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Ski holidays by train, not plane. . .

with Eurostar's Ski Train or scheduled trains

The Ski Train

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  A beginner's ski slope at Les Arcs 1800 in the French Alps.  Easy to reach on Rail Europe's Snow Train or the Eurostar Ski Train
 

Above:  A beginner's ski slope, the Chantel at Arc 1800 (Les Arcs), with white snow under blue skies.  Easy to reach without flying!

If you fancy a skiing holiday without the pain of the plane, no problem.  It's easy to reach French ski resorts such as Les Arcs, Courchevel, Méribel or Val d'Isère by the special Eurostar ski train which runs from London St Pancras station every Saturday during the ski season.  In fact, you'd be crazy to fly, the direct train journey is so much less hassle and so much more fun than 7 hours of check-ins, airports, flights & the 3-hour nightmare bus transfer from the airport.  The train journey becomes part of your holiday, with a great atmosphere on board.  This page explains how to plan and book a ski holiday by train not plane, either independently or as a package with ski holiday companies who offer travel by train.

Choose your ski holiday destination...

Skiing in the French Alps by train   

The easiest option, with direct ski trains & package ski holidays with train travel included.

Skiing in Switzerland by train

If you go independently, the Swiss ski resorts can be reached from the UK using scheduled trains.

Skiing in Austria by train

You can reach Austrian ski resorts using scheduled trains.

Skiing in Andorra by train

You can reach Andorra's ski resorts using scheduled trains plus a bus link.

Sponsored links:

 

 
 

French Alps ski train connections...

Map of bus transfers to ski resorts from train stations served by Eurostar ski train

Dark blue line = route served by Eurostar Ski Train

Light blue lines = bus or taxi transfers from rail stations.

   

Start here...

Here is a step-by-step guide to skiing by train in the French Alps, either independently or with a package ski holiday that includes train travel:

Step 1: Choose your ski resort

Step 2: Choose how to get there

  Eurostar Ski Train times, fares, information from £149 return

  Rail Europe Snow train (will not run in 2009/10 season)

  Scheduled daily trains

Step 3:  Book your travel & accommodation

Step 4:  Arrange transfers from the station to & from the resort

Step 5: Arrange boot, ski & pole or snowboard hire, & ski lift pass

Step 6: Don't forget  winter sports travel insurance

Step 1:  Choose your ski resort...

If you want the simplest way to ski by train from the UK, start with any ski resort in the French Alps shown on the map opposite, including Les Arcs, La Plagne, Val d'Isère, Méribel, Courchevel & Les Menuires (Trois Vallées).  These French ski resorts are the easiest to reach from the UK by train as the special Eurostar Ski Train runs from London to this area every week in the skiing season and many ski holiday packages incorporate train travel rather than flights to these resorts.

Les Arcs is the easiest to reach of all, as it's linked by a 10-minute funicular (mountain railway) ride up the mountain from Bourg St Maurice railway station at the foot of the mountain.  It's a modern resort, good for beginners, and billed as 'home of the snowboard'.  Courchevel is the traditional haunt of the Parisian jet set, up-market but not for those on a tight budget!  Val d'Isère is a well-known resort higher up the valley, better for intermediate and advanced skiers than beginners.  Méribel is a big ski city with many British visitors.  La Plagne is a series of picturesque villages and tree-lined pistes.  There's a helpful summary of the pros & cons of each French ski resort on the Eurostar website.

The ever-popular Chamonix can also be reached by train, indeed it has its own station on a scenic narrow-gauge line from St Gervais, but you'll need to use scheduled trains as it's not served by the Eurostar Ski Train or Snow Train.

Official resort websites, with piste maps...

Chamonix  www.chamonix.com   Les Arcs  www.lesarcs.com   Val Thorens  www.valthorens.com
Courchevel  www.courchevel.com   Les Menuires  www.lesmenuires.com   Val d'Isère  www.valdisere.com
La Plagne  www.la-plagne.com   Méribel  www.meribel.com      
La Tania  www.latania.com   Tignes  www.tignes.net      

Step 2:  Choose how to get there...

