Issue No. 20

What is the winter season like in
Samoëns
Many people think the winter season is just
for downhill skiing but there’s so much
more on offer. We love to try cross country
skiing which is great for fitness and for the
incredible views from the top of the Col de
Joux plan; or traverse the valley by the river.
Tailor-made snowshoe adven-tures can be
organised and are a real escape from daily
life and a chance to discover utterly
magical, Narnia-like land-scapes.
Snowshoe walks make snowy winter terrain
accessible to anyone and everyone.
Whether you take a half or full day to
conquer a summit, stroll through the woods,
or build an igloo as a family, there’s an
excursion to suit your needs.
A very different après-ski experience can be
a snow shoe walk through snowy forests
with nothing but the moon and flickering
flame of your handheld torch to guide you,
enjoy the quiet, calm of the mountain after
dark as you make your way to Ludo’s
Yurts – traditional Mongolian roundhouses.
There you will enjoy a traditional meal in a
cosy, friendly environment.
Where to rent equipment
We tend to use Xtreme Glisses which is
efficiently run by Francois, who has a
fabulous team. It’s extremely close to the
Grand Massif Express Gondola, by the
roundabout near to the Bridge over the river.
As part of the ski rental package, you are
provided with overnight storage for your
skis and boots, this is a huge benefit as
there is no need to haul all of your gear
back to The Lodge. A good alternative is Jay
Sports Ski Loc which is a great ski shop
with rental, run by Thierry Jay. They have
three shops, two in the town and a third on
the Samoëns 1600 plateau.