Introduction to hut to hut ski touring
YOUR BACK COUNTRY SKI ADVENTURE STARTS HERE
With 2 nights in mountain refuges, this 4 day tour will give you the opportunity to get a feel for real hut to hut ski touring, to consolidate and build upon your existing skills, and to develop the endurance required to help you find longer and more challenging tours ultimately more enjoyable.
This is a great introductory trip to hut-to-hut ski tours for those who just started ski touring, and is the perfect preparation and precursor for more committed ski touring trips such as the famous Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt.
To be able to join this course you must have had some previous day touring experience, be a confident off piste skier on all types of snow (powder, crust, heavy wet and wind blown), and have a good level of fitness. You will be ski touring for up to 7 hours per day including 4-5 hours of ascent.
Our guides will start the course with an orientation day spent practicing some basic skills and avalanche awareness whilst exploring one of Chamonix’s classic ski touring itineraries such as the Col du Passon or Col du Tour Noir, before transferring to Italy for 3 days of hut-to-hut touring in the beautiful Gran Paradiso National Park.
Ski touring in the Alps requires a broad skill set, not only fitness and stamina. To be able to safely navigate the varied terrain of the backcountry, our guides will teach you crucial ice axe and crampon techniques, basic rope work, glacier navigation, and avalanche awareness. These skills really are the golden key that opens the door to the unlimited skiable terrain on the other side of the lift system…
This trip is absolutely perfect for those aspiring to take the next step towards becoming more independent in the mountains, and will serve as meaningful training to help you aspire towards more challenging future touring goals.
From: 1090 €
Intermediate
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Fitness level 3/5
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1:6 guiding ratio
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4 days programme
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Available March – April
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2 nights in huts
Dates
Start date | End date | Space | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wednesday 5 March 2025
|
Saturday 8 March 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 12 March 2025
|
Saturday 15 March 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 19 March 2025
|
Saturday 22 March 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 26 March 2025
|
Saturday 29 March 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 2 April 2025
|
Saturday 5 April 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 9 April 2025
|
Saturday 12 April 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 16 April 2025
|
Saturday 19 April 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Dates
Start date | End date | Space | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wednesday 5 March 2025
|
Saturday 8 March 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 12 March 2025
|
Saturday 15 March 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 19 March 2025
|
Saturday 22 March 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 26 March 2025
|
Saturday 29 March 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 2 April 2025
|
Saturday 5 April 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 9 April 2025
|
Saturday 12 April 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Wednesday 16 April 2025
|
Saturday 19 April 2025
|
Available
|
1090 €
| Make enquiry |
Itinerary
Welcome Meeting in Chamonix
The evening before the start of the course you will have the chance to meet your guide and the other course members to discuss the itinerary, the mountain conditions, and ask any questions.
Your guide will also use this time to check over your equipment and help you prepare what you will need for day 1 of the course. Those who have reserved rental equipment will have time to collect it from our partner shop, your guide can come with you to check that you get everything you need. It is a good idea to bring with you any clothing or technical gear that you would liked checked over prior to the start of the course.
Day 1: Ski Touring & Skill Refresher in Chamonix
Warm up and practice day in Chamonix. Our guides will use this day to check everyone’s equipment, ski touring skill set, and to teach you the basics of avalanche beacon and crevasse rescue on an introductory tour accessible from the local ski lifts.
You will return to Chamonix at the end of the day for any gear changes or additional equipment requirements in preparation for the following 3 days.
Day 2: Gran Paradiso National Park
Today starts with an early taxi ride from Chamonix to the Grand Paradiso National Park in Italy.
We begin our ski tour with a 2-3 hour climb up to the beautiful Benevolo Hut in the Val di Rhemes, which will be our base for the following 2 days. You will be able to enjoy a traditional Italian lunch before embarking on a short 2 hour tour from the hut to practice your ice axe and crampon skills.
The day will typically involve around 450m to 800m elevation gain, depending on the route chosen by your guide. There are many different itineraries options available from the hut to suit all levels and skill sets.
The Gran Paradiso nature reserve is tranquil, wild and unspoilt, offering stunning views and great skiing. You definitely won’t be fighting against crowds here, but may well be lucky enough to have the odd encounter with local wildlife!
Day 3: The Punta Calabre
A bigger tour today lasting around 5-6 hours. You will cover around 800m elevation again and enjoy a descent of about 1000m. There are many varied options to choose from along the Grand Paradiso chain.
