Skiing
Bareges is a small village on in the middle of the mountains on the fringe of the Parc National des Pyrenees in the Pays Toy region of the Hautes Pyrenees with around 250 full time inhabitants live here year round. The village was founded on a discovery of the thermal spring which today the reputed waters are taken to treat rheumatoid arthritis and skin conditions such as eczema.
During the 18th and 19th centuries the French nobility Popularized Bareges and Napoleon sent his wounded troops here to benefit from the remarkable curative properties of the waters. Today the "Thermes" specialize in relaxation rather than the treatment of gunshot wounds and offer a variety of services; hot baths, jacuzzis, massages, saunas, an excellent way to complement a day in the mountains. The waters are naturally hot flowing from the mountain at 42C. Hopes of a miraculous cure should probably be reserved for a trip to nearby Lourdes, but we guarantee that after a hard day on the slopes skiing, a visit to the spa will soothe tired limbs after a day in the mountains, and leave you feeling invigorated. Not to be missed.
The village is still very traditional and yet still one of the largest ski domains in the Pyrenees. You will find this a better place to stay if you prefer a quieter more family orientated and less busier still very French ski resort rather than the hustle and bustle of other Pyrenean Ski resorts. No ugly high rise concrete tower blocks built into the side of mountains here!!!!!!
BEGINNERS - Each of the five interlinked ski areas has easy slopes for the beginner. The ski school will use the sunny cruising runs which link the different area to move you around the lift system so no need for repetitive practice up and down the same slope, and what better way to gain confidence than on the longest run in the Pyrenees, 13kms of blissful descent on an easy green run from the Col du Tourmalet along the river back to the village.
INTERMEDIATES - Intermediate skiers will love exploring the network from one end to the other with a choice of blue or red runs linking the areas. Start on the pretty tree lined runs at La Laquette before moving towards "La Plage", a glorious south facing run beneath the Pic du Midi, then over the Tourmalet to the wide sunny pistes of La Mongie to take the cable car to "Quatre Thermes", a gorgeous twisting descent in marvellous high mountain scenery from 2500m.
ADVANCED - The pistes of the Ayre must rate with the most beautiful runs in Europe, a variety of red and black descents through the forests of Le Lienz. Further into the network the various red runs and acres of off-piste at Caoubere offer an excellent practice ground before attacking "Coume Longue" and "Coume Lyse", two adrenalin pumping descents from beneath the Pic du Midi. The World Cup course in La Mongie is reserved for the excellent skier whose technique will be tested on its vertigineous slope. We particularly recommmend the ski school to the expert skiers as they excel in getting the advanced group off-piste at every opportunity.
Bareges - La Mongie the statistics of the Tourmalet Domaine ski resort:-
Resort Height:-1,250m / 4,100ft
Highest Lift:-
2,500M / 8,240ft pisted Runs + Pic du Midi 2877m
Orientation of runs:- Bareges 90% north-facing. La Mongie north, east, south.
Number of lifts:-
52 + the cable car to Pic du Midi
Number of Pistes:-
76 total /6 black, 21 red, 26 blue, 23 green.
Total Kilometres of pisted runs:-
120kms
Longest Run:-
14kms Pisted - Green.
Off Piste:-
Very extensive close to pisted runs so you do have venture far to find powder.
Cross Country Skiing:-
30kms graded in difficulty and length.
Snow Shoeing:-
Over 60 kms of clearly marked routes throughout the Forest of La Lienz all start from the village follow the waymarked trails and red ribbons on the tree to find your way.
Snow making:-
Over 200 snow cannons offering total cover from La Mongie to La Lienz.
Mountain Restaurants:-
6
Skiing back to the Village:-
On green or blue runs.
We only work with the best!!!!!
- Established child care in the village- Childcare for babies from 3 months old.
- Creche, ski lessons and babysitting for toddlers, pre-schoolers, juniors, and older children.
- Expert advice from our experienced team on skiing with children.
Top Ten Ski Tips for Families
Skiing can bring such enjoyment for the whole family and with a little preparation in advance your children can learn to love the whole experience and probably end up being keener than you are to hit the slopes!1. Beginners
For first time skiers, it is a good idea to book a taster session at your nearby dry slope or snowdome before you go. This will really help with their confidence when they hit the real white stuff!
2. Socks.
Ski socks are crucial and can be uncomfortable if you wear the wrong type. Buy knee high non-ribbed socks which will not wrinkle inside the boot causing blisters.
3. Child-friendly Resorts.
It is a good idea to choose a resort based on the childcare or instruction that you need for your kids. Many operators offer specific packages for this, plus great discounts on accommodation and ski packs.
