RETURN TO TOURPARTY SKIING BOOKING STEP 2

RETURN TO TOURPARTY SNOWBOARDING BOOKING STEP 2

[OTHER SPORTS? CLICK ON THE LINK FOR DETAILS OF OTHER SPORTS AND ACTIVE HOLIDAYS & CAMPS ON THE TOURPARTY HOME PAGE: SPORTS HOLIDAYS, CAMPS & TOURS.]

SKIING & SNOWBOARDING HOLIDAYS AND CAMPS
ABOUT LES DEUX ALPES, FRANCE (EUROPE) IN THE WINTER

[This is BOOKING STEP 2 of the 3-step process to booking your best ever Ski or Snowboard Holiday and/or Skiing or Snowboarding Camp. Click on the link to return to the Tourparty Skiing homepage or the Tourparty Snowboarding homepage for BOOKING STEPS 1 & 3 and other information.]

Scroll down for information on Les Deux Alpes, Alpe d'Huez and La Grave in the Winter. (Click on the link for information on Les Deux Alpes in the Summer.)

WINTER IN LES DEUX ALPES (L2A) - RESORT, HOTEL & TRAVEL INFORMATION (FRANCE)

INTRODUCTION TO LES DEUX ALPES (2 ALPES)

Les Deux Alpes (also known as "2 Alpes") is one awesome resort that we've got to know well over the years... we always look forward to returning there.

One of the highest ski resorts in Europe, thanks to its extensive glacier and a high proportion of runs above 2100m (the highest lift is at 3568m), Les Deux Alpes is "snowsure"... no need to worry about there being enough snow to ski on one of our holidays!

You can read all about it below and at: www.les2alpes.com.

There is also the option of spending a day in nearby Alpe d'Huez, it is less than an hour away and is well worth a visit, and more experienced freeride skiers participating in the Tourparty Camp in March/April may have the opportunity to ski down to La Grave. (See below for more information on Alpe d'Huez and La Grave.)

There's lots to recommend Deux Alpes, and other ski areas are not far away!

• High, snow sure slopes, including an extensive glacier area;
• Varied high-mountain terrain, from motorway cruising to seriously steep blacks and off-slope slopes;
• Efficient, modern lift system;
• Excellent, sunny lower slopes;
• Stunning views of the Ecrins peaks.

The lifts at Les Deux Alpes are fast, the snow park is well managed (see below), there are plenty of natural features around the mountain and there are good red and black runs on and off piste to keep even the most demanding skiers and snowboarders busy over a week. (For beginners there are lots of easy green and blue runs perfect for learning and building confidence.)

Located in a flat valley at 1650m but still towered over by the surrounding mountains, the town may not be the most traditional or romantic of of resorts architectually but it has character and stunning mountain scenary. As a relatively modern resort it also offers plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs.

There are lots of activities too, from swimming in the large outdoor pool to ice skating, health and beauty facilities, bowling, taboganning, cinema etc.

“(I went...) ...because I thought that going to Les Deux Alpes with the LINE team would be sick!” (Tourparty Freestyle Camp, 12 years old)

SKIING & SNOWBOARDING - ALL LEVELS

Les Deux Alpes is perfectly suited to skiers and snowboarders of all levels. From the beginner slopes at resort level to the pistes on the glacier, there are over 100 green (27), blue (45), red (18) and black (14) runs to satisfy the most demanding skiers and snowboarders. The skiing area extends to 430 hectares of marked pistes, almost 225 kilometres!

If you are new to snowsports then the green and blue runs are perfect for you. If you are an Intermediate skier or snowboarder looking to progress your riding then the red (and black!) pistes will be your playground with our Coaches sharing their experience and tips to help you improve your technique and have lots of fun.

For the advanced and freeride skiers and snowboarders Les Deux Alpes has a number of great runs all over the mountain, many of them unknown to most of the "tourist" skiers and boarders who tend to keep to the main pistes. Also Les Deux Alpes benefits from good snowfall (and over 200 snow cannons too!) providing pently of pow for cruising and leaving your line for all to see.