With some help from the weather you’ll be rewarded with magnificent views and great skiing. A nice late Italian lunch will be a welcome reward and well needed fuel to keep you on track for the final day tomorrow.
Day 4: Grand Vaudala
This is the big day and final push! We will leave the hut early and cover roughly 1200m elevation gain over around a 7-8 hour, possibly summiting of one of the nearby peaks such as Grand Vaudala or Granta Parei.
The ultimate reward will be the lovely long 1600m ski descent back down to the trail head where a taxi will be waiting to bring you back to Chamonix for a cold beer, a hot shower, and your own bed!
Learning outcomes
- Improve your skinning techniques and kick turns
- Basic avalanche safety skills and rescue techniques
- Be involved in the day to day trip planning
- Get familiar with staying in a refuge and the general hut customs
- Good quality ski tours
Level requirements
Technical Level
To join this course you must have some previous ski touring experience, and be a confident off-piste skier on all types of snow (powder, crust, heavy, wet, and windblown). This is not a course for complete beginners, if you have never ski toured before then consider our Ski Touring Introduction course.
Physical Fitness
You will be ski touring for up to 7 hours per day including 4-5 hours of ascent, so a good level of fitness is essential. Chamonix town is at just over 1000m elevation and you will be touring in the mountains at around 2000m; high altitude makes all activities much more of an effort, so you need plenty of endurance.
Additional services
Airport transfers
We can help you to organise your transport to/from Chamonix. We work with well established airport transfer companies which use new and comfortable vehicles and which have the capacity and know-how to handle everything from delayed and cancelled flights, to unexpected traffic jams with professionalism and efficiency.
To book your transfer, we will need the following:
- Your full name
- Mobile phone number
- Email address
- Your destination address
- Your flight details (date, time and flight number)
SHARED TRANSFERS:
This is the most economic and ecologically friendly way of travel. The driver will meet and greet you at the airport, gather you and the rest of the passenger group together and then head off to your chosen destination. The door-to-door service means that you will be dropped off and picked up right at your hotel /chalet / apartment. From 40€ per person for one way and 80€ per person for a return trip.
PRIVATE TRANSFERS:
Private Transfers are the quickest way to get to and from the airport. Your driver will meet and greet you at the airport and guide you to your vehicle. There is no waiting for other passengers. Private transfers are available for one to eight person bookings and travelling together and you are guaranteed sole occupancy of the vehicle for your transfer. And, of course, it’s a door to door service, so you won’t be lugging any bags very far.
Mountain rescue insurance
We don’t include mountain rescue insurance in any of our courses but we strongly recommend that you have it. Mountain rescue may be very expensive, particularly if helicopters are involved. Check with your travel insurance provider if you are covered for the specific activity you are going to do with us.
However, we can organise the mountain rescue insurance for you. Details of the insurance cover are different for EU and non-EU residents; please contact us for more information.
Equipment hire
We highly recommend that you book any equipment with us at least 2 weeks in advance as the hire shops can have limited availability in the busy season. You can collect your equipment the evening before the start of the course and return it in the evening at the end of your course. We work with the following Chamonix ski hire and mountain shop:
• Concept Pro Shop that is conveniently located directly next door from our office. Open 7/7 08:00-19:00
Mountain huts
2 nights in mountain huts with breakfast and dinner included.
Guide fee – 4 days
4 days of guiding and instruction by a UIAGM qualified mountain guide.
Transport
Return transport from Chamonix to Italy.
Local Transport
Any local transport that is required during your course.
Lift passes
The cost of any lift access that is required during the course for the itinerary described above.
Not included in price
Accommodation in Chamonix
Accommodation in Chamonix is not included in the price but we would be happy to advise or organise it on request.
Travel to Chamonix
The price does not include flights, airport transfers or any other travel to/from Chamonix. However, we can organise airport transfers for you on request, please contact us for details.
Skis / Snowboards
The price does not include skis/snowboards, boots or clothing. If you do not have your own we can help you organise rental, please ask us for details.
Food & Drink
The price does not include lunch or snacks. You can bring your own food and we can stop for a picnic, or there may be the option to buy lunch at a mountain hut. Please make sure that you are carrying sufficient water and snacks as we will be in the mountains for a number of hours.
Insurance
Travel insurance including a mountain search and rescue insurance is mandatory on all our trips (we can organise the mountai search and rescue insurance for you on request). We highly advice to have a policy covering the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.