Extreme Sports and Ultimate Luxury

There are a range of physically and mentally challenging sports available at Ferme du Ciel in the summertime, including rock climbing, abseiling, canyoning, white water rafting, hydro-speeding, caving, parapenting, mountain biking, glacial hiking and more.  A professional High Mountain Guide will accompany you, so your complete safety is always ensured and you can concentrate on enjoying the adrenalin rush!

White water rafting

 

Mountaineering with a guide

We are arrange bookings and transport to your preferred activities, and you can relax afterwards with a swim, round of golf, sports massage or simply a drink in the village square.  

Returning home from each action packed day to serious luxury at Ferme du Ciel is a real pleasure. You'll appreciate a sauna session and a long soak in the jacuzzi, or perhaps a sports massage in the privacy of your own room.  Our in-house chef is on hand to prepare delicious, nutritionally balanced evening meals upon request, and the bar is yours. 

 Your every whim is met with a smile and the combination of healthy outdoor adventure and luxurious pampering creates an overall result of refreshment and revitalisation.  

You'll never feel better.

Chef's recipe of the week !

Chocolat Fondant at Ferme du Ciel

Chocolat Fondant, literally 'melting chocolate', desserts have become a firm favourite amongst guests here at Ferme du Ciel.

This week chef Avril has decided to share the recipe with you - and you'll be surprised how easy they are to make at home !



You'll need :
200g dark chocolate, broken into small pieces
200g diced butter
2 tbsp brandy
110g golden caster sugar
4 large eggs, plus 4 large egg yolks
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
60g plain flour

Pre-heat oven to 200°C

Place chocolate, butter and brandy into a large heatproof bowl.  Sit bowl on top of a saucepan of simmering water, making sure it doesn't touch the water.  Melt together, stirring until smooth and glossy.

Whisk sugar, whole eggs, egg yolks and vanilla together at high speed until mixture doubles in size and achieves a thick, mousse-like texture.

Gently fold in melted chocolate to egg mixture using a large metal spoon.

Divide into individual pudding basins on a baking tray.  Bake in centre of the oven for 12 minutes.  The outside of each pudding should feel cooked, but the inside will still be melted.

Leave to stand 1 minute before turning out onto plates. Serve immediately with berries and double cream or icecream.

Close your eyes and imagine you're at Ferme du Ciel as you eat !  Enjoy !

Samoëns and SnowCarbon

Samoëns has been featured as a low-carbon-footprint ski destination by website of the moment 'SnowCarbon.co.uk'.  Featuring a service that allows you to book train travel to certain ski resorts in favour of carbon-heavy air travel, SnowCarbon follows an eco-friendly ski trend that we're pleased to see developing year upon year.

Ferme du Ciel guests can, for example, catch a train leaving London at 8:02am and arrive in Cluses railway station at 6:35pm, where we'll be waiting to collect you and your luggage for the 15 minute drive back to the chalet for a welcome glass of bubbly.   The journey is slightly longer than air travel, but oh so pretty !

Alpine Gardening Weekend

We've put together a special three-day accommodation package for botanical enthusiasts to make the most of the 3rd annual ‘Botanical Days’ celebrations happening this 11-12th June in Samoëns.  This two-day event is hosted by delightful French mountain village Samoëns in honour of its world-renowned "La Jaÿsinia" alpine botanical gardens, Europe’s largest and most comprehensive garden of the kind.

You’ll enjoy all the creature comforts at Ferme du Ciel while discovering the best of the special ‘Botanical Days’ events on offer, including study tours of the famous gardens and a host of other mountain flora related activities.  If you're a green-thumb looking for a getaway, then this is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to a stylish short break!

The Deluxe Botanical Package at Ferme du Ciel
Five-star accommodation + breakfasts
2 evenings of chef-catered meals at the chalet
English translator to accompany you to Botanical Days events (if required)
Guided walking trips to discover wild alpine flora and fauna
A deluxe champagne picnic lunch hamper
3 night short break £375pp (stay can be extended – please enquire)

End-of-season fun

This Sunday 10th April, local ski school ZigZag has organised a downhill derby off piste ski race for intermediate to expert skiers in the forbidding Gers bowl, between Flaine and Samoëns.  For serious competitors the Derby du Grand Massif is an extreme off piste race, where the rules are simple : the fastest time down the mountain wins.  For those less serious, its simply a case of getting from the top to the bottom in costume (and given the snow conditions, probably in survival mode!).  For more information about this event you can visit   http://www.tropheedesderbys.com/modules/extcal/event.php?event=60

Also this Sunday 10th April, our favourite little mountain restaurant Lou Caboëns is throwing its end-of-winter BBQ, which typically involves great food, live music, fun and snowy debauchery lasting from noon until the wee hours of Monday morning.  Turn up at Lou Caboens anytime after midday and pay 10 euros for unlimited BBQ, punch and wine ... let's party!

New! Ferme du Ciel's inside edition

Welcome to our new blog; the ideal format for keeping you up to date with our exciting goings-on here in Samoëns!   We'll be posting weather reports, upcoming events, photos and general bits and bobs that are of interest to you - our guests.

Unfortunately this first post does not bear news of a spectacular end of season snow dump!  No, winter 2010/11 has not been our best season in terms of snow, but on-piste skiing has been top quality and oh, how we've enjoyed all this sunshine!  The piste workers of the Grand Massif have impressed everyone with their ability to keep our pistes in great condition, and for that we thank them a million times.  While other mid-level resorts have essentially closed up shop already, we're pleased that we can still ski to Flaine from Samoëns to find snow still in great condition.  The weather is perfect for Spring skiing, so the gloves are off, the sunglasses are on and the rosé is open!