My First Hut to Hut Ski Touring Adventure in the Queyras, French Alps

You’ll meet your group and the guide at 9h in Molines-en-Queyras for a warm welcome, a detailed briefing, and a kit check to ensure everyone is well equipped for the journey ahead. 

From the village, you’ll set off on skis for a gentle but rewarding first ascent to the Col de Longet (2,704m). This is where the learning really begins. You’ll be introduced to your ski touring equipment, including how to fit and remove skins, adjust bindings, and refine your technique to maximise glide and efficiency.

The route climbs gradually through a beautiful larch forest, offering a calm environment to build confidence. As the trees thin, you'll emerge into wide-open high mountain plateaus, with stunning views and a sense of real alpine freedom. Along the way, your guide will teach you how to master kick turns, essential for navigating steeper sections—though today’s terrain remains forgiving and beginner-friendly.

After reaching the col, it’s time to enjoy your first descent on touring skis—an easy, rolling run that’s perfect for getting used to skiing with a backpack and different equipment. You’ll glide down to a picturesque mountain chapel, before tackling a final climb up to your overnight stop: the Refuge de la Blanche.

Nestled in a stunning high-altitude setting, this cosy mountain hut offers a truly authentic experience. Share stories over a hearty meal, soak in the peaceful surroundings, and settle in for your first night in the wild.

Distance: 8.5km Ascent: 893m Descent: 417m Min Altitude: 2030m Max Altitude: 2704m

After a night in the mountains and a refuge breakfast, day 2 begins with an essential part of any ski touring adventure: learning how to stay safe in the backcountry.

Morning Avalanche Safety Briefing

Before heading out, your guide will lead a practical avalanche safety session outside the refuge. You’ll learn how to use your avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel, with hands-on practice to build confidence. This is an essential skill for ski tourers of all levels—and we keep it clear, supportive, and beginner-friendly.

With safety skills in place, you’ll put on your skis for the first tour of the day.

Morning Tour: Ascent to Col de la Noire

Today’s first ski tour is a scenic climb to the Col de la Noire (2,955m). You’ll follow a beautiful valley that gradually ascends into open, high-altitude terrain—perfect for practising skinning technique and navigating kick turns. The reward at the top is a dramatic panoramic view stretching toward the Italian border.

After soaking it all in, you’ll descend back to the refuge along wide, forgiving slopes that offer a fun, confidence-boosting ride.

Distance: 3km Ascent: 469m Descent: 469m Min Altitude: 2,504 m Max Altitude: 2,959 m

Afternoon Tour: Ascent to Col Blanchet

After lunch, you’ll head out again for a second, slightly more technical tour. This loop begins with a steeper ascent, leading up to a panoramic ridge. Depending on snow conditions, it may be necessary to remove your skis and continue on foot, with skis strapped to your backpack, for the final few metres to the top.

The reward is a fantastic and varied descent, with slopes of differing gradients that offer a fun and challenging mix—ideal for testing your downhill technique in a safe, guided environment. It’s a great opportunity to push just a little beyond your comfort zone while enjoying the freedom of the high mountains.

Distance: 3.5km  Ascent: 419m Descent: 419m Min Altitude: 2504m Max Altitude: 2921m

After breakfast, it’s time to pack up and prepare for your first hut-to-hut journey, a milestone moment in your ski touring adventure. Today’s tour takes you deeper into the Queyras backcountry, linking two mountain refuges through spectacular high alpine terrain.

You’ll begin with a progressive ascent to the summit of Pic Caramantran (3,026m)—your first 3,000-metre peak! The climb is steady and confidence-building, with plenty of opportunities to pause, catch your breath, and take in the increasingly dramatic views.

From the summit, the route continues toward the Col Chamoussière, leading to one of the most enjoyable descents of the trip: a north-facing slope between the Col de Chamoussière and Col Agnel, known for holding excellent snow conditions. The descent is rewarding without being extreme, with wide-open bowls that invite playful turns and flow.

You’ll finish the day arriving at your next mountain refuge—tired, perhaps, but absolutely exhilarated.

Distance: 5.5km Ascent: 600m Descent: 500m  Min Altitude: 2,504  Max Altitude: 3,026 m

Your final day is a true alpine finale—more technical, more rugged, and deeply rewarding. It’s the perfect culmination of all the skills and confidence you’ve built throughout the trip.

You’ll set off from the refuge and begin the ascent toward the Col de l’Eychassier (2,917m). The climb is more sustained than previous days, with slightly steeper slopes and changes in aspect, giving you a chance to apply your technique on more varied terrain. This part of the tour also brings a growing sense of exposure and mountain scale, adding to the thrill.

From the col, the route follows a rocky alpine ridge to reach the summit of Pic Foréant (3,081m). Depending on snow conditions, you may need to carry your skis for the final section—a short bootpack that adds a real taste of alpine mountaineering. The setting is wild, dramatic, and incredibly rewarding.

From the summit, the trip ends with a long and memorable descent—over 1,000 metres of vertical drop—leading you through wide, open slopes and changing terrain all the way back to the car park. It’s a beautiful, flowing ride that brings everything together: effort, achievement, and pure downhill joy.

Distance: 8.72 km  Ascent: 500 m  Descent: 1,030 m Min Altitude: 2,042 m  Max Altitude: 3,081 m

This is a progressive four-day itinerary, thoughtfully designed to help you build your ski touring skills and confidence with the guidance of an expert. While we plan to follow a set route through the stunning Queyras Regional Park, it’s important to be aware that ski touring in high alpine terrain comes with real mountain hazards—such as avalanche risk, sudden weather changes, and variable snow conditions.

Your safety is always the top priority. That’s why the tour is led by a fully qualified UIAGM high mountain guide, whose experience and knowledge of the Queyras mountains ensure decisions are made with your well-being in mind. Depending on conditions, your guide may adjust the route, change the day’s objectives, or turn back if necessary. These decisions must be respected at all times.

Flexibility is part of the adventure. With expert support and the wild beauty of the Queyras all around you, you’ll gain valuable new skills, experience true alpine terrain, and enjoy an inspiring introduction to the world of hut-to-hut ski touring.