Ski-touring, a backcountry skiing adventure, allows you to explore the mountains at your own pace, where good snow and amazing scenery, combined with an excellent fitness exercise, make up for great days.
It’s highly captivating and has become a lifelong passion for many.
Hiring a guide with local knowledge is the best way to discover ski-touring around Chamonix and the Mont Blanc massif, learn the techniques and get more knowledge about the mountains. While the guide makes the important decisions on group management, route choice and safety, you can focus on your skiing.
Everyone in the group must wear avalanche transceivers and bring a backpack with room for a shovel and a probe. You can borrow the kit from the guide if you don’t have it. You can also rent this equipment in shops.
The best way to start is by doing single-day tours. As you get better at the specific touring techniques, get more experience skiing with a backpack in different snow types and overall more knowledge of handling the gear, a normal progression is to do touring in new areas often involving hut nights, glacier traverses and a program that is outlined for several days.
On our website, we have different courses for ski touring. Some are based in Chamonix and other courses take us on hut-to-hut ski-touring adventures. Have a look around.
1. Be fresh and well-rested in the morning
2. Rent equipment or retrieve your skis from service the day before.
3. If possible, sort your lift passes out the day before.
4. Get your backpack ready the evening before
5. Be on time for the rendezvous. Check the itinerary and the time it will take you to get to the meeting point.
6. Remember your passport if we are off to Courmayeur (Italy).
7. Bring money and a credit card for expenses
Everyone must bring a backpack with room for a shovel and a probe. Wearing an avalanche transceiver is obligatory.
Avalanche airbags are getting better and weigh less, but are still expensive. When heli-skiing in Italy, this is an obligatory item that can be rented.
We need you to bring your phone for use in a rescue situation. Ensure this is in a pocket with at least 30 cm of distance to your avalanche transceiver to avoid interference.
We advise you to read our “Rescue Numbers” page, which lists helpful telephone numbers and how to respond in an avalanche situation.
You can book your place on a course by contacting us from the course page. It’s a great help if you can book well in advance, as this allows us to secure enough participants for a course to run.
We arrange many privately guided days, so get in touch if this is what you want.
The Aiguilles Rouges
The Aiguilles Rouges above Chamonix offer diverse ski-touring options. You can explore routes like the Crochues-Bérard traverse, Col de Belvedere, and Col d’Encrenaz, which provide stunning views and challenging terrain. The range has many starting points for a large selection of more or less well-known tours.
The Aiguilles du Midi
The cable car to the Aiguille du Midi top station at 3,842m offers access to various beautiful ski-touring routes. The Col des Entreves is an excellent choice for picturesque glacier views and milder slopes. Meanwhile, the Periades glacier leads to more challenging tours. Irrespective of your chosen route, your adventure concludes with a descent through Vallée Blanche and Mer de Glace, allowing you to ski down (with ample snow) or take the train from Montenvers at 1,900m to Chamonix.
We offer group tours and private guide services. Our group tours are ideal for those who want to join a small group of experienced skiers and explore the mountains together. Our private guide services are tailored to your needs and can provide a more personalized experience.
We operate mainly around the Chamonix Valley, with some trips further afield to Switzerland, Italy, and even further away destinations.
Check our suggestions below.
