Vars school ski trip, France
A popular resort, well known for big mountain skiing at high altitude with dependable snowfall
- Voyager ski rep
- Good all season
- Evening entertainment
Resort
Explore the famous ski resort of Vars on your ski trip
Set in the southern French Alps just over 30km south of Briancon is the village of Vars St Marie. It is the only one of the 3 villages that form the ski area not to be a purpose-built ski resort. As such it is certainly the one that has the most ambient mountain feel. Full of old stone properties – shops, bars and restaurants – it is our choice for our featured accommodation for school groups. Vars St Marie has three lifts serving the village along with a small nursery area for beginners. The proximity of our main hotel, the Monte Pente to the lifts and pistes makes it a great choice for both coach and air groups.
Vars St Marie, along with Vars Le Claux 3 km away, and Risoul on the other side of the mountain, are linked to form the extensive Foret Blanche ski area with more than 180km of ski trails across 115 prepared pistes served by 42 lifts not to mention three snow parks. There are small nursery slopes in Vars St Marie with more substantial ones in Vars Le Claux. More accomplished skiers can use the lift in St Marie to access the heart of the ski area whereas beginners may find it makes sense to ski from Le Claux. The Foret Blanche is one of the few resorts to feature a flying kilometre, the worlds fastest ski slopes. Look out for it as you ski around … from a distance!
- Popular well-known resort
- Big mountain skiing at high altitude
- Dependable snowfall
Accommodation
Monte Pente
- The hotel is a typical mountain property, old-style, with lots of original wood and stone features. It houses nearly 80 people in 2 to 6 bedded ensuite rooms – the larger 5’s and 6’s of these normally being a room with another connected room/alcove. Ideal as a single group property for a large group or two smaller parties. It has a bar and snug to relax in and a games room with pool and table football to occupy the children.
- Hotel Monte Pente sits in the heart of the village opposite a lift and some small nursery slopes. This lift takes you on a horseshoe trajectory around to Vars Le Claux. 250m away is a larger lift that provides excellent access to the centre and Risoul sectors of the Foret Blanche as well as a link back to Vars Le Claux.
- The Monte Pente has two restaurant areas, bar, snug, games room and free guest wifi.
- Full board with picnic lunch.
Orange Bleue
- This specialist youth accommodation can be found about 900m from the village centre and lifts. It has a capacity of 120 and can be configured to operate for 2 entirely separate and separated groups of 50+. It offers basic youth accommodation but is considerably less than the better appointed Monte Pente. It is still a good option if your budget is tight and you want to ski France.
- The Orange Bleue is located above Vars St Marie and 900m from the village centre. So between 3km and 4km from Vars Le Claux. Whilst it could be used by an air group for logistical ease we suggest the Orange Bleue for groups travelling by coach.
- The hotel has two separate restaurant areas, games rooms and plenty of recreational space.
- Full board with picnic lunch.
Après ski
We will organise a fun-filled programme of evening entertainment for your group at your accommodation. wimming and ice skating is available in Briancon but it will take the beset part of an hour to get there.
At a glance
| Hours by coach from Calais | 16 hrs |
| Transfer from Turin | 3 hrs 40 mins |
| Transfer from Grenoble | 3 hrs 30 mins |
| Resort height | 1850 m |
| Mountain height | 2750 m |
| Total length of Runs | 180 km |
| Beginner runs | 90 km |
| Intermediate runs | 70 km |
| Expert runs | 20 km |
| Snow record | Good all season |
| Arrival day 1 | Saturday |
Included
All Voyager School Travel ski trips include:
- Free place ratio of 1:8 for coach trips or 1:10 for air groups
- 6-day local ski pass, 6-day ski, boot and helmet hire
- 4 hours of ski lessons per day over 6 days
- Full board and lodging
- Dedicated Voyager School Rep to support your group throughout your stay
- Full programme of free evening entertainment at your accommodation
- Your choice of return travel - coach travel, with ferry crossing, applicable tolls and taxes included, or return flights and overseas transfers
- 24-hour emergency back-up service
- Comprehensive travel insurance including ski breakage
- Snow guarantee – if all lifts are closed, we’ll take you to the nearest resort so that you can still ski
- Discounted rates for group leaders bringing their family on the trip
Please note that ski activities are subject to change according to adverse weather conditions & operational requirements.
Options - shorter durations and extra lessons available, give us a call
Extras to budget for
- Meals on journeys
- School to airport transfers (if required)
- Visa charges, collective passports
- Extended lift passes (if applicable)
- Supplements for small parties, single rooms and additional adults
Snowboarding instructor ratios are lower and so a supplement of £50 pp is payable for snowboard groups. Snowboarding groups can only be accepted in exact groups of 8 of the same ability.
Gallery
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