(Mr MC posting from MC’s account to confuse things)
Our original plan was to ride the passeport over a long weekend, flying out there. Passeport has sold out, and my work has effectively extended the period I have off to just short of 2 weeks. Having just bought an MPV specifically as a bike transporter we have decided to drive down and visit a couple or three areas hence the various threads, we are looking at a bit of a road trip like you chapaking.
We’d ruled PdeS region out on the basis it will be busy, we’d struggle to ride over the passeport long weekend, and having ridden there something like 8 times it would be fun to try something different. We’re not after 2 weeks of dedicated DH but functioning lifts extends your riding possibilities, and had ruled out catered/guided/organised out-of-hand on the grounds of assumed expense, and having seen how easy it was to find trails and navigate and eat cheaply in the PdeS region. From various posts it looks like 1) PdeS is unique in being so easy to self navigate, and 2) some areas like verbier are no more expensive going the organised route.
Appreciate all the posts, looks like we might have to reconsider organised, I’m sure MC is amenable to a luxurious catered chalet for a few days rather than tent+pasta 😉