Looking for the perfect mix of “comfort, affordability and the outdoors” ? If you love the outdoors but also love the little comforts in life then Altipik is for you…
I discovered Altipik via the blog Voyage Family and decided we HAD to go. I soon found some willing “partners in crime” and set the date for the first w/e of the summer hoildays… There is something symbolic about starting the kids holidays with something special! Sooooo here are my five reasons to go:
1: Its on our doorstep
This little corner of paradise is literally 1 hour from Annecy door-to-door. It’s super close, yet we all felt as though we had gone somewhere completely different on a real break. The journey there in itself was really enjoyable too. We went as a group of three families and all three families (without prior consultation) decided to opt for the scenic route and took the route from Annecy –> le Grand Bornand –> over the Col de la Combières (1613m) and on to Mont Saxonnex. We were all were blown away with the beauty of this route and had HUGE respect for the cyclists climing up the famous Col from Le Reposoir to the Col de la Colombières (one of the most famous in the Alps and we could see why with the last sections at 9-10 %).
2: The location is to die for
The Altipik camp is idylically situated and beautifully maintained – perfectly showcasing the wild natural surroundings. The different sized white tents/tipis are nestled together on a pristinely groomed grass with the magnificient backdrop of Mont Bargey and the Pic de Jallouvre on one side, and a beautiful forest and stream on the other. This is a magical base for adventures...
3: The kids LOVED it
It is a paradise for kids…our combined group of six kids ran freely round the camp for hours, happily playing in the nature.
There is a mini farm with rabbits, hens and goats. The kids loved the rabbits and were allowed to help feed Caramel (the father), his eight babies (ridiculously cute and only one month old), the mother and four other young rabbits. They were in heaven.
There is a slack line behind the camp too which all the kids had a go at – testing their balance in the nature.
After dinner Jeremy lit up a camp fire…the kids were enthralled with this. A proper camping experience!!!
The kids loved the tipis themselves too and sleeping all together as a family in the “wild”. We had the added bonus of a huge storm in the night…my girls thought this was great and an excuse to snuggle closer together 🙂
We arranged to take donkeys on the Sunday morning. The “ânnesses” Prunelle & Carmelle were quite feisty and provided lots of entertainment for the adults and kids. We took the kids on an “adventure” through the surrounding fields for 1-2 hours, roaming through the wild flowers trying to keep the donkeys under control. All the kids had a go riding the donkeys and everyone had a go “leading” (with varying degrees of success) the donkeys .
At the end of the trip no one wanted to go home.
4: The adults LOVED it
The location is spectacularly beautiful, the tipis are great, the kids were happy, the food was great (all fresh local produce), the staff were super friendly and helpful (special mention to Violaine who was amazing and couldn’t have been more helpful.)…all the ingredients to relax and enjoy. As parents we all got to chill and chat whilst our offspring played happily around us, then all sleep as snug as bugs together…What isn’t to like?!
There is a multitude of fabulous walks to do from the Altipik camp too. Given the mixed weather, we opted for a gentle stroll through the fields with the kids and donkeys but if we were to come back we’d definitely do the Lac Bénit. The photos and description from Caroline from Voyage Family certainly whet my apetite.
5: It’s super comfortable
As far as the “glamping” concept goes – for those who don’t know what it means = a mix of camping and glamour , the altipik camp has mastered it. You get to feel a certain escapism, taking the kids to sleep in the “wild” , still benefitting from all the practical facilities in the camp, whilst getting a decent nights sleep. Watch this space though we are creeping closer “into the wild” with a mountain refuge booked later on this summer…
The tipis are immaculate inside and out. The beds are comfortable with fresh white bed linen. The tipis are spacious and have everything you need from little lamps for the evening and a wood burner for the colder months. We had a “family tipi” with a double bed & two singles below and the possibility to sleep on a double bunkbed above. Initially the girls wanted to sleep on the bunkbed above us, however as the storm settled in they decided they’d rather sleep all together on the bottom 🙂
There are no bathrooms in the tipis so there is a “wash block” at the entrance of the campsite with sinks, showers and toilets. The toilets are “dry toilets” which my kids have never experienced before and were quite bemused by. Everything is kept clean with an attention to detail.
For the meals (always an important factor in our trips 😉 there is a tipi “restaurant” that you access via a little tunnel (presumably to maintain warmth in the winter). The team were very flexible and the evening meal was served in two services – kids first, and then adults. We got to enjoy an aperitif outside whilst the kids ate their evening meal. Everyone had fondue, local hams followed by fresh fruit salad. Breakfast was served from 8h30 with lots of fresh bread, butter and a multitude of lovely jams with orange juice and hot drinks. We ordered a pic-nic lunch too…grated carrots, cheese, hams, fresh bread and a choice of fruit. Good fresh, local produce and we definitely couldn’t complain about the quantities 🙂
NOW we’ve experienced this place in summer I think we’ll have to come back this winter and see if we can get more partners in crime and maybe… privatise the camp !!!
For more info & to book your own glamping experience in Haute Savoie: However I do believe they are almost fully booked for this summer now.
Price wise: Approx 150 €/tent (Check online subject to the size of the tent/tipi and the date)
Meals:
Evening meals: 26 €/person adult (excluding wine) , 13 €/child
Breakfast 9€/person
