If you thought the alpine skiing season ended in May, think again. The upper parts of the world-renowned Espace Killy – the portion of the Northern Alps that encompasses the resorts of Tignes and Val d’Isere – retains snow cover well into the summer.
Visit the region in June and you can enjoy both summer and winter alpine pursuits. Where else can you go white-water rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, mountain climbing, canoeing or hiking one day, then ski or snowboard the next?
Forego the more established resorts of Tignes, Les Arcs and Val. A short distance from Val d’Isere, Sainte Foy Tarentaise could be described as a secret village in comparison with its better-known and larger neighbours. Unlike them, Sainte Foy has retained its original charm and avoided becoming overrun with tourists.
Get a bunch of friends together to hire one of the village’s comfortable, traditional and luxurious chalets. As Sainte Foy remains fairly underdeveloped (beware, nightlife is practically non-existent!) each one has great views of Mont Pourri and Aiguille Rouge.
The snow-capped mountains and high-mountain meadows provide the perfect background for a relaxing post-winter or summer activity cocktail.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Image: Darkroom Daze)