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Le Chardon Bleu

The hotel was built in 1955 and is a traditional alpine style building. It is set in a peaceful hamlet at an altitude of 950mts, located just above the small village of Verchaix. A five minute walk will provide you with a spectacular panoramic view of Mont Blanc. The historic, picturesque village of Samoens is 10 minutes by car and the nearest telecabin is 4 km away at Morillon.

You can be assured of a warm welcome at Le Chardon Bleu, however, we aim to provide a 'home away from home' by respecting your privacy. So, we will only come into your room if you ask us to. You will also be given the code to the main door so you can come and go as you please. There will be fresh linen and towels for you on arrival and when you want more, or tea and coffee supplies, just ask.

At an altitude of 700m lies the unspoilt Valley du Haute Giffre in the heart of the Haute Savoie. The valley, which is sandwiched between Morzine to the north and Flaine to the south, has four small villages, Morillon, Sixt, Verchaix and Samoens which lies at the foot of the rocky spur known locally as the Criou and is the largest village and the hub of the valley. As the valley is situated only half an hour from the A41 Auto route Blanche, it is an ideal self-drive location being one of the closest ski and mountain recreation areas from the channel ports. For people travelling by air, Geneva airport is just over an hour away by road.

The valley enjoys two seasons; in the winter it is dominated by skiing, both downhill and cross country, in the Grand Massif skiing area and in the summer it is a paradise for walkers, hikers and cyclists. The mountain road known as the Col de Joux Plane links the valley du Giffre with Morzine and is used periodically by the famous Tour de France cycle race. Samoens is a centre for almost every outdoor activity; rock climbing, pot holing, canoeing, white water rafting along the Giffre River, mountain biking, horse riding, fishing and paragliding are all very popular. Further afield, the shores of Lake Geneva are only an hour's drive away where you can enjoy the beautiful resorts of Thonon les Bains, Evian and the ancient walled town of Yvoire where the excellent lakeside restaurants serve the local speciality, pech and frits.

Annecy, often called the 'Venice of the Alps' is a similar distance. Drive an hour to the east and you will reach Chamonix and the Tunnel du Mont Blanc which takes you to Italy and the Aosta Valley.