INTRODUCTION
This week of cross-country skiing
aimed at beginners and intermediate skiers using either classic or
skating techniques. During the holiday we stay in the thermal
spa town of Ax-Les
Thermes which gives us access to two largest
cross-country skiing areas in the Pyrenees, with over 120 km of
well-maintained trails to explore. Being so far south, we are
blessed with long sunny days but as the resorts are located on high
plateaux we still have reliable snow cover with the bonus of
dramatic mountain views at every corner. Consequently this region
provides the experienced skier with a suitable alternative to
Scandinavia, and the novice the perfect terrain and climate for
taking up this fantastic sport.
During the holiday
you will be looked after by James Thompson (SSE XC Instructor), who
will facilitate all arrangements and offer
instruction for both beginners and
improvers. James will be assisted by Cathy Thompson for the first 3
days of the holiday enabling us to offer guided ski-tours at
different standards throughout the week. Naturally there is the
option to ski independently if that is your preference.
Our base for this holiday is the popular thermal spa
town of
Ax-les-Thermes. The charming town centre is only a 5 mins walk
from our hotel giving us access to a full range of the shops,
restaurants and lively bars. With its luxury roman baths and spa
facilities, you are not going to be short of après ski activities.
Ax is linked by cable car to the extensive down hill ski station of
Ax-Bonascre, giving the option of downhill skiing or self guided
snowshoeing on any day of this holiday.
If you are an intermediate or experienced
cross-country skier who wants to travel some
distance and explore a larger area of the Pyrenees, or an
experienced skier then you may be
more interested in our
Nordic Highlights holidays.
WHAT IS CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING ALL ABOUT?
This fantastic activity allows you to get a real buzz from
exploring the stunning mountain landscapes in the winter. What
is great is its flexibility - you can potter around the pistes at
your own pace, enjoying the tranquillity and views, or you can push
yourself hard and love the exercise of it all. What is more, it is
not a difficult sport to learn to do, and with a week of informal
instruction, you will
find you make huge improvements and can really 'travel' some
distance to explore the furthest corners of the skiable mountains.
If you are a complete beginner and know nothing at all about the
activity, or want a reminder about the types of cross-country skiing and what you
might need for it, you may find it useful to have a quick read of
our
xc skiing article,
which explains a bit more about how the sport works, the equipment
etc. This will give you a better idea about whether you think
it might be for you (we know it will be!). Do not hesitate to
contact us with any
questions you might have regarding the sport generally or our
holidays in particular.
GUIDING AND INSTRUCTION
The flexible nature
of this week makes it suitable for both beginners and experienced
classic cross-country skiers as well as those wanting to progress
with or try out the skating technique. We offer supreme flexibility
so that you get all the benefits of being in a mixed skill group
(meeting others, having a laugh, teaming up with people at your
level), with none of the disadvantages (feeling like you are slowing
the group down, feeling like you have gone back to school, being out
of your depth or conversely being held back by others in the group!)
Although guided skis
tours (with informal instruction) are offered every day, they are
not compulsory, so you are free to ski as much or as little as your
aspirations and physical ability allow. If you and your partner are
of different standards then this trip is perfect for you as there is
bound to be someone in the group after a similar experience to
yourself.
The holiday is led by James Thompson,
who is a qualified Snowsport England XC ski instructor and offers
'top tips' to both beginners and improvers in either 'classic'
or 'skating' styles of skiing.
As the director of Marmot Tours, James has been leading skiing
holidays since 2002 and has been in the leisure industry for
even longer. He knows what makes a good trip and is
approachable, energetic and enthusiastic.
For the first 3 days of this trip Cathy Thompson will be offering
orientation tours at different speeds.
Beginners:
You will receive a formal lesson on the first morning to help you
master the basic xc techniques. In the afternoon you will go on a ski
tour with Cathy to give you an opportunity to put into practice what
you have leant. For the rest of the week James will offer informal
tips and exercises on a one to one basis tailored to your individual
needs, ensuring you can progress at your own rate whilst still
giving you the chance to tour the cross-country ski areas.
Improvers:
On the first morning you will have a chance to get back into the
swing of things with Cathy. During the afternoon James will give a
refresher of the basics and offer a few pointers on an individual
basis. This style of informal tuition will continue thought the
holiday
to fine tune your technique and hopefully make your skiing more
efficient and enjoyable.
Skating:
James will offer skaters with one or more weeks experience a rolling
program of instruction throughout the holiday and offer various
exercises tailored to your level. People wanting to try skating for
the first time are encouraged to hire a local French instructor for
an hour (at extra cost).
