day and come home to warm up... before heading off on a bobsleigh run (with a professional pilot!), a Bob Raft or Speed Luge (self-guided and self-braking machines) or Bob Racing (with pilot) on France's only bobsleigh run. Or an introduction toice climbing on the Champagny-en-Vanoise ice tower (the only one of its kind in Europe, and accessible even to beginners). Or a downhill mountain bike ride on snow by headlamp. Or a ride on a Moonbike under the stars, on a circuit dedicated to this electric hybrid between a motorcycle and a snowmobile. You'll find lots more ideas for off-ski winter activities here.
The need for rest and pampering
The problem with skiing is that your thighs get hot very quickly. Especially if you only go on ski vacations once a year, and between two vacation periods you don't do any leg-burning sports...
Add to this the fatigue accumulated over the weeks leading up to the vacation (the whirlwind of work and daily life, the lack of sunshine during the short winter days), and you'll soon feel like bartering: a few less hours of skiing... and a few more hours of relaxation!
Because not everyone has the luxury of taking a week's vacation to recover from their vacation (a pity, but the concept is tempting...), allow yourself breaks to take care of the beautiful machine that is your body, without forgetting your mind!
Wake up naturally, without repeated alarms. Or go skiing early, as soon as the lifts open; then allow yourself a little digestive siesta after lunch (with no intention of putting on your skis again). Book a relaxing massage or gentle facial in one of the many wellness areas of the resort. Bubble away in your hotel Jacuzzi and enjoy the sauna while the others hit the slopes. Take a leisurely dip in the pool without feeling like Léon Marchand. In short: do yourself a world of good!
The call of the (more) wild
What do we love about downhill skiing? Its accessibility! You don't need to be a top-level athlete (or born on spatulas) to enjoy the slopes. The lifts take care of the strenuous part (i.e. getting to the top of the ski area); all that's left to do is ski down the perfectly groomed runs (over 80 green and blue runs in the La Plagne ski area, ideal for beginners or leisurely strolls).
But sometimes you dream of less accessible, wilder excursions, far from the chairlifts and groomed pistes. And for that, nothing beats a snowshoe hike in the company of a mountain guide! These specialists in mountain flora and fauna will guide you through clearings and forests on secret, unmarked itineraries, frequented almost exclusively by foxes, chamois, ibex and other furry and feathered animals. Magic: some snowshoe outings are even organized after dark... So grab your headlamps!
