Rail packages from the UK |
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European rail
For keen green skiers, the way you travel to your destination is probably just as important as where you stay when you get there.
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Rail travel is not only responsible for just a third of the pollution of air travel but is also less stressful by avoiding busy airports and often takes you to the heart of the ski resort. The overnight trains give you more time on the slopes without taking any more days off work.
In Europe the French resorts are the best served by train with a weekly Eurostar direct train service from London St Pancras to the Tarentaise Valley for the resorts of Megeve, Meribel, Courchevel, and Val d’Isere. This service uses the Eurostar carriages with no sleeping cars. The night-time service allows 8 days skiing but the daytime only 6 days. Alternatively, there is a dedicated Eurostar / Snow Train service via Paris Gare du Nord which also gives 8 days skiing. You just have to change platforms in Paris to board the overnight sleeper train.
Switzerland and Austria are also accessible by rail via Paris. The resorts which are best served with daytime trains in Switzerland are Zermatt, Verbier, Villars, Davos, Klosters, Riederalp, St Moritz, Grindelwald, Wengen, Murren. There are no sleepers available to Switzerland. Austrian resorts are less well served, but it is possible to take a sleeper from Paris to Munich with rail connections to Kitzbuhel and the Gastein Valley.
Please see below for some sample packages:
France
Val d’Isere
Probably the best skiing in the world. Val d’isere combines with Tignes to provide on the best snow sure playgrounds in Europe.
Hotel Tsanteleina **** 7 nights from £1,505 (2nd class) £1,646 (1st class) per person on half board based on twin share and daytime Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Bourg St Maurice, taxi to Bourg St Maurice (approximately 40 mins) Indicative timings:
Outward - Homeward London St Pancras International - DEP 1002 - ARR 1610 Bourg St Maurice - ARR 1820 - DEP 0959 3 rail options
From London St Pancras International to Bourg St Maurice by Eurostar. There is then only a short 30-minute transfer to resorts such as Val d’Isere. Direct by day. Saturdays only. A good solution to avoid the waiting time at airports and gets you to your resort by the early evening rested and relaxed. Direct overnight – out Friday night and back Saturday night. An excellent option to give skiing on both Saturdays, thus 8 days instead of 6. Sitting up but with quality seats and the option to upgrade to first class with dinner included. Via Paris overnight. Daily Eurostar to Paris connecting to an overnight couchette (except Sundays). This gives the same extra skiing benefits as the direct overnight service, but avoids sitting up all night.
Les 2 Alpes
High altitude glacier skiing with an excellent snow record and long hours of sunshine.
Hotel la Farandole ****
7 nights from £1371 (2nd class) £1526 (1st class) per person on half board based on twin share and daytime service from London St Pancras to Grenoble via Paris and taxi ( approx 1 1/2 hrs ) to Les 2 Alpes. Price includes cross Paris taxi.
Indicative Timings: Outward - Homeward London St. Pancras International - DEP 08:32 - ARR 1636
Paris Nord Eurostar - ARR
11:47 - DEP 1507 Grenoble - ARR 16:50 - DEP 1005
Switzerland
Zermatt
An exclusive and traditional ski resort with old world charm surrounding the world’s most recognized mountain, the Matterhorn.
Hotel Mirabeau
7 nights from £1223 (2nd class) £1393 (1st class) per person on half board based on twin share and daytime service from London St Pancras International to Basel via Paris with connections to Zermatt (price includes cross Paris taxi). Indicative Timings: Outward - Homeward
London St. Pancras
International - DEP 08:32 - ARR 2142
Visp - ARR 18:31 - DEP
1128 Villars
Traditional resort, a firm favourite with the British, offering extensive intermediate slopes linked to the glacier skiing at Les Diablerets
Hotel du Golf ****
7 nights from £1045 (2nd class) £1199 (1st class) per person on half board based on twin share and daytime service from London St Pancras via Paris to Lausanne with connections to Villars (price includes cross Paris taxi) Indicative Timings Outward - Homeward
London St. Pancras
International - DEP 08:32 - ARR 1934
Austria
The Gastein Valley where the resorts of Bad Gastein and Badhof Gastein are situated. The region has extensive skiing with over 200km of slopes. The high elevations and the extensive snow making facilities guarantee reliable snow conditions from late November until the end of April.
Overnight service from London St Pancras via Paris and Munich (sleeper Paris to Munich) to Bad Hofgastein.)
Hotel St Georg ****
7 nights from £1154 (2nd class) £1313 (1st class) per person on half board based on twin share, and daytime service London St Pancras to Paris, overnight 2 berth sleeper Paris to Munich, daytime service Munich to Bad Hofgastein via Salzburg. Indicative Timings Outward - Homeward
London St. Pancras
International - DEP 17:30 - ARR 0934 München Hbf - DEP 09:27 - ARR 2034
Salzburg Hbf - ARR 10:54
- DEP1903 Please be aware that rail travel may be a more costly alternative to air travel but ski carriage is free and there is no restriction on luggage.
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