Generally speaking, the French Pyrenees are a lot cheaper and less crowded than those of the big resorts in the Alps in winter and L’Ancienne Poste (www.ancienneposteavajan.com), an English-owned and run ski lodge in the village of Avajan in the heart of the French Pyrenees, has launched off-peak long-ski weekends there.
The itinerary commences with the 9am flight on Thursday from London City Airport to Pau (the flight has to be self-purchased) where you are collected and transferred to the lodge (1.5 hours), arriving at lunchtime. Following a ski-equipment fitting, the afternoon is spent relaxing in the local Balnea Spa (www.balnea.fr), which is just a few minutes’ walk from the lodge. Later on, pre-dinner welcome drinks are served in the lodge, followed by a four course meal with wine.
The next three days are then spent skiing at three different resorts, all under ten minutes’ drive from the lodge -Peyragudes (www.peyragudes.com), Saint Lary (www.saintlary.com) and Piau Engaly (www.piau-engaly.com). Between them, the three resorts total 20 black runs, 52 red runs and 69 blues runs and guests are accompanied by James Dealtry, the owner of the lodge and a fully-qualified ski instructor (and mountain guide).
Following breakfast on the Monday, you are transferred back to Pau for the 12.50pm City Jet flight back to the UK.
The long ski weekend break costs from €499 pp (two sharing) which includes airport transfers, 4-nights’ half-board including a four-course evening meal with wine and coffee, Thursday afternoon session in Local Spa Balnea and three days’ ski guiding (not teaching).
