Our first all-inclusive holiday in the Alps also turned out to be the perfect holistic break
Our first URQU Retreat held in Chamonix, France turned out to be a great success! We had five fabulous women coming from the USA, Norway and nearby Geneva. Everybody clicked from the get-go, and bonded throughout the week through various Alpine adventures like a day rock climbing with world champion and UIAGM guide Stephanie in one of Chamonix's most iconic climbing crags (Les Gaillands), which offers not only every grade of climbing (perfect for beginners to pros) but also offers stunning views of Mont Blanc. Four of our participants even did their first multi-pitch climb ever (80 meters)!
But most of our days were spent going on amazing day hikes led by our hiking guide Emma. We hit scenic spots like the Aiguillette des Posettes where everyone accomplished 1000 meters of elevation gain, hiked up from Chamonix to the Mer de Glace (the longest glacier in France), and walked to the beautiful hamlet of Les Ayères. We had amazing weather throughout the week and got to see a lot of Alpine flowers blooming and strikingly verdant prairies.
But a little pampering was not to be missed...
We stayed at the cosy and classy Chalet Ardoise in Argentiere, and our evenings were spent unwinding in the hot tub, doing stretches and detoxifying twists during our restorative afternoon yoga sessions by Natasha, enjoying the wonderful meals cooked by our own professional female chef, Emma, and last but not least, being inspired or thrilled by mountain-themed movies in our own mega-sized indoor cinema.
We also enjoyed a gourmet 7-course meal at the Albert Premier, a beautiful lunch at the Chamonix golf club, and a tasty and lively dinner at Les Trois Ours, a traditional Savoyard restaurant in the quaint Alpine hamlet of Vallorcine. On the next to last day, we headed to the beautiful Albert Premier hotel spa for treatments and a few hours in the jacuzzi, steam room, and outdoor pool overlooking Mont Blanc. The last night the ladies decided to make pizza at the chalet. I am happy to say that despite all the amazing and plentiful food and wine we enjoyed throughout the week nobody gained an ounce...thanks to all the hiking and climbing we did!
Our entire female-only staff was supportive and loved getting to know our participants. I couldn't have asked for a better team to help me on my first kick-off retreat. But most of all, I want to thank the 5 fabulous women who attended: a truly inspiring group of women! Their feedback was very positive (one even referred to it as a luxury bootcamp!) and comments have helped make subsequent retreats even better.
As a summary of the wonderful weekend, please view the highlights video below.
