With its scenic position on the Bellecôte Massif, the aptly named Belle Plagne is an attractive village of local stone and wood buildings, with a pretty, flower-filled pedestrianised centre. There are amazing open views, as the village is surrounded by rolling green pastures and pine woods, with panoramic vistas of the mountain peaks all around. This setting provides a perfect backdrop for some fantastic activities and adventure sports, making this a great family destinationfor all ages. There is plenty to do and it is easy to get to all the neighbouring villages which make up the combined resort of La Plagne, by a choice of car, free bus or cable-car.
The other key attraction of Belle Plagne is the Chalet Hotel des Deux Domaines itself - our flagship, 5-diamond property, specifically designed with Esprit families in mind, and featuring spacious family rooms and suites, its own indoor swimming-pool, plus sauna, steamroom and indoor and outdoor hot-tubs!
Crunch Busters
Book Early to secure your `Crunch-Buster´ deals
FREE holidays for children and infants
Full child discounts even in their own rooms
FREE soft drinks all day for children
FREE packed lunches for all
FREE wine for all adults with dinner
FREE ice-lollies for children
FREE Baby Listening and Child Patrol Service
FREE travel on all the lifts for children under 6
FREE use of buses between the local villages
All `Crunch-Busters´ have limited availability, must be reserved at the time of booking your holiday, and may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Conditions apply to most deals
For Ramblers, Hikers & Bikers
The beauty of Belle Plagne is its easy access to open countryside, both on foot
directly from our Chalet Hotel, or using the Roche de Mio cable-car. There is a
hiking trail to suit everyone, whether it’s looking for marmots, or wild flower
spotting, including black vanilla orchids, gentians and even the elusive edelweiss.
The paths are all well signposted, and you can discover glistening mountain lakes
with views of Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc. You can also plan your walks to
make your way to one of the other La Plagne villages and then take the free bus
back.
With 15 dedicated mountain-bike trails starting from the top cable-car stations,
you can explore the high alpine meadows and peaks, before enjoying the downhill
ride back to Belle Plagne. A special Bikers’ Pass for approx. £35 per adult includes
your bike-hire, map and free use of the lifts for the day.
Esprit Welcome Wander
On Sundays is a family friendly walk for
all ages, to introduce you to the local area, meet your fellow guests and plan the
week’s activities. The gentle walk will culminate in a scenic spot to enjoy a complimentary
light packed lunch. You may then leave your younger children in our child carers’
capable hands, and enjoy a further hour’s walk if you wish.
Attractions and Activities
There are numerous adventures on Belle Plagne’s doorstep, including rock-climbing,
Via Ferrata and an Adventure Forest Course, with suspended cables and bridges reaching
from tree to tree. Back on the ground you can try horse-riding, quad-bikes and ‘dirt-monsters’,
or take to the water for the excitement of kayaking, followed maybe by an ice-cream
at a water-side café. For the ultimate thrill, plus sensational bird’s-eye views
of this wonderfully scenic area, piloted microlight flights and tandem paragliding
are also available nearby.
Other activities dotted around the local villages include archery, tennis, outdoor
swimming pools, mini-golf and trampolines, and after all this, you can relax in
the enticing spa facilities of our Chalet Hotel. There is almost too much here to
fit it all in during the week!
Great Days Out!
Take a drive to the spectacular lakeside resort of Annecy, where there are beaches
for swimming, pedaloes for hire, and large boats for a full lake cruise. You can
also take out a motor boat or have a go at water-skiing and finish with a wander
around the beautiful medieval town.
Adventure Forest
With five different levels of difficulty, this park offers a sporting challenge
for all the family. (Children must be at least 1.10m tall). Approx £20 per person,
including a security briefing and all equipment, including helmet, harness and gloves.
Canyoning
No previous experience is necessary. The children (min. height1.35 m.) will discover
a spirit of adventure with this half day of recreation for all the family. Have
fun with the descents, jumps and slides, as you follow the water-course with your
qualified guide. Half-day course is approx. £42 per person including all instruction
and equipment.
Tignes
Take a visit to dramatic Tignes, with its picturesque lake, craggy peaks and glacier, where you can visit the new indoor leisure centre with pools and water-slide, (adults £14.50 / children up to 15 £3.50), and the glacier’s ice grotto, with its huge ice gallery, lined with statues (approx £18 for adults, children under 12 £9).
Hydrospeed
An exciting option for families with children from 11 years, this activity is great fun, as you descend the Isère River dressed in wet-suits, life-jacket, helmet and flippers. Full instruction is given beforehand and you are collected at the end of the river trip and driven back to your car. Approx £37 for a half day.
The Vanoise National Park
Drive to nearby Peisey-Nancroix - an ideal starting point for discovering the National Park, with a Park Receptionist to advise you on all the best walks and give a host of information on Alpine nature and the park’s innovative environmental protection schemes.
Chambéry
Discover the capital city of the Savoy region - the original home of the Turin Shroud - with its colourful buildings, castle ramparts and the famous elephantmonument, and maybe include a visit to the famous Parc Walibi, with its fun rides and water-park. Adults £22 / children up to 12 £14.
Farm and Crafts
Donkeys, goats, chickens and a range of local alpine animals await you at the mini-farm in Montalbert. Here you can take a tour of the farm, ride a pony, and learn about the traditional methods of making alpine cheese! Approx £2 per person.
Around & About
A trip to beautiful Lake Annecy really is a must if you are visiting the Savoy region of France. The medieval buildings and canals are unique and the waters in the lake are said to be the cleanest in Europe. There are a number of spectacular scenic drives that you can take, including the Col de Petit St Bernard over to Italy and the Roman town of Aosta. Albertville is the major town in the area, with its historic medieval quarter of Conflans, guarding the entrance to the valley.
Esprit Classic Child Care
Nursery – runs all season, Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9.30am-6pm in our own Esprit Nursery in Chalet Hotel des Deux Domaines.
Alpies Club for children aged 3-11 years – runs all season, 9.30am-6pm, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, including lunch and all drinks. See p. 13 for details. Our Alpies Room is in Chalet Hotel des Deux Domaines.
Free Cocoa Club is run six evenings a week from 7.30-10.00pm in Chalet Hotel des Deux Domaines. All children over 3 years of age not yet asleep in bed are welcome to attend.
Free Baby-Listening/Child-Patrol Service – every night (7.30-11pm) during our adult-only dinners, plus one night on staff day off (normally Tuesday), when parents can dine out in the village and enjoy a local speciality meal.
Teen Rangers – in Belle Plagne will enjoy the excitement of mountain-boarding, quad biking and archery, as well as enjoying a couple of evenings out. The Teen Rangers base is in the Deux Domaines and activity days are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9.30am-6.00pm, from 18th July onwards.
NB: We make every endeavour to run to the above programme and days of operation, but these are subject to change due to local conditions, weather etc.
Twin Centre Ideas
Chamonix is the closest for a two-centre stay, and its vibrantly busyAlpine centre makes a good contrast to the more tranquil setting of Belle Plagne.For families with older children, Chamonix also features our popular Teen Rangerweeks and Escorted Adventures, meaning the action can continue across bothcentres! Saas Fee is only approx. 3 hours’ drive, and also makes anexcellent twin, with its chocolate-box Swiss charm and many attractions.
574 miles from Calais to Belle Plagne.
Fly-drive:
Fly to Geneva and take a hired car from there to the resort. Travelling time from Geneva to Belle Plagne is about 3 hours.