There are four key ways to reach the French Alps by train:

  • Eurostar direct daytime ski train.  This is the most civilised way to reach the French Alps.  Every Saturday morning from late December to April, a Eurostar train runs direct from London St Pancras & Ashford (Kent) to the French Alps, arriving in the early evening, see the map above to see the stations and resorts served.  It is available to independent travellers and is also included in many package skiing holidays.  It's become very popular, so book well in advance!  Timetable, information, photos & fares are shown below.

  • Rail Europe Snow Train.  This was the most time-effective  way to the French Alps, with a party on the train if you wanted one.  It ran every Friday night from January to early April, but sadly will not run in the Winter 2009/10 season.  The Snow Train consisted of a scheduled Eurostar from London or Ebbsfleet (near the M25) to Paris then a chartered overnight train with 6-berth couchette compartments (bunk beds) and bar-disco to the French Alpine resorts.  A key advantage is that it gave you two extra day's skiing compared to either a daytime Eurostar journey or a flight, as you sleep on the train, arriving Saturday morning and leaving next Saturday evening.  Timetable, information, photos & fares are shown below

  • Eurostar direct overnight ski train.  There is also a direct overnight Eurostar from London to the Alps on Friday nights from late December to April.  However, it only has regular seats rather than proper sleeping-berths (and non-reclining seats, at that) so you can't sleep properly, you really will be sitting up all night.  The Rail Europe Snow Train has flat-bed couchettes to sleep in, so is a far better option if you want to go overnight.  And that's advice well worth taking!  Details on the Eurostar website.

  • Regular daily scheduled trains.  Alternatively, you can take regular, scheduled trains running daily, year-round.  Take Eurostar to Paris, change trains & stations, then take either an overnight train with couchettes or a daytime TGV train from Paris with the French Alps.  Many extra trains run on Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays in the skiing season.  If you want to reach resorts not shown on the map above such as the ever-popular Chamonix (reached by narrow gauge train from St Gervais) you'll need to use scheduled trains, not the special ski trains.  Details are shown on the London to France page or book online using www.raileurope.co.uk.

Step 3:  Book your train travel & accommodation.

Either (a)  Go independently, buying train tickets & accommodation separately...

  • Buy a Eurostar Ski Train ticket direct from Eurostar at www.eurostar.com/ski.

  • Or buy tickets for scheduled trains from London to France as shown on the France page.

  • Book accommodation-only deals at the resort using operators such as:  www.neilson.co.uk www.skihorizon.co.uk.  Most accommodation deals require an arrival on Saturday, departure the following Saturday, which fits in with the Ski Train or Snow Train.

  • Do a dry run on both websites to check train and accommodation prices & availability first.

...or (b)  Book a ski holiday package which includes travel by Eurostar Ski Train...

This can be a cheaper option.  Most 7-day or 14-day holidays start on a Saturday, leaving on a Saturday one or two weeks later.  To avoid wasting valuable time with supposedly 'expert' ski holiday companies who don't offer sensible train travel to the French Alps, just flights, flights & more flights, here are the main holiday operators who do offer travel by Eurostar Ski Train as part of their ski holiday packages:

  • Start with www.eurostar.com/ski, which is probably the best place to book a package ski holiday with travel by Eurostar.  Look for the 'Ski Packages' and 'book now' button below the train-only booking form on the right.  They also offer travel by Eurostar to Lille or Paris and connecting French Railways train to the Alps.  Look for the trains shown as 'direct' to make sure you book the direct Eurostar to the Alps. 

  • www.crystalski.co.uk & www.thomasonholidays.co.uk also include Eurostar Ski Train holidays.  To find holidays with train travel, select 'France' then select 'St Pancras' as your 'departure airport'(!).  Also try www.inghams.co.uk/ski-holidays (select 'London rail' as your departure point for rail packages).

