Winter Vacations for People with Disabilities in the Mountains | Écrins Resorts
Winter Mountain Vacations for People with Disabilities: Vacations for Everyone in the Pays des Écrins
Convinced that the magic of the mountains in winter should be accessible to everyone, the Pays des Écrins region in the Hautes-Alpes offers accommodations and activities for all visitors, including people with disabilities. We’re here to make your stay in the mountains as easy as possible.
Accessible accommodations that ensure a successful winter mountain vacation for people with disabilities
Accommodations are a key part of a successful vacation. Comfortable, warm, and inviting, they’re that cozy little nest where you’ll enjoy coming home to and relaxing after a day spent outdoors. Accommodation providers in the Pays des Écrins understand this well. They offer accommodations accessible to people with limited mobility: hotels, apartments, bed-and-breakfasts, chalets, vacation rentals, mountain huts, campgrounds… each a cozy haven nestled in the heart of snow-covered landscapes.
Pelvoux-Vallouise and Puy Saint Vincent: ski areas certified by Tourisme & Handicap
The high-Alpine resorts of Pelvoux-Vallouise and Puy Saint Vincent have been awarded the “Tourisme & Handicap” certification. This government-issued certification, which has been in place throughout France since 2003, is currently the only certification dedicated to tourism accessibility. Receiving this certification demonstrates a destination’s ability to ensure a welcoming experience for everyone. Located in the heart of the Écrins National Park, the resorts of Pelvoux-Vallouise and Puy Saint Vincent offer ski lifts and facilities that comply with accessibility standards for people with disabilities. Trained staff assist with boarding the chairlift. All that’s left to do is let yourself be carried to the top of the mountain before enjoying the beautiful, wide, perfectly groomed slopes.
Ski schools in the Pays des Écrins committed to handiskiing
The ski schools in Pelvoux-Vallouise (ESF) and Puy Saint Vincent (ESF and ESI) have developed adaptive skiing programs. Trained instructors, who are also adaptive ski chair pilots, guide people with limited mobility as they explore the ski area. Wheelchair skiing is a must-try activity during a winter mountain vacation for people with limited mobility. It offers unparalleled thrills: the sensation of gliding, a smooth sequence of turns, a deep breath of fresh air, and the joy of skiing with loved ones.
I never would have thought I’d go through something like this
We try to share as much of the magic of the mountains as possible—it should be accessible to everyone!
What other activities can you enjoy during a winter mountain vacation for people with disabilities?
Skiing is certainly often the highlight of winter vacations in the mountains. But the Pays des Écrins, whose magnificent landscapes naturally invite contemplation, offers countless other activities suitable for everyone.
Recharge Your Batteries Gently
Several wellness professionals have adapted their facilities to accommodate people in wheelchairs. Among the services available are massages, reflexology, traditional Chinese medicine, and beauty treatments. These are relaxing breaks that are good for both the body and the mind.
Culture and Creativity for All
The Pays des Écrins makes art and culture accessible to everyone. The movie theater in L’Argentière-La Bessée is accessible to people with limited mobility. It also offers services tailored to people with hearing impairments.
Want to get creative and make something by hand? Johannès’s pottery workshop invites visitors to work the clay to create a cup or a dish. Johannès has equipped his studio with an accessible ramp. He has developed programs tailored to people with intellectual or visual disabilities. His hope is that everyone will have the chance to try their hand at the potter’s wheel, work with clay, and take home their own creation.
A region on the move, becoming increasingly accessible
Recognizing that accessibility is an ongoing, never-ending journey, the resorts of Pelvoux-Vallouise and Puy Saint Vincent, as well as the entire Pays des Écrins region, are committed to a process of continuous improvement. They are working to offer winter vacations in the mountains for people with disabilities and to make the region accessible to everyone. We firmly believe that the mountains belong to everyone, and that every person deserves to enjoy the unique experience of the mountains in winter.