L'Orange Bleue Cours François Bénard 05560 Vars
7 NIGHTS
Contact us for a quote
Set in the southern French Alps just over 30km south of Briancon is the village of Vars St Marie. It is the only one of the 3 villages that form the ski area not to be a purpose-built ski resort. As such it is certainly the one that has the most ambient mountain feel. Full of old stone properties – shops, bars and restaurants. Vars St Marie has three lifts serving the village along with a small nursery area for beginners.
Vars St Marie along with Vars Le Claux 3 km away and Risoul on the other side of the mountain are linked to form the extensive Foret Blanche ski area with more than 180km of ski trails across 115 prepared pistes which in turn are served by 42 lifts not to mention three snow parks. There are small nursery slopes in Vars St Marie with more substantial ones in Vars Le Claux. More accomplished skiers can use the lift in St Marie to access the heart of the ski area where as beginners may find it makes sense to ski from Le Claux. The Foret Blanche is one of the few resorts to feature a flying kilometre, the worlds fastest ski slopes. Look out for it as you ski around … from a distance!
This specialist youth accommodation can be found about 900m from the village centre and lifts. It has a capacity of 120 and can be configured to operate for 2 entirely separate and separated groups of 50+. It is basic youth accommodation but on most dates is a saving on the better appointed and positioned Monte Pente. It is still a good option if your budget is tight and you want to ski France.
The Orange Bleue is located above Vars St Marie and 900m from the village centre. So between 3 and 4km from Vars Le Claux. Coach is the preferred option.
The accommodation has 2 separate restaurant areas, games rooms and plenty of recreational space. The group will be on a full board basis with picnic lunch
The following are all included in the trip package
Vars is suitable for a coach group.
Coach - Luxury UK coaches from 49 - 85 seats, Channel ferry or Eurotunnel crossing. Approximately 16 hours from Calais.
L'Orange Bleue is best suited for a group who enjoys relaxing in their accommodation and playing games, quiz's & cards. The dining room can be used for a presentation evening and the rep can also organise bum boarding just outside the Monte Pente for one evening.
For Swimming and Ice skating they are in Briancon which is 45km from Vars so the best part of an hour.
Please make sure your child has a valid passport with at least 3 months left until it expires on the date of departure.
EHIC / GHIC CARD - If your child has an EHIC card it will remain valid until its expiry date. Following Brexit, this has been replaced by the GHIC card which is still free and means you have access to free healthcare whilst in Europe. You can apply for a GHIC card HERE
SPENDING MONEY - They shouldn't need much but a small amount of sterling for whilst they are at the airport and the remainder in Euro's. Enough so they can get the odd hot chocolate on the mountain, a snack at the services en route to the hotel and a souvenir or two to thank you for letting them go on this amazing trip!
SKIWEAR - The cost of skiwear has come down dramatically over the past few years so this won't cost the earth. We provide the rental of boots, helmets, ski's and poles but they'll need a ski jacket, salopettes ( waterproof trousers ) and a few other bits and bobs. We'll tell you more about exactly what they need and where to get it nearer the time.
At True North we pride ourselves in offering well organised, safe school ski trips to some of the worlds greatest ski areas. Our aim is to exceed your expectations every time you book with us and challenge convention to make organising your next trip as seamless as possible.
We understand that we only have one planet and that we are all responsible for doing our part to care for it. Whilst travel is a wonderful experience, it does place certain pressures on our environment. We have partnered with a fabulous social enterprise called 'Carbon Footprint'. We make a donation for every student that travels with us to minimise the effect our trips have on the environment.
Here are some examples of the projects we support -
India – India wind power generation
UK - Tree planting
Brazil - Protecting The Amazon
TRUE NORTH TRAVELS' EXCLUSIVE 15% SITEWIDE DISCOUNT
LINK TO FOLLOW: Dare 2b website link
CODE: TNXD2B15
TRUE NORTH WELCOME DISCOUNT: - 15% Off EVERYTHING
We are very proud to partner with Dare 2b. We think the products they offer are ideal for our groups. They suit all abilities, styles and ages, at a price point that represents value.
Follow the link, straight to the Dare 2b website, where you can easily search and find everything you need for your ski trip, from base layers, jackets and trousers, all the way to your bobble hat! You can order directly from the website and have your kit delivered straight to your door. Throughout the year they have many special offers on all their product ranges, catering for the great outdoors and multi-sports.
Our True North Leaders out in the resort this winter, are kitted out this season in Dare 2b jackets and mid-layers.
For the last 5 years, prior to our partnership, I have kitted out my son with Dare 2b winter clothing. Living and growing up in Austria, Sam wears that kit all winter, its not only used for skiing, but he wears it on his way to and from school, which for a 20 minute walk in summer, turns into an hour-long walk-in winter, not because of battling the elements, but because they slide, roll, climb through every bit of snow they can. He basically lives in the kit whenever he is outside for the 4 months of the year, and so far, it has survived the test of time, and has stayed waterproof after multiple washes. As he grows, the kit gets handed on to family and friends and lives on for the next few seasons. - Simon Richardson (True North).