  • It's worth checking www.lastminute.com for late-booking ski packages, some of which include travel by Eurostar.

...Jump to step 4, arranging transfers



The Eurostar direct daytime Ski Trainwww.eurostar.com/ski   New lower prices, from £149 return

  • The most civilised way to the Alps, especially in Leisure Select (first class) with complimentary lunch, afternoon tea & drinks!  Far more relaxed than flying, and great scenery too, although it will probably be dark when you arrive in the Alps.

  • Eurostar's Ski Train runs direct from London St Pancras & Ashford (Kent) to Moutiers, Aime & Bourg St Maurice every Saturday from late December to mid April, with connections for a whole range of popular skiing resorts such as Val d'Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs, Méribel, Courchevel and the Trois Vallées, see the map above.

  • Choose between standard class from £149 return or first class (called Leisure Select) from around £229 return, centre to centre with no hidden extras.  Leisure Select fares include at-seat airline-style lunch, afternoon tea and complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.  Two cafe-bar cars are available to all passengers.  You're free to bring your own food & drink, even wine or beer, but there's a (still generous) booze limit of 1 bottle of wine or 4 bottles of beer or 50cl of spirits per person on the Eurostar Ski Train.

  • You can take skis or a snowboard free of charge, in addition to your normal luggage allowance.  Skis & boards go in a designated luggage area at the end of each car.

  • There's a 60-minute minimum check in for the Eurostar Ski Train.

  • Transfers are not included in the price.  Buses & taxis link the railway stations with the various ski resorts, see the map above (but note that the Eurostar doesn't call at Chambéry, Albertville or Landry).  Transfers are not included in the price, so see the table of transfer options below. 

  • The Eurostar Ski Train has proved extremely popular, and seats get booked up well in advance, so book early to avoid disappointment.  See www.eurostar.com/ski for times, fares & online booking.

  • Buy tickets online at www.eurostar.com/ski.

The Eurostar Ski Train at Bourg St Maurice...

The Eurostar Ski Train at Bourg St Maurice...

   

Eurostar ski train- first class seats

Eurostar 1st class, meals & drinks included...

    

Eurostar ski train - standard class seats

Eurostar standard class...

 London ► French Alps  (Eurostar Ski Train) 

 

   

 French Alps ► London (Eurostar Ski Train) 

 Runs every Saturday from 19 Dec 2009 to 17 April 2010  Runs every Saturday from 2 January to 17 April 2010
 London St Pancras depart 10:00  Bourg St Maurice depart 10:04
 Ashford depart 10:47  Aime la Plagne depart

*

 Moutiers arrive 17:30  Moutiers depart 10:45
 Aime la Plagne arrive 18:02  Ashford arrive 15:36
 Bourg St Maurice arrive 18:20  London St Pancras arrive 16:11

* The northbound Eurostar doesn't stop at Aime, you should board the train at Bourg St Maurice instead.

Take the Eurostar Ski train to the ski resorts this winter!


The Rail Europe Snow Train www.snowtrain.co.uk   *** Will not run in the Winter 2009/10 or 2010/11 seasons ***

Sadly, Rail Europe have just announced that their Snow Train will not run in the 2009/10 or 2010/11 seasons, due to the general economic situation, plus the weakening pound.

The Snow Train is the most time-effective, hassle-free & fun way to the French Alps - it's not surprising many people come back and use it again next time!  The fare includes travel by scheduled early-evening Eurostar from London or Ebbsfleet (just off the M25) to Paris Gare du Nord, where there's a simple same-station change of train onto the Rail Europe overnight charter train to the Alps.  The overnight train has 6-berth couchette compartments (simple sleeping accommodation with bunk beds, see the photos below) and a vibrant bar-disco car.  You can party all night or chat quietly in your compartment over a glass or two, it's up to you.  You're not only allowed but encouraged to take your own picnic & wine or beer with you - there's no alcohol limit, but this seldom causes any problems.  In fact, there's a great holiday atmosphere on board and it can be safely recommended for couples and even families.  There are plenty of Rail Europe reps on board to offer help and assistance.  Because you travel overnight and can spend the first & last Saturdays of your holiday skiing, you effectively get two extra days of skiing free when you go by Snow Train as opposed to daytime trains or flights.  It's stress-free compared to flying, and the journey becomes part of the holiday.  Great Alpine scenery in the morning, too! 

