Best Ski Tours in the Southern French Alps

This is a gradually progressive week starting with an off piste skiing day. Your guide will be on hand to give you technique tips. You will also review avalanche safety and search and rescue skills.

The rest of the week will be spent exploring the cols and summits in and around the Champsaur valley and Ecrins National Park, the Devoluy, Les Orres and Reallon. There are a huge variety of routes to choose from and your guide will choose the most suitable options for the snow and local conditions and the group so that you can make the most of the area and push your potential.

This is an example itinerary using to give you a good idea of some of the summits we often use and what to expect from the week.

You will make your own way to your hotel  in Gap where you will be based for the week. If you are coming by public transport, the  train station is Gap. You can walk to Mon Hotel from the station or get a short taxi ride to Les Olivades. Then you can spend the evening exploring Gap and meeting up with the other ski tourers. 

Your guide will collect you in the morning from the hotel ready for a day in the mountains and with your day rucksack packed. If you are hiring equipment, the guide will take you to go and collect your equipment for the week and then set off for your first day. Then you'll go to either Orcieres or Devoluy, depending on where the snow is best where you will spend the day perfecting your downhill off piste skiing so that you can make the most of your descents when you are ski touring.

During the day you will also learn about high mountain safety and practice some of the safety skills essential for ski touring such as avalanche search and rescue.

Ascent: 720/1020m

La Palastre will be your first ski tour of the week. It's a gradual ascent through open snow fields and rocky outcrops with beautiful views over the Champsaur valley. You'll have plenty of time to get used to skinning up and getting comfortable with your equipment.

There are several options for the final part of the route potentially culminating in the summit of Soleil Boeuf (2595m) so depending on how you are all feeling and the conditions it can be extended or shortened. It takes about 2.5  - 3.5 hours to climb in total. Depending on where you end up there are a few choices for skiing down. So you can choose the gentle gradients or the slightly more technical steeper couloirs.

Ascent: 550m with several possibilities of extension up to 800m in total.

Beautiful valleys at the foot of the mythical Pic du Bure 2709M. This wonderful, awe inspiring route, typical of the famous limestone massif of Devoluy, will enchant you with its vigorous reliefs, comparable to none other!

Ascent : 1070m

Le Piolit is a superb classic ski touring route with a spectacular, tapering ridge, nestled in the beautiful Rouanne valley above Ancelle. From the summit you have a panoramic view of the surrounding peaks and the Serre Ponçon lake.

Ascent: 800m

Nestled at the bottom of a valley with a marked alpine character and often changing slopes along the way, this ski tour will leave you with the memory of a sporty and committed tour despite the easy height gain thanks to a sustained descent on the north face in mostly powdery snow.

Ascent: 950m

Between Ubaye and Durance, a great classic for the locals, varied and full of charm, with often favourable snow conditions.

This is the sad day where we have to say goodbye! You'll leave with lots of great memories wanting to come back for more!