Environment

Travel to the alps (Chamonix) by train and receive 5% off your Guided course with me Lou Reynolds. I would like to encourage and support my clients to travel in a more environmentally friendly manner, so I am making a 5% reduction on my course fee for anyone choosing to travel out to the Alps by train instead of flying or driving. All you need to do is provide me with evidence of your train travel from the UK.  Here is a General Interary and personal account from one of my clients who is leading the way for more sustainable travel both in her work and spare time. Rachel has commited to making the travel out on her holidays to Europe by train and then depending on time and finances she makes the return journey as needed. This is a more achieveable commitment than making the whole journey by train. Rachel hopes that as she gets used to this new way of travelling, she will be able to make time for both journeys by train. A massive thanks to Rachel for providing me with this information to share. ​Step 1: Local connection to mainline variable. North of England to London: 2-3 hours. Notes: Allow around 2 hours to get to St Pancreas an get through Eurostar check in etc. At quiet times a daring person could probably trim that down. A cautious person might want to allow more at busy times. Consider a longer stopover in London if desired. e.g go to the office, meet a friend, have a business meeting, see the sights. Step 2: Eurostar London to Paris: 2 hours 20mins (+ go forwards in time 1 hour) Step 3: Paris Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon: 20-30 mins Notes: Eurostar arrives at Paris Gare du Nord. TGV trains leave for the south from Paris Gare du Lyon. To transfer by metro buy a ticket from the machines in the station and take the green D line towards Malesherbes. The journey takes around 20minutes but allowing at least an hour for changeover is sensible. Consider a longer stop here, perhaps a late lunch or overnight. There are plenty of pleasant and inexpensive overnight options close to Gare de Lyon or within a couple of metro stops. Step 4: Paris Gare de Lyon to Chamonix - 5 to 7 Hours. Notes: There are various options from here. Most involve taking the TGV a couple of hours south then switching to a bus. The experience of changing at Lyon involved the bus being signed on the departure board in the train station and departing from just outside the station, which made it an easy changeover. There was one short stop during the bus ride. Check your ticket information before boarding at Gare de Lyon as it is sometimes necessary to print the ticket for the second part of the journey. Use the electronic ticket machines in the station to collect your ticket if needed. Personal Itinerary Taxi from home 07:30 - 07:40 Local train, Windermere to Oxenholme: 07:56 - 08:15 Oxenholme to London: 08:26 - 11:12 Afternoon at the office, depart 17:00 Tube to St Pancreas 17:05- 17:25 Eurostar London to Paris Gare du Nord 19:01 - 22:21 (local times) Metro Paris Gare du Nord to Nation: 22:40 - 23:05 Overnight in Paris, in bed before midnight. Lazy morning + delicious breakfast with a view. Metro Nation to Paris Gare de Lyon - 15 minutes. Leave luggage in left luggage area. (Note: they only take cash. Cost for a big roller bag and rucksack EUR 9.50) Wander by the Seine, visit the botanical gardens, lunch in the sun etc. 3-4hours, then back to collect luggage. Gare de Lyon to Lyon: 14:59 - 17:00 Lyon to Chamonix: 17:15 - 21:40 Collected from station by Chalet host and in bed before 23:00 Two days travel but with plenty of time to rest and enjoy Paris and go for walks. A lovely way to travel and feel like you are on holiday rather than driving in traffic to the airport to dash through security and not see much whilst then jostling for position on an airport transfer. Everyone's journey will be slightly different, It is likely possible to do in just over 24hours. Rachel definitely rates it as a great way to travel.