 London ► French Alps  (Snow Train)  

 

   

 French Alps ► London  (Snow Train)  

 Ran every Friday from 16 Jan to 3 April 2009  Ran every Saturday from 24 Jan to 11 April 2009
 London St Pancras depart by Eurostar 17:35  Bourg St Maurice depart 19:13
 Paris Gare du Nord arrive by Eurostar 20:50  Aime la Plagne depart

19:30

 ------------------------- Change trains ----------------------  Moutiers depart

19:46

 Paris Gare du Nord depart by overnight train 22:28  Albertville depart

20:24

 Chambéry arrive 06:33  Chambéry depart 21:14
 Albertville arrive 07:19  Paris Gare du Nord arrive by overnight train 06:30
 Moutiers arrive 08:02  ----- Change trains, 30 min check-in for Eurostar ------
 Aime la Plagne arrive 08:21  Paris Gare du Nord depart by Eurostar 09:13
 Bourg St Maurice arrive 08:44  London St Pancras arrive by Eurostar 11:16
  • Buy tickets & check fares online at www.snowtrain.co.uk.

  • Fares start at £199 return per person from central London to the Alps, including Eurostar + overnight couchette sleeping berth each way but excluding resort transfers.  Prices vary by departure, with school half term weeks being the most popular and selling out soonest, so book early.

  • Children:  Infants under 4 travel free as long as they share a berth.  However, there's no reduction for children over 4, youths or seniors, just the normal adult fare.

  • Check-in:  In London, you must check in between 15:30 & 16:30 at the Rail Europe desk at St Pancras.  Returning, you should be at the station 30 minutes before departure.

  • On-board sleeping accommodation is in mixed-sex 6-berth couchette compartments, which convert between seats for evening use and bunk beds for sleeping, see the photos below.  Sheets, blankets & pillows are supplied.  There are washrooms & toilets at each end of the corridor.  Sole occupancy of a whole compartment is possible, but expensive as you effectively pay for the other tickets.  But sharing a compartment on the Snow Train is a great way to meet other skiers...

  • Bar-disco:  There's a soundproofed bar-disco car in the centre of the train, entrance free, see the photos below.  The bar serves alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks and snacks, but not meals, so remember to bring your own food.  The bar-disco is open until the small hours.  It gets very busy on the outward journey, it's a bit quieter coming back!

  • Luggage & skis:  Unlike flying, there are no baggage fees to worry about on the Snow Train!  Your luggage and one set of skis, ski boots & ski poles per person are transported free of charge.  On the Eurostar, you stow your luggage & skis in the normal luggage racks at the end of each coach or you can use the special baggage areas in cars 9 & 10 for larger skis or bulkier luggage.  On arrival in Paris, you get off the Eurostar and put your luggage & skis on a long line of luggage trolleys positioned on the platform next to the train.  You're now free to walk off the platform into the station concourse and spend an hour or so having a coffee or drink or getting some euros out of an ATM across the road before boarding the overnight Snow Train on a nearby platform.  You'll find the trolleys with your skis and bags are now on the platform next to the Snow Train.  Reclaim your bags & skis and stash them on board the Snow Train.  There's space for shorter skis under the bottom berth in your couchette compartment, longer skis can be stowed in a locker at the end of the corridor in each couchette car.  On the return journey when you arrive in Paris heading home, you can either take your bags & skis with you or leave them for a while on the luggage trolleys which meet the Snow Train, collecting them again when it's time to go upstairs to check in for the Eurostar back to London.  That leaves you free to have a coffee until the Eurostar check-in opens about an hour before the Eurostar leaves.

