FamilyFirst

IN BRIEF

Situated 1h15 from Nice, La Colmiane is one of the closest resorts to the coast, which is ideal for locals as well as for tourists, and especially for beginners.

On the Mercantour national park's doorstep, at an altitude of 1450 metres (up to 1800 metres for the skiing slopes), La Colmiane resort is part of a small number of villages forming the district of Valdeblore. The other neighbouring villages are La Bolline at 1000m, La Roche at 1100m and St Dalmas at 1300m.

It is also situated a mere 10 kms from Saint-Martin Vésubie (http://www.saintmartinvesubie.fr) , the Alpha time of the wolf village, a 20 hectares park in splendid scenery, in the heart of the forest, dedicated to the history of wolves and where, if you are lucky, you can see some close up in a safe environment.

You can find a few shops and ski equipment rental, bars and restaurants, and accommodation at La Colmiane.

Created in 1960, the resort has undertaken various improvements over the past few years to improve the ski domain, notably the installation of a conveyor belt in the beginner's area.

Advantages for families:

• A small family resort.
• Cheaper ski chair/lift tickets than in the area's large resorts.
• Safe sledging area.
• Kid's ski club for 3 to 7 years old.
• One of the coast's closest resorts.

SKIING DOMAIN

30 Km of slopes:

• 20 slopes: 2 black slopes, 8 red slopes, 6 blue slopes and 4 green slopes
• 7 mechanical rides: 1 chairlift, 6 ski lifts.

Map of the slopes

SKIING COURSES – FRENCH SKIING SCHOOL (ESF)

The ESF group at La Colmiane consists of 30 instructors. Every type of course is offered, including snowboard or snowshoes, alpine ski or snow treks, telemark, skating, ski de bosse, carving, free style, free ride, for ski or snowboard, in private or group lessons for adults and children.

If you book your lesson in advance they will be able to provide you with English or Italian speaking teacher. For private lessons only.

Children courses :

Jardin des Petits Loups

• For children from 3 to 7 years.
• 2 hour sessions.
• Le jardin des petits loups enables children to discover skiing in small groups and through play.

Group courses

• For children starting at 4/5 years old.
• 2 hour group courses to progress in a group of children of the same level.
• For a minimum of 4 children.

Private courses

• For children from 3 onwards.

Handicaped children

• There is no specific structure or adapted skis but the school can take care of disabled children or those with learning difficulties under certain conditions.

Phone : 04 93 02 83 57 - Fax : 04 93 02 83 71 - E-mail : contact@esf-la-colmiane.com ou
Website : www.esf-la-colmiane.com - Online sales : www.esf-la-colmiane.com

ACCOMODATION

There are some hotels, B &B’s, gîtes and flats in the resort or in the neighbouring villages.

A non exhaustive selection for families:

Chalet du Val de Blore - Maison Familiale de Vacances

Saint-Dalmas, 06420 Valdeblore - Phone : +33 (0)4 93 02 83 29 - Fax : +33 (0)4 93 02 83 06 - Web

• Situated 5 minutes from La Colmiane
• An establishment run by the CAF (Family benefits establishment) but opened to beneficiaries as well as non beneficiaries.
• 35 bedrooms from 2 to 6 beds, all of them with shower and w-c, baby beds available, restaurant room with chimney, large panoramic terrace.
• Lift, feeding room, seminar room, laundry room with washing machines and dryers at clients’ disposition lighted parking.
• Nightclub bar, television room, satellite reception, children’s playground, play room, table tennis room, equipped sports ground, lighted sports ground.
• Sports activities, games evenings, dancing evenings, walks, cross country outings, snow shoes, archery ...
• Children’s club from 3 to 11 years.
• Preferential rates for CAF beneficiaries, nevertheless the rates remain interesting for non beneficiaries.
• Open all year round but often booked by school groups during school holidays.

Gîtes

For a traditional stay, often cheaper than flat rental or a hotel room, there are few country gîtes (without services), and gîtes d’étapes (B &B’s with meals included) in the neighbouring villages of La Colmiane, the nearest one being St Dalmas, approximately 5 minutes away.

http://www.colmiane.com/hebergements_recherche.asp?saison=hiver

Gîtes de France

Phone : 04.92.15.21.30 - Fax : 04.93.37.48.00 - E-Mail : info@gites-de-france-alpes-maritimes.com - Web

Bookings directly from private owners

A few flats, studio to 4 roomed are available for rent