Not everyone wants to ski!
Believe it or not, many people come to ski resorts simply for the fresh mountain air and fabulous scenery… or because they’re dragged kicking and screaming by various members of their family.
For any non-skier, the great news is that Monêtier, and much of Serre Chevalier, is also ideal for those wanting a relaxing and convenient holiday which doesn’t involve skiing, but which might involve walking, shopping, snow-shoeing, swimming, morning coffees with a good book or simply relaxing at the thermal spa or on your sunny balcony! Yes, you can be warm on a skiing holiday!
Number One
Don’t let anyone tell you that winter holidays are always cold and that you’ll freeze the whole time. In fact, being wrapped up in your woollies with the sun beaming down on you, surrounded by the most magnificent scenery, is a wonderful feeling. And, if you come to ‘Serre Che’ mid to late March or in April, you’re almost guaranteed lovely warm temperatures. P.S. The local tourist office says that the resort generally has more than 300 days of sunshine each year!
Number Two
If everyone else in your family is skiing and you’re not, don’t despair! The villages are small enough that it’s very easy to meet near and dear for lunch at the bottom of the pistes. It takes approximately seven minutes to walk from the centre of Monêtier village, for example, to the ski lifts and only two or three minutes to walk from one end of the village to the other – and you’ll pass the butcher, two bakers, a handful of bars, a tea room, a supermarket, sports shops, hotels and and all sorts of souvenir and ‘home-style’ shops along the way!
Number Three
Why not meet your group at altitude by riding one of the chair lifts ‘on foot’ for a spot of lunch or a coffee? There are a handful of mountain restaurants accessible this way. You could even take some snowshoes and walk one of the snowshoe itineraries too. Serre Chevalier has special lift passes for non-skiers. You’ll pay 9-12€ for each ‘uplift’ (you can also use the lifts to make your way down). Here are some snowshoe routes to keep you busy: SNOWSHOEING IN SERRE CHEVALIER
Number Four
With bikini, swimsuit or some lycra shorts in hand (see later), visit Les Grands Bains du Monêtier. This is one of Europe’s largest thermal spas and definitely worth a visit. Two large thermal pools, plunge pools and waterfalls, sauna, hammam, Roman Irish baths, the list goes on and all of this with a view of Monêtier’s ski area and very own glacier. Note: bermuda surf-style or even shorter versions of swimming shorts are not allowed, it’s lycra all the way. We’ve summarised the thermal spa here, have a read!
Number Five
A spot of shopping mixed with some culture – visit Europe’s highest town Briançon at 1350 metres. The best bit is that there are no winding roads or complicated bus systems to negotiate. Simply drive and park or use the ski bus. The new main town is just 200 metres from the Prorel bus stop and the magnificent old town (also known as the Cité Vauban) is not to be missed, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site (souvenir shops, cafés including Café Turin with its home made patisseries, restaurants, impressive views of the valley and south, old fortifications perched above, guided visits in various languages, little play parks for children up to 12 years, …)
Bus stops for Briançon main town: Prorel or Sainte Catherine
Bus stops for Briançon old town/Cité Vauban: Porte d’Embrun or Champ de Mars
Serre Chevalier valley bus timetable here.
Number Six
Visit the area with a local guide from the tourist office or Service Patrimoine. There is so much to see thanks to Briançon’s heritage and culture; the town and its secrets, the fortifications of Vauban, the mountain villages and their history, children’s guided tours, …
So, all of the above tells you what you can do in Serre Chevalier if you’re not skiing, but if you’d like more ideas, just give us a call or email (contact details below)!