Today!

How the "piste" in Les Coches looks today

The run down into Monchavin from Les Coches - they have cut the hay today!
Photos taken from the Montchavin-Les Coches webcams.

"Summer in Les Coches! What is there to do?"

Well... LOADS!

There are heaps of outdoor and sporting activites, from the obvious walking/hiking to the not so obvious ice skating and archery. In between there is; mountain biking, paragliding, rafting, canyoning, high-wire forest adventures (Parcours adventure), climbing, swimming, tennis and even fitness classes.

"Parcours" Adventures

Also the Montchavin Les Coches tourist office orgainses many events and activities - the following is a summary:
Ice Skating
A covered ice rink in Les coches offers free skating and classes and there is even a 2 week academy in July for very keen skaters. At the end of every week there will be a free ice skating show.
Circus skills
Learn circus skills from 10th July - 28th August 2009, children from 6 to adults can book for one hour sessions to a weekly course. Then each Friday there will be a free show presented by the students of the circus school.

Magic, 10th July - 22nd August 2009
Learn magic, children from 7 to adults can book for one hour sessions to a weekly course. Again there will be a free magic show.
Wood Fest, 12th July
Woodcarving with a chain saw, cabinet making, marquetry & big wood games in the street.
Firework Making
New this summer 2009: for young people from 8 to 14 years, learn to create fireworks with an instructor. Two courses; 13th - 17th July 2009 and 3rd - 7th August 2009. More info
Acrobat Week, 13th - 17th July 2009
Fire-eaters, jugglers, stilt walkers, clowns and more will be in the streets of Montchavin and Les Coches.
Zen Week, 19th - 24th July 2009
Qi Gong, Taï Ji Quan, Kata & massages
6000D mountain running, 25th - 26th July 2009
20th anniversary of these gruelling races - click here for more detail.
Mountain science, 27th - 31st July 2009
* Glacial Walking - learn the structure of a glacier, its evolution and secrets.
* Weather Forecasting : in Bourg Saint Maurice with a specialist.
* Water & Energy : to discover water how it is used etc.
* Fauna & Flowers : marmots, chamois, ibex ...
For adults and children.
D'la Zic au Village, 10th - 14th August 2009
A week of free music concerts.
Art in the street, 16th August 2009 from 10:00 to 19:00
Painters, sculptors, decorators ....
Piano
Free access to play a piano in Montchavin tourist office.

Want to come sample some of the fun?
We are offering accommodation on a B & B or self-catered basis in
Chalets Pierra Menta & Foret.
e-mail: karen@finlayski.com or ring:
Karen on: 0033 (0) 6 28 75 21 83 or
Craig on: 0033 (0) 6 12 99 33 85.

For more details on any of the above activities see the:
Monchavin - Les Coches website.
OR
Contact them directly:
Phone.: +33(0)479 07 82 82
Fax : +33(0)479 07 80 18
E-mail :

David Riley & Campanules

David worked for Finlays in Chalet Campanules last winter AND the winter before. He has just let us know that he wants to come back and run Campanules for a third winter. We are delighted!

David is off to work in Ibiza for the summer so will no doubt have lots of stories to tell!

NOTE - For all but four weeks of the season we have dropped the price of this chalet to just £550 per person. This includes flights, transfers and our catering - breakfast, afternoon tea, 4 course dinner with wine.
This is fantastic value and represents a drop of up to 16% on last seasons prices!

Returning Staff

We ask any staff that have worked a winter season to let us know if they want to return for another by mid July. So May is generally a little early for much news in this department.

However, we are delighted to have been contacted by Natalie Elvy who ran Chalet Chamois last winter - she definitely wants to return. We are not sure yet what her position will be or where she will work but she will be back. Good news Natalie!

Chalet Chamois, Les Coches

If you want to find out more about working for Finlays click through to - Ski Resort Jobs

Hard to believe!

This is the view on the 14th May of the "piste" down into Montchavin from Les Coches. People were skiing here at Easter only a month ago!
It is quite amazing how fast the snow disappears and how quickly everything goes green.

B & B or self-catering in Les Coches

"What's it like here in the summer?"

During the winter season we're often asked that question - now you can find out!
Karen and Craig spent much of last summer in Les Coches and this summer they are returning to offer B & B accommodation in Chalets Pierra Menta & Foret.
NOTE: Pierra Menta can also be booked on a week to week self-catered basis.

Karen is Finlays Resort Manager in Val d'Isere during the winter and posts on the Val d'Isere blog. She has worked for Finlays for 10 years starting off as a chalet girl in 2000. Craig officially joined the Finlays Val team in 2004 but had spent much of the previous winter helping out and making himself indispensable! They are a formidable team and if you decide to book in with them you will be very well looked after.

The B & B will run from June through to September and you can stay for any number of nights. You can read more about the chalets by clicking the links above but each has 4 en-suite bedrooms, a comfortable lounge/dining room and the additional comforts of Wifi, TV and fantastic views.

To get a quote to book or just for more information:
e-mail: karen@finlayski.com or ring:
Karen on: 0033 (0) 6 28 75 21 83 or
Craig on: 0033 (0) 6 12 99 33 85.

Les Coches is a great place in the summer. The mountains are stunning and there is lots of walking and mountain biking from the resort. In Bourg St Maurice (15 mins drive away), you can access activities such as; rafting, canoeing, canyoning, high wire climbing, horse riding, tennis, paragliding and many more. Bourg St Maurice will be buzzing this summer as on the 21st & 22nd of July the Tour de France will be coming through.
To tempt you I've posted some summer photos all taken in Les Coches or the local area...

Doesn't it look good?!

For more pictures see: Summer in Les Coches

To get a quote to book or just for more information:

e-mail: karen@finlayski.com or ring:
Karen on: 0033 (0) 6 28 75 21 83 or
Craig on: 0033 (0) 6 12 99 33 85.

Gill - thanks

Thank you, you did a grand job. Some of your best bits....!




Gill Honey was Finlays Les Coches / La Plagne resort manager for this winter season (o8/09) and did a really good job, keeping everything running smoothly for us in Les Coches plus doing the daily weather forecast and posting on this blog!

Gill is currently in Val d'Isere having a bit of a holiday, seeing what it is like to be a Finlays customer (yes, some our chalets are still up and running). It is tipping it down with snow in Val today so she could be skiing powder!

As for her summer activities a trip to Egypt is planned but after that ....?
She has said of her winter "I did really enjoy the season, I met some lovely people, made some great friends and had some unforgettable times." So ...we hope she may be persuaded to return for another season!

Good luck with whatever is next Gill, all the best from all the Finlays UK team.