Chamonix Winter Activity Week, France

No one can deny that Mont Blanc is home to some of the most fascinating mountain landscapes that the world has to offer. The Chamonix Valley itself is one of Europe's best-loved winter resorts, with a great many alternative activities available during the winter months. This 8-day winter activity holiday will offer a whole world of opportunities, from introductory skiing and guided snowshoe walks to ice skating, dog sledding, cross country skiing and even a horse sleigh ride.

Using the Chalet Savoy as your base, you'll venture out to some top winter destinations such as Val Ferret, Les Houches and Courmayeur. There's also a good number of free days so you'll get the chance to explore the area at your own pace. Other highlights include riding the fantastic Mont Blanc Express train and getting to visit a St. Bernard dog kennel.

Here's a brief overview of the itinerary:

• Day 1 transfer to Les Houches
• Day 2: Half day guided snowshoe walk and half-day cross-country 'classic' ski lesson
• Day 3: A full day in Italy, in Val Ferret for cross-country skiing with instructor
• Day 4: Half-day dogsled then Chamonix Express train to Chamonix for an ice-skating session
• Day 5 Free day options include skiing; glacier walk with guide; Aiguille du Midi cable car ride; or relaxing in Chamonix.
• Day 6: Half-day cross-country skiing instruction with emphasis on 'skate' technique; introduction to 'Nordic walking' and a horse sleigh ride
• Day 7: Full day guided snowshoe outing
• Day 8: transfer to Geneva

While you don't necessarily need any previous experience to enjoy this trip, you'll get the most from it if you have a relatively good level of fitness. You'll be based in Les Houches, just a few miles from Chamonix, in the Chalet Savoy, which is renowned for being a homely chalet that rustles up great locally-sourced food, and which is also a great place to rest after a long, adventurous day.