Down the back of Les Deux Alpes is La Grave - a "freerider’s paradise" - see below for more information.

THE SLIDER SNOWPARK

Where do we start with explaining why the Les Deux Alpes Slider Snowpark rocks?!

The team at 2 Alpes have been working on the snowpark for nearly 11 years, developing the park to meet and exceed the ever-increasing expectations of riders.

Thanks to their collaboration with Nicolas Marduel, and to the experience of their drivers, the snowpark has earned a worldwide reputation and hosts a number of competitions each year.

The team have 3 "Park bullies", one pipe magician, one turbine, daily ramp maintenance, new "fat" handrails, etc to work their magic!

“It looked way better than the ski and boards test in Austria (infact the snow was real bad there according to my bro who went).” (Tourparty Freestyle Camp, 15 years old)

• Axe pipe:
  This zone allows beginners to initiated riders to take on rather "technical" ramps like hips, gaps, or quarters over more than 800m before entering the pipe!
• Slopestyle:
  Slopestyle is one of the most popular discipline and allows experienced to expert riders. Les 2 Alpes Slopestyle varies each year, for example it may comprise a step up gap, a 20 meters long Big Air, 2 tables with 3 kickers from 8 to 15 meters long, several handrails like "kink", "straight" or "C" Rails and a huge hip! It is shaped every day.
• Half-pipe:
  The pipe meets federation standards and is 120 m long with a 45 m radius. Regular maintenance by a team of experienced drivers ensures perfect curves and "vertical".
• L'envers:
  The most beautiful playground in the Alps, the one and only: handrails, rainbow, curb, kicks, 2 big air tamps and cool zone with BBQ, music, open DJ turntable, and some deckchairs to take a breather.
• Snowskate zone:
  A 100% specific, fully equipped zone. On-site gear lending in exchange for identity papers.

“Book it! A chance to get great coaching in a good resort and to try a range of skis too.” (Tourparty Freestyle Camp, 49 years old)

SLIDE AREA

Another reason we constantly revisit 2 Alpes is the "Slide Area" which offers a wide range of freestyle features around the mountain in addition to those in the snowpark area - some are natural, some are man-made, all are great fun to ride!

• The gully 3100m:
  150m long at 35°! Twisting and turning or straight ahead, but get down that hill! You're in for a ride!
• The canyons 3000m:
  Ski around the banked curves, wind down the hill, and conquer these 2 fun runs. Why? To make the most of the mountains!
• The ledge 2800m:
  From 1 to 5 m high, choose your challenge and learn to master this 100% natural, 100% safe obstacle!
• The waterfalls 2800m:
  Alone or with a friend, have a safe flight while improving your technique. What's the secret? Building up speed!
• The ski cross / boardercross 2600m:
  Moved to the Toura piste (between the Lac Noir TSF and the new Toura TSF) and completely redesigned, the new boardercross run offers a 185m drop over more than 1000m.

(Don't worry, you don't have to be a master skier or snowboarder to tackle these features, they are open for people of any standard to ski through and loads of fun!)

“(Compared to other camps and ski holidays...) ...this Camp was cheaper and a much better snow park by miles.” (Tourparty Freestyle Camp, 12 years old)

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD FOR THOSE BOOKING FULLY INCLUSIVE, FULL-BOARD (RESIDENTIAL) PLACES WITH TOURPARTY IN LES DEUX ALPES

Good accommodation and food is important when you are training hard every day to improve your skiing and snowboarding. We negotiate hard to get good quality accommodation for the best possible price. Normally we stay in La Belle Étoile Hotel, enjoying comfortable, clean, friendly full-board accommodation.

The hotel is just a couple of minutes walk from Le Diable bubble lift and the slopes and five minutes from Le Jardin Express gondola, with en-suite rooms (TV etc), restaurant, bar, pool table, terrace, sauna, jacuzzi and ski lockers.

