Two British academics have put together these shocking photos, showing the extent of the glacial retreat in Chamonix. Dr Kieran Baxter and Dr Alice Watterson from the University of Dundee compared photos taken a century ago in 2019. The original photos were taken by the Swiss pilot and photographer Walter Mittelholzer, who flew over the...
The first booking window opened last week for indirect trains (i.e. Eurostar + SNCF) travelling between 15 December 2019 and 05 January 2020. Eurostar trains can be booked well in advance, but one of the limitations of SNCF is that tickets normally only go on sale around 90 days in advance. Tickets for journeys travelling...
The appetite for action on climate change within the travel industry is growing quickly. Business travel specialists TripActions has taken the decision to provide its customers with data on the CO2 emissions, to enable them to make better decisions in relation to their travel choices. Minimising environmental impact the single most important factor A recent...
Make sure you pick up the latest copy of Fall-Line Skiing – the whole focus is on eco and environmental issues. It’s full of excellent ideas and info to help you make your skiing decisions this winter. Features include: 20 Green Ski Ideas Taking the train to the Austrian Alps ‘The fight to save our snow’ Scrutiny...
Exciting plans to merge Europe’s two high-speed operators, Eurostar and Thalys, were released at the weekend. The proposal is for the owners of French National Railways (SNCF) and Belgian National Railways, which between them own a majority stake in both Eurostar and Thalys. The working name for the new reform is the ‘Green Speed Project’....
There are a lot of graphics that demonstrate global warming and climate change, but this superb and worrying image stands out. I can remember skiing the Vallée Blanche in Chamonix for the first time in 1984…it’s a very different experience today! chamon This photo shows the difference in the Mer de Glacier as...
We are delighted to see that tour operator Mountain Heaven have announced that they will be offering a 10% discount to all guests arriving by train rather than by plane. They announced the new offer on their Facebook page on Friday 20 September, to coincide with the global Climate Strike day: The discount will apply...
Excellent news has reached us from Visit Tirol’s press agency about a new sleeper train to Austria. Skiers can slash their carbon footprint and get extra days on the slopes with a new route to the Austrian Tirol. Eurostar + Alpen Express Travelling from London St Pancras, you start with by taking the Eurostar to...
French ski resort Les Sybelles have confirmed that they will be using only 100% renewable electricity this season for operating its lifts and snow-making facilities. The certified renewable electricity will come from local hydroelectric generation, as well as solar and wind power sources. The power is provided as part of an agreement with EDF. The...
Although many skiers will want to get to the Alps as quickly as possible, you can of course add a cultural element to your travel by train by stopping in Paris on the way. The concept (courtesy of Snowcarbon) is simple: 1. Take a Eurostar to Paris 2. Stay overnight in Paris 3. Take a...
Morzine chalet company AliKats Mountain Holidays have recently announced several initiatives to reduce emissions and improve sustainability. Holidaymakers taking their Eco-Package can save 10% on the total cost of their catered chalet. AliKats has six catered chalets to choose from, including the luxurious Chalet Debussy and Chalet Bizet, plus The View, which was built exclusively for the...
Ski Flight Free was started by me, Iain Martin. I am a digital marketing consultant in the ski industry and the Ski Flight Free project is completely separate from my work and is not endorsed in any way by my clients. It’s just a personal response. Because recently a schoolgirl forced me to question what...
