Day 1 - Arrival in Geneva/Cogne

The group transfer will meet in Geneva at 16:30, and arrive in Cogne in time for dinner. If organising your own transport meet at the group hotel in Cogne. We will be staying at the charming Hotel du Grand Paradis, in the heart of Cogne and close to the shops, bars and restaurants. It was the first hotel to be built in Cogne and has its own cosy spa. 

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

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Day 2 - Introduction to skate skiing

Our hotel is just 5 minutes from the ski tracks, so after fitting our skis we'll get straight onto the snow. The instructor will start with a few exercises to introduce us to the techniques of skate style cross-country skiing. Cogne has beautifully groomed tracks in a large flat area, and a range of trails suitable for every level of skier so it really is the perfect arena for learning to skate ski. After lunch in a local restaurant or cafe we'll don our skis to practice what we have learnt and consolidate our new skills. Depending on how much progress has been made and how the group is feeling we also have the option to ski some shorter routes. After a day on the ski trails we'll still have plenty of time to explore the shops, enjoy a pre-dinner apéro or relax in the hotel spa. Oh, and there'll be plenty of stops for coffee and cake, in case you were wondering...

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

 

Day 3 - Building on skills

The Cogne Valley has around 80 kilometres of ski trails, so it's no surprise that many regional and national cross country ski competitions, such as the Marcia Gran Paradiso, take place here. The trails are flat or gently undulating and are the perfect training ground for skate skiers at all levels, from beginners to racers. Using the free ski bus we can explore a bit, starting in a neighbouring village such as Epinel or Lillaz. We'll review and practice the skills we learned yesterday, and take a short tour to our lunch stop. The aim is to make sure you progress each day at your own pace so that you really enjoy the experience. In the afternoon we'll learn to progress and adapt our basic strides for different types of terrain, with plenty of practice along the way.

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Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

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Day 4 - Valnontey day tour

Today we'll take a longer tour that can be adapted to suit all levels reached so far, and put all the skate skiing skills that we've learned into practice. We'll aim to ski to the delightful upper valley of Valnontey, which is famous for ice climbing. We might even spot some ice climbers tackling the spectacular frozen waterfalls that line the valley on both sides. We'll stop for lunch at the charming family-run Albergo La Barme, which sits in a tiny hamlet of old wooden houses with stone-tiled roofs. After lunch we continue along the undulating trails, following the river's edge to the head of the valley. We may even spot ibex and chamois on the slopes of the valley, and in the woods next to the trails. As we head down we have some enjoyable downhill sections which can be adapted - or even avoided!  - depending how you're feeling. In the evening we'll enjoy our final Italian meal - a fitting finale to our Italian Skate Ski Break. 

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Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

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Day 5 - Departure day

Our trip ends after breakfast and one single-timed group transfer will be provided at around 07:00-07:30 hrs to transport the group back to Geneva Airport for 10:00-10:30 hrs. More information on this will be provide upon booking. 

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