In the ongoing battle to offer unusual activities for guests to enjoy in resort, Valmorel in the French Alps appears to have played its trump card – the personal snow tractor.
Apparently popular in Canada, these twoseater cat-tracked vehicles are now available to rent in ski resorts so that you can have fun driving one yourself. In Valmorel, France, you can rent a twin-seat tractor for an evening excursion and carry a passenger aged seven years or older. A driving licence is obligatory for the driver, however, and both must wear helmets. The snow tractor is one of a multitude of activities available here that include more conventional options such as snowshoeing, spa or paragliding. Valmorel’s reputation as a great family resort was cemented when it won the 2014 World Snow Awards in that category. The pedestrianised ski-in/ski-out resort is famous for its friendly village atmosphere despite actually being purpose-built in the 1970s. The French Alps specialist Peak Retreats offers holidays to Valmorel starting from £199pp per week. This price includes Eurotunnel crossing for one car and passengers with free Flexiplus upgrade.