INDEPENDENT
SKIING
Both cross-country ski domains that we use (Plateau
de Beille and Chioula) during this holiday are easy to orientate around, allowing us
to run this week so flexibly. Within a couple of days you will
have a feel for where you are going so can then have the confidence
to head off independently to either get some km's under your belt,
or to practice some of the cross-country skiing techniques you have just learnt.
James will suggest various routes for various members of the group,
depending on your skills, and you will be sure to find others in the
group at a similar level, and with similar aspirations to yourself.
We include a
rest day
in our weeks holiday itinerary so that you can, as it suggests, rest up for
a day. For the complete relaxation you would enjoy the
New Roman
Baths. However there are lots of
other
local activities such as downhill skiing or snowshoeing, or do a
spot of sightseeing.
HOLIDAY ITINERARY
The
itinerary remains flexible to accommodate for the snow conditions.
We intend to be on the slopes by 10am and aim to finish by 4.30pm.
You do not need to be on the go all the time, as all areas have
cafes offering fine mountain views.
You will be given a key to the van, so at any stage during the day
you can have access to spare clothing, different skis, etc.
Detailed information about each of the cross-country ski areas can be found
here >>
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Day
1:
Travel day
Today is about getting to Ax-Les-Thermes in time for dinner at the
Hotel Terminus. Airport transfers are provided to tie in with
flights listed below.
If on the early transfer you will have a free afternoon in Ax.
People arriving after
2100 will not be able to get a meal at the hotel.
Day
2:
Cross-country skiing at the
Plateau de Beille (1800m)
After breakfast there will be a briefing to go through all aspects
of the holiday. We will then transfer to the Plateau de Beille via
the ski hire shop in Les Cabannes.
There will be time for an introductory ski or beginners
lesson before lunch. In the afternoon there will be an informal
lesson for improvers, a guided ski to help you orientate or you are
free to explore the ski area at your own pace.
Day 3:
Cross-country skiing at the Plateau de Beille (1800m)
Day 4:
Cross-country skiing at the
Domain du Chioula (1430m)
Day 5:
Free day. We include a
rest day
in our weeks itinerary so that you can, as it suggests, rest up for
a day. For the complete relaxation you would enjoy the
New Roman
Baths. However there are lots of
other
local activities such as downhill skiing or snowshoeing, or do a
spot of sightseeing.
Day 6:
Cross-country skiing at the Plateau de Beille (1800m)
Day 7:
Cross-country skiing at the Domain du Chioula (1430m)
Day 8:
Travel Day
There are two transfers to Toulouse airport in
time for the flights listed below.
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HOLIDAY DATES
Sun 27 Dec 2009 - Sun 3 Jan 2010 (Trip code XFA I05) - £749
Sun 24 Jan - Sun 31 Feb 2010 (Trip code XFA J05) - £699
Sun 7 Feb - Sun 14 Feb 2010 (Trip code XFA J07) - £739
Sun 21 Feb - Sun 28 Feb 2010 (Trip Code XFA J09) - £739
Sun 28 Feb - Sun 7 March 2010 (Trip code XFA I10) - £699
HOW MUCH DOES THE HOLIDAY COST?
The 2009 / 2010 holiday prices vary depending on the particular date - please
double check the price above. Flights are not included in the
quoted price but can be picked up fairly cheaply if bought well in
advance (see the travel section below).
Allow about £50 for drinks and the meals not included (outlined below).
Please note that we offer a 5% discount if you book more than 3
months before the holiday departure date. We also offer
group and loyalty discounts.
This price includes:
Airport transfers, 5 days transport to different XC skiing regions, 5 days access
to the cross-country ski stations, 5 days guided XC skiing, 7 nights comfortable and
friendly **hotel, 6 evening meals, services of your guide
and cross-country ski instructor.
NB: The price above is based on sharing a room. If you would like
your own room for the holiday there is a supplement of £120 - this
must be arranged on booking.
WHERE DO WE STAY?
During this cross-country skiing holiday we stay in the family run 2 star Hotel Terminus, which
provides us with a comfortable base for the week. Alain and Elizabet
offer a warm welcome in their lovely hotel. They are proud to serve
up delicious evening meals using meat and vegetables from local producers. The rooms are large and all have a window overlooking
the river Ariège. The hotel is a 5 minute walk from the centre
of Ax les Thermes, opposite the railway station. Each room has an
en-suite bathroom, free WIFI and a television. The kitchen
produces excellent authentic Pyrenean dishes and the wood fire in
the hotel bar sets the scene for a warming mug of 'vin chaude' at
the end of the days XC skiing.
FOOD AND MEALS
Breakfast: Continental style breakfasts are provided by the
hotel. We supplement these with cereals and 'ready brek'.