  • Transfers from stations to ski resorts:  Buses & taxis link the railway stations with the various ski resorts, see the map above.  Transfers are not included in the price, so see the table of transfer options below.

  • You can also catch the Snow Train from Ebbsfleet International station, just off the M25.

What's a journey on the Snow Train like?

The Rail Europe Snow Train to the French Alps waits to leave Paris   Couchette compartment on the Snow Train, in evening mode with seats set up.   Couchette compartment on the Rail Europe Snow Train, in night mode with bunks folded out

Above:  The Snow Train at Paris Nord.  The luggage carts ferry your bags and skis round from the Eurostar platform to the Snow Train platform while you change some money or grab a coffee.  Just remember to reclaim your stuff & take it on board the train!

 

Above:  Bunk beds on the Snow Train.  6-berth couchette compartment in 'seats' mode (left, for chatting & sharing a bottle of red) and in sleeping mode (right) with bunks folded out.  Each berth is supplied with a fresh clean sheet, blanket & pillow.  Washrooms & toilets are at each end of the corridor.

Snow Train bar car   The famous disco aboard the Snow Train to the French Alps   The Snow Train's disco car at Paris Nord

Above:  The packed Snow Train bar...

 

Above:  The famous Snow Train disco, complete with DJ booth & strobe lights...

 

Above:  The Snow Train bar-disco car waits to leave Paris Nord en route for the Alps...

The Snow Train in snowy Alpine scenery next morning   The pretty village of Landry, seen from the Snow Train   The Snow Train calls at Aime la Plagne

Above:  Wake up next morning to snowy Alpine scenery...

 

Above:  The pretty village of Landry, seen from the train...

 

Above:  The Snow Train arrives at Aime La Plagne en route to Bourg St Maurice...

The Snow Train has arrived at Bourg St Maurice, for transfers to Les Arcs, Val d'Isere and other ski resorts   The funicular from Bourg St Maurice up to Les Arcs ski resort

Above:  The Snow Train arrives at Bourg St Maurice.  Walk forward through station building to the forecourt for transfer buses or taxis to resorts such as Val d'Isere, or to the rear of the train & over the footbridge for the funicular to Les Arcs.

 

Transfer to Les Arcs:  There is a funicular (mountain railway) from Bourg St Maurice up to Les Arcs, a 10 minute ride up the mountain.  The funicular station is right next to the mainline rail station at Bourg St Maurice.  Fare around 6 euro.  There's a ski pass bureau & cash point at the funicular station.


Watch the Snow Train video...

This promotional video shows you what a Snow Train journey is like...

 

Step 4:  Transfers from station to ski resort...

If you book a package ski holiday this will probably include transfers from rail station to ski resort.  But if you're travelling independently, tickets for the Eurostar Ski Train or Rail Europe Snow Train don't include transfers.  For most resorts you can either take a bus (cheapest) or book a taxi (quicker, but expensive unless there's a group of you to share the cost). 

  • Taxi prices shown here are for the whole taxi for 1-4 people.  Slightly higher prices apply for a minivan for over 4 people. 

  • Bus fares are per person, there's a 50% discount for children under 12, children under 4 free.

Resort: Station: Transfer options:
Courchevel Moutiers Buses run by www.transavoie.com link Moutiers with Courchevel (45 minutes, 10.60 euro) every hour or two.

Taxis are quicker, and cost around 60-72 euro for 1-4 persons, reserve at www.taxijeanloup.com, www.meribeltaxis.com or www.alpes-savoie-taxis.com.

La Plagne Aime Buses run by www.autocars-berard.com link Aime with La Plagne, 30-45 minutes, 10.10 euro.

For transfer by taxi, around 40 euro, contact www.bouzon.eu.

La Tania Moutiers Buses run by www.transavoie.com link Moutiers with La Tania, 40 minutes, 10.60 euro.

