• Activities
• Activities Map French Alps
• Walking in the French Alps
• High Ropes Adventure
• Mountain Biking
• White Water Fun
• Kayaking
• Canyoning
• Tree Climbing
• Rock Climbing
• Caving
• Mountaineering and Alpinism
• Paragliding
• Via Ferrata
• Horse Riding
• Road Cycling
• Giant Tyrolean Zip Wire
• Speed Riding
• Skiing & Snowboarding
• Cross-country Skiing
• Ice Climbing
• Ski Mountaineering and Ski Touring
• Snowshoeing
• Ice Diving
• Husky Dog Sledging
• Sleep in an Igloo
• Snow Mountain Biking

Activities - Ski Mountaineering

Have a look at our Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering Holiday Offers

Ski mountaineering (involves more mountaineering skills than ski touring) and ski touring are la creme de la creme for anyone who loves skiing, mountains and snow! They are the perfect way to explore the French Alps in Winter and Spring

Get away from the crowds and experience the majestic ambiance of the high mountains.... look out over dramatic views of the Barre des Ecrins, La Meije, Le Bans and lesser known but equally impressive Southern Alpine Peaks as you skin up the mountains.... be the first to make tracks in virgin snow.... breathe in the clean crisp air and ingest the peace and tranquility of the mountains.

The Southern French Alps are absolutely perfect for ski mountaineering or ski touring as there are a huge variety of routes, from technical, long distance high mountain traverses including the Tour des Ecrins to short day trips on easy slopes.

So whether you are an experienced ski mountaineer looking for your next adventure or a beginner ski tourer who would like a little taster of what its all about, we can organise a trip for you to make the most of the area.

Have a look at our ski mountaineering in the Southern Alps photo collection.

What is it?

The main difference between ski touring and ski mountaineering is the technical difficulty of the tour but they are both essentially traveling through the mountains in winter and spring using specially adapted ski touring skis (more info on equipment can be found at the bottom of the page).

Sometimes ice axe and crampons are needed depending on the difficulty of the mountain. The more mountaineering skills; ice axe and crampons, glacier traverses etc, needed on a particular tour, the more likely it is to fall into the ski mountaineering, rather than ski touring category.

Who can do it?

You need to be able to ski to intermediate level but you don't need to be an expert skier to enjoy ski touring or ski mountaineering.

All that is needed is a reasonable fitness level and a passion for the mountains! For ski mountaineering, some alpinism and mountaineering skills are also necessary.

Safety

Both ski touring and ski mountaineering are dangerous sports as you are off piste in the mountains and there is a very real risk of avalanche and other mountain hazards. People die every year in the mountains and not always due to negligence. The mountains have claimed the lives of numerous experienced mountaineers through no fault of their own.

Whilst going with a guide does not make you exempt from mountain hazards, the benefit of years of experience, advanced safety training, expert technical ability and local experience is a serious plus!

We choose our guides with great care. All our guides are fully qualified UIAGM high mountain guides and experienced mountaineers with local knowledge and a high regard for safety. They will think nothing of turning back if your safety is at risk, even if that means you lose a day in the mountains.

I want to go ski touring or ski mountaineering!

If you like the idea of exploring the mountains of the Southern French Alps on skis, please have a look at our ski touring and ski mountaineering holiday offers or contact us for a tailor made quote. We will use our local knowledge to put together a perfect itinerary for you.

For aspiring ski tourers or ski mountaineers we can organise anything from a taster day out to a full week's course covering technique and mountain safety with several day trips and the possibility of an overnight trip into the Southern Alps.

For experienced ski tourers or ski mountaineers we can organise anything from an advanced skiing course to improve your technique and mountain knowledge to a week of short and / or long distance routes.

Equipment

We can organise all specialist safety and ski mountaineering equipment for you.

Ski mountaineering skis are generally lighter than down hill skis with ski touring bindings (allowing you to have a free or fixed heel) and detachable skins which stick to the bottom of the ski for skiing up hill. You also have 'couteaux' or ski crampons which attach to your skis for icy conditions.

As you are off piste it is vital that you take a spade and probe and avalanche tranceiver with you whenever you go ski touring.