Serre Chevalier

Serre Chevalier/Cinque Terre/French Alps & Italian Riviera / March 7-18, 2009

If you don’t have enough time for our two-week trip in January, consider this alternative which combines skiing in France and soaking up a bit early Spring in Italy.

Our first stop is Serre Chevalier, France, a sunny valley near Grenoble made up of several villages which combine to make the 5th largest ski resort in France.

We’ll stay at Hotel Le Rif Blanc in Le Monêtier les Bains (‘Monêtier’ for short). Even though it bustles with skiers all winter, this perennial stop on the Tour de France retains its farming-community atmosphere – complete with dairy cows keeping warm in 300-year-old barns. The local bar just across from our hotel often has live music and is a favorite place for a night cap.

We’ll enjoy 6 days of skiing (5 with private guides) on several of the area’s mountains. Off the slopes there are hot springs and shopping in the village for a bit of relaxation. We’ll also tour the medieval town center in Briançon, one of the prettiest villages in the area and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

After this snowy adventure, we’ll travel to the Italian Riviera and stay three nights in the Cinque Terre region as we enjoy the mild Mediterranean climate. With citrus groves and vineyards lined by dry-stacked stone walls built over the past

millennium, the Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site, as well a marine preserve. We’ll enjoy walking on trails high above the sea, with a spectacular view through the clear blue-green water to the bottom. The five quaint villages, linked by trails, train and ferry, have much to offer in the way of charm, historic sights and small shops. There’ll be time on your own to try the most

famous dish from the area – pesto – and maybe a glass of "sciacchetra," a dessert wine made from dried grapes.

After a farewell lunch, we’ll ride to Milan, where we’ll spend the night before returning home with happy memories of our exciting and enlightening European excursion with OTHGI.