Taxis are quicker, costing around 50 euro, reserve through www.taxijeanloup.com or www.alpes-savoie-taxis.com.

Les Menuires Moutiers Buses run by www.transavoie.com link Moutiers with Les Menuires in 45-50 minutes, fare 12.50 euro.

Taxis are quicker, costing around 68-75 euro, reserve through www.taxijeanloup.com or www.alpes-savoie-taxis.com.

Les Arcs Bourg St Maurice Alight at Bourg St Maurice and walk back towards the rear of the train and over the footbridge to the funicular (mountain railway) station which is right next to the mainline station platforms.  Bourg St Maurice is at the bottom of the mountain on which Les Arcs ski resorts sit, and the funicular links Bourg St Maurice station with Arc 1600 every 15 minutes or so, fare around 6 euro one way or 11 euro return, journey time about 10 minutes.  Free shuttle buses ("navettes gratuites" in French) link the funicular station at Arc 1600 with Arc 1800 & Arc 2000.  If you're skiing at Les Arcs, 10 minutes up the hill by funicular from the railway station is so much easier than a cramped 4 hours transfer by bus from the airport!  There's an ATM if you need euros and a ski pass bureau at the funicular station.
Méribel Moutiers Buses run by www.transavoie.com link Moutiers with Méribel (40 minutes, 12.50 euro) every hour or two.

Taxis are quicker, costing around 48-52 euro, reserve through www.taxijeanloup.com, www.meribeltaxis.com or www.alpes-savoie-taxis.com.

Tignes Bourg St Maurice

Walk towards the front of the train through the station building to the forecourt for bus or taxi transfers.

www.autocars-martin.com run to Tignes in around 60-70 minutes, fare 13.10 euro.

Val d'Isère Bourg St Maurice

Walk towards the front of the train through the station building to the forecourt for bus or taxi transfers.

www.autocars-martin.com run to Val d'Isère every hour or two, 1 hour journey time, 13.10 euro.

A taxi takes 45 minutes and costs around 75-80 euro, try www.valdiseretaxi.com, www.taxis-bozzetto.com or www.altitude-espace-taxi.com.

Val Thorens Moutiers Buses run by www.transavoie.com link Moutiers with Val Thorens, 60-75 mins, 16 euro.

Taxis are quicker, costing around 99 euro, reserve through www.taxijeanloup.com or www.alpes-savoie-taxis.com.

Resorts linked to Albertville: Albertville Buses run by www.altibus.com link the station with surrounding esorts.
Resorts linked to Chambéry: Chambéry Buses run by www.transavoie.com link Chambéry with surrounding resorts.

Step 5:  Skis, ski poles, ski boot hire, lift passes...

  • You'll need to hire skis, ski poles & ski boots, or a snowboard & snowboard boots, unless you have your own.  You hire these when you arrive, but it's best to pre-book.

  • Try www.skiset.co.uk or www.skiholidayextras.com.

Step 6:  Arrange Winter sports travel insurance...

 

 

There are many beautiful ski resorts in Switzerland, including favourites Gstaad, Zermatt, Grindelwald, St Moritz, Davos.  All of these have rail stations at the resort.  Package operators generally don't offer skiing holidays to Switzerland with train travel, only flights, so you'll need to buy train tickets and arrange accommodation separately.

Swiss ski resorts & how to get to them by train...

Accommodation & ski hire...

 

 

There are many popular ski resorts in the Austrian Tyrol.  Package operators don't offer skiing holidays to Austria with train travel, only flights, so you'll need to buy train tickets and arrange accommodation separately.

 

 

Andorra has plenty of good ski resorts, and it's easy to get to by Eurostar to Paris, overnight couchette train from Paris to l'Hospitalet près l'Andorre then a scenic bus ride over the mountains.  No package operators offer skiing holidays to Andorra with train travel, so you'll need to go independently, booking train tickets and ski resort accommodation separately.

 

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