4. Proper Clothing.
Get the right kit before you go. Try to borrow ski trousers / salopettes and jackets from family and friends or hire ski clothing. If you prefer to buy, check out Aldi supermarkets and other stores such as TK Maxx and for some great quality clothing andand ebay for bargains. Think layers for children as this will keep them much warmer and equally easy to change if they get too hot. Happy children are warm children!
5. Positively Positive
Be positive about the whole learning experience. If you are anxious they will pick up on this and be nervous, but if you are encouraging and positive they will respond well and really enjoy the whole adventure. Remember, they learn more when they are having fun!
6. Gloves
Ski gloves or mittens are essential. Mittens tend to be warmer and are much easier to put on!
7. Sunnies.
Make sure that you take sunglasses for sunny days and goggles for poor visibility. It is very important to protect their eyes even from a very early age. The sun reflecting off the snow is brighter than you might think.
8. Headgear.
A ski helmet is almost compulsory with the ski school here in Bareges and will guard your little ones from any knocks. These can be hired at here from our ski hire company.
9. Lift Passes.
Keep your childs lift pass in a pocket of their jacket and don't use this pocket for anything else all week. This should prevent them from losing it and also equally as frustrating, leaving it behind at your accommodation when you get to your first lift of the day!
10. Pocket Money.
Give your children some money for a hot or cold drink in case they stop for a quick break with their instructor they normally have a energy bar provided for them by the instructor either half way through or at the end of their leeson.
And finally... don't forget your camera to save some of those unforgettable moments!
Organising Group Ski Holidays
Organising a group ski holiday can seem quite daunting at the outset, and there are a lot of factors to take into consideration in order to find the holiday that is best for your group however, it will all be worth it in the end!Here at pyrenees-skiing.com we have broken the process of booking a group holiday down into a few simple steps to help you on your way to a stress-free holiday.
Getting the group together:-
Its always best to have a firm idea of confirmed numbers before approaching us as it will be much easier to to give you an answer straight away as to whether our property best suits your needs if the numbers are only likely to fluctuate by one or two. Talk to group members about what everyone is looking for, and try to establish a good middle ground for budget, type of accommodation and resort. Encourage group members to have realistic expectations a little research will give everyone a reasonable idea of what is available.
Group Objectives:-
When deciding on your holiday destination as Bareges and pyrenees-skiing.com, it is important to be clear on the type of holiday you are looking for, but it helps to have a little flexibility with dates, or budget. Start planning well in advance if your dates are fixed or you have your heart set on us here in Bareges.
Plan Ahead!:-
Its a simple truth the further in advance you begin planning you holiday, the more choice you will have, and the better deals and discounts for groups will be available. We are always booked for New Year, Christmas, February half term and Easter 8 to 12 months in advance!!!!! Ensure all members of the group are ready and prepared to pay a deposit (or the full amount within 8 weeks of departure) to secure their holiday. Pyrenees-skiing.com can offer a variety of payment options to collect both deposits and holiday balance, allowing every passenger to pay individually.
Call the experts for Skiing in the Pyrenees:-
A specialist ski travel agency such as pyrenees-skiing.com can do the work for you once you have established what you are looking for, saving you hours of research. They will search all the best options for the best place whether its a self catering apartments or Les Sorbiers, we can tailor to suit your group and give expert advice based on their experience.
Our resort is good for groups?
France and Bareges - La Mongie is a great destination; you will find Les Sorbiers our ski chalet where we can take up to 18 people, we can also arrange or and book British-owned self catering apartments. Bareges is ideal if your group is looking to take sole occupancy of a property, the perfect place if you are a group of friends, on a budget and looking to learn to ski! Bareges has a fantastic thermal spa which has great wellness facilities for prices you won't find elsewhere in Europe, and offers excellent value. Learn to Ski and Boarding packages in Bareges that caters well for beginners.
Our Resort offers good value for money. Our clients whether skiers or boarder. Bareges guarantees cheaper eating, drinking and shopping! There is something for all abilities across board, really gives a group the freedom to explore all that the resort has to offer.
Before your holiday:-
Make sure that we are aware of any dietary requests or special requirements for the group at least a fortnight before you leave if you have not already highlighted this with us in your booking form this will help your trip run smoothly as we can be fully prepared for your arrival. Ski and snowboard carriage should also be pre-booked as early as possible, to guarantee space on the flight. Avoid the rush in resort by pre-booking your groups lift passes, equipment hire and lessons; this is especially important if you are travelling on a peak date (Christmas, New Year, Half Term or during the school Easter holidays). Please note that, in general, any amendments or additions to a booking should be done by the group leader.
So, if you are looking for excellent value for money Skiing holiday in the largest ski area in the Pyrenees then look no further than Bareges. You can get more information on our skiing holidays by contacting us directly on the numbers shown, on our prices page email us at info@lessorbiers.co.uk and book your Skiing holiday in Bareges now.
