Singing and Hiking Weekends
A relaxing, rejuvenating weekend getaway set amid the majestic French Alps

Combining Singing and Hiking with easy to moderate mountain hikes through stunning Alpine scenery, you are situated in a family-run hotel providing the perfect spot for a weekend of wellbeing and adventure. Singing is the ideal combination for overall wellbeing in addition to hiking and daily Yoga practice. The guided singing sessions will involve singing together newly taught songs, rounds, vocal warm-ups and breathing exercises to create harmonious music of varying ease and complexity according to the needs of the participants. All levels and styles welcome!

Key information

Private departures available

Duration: 2 days (Fri pm – Sun pm)

Graded: Easy / Moderate (suitable for beginners)

Airport: Geneva

Train: Eurostar + TGV + local trains (see below)

Airport transfers available

Includes all breakfasts, fresh lunches and evening meals

Family run hotel in the French Alps

Yoga equipment provided

Outdoor village swimming pool

Optional extras include: birth chart reading

At A Glance
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Day 1

The weekend begins with a short transfer to the Hotel Castellan in the Alpine village of Chatel. You will have time to relax with a intro hike and singing session, before enjoying fantastic local cuisine in a local restaurant. You also have the option of arriving a little earlier to enjoy the village facilities such as outdoor swimming pool and spa, or simply take a short walk into the local village to explore.
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Day 2

We will offer optional Yoga followed by breakfast before departing on our first hike up from the Col du Bassachaux on the French / Swiss border. A stunning location set in a mountain amphitheater with lots of opportunities to discover alpine flowers, enjoy a tasty picnic and explore your surroundings. Returning mid-afternoon, you enjoy a little relaxation time before embarking on your second singing session led by the talented Tess,  before sharing dinner in a local restaurant.
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Day 3

An early morning Yoga class and a leisurely breakfast with the group is a perfect start to Sunday. We then step out on a beautiful linear hike direct from our hotel taking in small villages following a trail alongside the river Dranse. Picnic en route! We arrive in the beautiful village of Abondance and enjoy our final singing session in the Cloisters of the historic Abondance Abbey. Transfer back to the airport or enjoy an extra nights stay to extend your trip.
Take a look

Need To Know

Accommodation
We use the wonderful 2* Family run Hotel Castellan, 5 minutes walk from the centre of Chatel. The village.has a wonderful selection of restaurants, gift shops and outdoor pool / spa facility.

Hôtel Castellan
324 Rte de la Bechigne, 74390 Châtel
Phone: 04 50 73 20 86

https://www.lecastellan.com

What’s included
 

  • Two nights in a family run 2* Hotel
  • All meals, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, 2 fresh lunches, mountains snacks
  • Two guided hikes
  • 3 Yoga classes + mindfulness / mediation
  • Yoga mats
  • Singing leader + licensed International Mountain Leader + Qualified Yoga teacher
Guides

Our guides are exceptionally experienced with a passion for sharing the mountains, flora and fauna with you. All qualified and licensed International Mountain Leaders and Yoga Instructors, they will bring the trip alive.

Singing Leader: Tess Read has been running acappella groups for over 10 years and teaches music with the Hungarian method of learning all music through singing. Open to people at all levels of musical ability and appreciation. No need to read music, all learning will take place without musical scores.

Tess our Singing leader says, ‘I love to explore harmony, song, rhythm and adore the feeling when a group of people sing together and experience the music we create deep within ourselves. That feeling of being held within the sound, in that space, with that group of people and experiencing the music we create. It’s truly magical. Singing, sound, song, breath, and harmony all work together and create music for the soul and sometimes even tingles up and down the spine.’

Booking and Price

Cost:

 

Twin Room €495 pp

 

Single room €535 pp .

 

We manage every booking independently to ensure attention to detail and provide a personalised service.

Travel and Transport
Most environmentally friendly option:
Eurostar and connecting TGV London to Lyon takes 5 1/2 hours and costs from £200 return. (Fares not yet available for September ref Feb 2024) 
There are frequent trains connecting Lyon with Geneva (2 hours , £20-40) and then from Geneva to Evian (1 hour, £12) or from Geneva to Aigle (1 hour 20 mins, £15-25). 
Pick-up can be arranged from from Evian or Aigle using a transfer.
It is possible to complete the entire journey by train from London to Chatel in a day, although essential to confirm this for your departure date and time. 
Good sources of information:

'Tess is an inspiration!

‘Tess is an inspiration! She brings joy and fun to her sessions, leaving us feeling energised and connected to others in the group.’
‘Tess helps me connect with my body and think about my breathing. I always feel better after a session with Tess – refreshed, grounded with space to breathe deeply.’
‘Singing with Tess and the Durbs is so much fun. Everyone is so friendly, supportive, and the music is really joyful. I might sometimes arrive tired and gloomy, but I always leave smiling and energised! Tess puts people at their ease with her warmth, enthusiasm and sense of humour, and her love of singing songs together is infectious.’
‘Tess makes her singing sessions fun and challenging. I always come away feeling energised and with a big smile on my face.’
Just an hour of singing is a great relief from your day to day problems in life. It promotes calm through breathing techniques, well being, joy & happiness, everyone should give it a try, what’s not to like ❤️
‘It’s always lovely to sing in a group but even better when the group turns into your dear friends. Tess has created an amazing atmosphere within the Durbs and when it works, oh boy does it work well. Like any group, we have to practice and try new things so there’s always going to be those initial “what are we doing?” times but when it finally comes together, it sounds awesome!’