• SNCF Paris - Briançon, overnight sleeper. 1st and 2nd class carriages. SNCF info: Tel: +33 (0)8 36 35 35 35 or www.sncf.com

• Paris-Valence-Briançon. High speed from Paris-Valence and then normal train Valence-Briançon.

• Daily auto-trains (put your car on the train and relax) during peak season

• TGV Paris-Oulx, Italy (just 55km from Alps). This high speed train runs from Paris to Milan twice daily, and takes just 4.5 hrs to Oulx with connecting bus to Briancon. www.raileurope.co.uk or +44 (0) 8705 848 848 or for TGV info: + 39 01 22 83 10 97

• TGV Paris-Lyon-Grenoble (high speed train). Connection from Grenoble by bus.

• Marseille-Briançon, 3 trains per day

• Briançon station +33 (0)4 92 25 66 00

Arriving by Coach         

• Regular coaches from: Grenoble, Marseille, Nice, and Gap.

• Coach Oulx-Briançon Auto cars Sylvestre 04 92 21 13 26

• SCAL Information 04 92 21 12 00 - VFD 04 76 47 77 77 www.vfd.fr

• Turin, Italy: SAPAV 00 39 0121 322 032 www.sapav.it

Arriving by Plane

We suggest travelling by low cost airlines – but always book in advance to get the best prices because as seats get booked the price increases. Also check the baggage allowance.

Flying from the UK we recommend the following airlines to Turin (Caselle Airport). This is our nearest airport, only 2 hours transfer – 143km from Alps:

www.ryanair.com fly direct to Turin from Stansted twice daily. Tel: 08701 246 0000

www.KLM.com fly to Turin via Amsterdam from 14 UK airports including London (Heathrow; City Airport; Gatwick);Birmingham;Bristol;Cardiff;Edinburgh;Glasgow;Leeds;Manchester; Newcastle; Tee Side. Tel: 0870 507 4074

Other airlines and airports to try if flying from the UK:

Liverpool to Nice – transfer time approxiamately 3.00 hours to Alps
www.easyjet.com

Stansted to Nimes (FNI) – transfer time approxiamately 3.00 hours to Alps
www.ryanair.com

Stansted to Milan (Bergamo) – transfer time approxiamately 3.50 hours.
www.ryanair.com

Bristol to Nice – transfer time approxiamately 3.00 hours to Alps
www.easyjet.com

N.B. For families – if you want a night in Nice at the start or end of your holiday we recommend Hotel Residence Fleurs. It has mini apartments for 4 people,well priced and ideal for families. Book through www.expedia.co.uk

London (Gatwick) to Marseille – transfer time approxiamately 3.30 hours to Alps
www.easyjet.com

Glasgow Prestwick (PIK) to Milan (Bergamo) – transfer time 3.50 hours.
www.ryanair.com

London Luton to Milan (Bergamo) - transfer time approxiamately 3.50 hours to Alps
www.ryanair.com

Airport Information:

Turin Caselle - ITALY (143 km)
• Tel: +39 011 567 6361 (6am – 12am local)
• www.turin-airport.com
• Car rental – see below

Lyon Saint Exupéry (190 km)
• Tel: +33 04 72 22 72 21
• www.lyon.aeroport.fr
• www.satobus-alps.com For connection bus.

Marseille Marignane (270 km)
• Tel: +33 04 42 14 14 14
• www.marseille.aeroport.fr

Car hire from Turin Airport:

We recommend booking car rental through Ryanair when you book your flight tickets. Ryanair use Hertz car rental.

Costs: Hertz car hire for 1 week starts at €180 inc. tax. – €150 basic plus tax of €30 (IVA/TVA at 20%) collected at the end when you return your car and settle the bill. A tank of petrol is around €55. Prices correct as of Oct. 2003.

Contact:
Tel: 0870 844 8844
Web: www.hertz.co.uk

Directions from Turin Airport (Caselle) to French Alps Briancon:

(Toll prices correct as of April 2004)

Car Hire: Walk out of Arrivals hall and across the road to the ground floor of the car park, where you’ll see the sign for the Car Hire.

Leaving the car hire park at the airport go straight ahead onto a dual carriageway. Take exit indicated “autostrade – tangenziale” (motorway). Head for Torino USCITA 1 (green motorway exit sign) – the exits count down from 3.

Take the Frejus signs (NOT Milan)

First toll €0.95 (does not accept credit cards, go to toll signposted with image of man taking money)

Second toll €3.80

You go through many tunnels.

Third toll €4.90

This section takes approximately one hour travelling at 100 kph+ and is all on the motorway.

Now you need to pay attention. Take the exit SS24 Monginevro (Italian for Montgenevre). This exit is also for Claviere and Sestriere. Once you have left the motorway you need to follow signs for Monginevro/Claviere and Francia (Italian for France!).

From here you’ll climb the mountain pass Col de Montgenevre, and just after the village of Claviere you’ll cross the border into France. After Montgenevre you have got some more classic mountain road driving down the other side into Briancon. Once in Briancon follow “Toutes Directions” and then Gap/Sisteron. You go round Briancon and then out on the main road heading south on the N94.