We stayed at La Belle Etoile Hotel for the first time in April 2006 and we liked it so much we have stayed there many times since. Run by Enrica and her Italian team, the hotel is great and well located close to shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs.

If you wish to share a room with friends who are also coming on the Camp please write their names on your booking form and we will put you together. If you are coming on your own don't worry the Camps are always very friendly and the people on them are very sociable, not least the coaches. (We take care to try to ensure people with similar interests, backgrounds and ages are allocated accommodation together, on a same-sex basis.)

Having worked up a big appetite on the mountain there will be a great dinner awaiting you down below, and a buffet breakfast next day to get you ready for the slopes. A good packed lunch will be provided every day for refueling on the mountain. All included in the Camp price!

We are able to meet all dietary requirements. Prior to the Holiday/Camp we send out a Camp information pack and various forms requesting details of dietary needs etc. So if you have particular food needs (such as vegetarian, vegan, kosher or halaal) we will be able to arrange this for you.

“(I went because it...) ...sounded like a good trip and I liked the idea of getting some quality coaching.” (Tourparty Freestyle Camp, 23 years old)

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TRAVEL TO LES DEUX ALPES?

You are free to make your own arrangements for traveling from wherever you live in the world to Les Deux Alpes in France, ideally arriving in the afternoon on the Saturday and departing the following Saturday in the afternoon or evening.

Les Deux Alpes is easy to reach from anywhere in the world.

You can travel there by road and rail from anywhere in Europe, the routes to Les Deux Alpes are fast.

If you want to fly to Les Deux Alpes the nearest airport to the resort is Grenoble in France (www.ryanair.com and www.easyjet.com), Lyon in France (www.easyjet.com) is another popular arrival airport which is well connected with international flights etc, and Chambery in France (www.jet2.com) is a possibility too.

As well as the budget airlines mentioned, a lot of charter companies sell seats on their flights to these airports, other airlines may also operate to these airports.

Geneva in Switzerland is also an option but is further away. Transfers to resort and car rental are easy to arrange from these airports in Winter...

We can offer transfers from Grenoble and Lyon airports for an extra charge of £55 (80 EUR, $110 USD) per person - this can be booked using the booking form or separately nearer the time of travel, depending on availability or you can make your own arrangements or use the local bus service to transfer to resort.

Our "meet and greet" transfer service makes attendance easy, especially for young people travelling alone or with friends - we just need flight details and will then take care of everything "door to door" from arrival at the airport at the beginning of the week to departure at the end of the week.

We hope the following information is helpful but please note that we cannot accept responsibility for any factual inaccuracies, or problems while traveling. We recommend you investigate all options carefully and reserve seats and confirm times wherever possible:

By Plane:
Grenoble St. Geoirs Airport (120 kms). You can book our "meet and greet" transfer service from Grenoble airport (with Tourparty staff) for £55 (80 EUR, $110 USD) return or make your own transfer arrangements, hiring a car, a taxi or taking the airport shuttle / coach service to Grenoble and then the VFD link to 2 Alpes. VFD Coach Service: www.vfd.fr. Tel: 0033 820 833 833.

Lyon St. Exupéry Airport (160 kms). You can book our "meet and greet" transfer service from Lyon airport (with Tourparty staff) for £55 (80 EUR, $110 USD) return or make your own transfer arrangements, hiring a car, a taxi or booking on a coach service to Les Deux Alpes (via Grenoble): www.satobus-alpes.com. Tel: 0033 472 35 25 52 55.

By Train:
TGV direct to Grenoble (70 kms). SNCF information; 0033 892 353 535. Then use the VFD link to Deux Alpes. (The bus station in Grenoble is next door to the railway station within walking distance.) VFD Coach Service tel: 0033 820 833 833. www.vfd.fr

By Car:
Ensure you have low domination Euro for tolls etc. For journey planner information see: www.theaa.com or www.rac.co.uk and go to their "Europe Route Planner".

