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Cross-country track skiing holidays in the Pyrenees, France

A flexible week aimed at beginners and intermediates wanting try out or progress in this excellent winter activity

Stunning mountain views.
Reliable Snow due to altitude and aspect of ski areas.
120km of marked / graded Loips.
Guided or independent skiing.
XC Ski instructor throughout.
2* friendly and comfortable town hotel.
Flights from Manchester, Bristol, London
Option of downhill / telemark skiing

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To other cross-country skiing holidays

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 >>

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.


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.



Contact Marmot Tours: info@marmot-tours.co.uk
Tel/fax: 0033 561 02 80 43. French Mob: 0033 (0)6 30 01 12 98 		Marmot Tours Ltd