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We go to the alps in the van (with a 4 yr old and 9 month old) for a month or so every summer and have become creatures of habit:
Chamonix, les contamines, vanoise, alefroide
Need a change this year and need some inspiration...
Thought Bavarian alps to dolomites but it’s a lot of driving with little people.
So after any recommendations around french alps, maybe aosta area too.
We climb, run, ride (although mostly towing a kid) and prefer the high alpine areas.
We are in a van, so locations where stuff is accessible once parked up, without having to drive.
Or just any awesome campsites or wild camp spots anyone recommends.
Ps. My 4.5yr old is getting right into biking and loves riding easy green/blue trails and gravel (flattish)
So anywhere with family friendly trails would be ace too
I love Aosta valley, lots of valleys off as well. We've always camped at a site just out of Aosta town near the football AC Milan summer training camp, might be called camping international or something, has a pool.
👍🏻 Thanks, think aosta is high on the cards
We spent last week in Canazei and its one long drive although worth it. Drove down through Italy yesterday and are now parked up in Les Orres which is very quite in comparison.
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Another vote for Aosta and Camping International. We usually combine that with La Thuile which is just up the valley. Loads to do with a family in both
We stayed at the Camping Monte Bianco in Aosta, just along the road from Camping International so I suppose check them both out and take your pick. It's not a typical Alps resort town so there's a lot more to see and do, plus loads of side roads that head into the mountains to explore.
I remember that as soon as the sun went down there was hundreds of bats swooping around above the tents. Can't wait to be back there in about a month.
We are in a van, so locations where stuff is accessible once parked up, without having to drive.
Actually, I'm not too certain Aosta is suitable in that context, not like Chamonix or Ailefroide, where everything is immediately around you incl shops. We always used Aosta as a base, but drove to start of climbs and MTB routes ie up the various finger valleys. Have you explored the La Berarde valley side of Ecrins? altho you're still going to have to drive to a decent shop. Or Tasch (Zermatt) / Saas Fee both are similar to Cham and Ailefroide in that everything is hemmed in around you incl shops. Might be worth asking on UKClimbing for places that have the same topography and facilities as Ailefroide / Cham
Aosta might be a bit trickier logistically with young kids to get to all the good stuff. Awesome for actually doing everything just you’re going to need to drive.
Tignes for family fun. Rough it on the motor home park for free right next to the lac and your smack bang in the middle of everything with loads to do off the town lifts. Judging by all the work last year there might even be a bit more in the way of facilities there this year, they were putting new buildings in hopefully they’re going to have showers and loos and charge a few euros a day for parking the motorhome.
Ideal. Thanks for all the suggestions, good to hear both pros and cons of aosta... think we will head there and explore a bit, eat some pasta and see what’s on but have a feeling we will still hang out in Cham and ailfroide a bit, just so I can guarantee getting some climbing in.
Intrigued by tignes, might be good for the kids for a few days.
Think we may hit arolla too, just to get some easy altitude for the kids and easy access to high ground for me! Haha
There was a decent small supermarket just up the road from the Aosta camp site