*FOR T&CS SEE P187
is hugely popular. Especially once people realise that
a day in the heli isn’t much more than the cost of two
days resort skiing.”
Chris and I spend the rest of our week exploring La
Rosière and Ste Foy, the two Tarentaise resorts we’re
least familiar with. One day we team up with Mathieu
Ottobon again and tick off La Foliette, a classic off-piste
itinerary in Ste Foy. The next, we head to La Rosière, the
resort closest to the lodge, and spend the day exploring
its hidden yet accessible off-piste runs.
It’s a unique French ski trip. Sure, it may not suit
those looking for a sedate, ski in/ski out break. But anyone
with a thirst for adventure, and an untapped desire to
take to the skies and unleash their inner heliskier, may
have found their new favourite destination.
enough away for the silence that reigns in the village -
save for the beating of helicopter blades, of course - to
be almost absolute.
“It’s been our dream to set up a heli lodge here for
years,” says Claire Jeffery, as we watch the sun sink
behind the resort of Les Arcs from the lodge’s sundeck.
“AS SOON AS WE FOUND
TH I S S POT, I KNEW
I T WAS THE P L ACE . ”
Les Laix is a classic French hamlet, with nothing
more than a collection of farm buildings and a tiny
chapel to distract, so there’s ample time to drink in the
incredible views down the Tarentaise Valley. Once riding
is over each day, we soak in the hot tub and watch the
sun sink. And each night, we tell ourselves we’ll make
the short trip to sample the bright lights of Tignes, but
end up snoozing in front of the fire by 10pm.
“We find most of our guests come for the resort skiing
and then book one or two days heliskiing at the end of
the week,” says Claire. “The day-trip part of the business
0 6 9
H E L I S K I I N G
T I G N E S
Tignes
need to know
(
1992
)
Year it hosted the Winter Olympics and
co-hosted the Winter Paralympics
(
1952
)
Year the original Tignes was flooded to
create the hydro-electric Tignes Dam
(
27,000
)
Revellers who will celebrate at Tignes’
outdoor New Year’s Eve party
easyJet
flies to Grenoble from five destinations.
See our insider guide on page 149.
Book online at
easyJet.com
easyJet Holidays
Seven nights self-catering at three-star
Les Chalets de Super D in Superdévoluy,
from Liverpool on 18 January, from £162
per person. easyJet.com/holidays*
LE REFUGE
In the heart of Tignes and just 50m from
the ski lifts, this hotel has a spa and free
wi-fi.
Book at
hotels.easyJet.com