Lunches: These are not included so you can choose your own
diet while skiing. There are excellent restaurants serving soups,
salads, pasta etc. in both ski areas or you can make up your
own picnic from the many bakeries in town.
Dinner: 6 evenings meals will be taken together in the hotel
restaurant and normally consist of 3 generous courses of local
French specialities. On the Wednesday evening you are free to try
out one of the many French or international restaurants in town.
Special diets: The Hotel Terminus is very used to providing
excellent meals for vegetarians and celiacs. Please
contact us if you have any other special dietary requirements.
MASSAGE SERVICE
On most evenings of this cross-country skiing holiday Cathy Thompson will be offering
Therapeutic Massages at the Hotel.
More info>>
GETTING AROUND
Throughout the cross-country skiing holiday you are transferred to and from the xc skiing areas
a
private minibus. James and Cathy have lots of experience of driving in
snowy conditions. The buses are naturally fitted with snow tyres and
snow chains are carried. Each day we transfer 30 to 45mins depending on
snow conditions on the road.
CLIMATE
This part of the Pyrenees generally has more snow for a longer season
than further West. Also the proximity to the Mediterranean gives us
longer sunnier days. On the slopes we can expect anything from -10
to +20, while in Ax-les-Thermes it very rarely gets below freezing.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI HIRE
XC Ski / boot / pole hire is not included
in the cost of the holiday to allow different people to hire kit to suit their skill levels and
many people bring their own kit.
The basic package for ‘classic’ skiing is €49 for 6 days. Skis
can be exchanged throughout the week as your confidence / ability
increases. Good quality skating gear can also be hired for an
additional €5 per day. The classic xc skis have ‘fishscale grip’ with NNN (Rossignol /
Rotterfella) bindings - these are not compatible with SNS boots. It
is not necessary to pre-book these.
NB: You are welcome bring your own
cross-country skis on this holiday. However, the ski areas are not suitable for wide skis with
metal edges and 3 pin bindings. Grip-wax skis can be used but are
not recommended (apart from in January) due to range of snow temperatures that can be
experienced within one day.
WHAT TO BRING
Cross-country skiing can be fairly energetic, so lots of
layers are best, ending in a windproof shell. You will need to be
able to carry some water with you while you are skiing. You will be
sent a full suggested packing list on booking.
TRAVEL :: HOW DO I GET THERE?
We get people coming on our holidays from all over the world on our
cross-country skiing holidays, so it
is impossible to include all the information on our website. The
notes below are tailored to travellers from the UK. People from other
countries please
contact us for advice.
Free minibus transfers to / from Toulouse Airport are offered to tie
in with the flights listed below from
London, Bristol and Manchester.
If it is easer for you to take a flight that arrives before or after
our transfer then you will need to make your own way to Ax-Les-Thermes
(easy & cheap bus & train journey). Alternatively you could extend
your holiday by arriving the day before and spending an afternoon /
evening exploring the vibrant and ornate red bricked city of
Toulouse. We would pick you up from your hotel on the
morning of our transfer.
Please see the transport
section of our website for all travel options (air, road and rail) plus
information on getting to the Hotel Terminus independently of the
group transfer from Toulouse / Carcassonne or Barcelona Airports.
We would like to emphasise that for this cross-country skiing
holiday the 'ski train' is a fun, cost effective and environmentally
friendly alternative to air travel, please
see our Green Travel pages.
Airport transfers:
For this cross-country skiing holiday we offer two airport transfers
which tie in with the
flights listed below. If any of these flights are delayed then the
transfer will naturally be rescheduled: People arriving on the
earlier of the flights will be expected to wait at the airport (max
2hrs) for the later flights to arrive:
MORNING TRANSFER
Thomas Cook charter flights from London Gatwick.
OUT: departs Gatwick at 0650, arrives Toulouse at 0940.
IN: departs Toulouse at 1115, arrives Gatwick at 1210.
BMI Baby flights from Manchester.
OUT: departs Manchester at 0625, arrives Toulouse at 0930.
IN: departs Toulouse at 1030, arrives Manchester 1140.
British Airways flights from London Heathrow.
OUT: departs Heathrow at 0705, arrives Toulouse at 0950.
IN: departs Toulouse at 1040, arrives Heathrow at 1135.
AFTERNOON TRANSFER
Easy Jet flights from London Gatwick.
OUT: departs Gatwick at 1325, arrives Toulouse at 1610.
IN: departs Toulouse at 1645, arrives Gatwick at 1735.
Easy Jet flights from Bristol.
OUT: departs Bristol at 1425, arrives Toulouse at 1710.
IN: departs Toulouse at 1740, arrives Bristol at 1830.
Alternatively flights with independent
transfers:
Please see the transport section
of our website. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in
contact.
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