Second Alpine stop in Landry

We have just spent the last two weeks at our second site in the Alps: Eden de la Vanoise - one of our favourites so far. When planning the trip, we had thought that this would be a second opportunity to do winter sports due to its fantastic location but it is a costly activity and we decided to spend our time looking for other family adventures in the area.

 

Unfortunately a sickness bug took its hold on us and was passed from one person to the other over a period of 7 days. This limited our activities and meant that we weren't able to venture very far during this time. We've been really lucky over the last eighteen months as we've been travelling around and not suffered any illnesses, except the odd minor cold. Luckily it didn't last long and we were soon fighting fit again, raring to get outdoors.

 

Our bikes are fixed to the back of the motorhome and accompany us as we travel around France so we are always looking for opportunities to get out and explore on them. Cycling is popular in France and we have found that there are often paths nearby. At this site, there is a path literally outside the site entrance. It runs in two directions: towards Aime and Bourg St Maurice (see previous posts). It is a popular path, particularly in summer but during the winter months, we saw many others walking, cycling and running the route that runs alongside the fast flowing water of the Isere river.

 

The Eden de Vanoise campsite is located in Landry, a quiet village in the valley that offers little in the way of entertainment. There is only one small shop and a handful of cafes or restaurants that at this time of year were empty. We loved the fact that we tucked away in a small village away from the hustle and bustle of people. But we also loved the fact that you can get everywhere so easily! As well cycling to nearby Bourg St Maurice, there is a regular free shuttle bus and a short train journey from the Landry station (200m from the site) takes you into Bourg St Maurice station. Bourg St Maurice is a much larger town containing quaint streets lined with charming shops, bars, cafes, bakeries and restaurants. It is a hub of activity and the gateway into Les Arcs mountains. A funicular regularly takes walkers and skiers up the mountain to access the snowy slopes and the resorts. Locals and tourists pile into the funicular with their skiis but you don't have to be a skiier or snowboarder. It is worth taking a trip up the mountain to appreciate the views and explore the area by foot and bus.

 

An important part of our trip to France has been learning the French language. The girls both learnt a small amount of French when they attended primary school but as part of our home-school curriculum we wanted their French learning to be as real as possible and where better than to learn the language and put it into practice! On a few occasions we travelled into Bourg St Maurice and tasked the girls with speaking activities. They ordered bread from the boulangerie, drinks from cafes, meals from restaurants and practised asking each other the directions for various locations around the town. Their efforts were greatly rewarded; the locals seemed to enjoy the fact that they were making the effort to speak French and would try to continue the conversation as much as possible. 

 

Landry is in a valley overlooked by mountains. During the winter months, the campsite is popular with skiiers since it is located near to many different ski resorts. An added bonus is that there are free shuttle buses that take you to various locations on / near the mountain. There is a shuttle that takes you Bourg St Maurice, where you can then get a funiculaire up to Les Arcs. There are also shuttles that will take you to Tignes but the most convenient is the one that climbs up the mountain to Plan Peisney. From here there you can purchase ski passes and hire equipment. There is a wide selection of runs in the area but there is also a cable car that crosses over the valley to La Plagne resort. For skiers and snowboarders, there certainly is a lot of choice! Cross Country skiing is also an option; there is a large area also accessible by shuttle.

We didn't opt for skiing or snowboarding this time (as tempting as it was!) but couldn't resist visiting the snowy mountains. We took up the sledges and the girls (and us) found some hills to sledge down. We also hired snow shoes one day, after a fresh night of heavy snowfall, and wandered up into the hills to explore the area. Having found a good spot, we also set ourselves a mini snow challenge: to build a snow shelter (or a quinzee to be precise). Over a period of two days, we took snow shovels and built a large mound that we then dug into to create a cave. On the second day we cooked and ate our soup and sandwiches inside like true adventurers on a snowy expedition! 

 

Since the site is popular with skiiers, there is a large drying room to store skis and boots. It is also a handy place to dry towels after a swim in the campsite's small, indoor, heated pool. The girls and I made the most of this with numerous visits. During summer months, there is a outdoor table tennis and a volley ball net but these were out of action at this time of year. Within the reception block there is a bar, that offers food and an area to watch TV and play games (table football and billiards). In the morning, fresh bread and pastries can be purchased but they must be ordered the night before.

The facilities at the site are of a high standard. In addition to the usual toilet block with showers, there are dish-washing facilities (inside and out) and washing / drying machines.

 

We were quite sad to leave Eden de Vanoise. The two owners, Sebastian and Stephanie were extremely welcoming and helpful. They were always willing to offer advice and provide as much information as possible. It was Tim's birthday whilst staying here and Stephanie ordered and collected a specially made cake which she hid in her fridge until the evening so that we could surprise him. It was delicieux!