We recommend you visit the Les Deux Alpes Tourist Office website for more information: www.les2alpes.com or call the Office direct tel: 0033 476 79 22 00.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOUTH AGED 10 TO 17 YEARS

There are various options for young people traveling to and from the Tourparty and DirtTribe Camps in Les Deux Alpes:

• For all Camps those attending are free to make their own travel arrangements either by road, rail or air.
• For all Les Deux Alpes Camps Tourparty offers a transfer service from Grenoble and Lyon airports (see above) which includes a free "meet and greet" service for Youth participants - a member of Tourparty staff will meet Youth participants off their flight and ensure they are on the transfer to Les Deux Alpes (to be met in resort by Tourparty staff), similarly Tourparty will escort Youth participants to the departure gates for their return flight.
• It is appreciated that some budget airlines have restrictions on young people traveling as unaccompanied minors. For this reason for those Youth participants traveling from the UK, a member of Tourparty staff will fly from London Stansted (UK) to Grenoble (France) on the day of arrival for the Easter Camps in 2008 in Les Deux Alpes, and return to London Stansted (UK) on the departure day. The flight time will be arranged and confirmed as soon as the budget airline serving these airports confirms availability/flight times etc. Unaccompanied Youth participants attending an Easter 2008 Camp and wishing to fly to Grenoble/Les Deux Alpes are invited to travel on the same flight with the member of Tourparty staff. (We will publicise the flight times/number as soon as this has been confirmed, you will then be free to book on the same flight and then meet the member of staff at the check-in desk on the day of the flight.) This is an established service that has worked well on previous Camps. Unfortunately it is not possible to offer other departure locations around the UK (or Europe) for the Easter Camps, if London Stansted (UK) is not convenient we hope you can make alternative arrangements - younger unaccompanied passengers can normally travel on national airlines from all countries around the world to Grenoble or Lyon without difficulty, to be met by Tourparty staff for the free "meet and greet" service if booking a transfer from the airport to the resort (see above).

“Great resort; awesome coaching; loads of fun; cool people; amazing atmosphere.” (Tourparty Freestyle Camp, 16 years old)

WINTER IN ALPE D'HUEZ

The resort of Alpe d'Huez is nearby and there is always the option of a day or two there.

Like Les Deux Alpes, Alpe d'Huez also benefits from a glacier with its highest lift at 3330m. It offers easy access to the slopes and is at the centre of the linked area Les Grandes Rousses, which has 86 lifts and 230km of piste.

Alpe d'Huez is described as a great "all-rounder" resort with a modern lift system that includes one of the largest cable-cars in the world and boasts the 16km long La Sarenne run (one of the longest blacks in Europe) and the notorious Tunnel Run plus many off-piste options.

“Can’t wait for next year. So much fun. Thanks to everyone.” (Tourparty Freestyle Camp, 25 years old)

WINTER IN LA GRAVE

More experienced freeride skiers participating in the Tourparty Camp in March/April may have the opportunity to ski down to La Grave from the top of the Dôme de la Lauze ski tow (via carrier). La Grave is a unique resort combining backcountry skiing and an uninterrupted 2,150 m of downhill excitement, a freerider’s paradise!

A world-renowned site at the foot of the Meije, La Grave has an exceptionally beautiful setting, top-quality snow, and fantastic off-piste potential which has been luring ski fanatics from around the world for some time now.

From La Grave the La Meije Glaciers Aerial Tramway (Téléphérique) provides the sole access to this high altitude glacial terrain, and carries passengers to the Ruillans Pass at 3200 meters in 30 minutes. The Trifides and Dome de la Lauze drag lifts then take them up to 3550 meters where there are only two marked trails, along with the access to the Deux Alpes ski resort.

“It was really good riding with everyone and it was a really good resort to go to. If there is another LINE ski Camp it should be at Les Deux Alpes.” (Tourparty Freestyle Camp, 14 years old)

RETURN TO TOURPARTY SKIING BOOKING STEP 2

RETURN TO TOURPARTY SNOWBOARDING BOOKING STEP 2