What an amazing trip. Starting with the chalet and our amazing hosts - the accommodation was beautiful and comfortable, and nothing was too much trouble for Helena and Adrian. Every meal was special, healthy and delicious. For me and the other vegan on the trip, they went to a huge amount of effort, and even provided vegan cheeses for breakfast and prepared vegan cakes and other treats for the end of each hiking day. One of my souvenirs from the trip is one of Helena's vegan cake recipes. So if you are vegan and wondering about this trip: it is definitely vegan friendly! Our three course dinners were always delicious and inventive. It was such a pleasure to cap off an extraordinary day on the alps with their hospitality and delicious food. And speaking of the hikes: the pictures in the hike preview are extraordinary, but are not misleading. The views on the hikes were really stunning. Our mountain guide, Hris, was fantastic. He was personable, knowledgeable, and did a great job leading a group of mixed abilities and interests.
I booked on the last scheduled "Highlights of Provence" tour for 2015 at the last minute from Australia (where sadly, the tour operator doesn't get much exposure). The tour proved to be an absolute joy, a real jewel of a holiday. The "centre-based" accommodation concept is clever, as you can relax for the duration and not have to pack and unpack every day. Groux-les-Bains is a good base - it is a charming village, well maintained and with a good range of eateries and little shops. The Hotel les Alpes in Groux-les-Bains was a lovely base - my room was spacious, comfortable and spotlessly clean. The hotel staff were friendly and the breakfast buffet was generous with a variety of choices. The two dinners we ate in the hotel restaurant (included in the tour price) were stylish and delicious.
This was a fabulous trip. The views were spectacular, the hikes were challenging enough to make me feel fit by the end of the week, but not so difficult as to make me scramble for life. Oliver and Elaine were magnificent - they constantly made sure that we have fun, are well fed, and are safe.