Les Cerces 5-day guided ski tour

Discover the wild beauty of the Cerces on a 5-day guided ski tour in the French Alps. This stunning backcountry ski paradise offers varied terrain and cosy hut-to-hut stays, led by expert UIAGM mountain guides.

Hut to hut ski tours

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Les Cerces Traverse & Mont Thabor – A Guided Ski Tour in the French Alps

Embark on a truly unique guided ski tour in the French Alps and explore the wild beauty of the Cerces massif on a hut-to-hut ski tour you’ll never forget.

Tucked between the Ecrins and Vanoise National Parks near the Italian border, the Les Cerces hut-to-hut ski tour offers some of the most stunning and unspoiled backcountry terrain in the Alps. From open alpine bowls and couloirs to larch forests and dramatic limestone cliffs, this region is a hidden gem for ski touring enthusiasts. You might even spot eagles or other rare alpine wildlife soaring overhead.

A Perfect Intro to Hut-to-Hut Ski Touring

This French Alps ski tour is ideal for skiers ready to take on their first hut-to-hut ski tour. The ascents are manageable, and the descents, while varied and exciting, are not overly technical—making it a perfect blend of adventure and approachability. The routes are carefully chosen to provide a rich mix of terrain, from playful open slopes to narrow mountain passages.

For Private Groups & Custom Adventures

While this is an excellent introduction to touring, the area also allows for more technical variations. With multiple access points, a dense network of mountain huts, and flexible route options, we can tailor this guided ski tour in France to match your group’s level and goals—whether you’re after a relaxed pace or a more athletic backcountry ski tour.

Comfortable Mountain Huts

Each night, you’ll stay in some of the coziest huts in the Alps—known for their warm hospitality, hot showers, hearty meals, and relaxed alpine charm. After a rewarding day of skinning and skiing, these mountain refuges provide the perfect setting to rest and recharge.

From: 1470 €

Price per person for groups of minimum 4 skiers

Intermediate

You are a confident off-piste skier in all snow conditions. You’re comfortable on slopes of up to 35°. You have practiced companion rescue, and are familiar with basic traveling methods in avalanche-prone terrain. You have already done some ski touring, and are somewhat familiar with the equipment and the techniques used (skins, touring bindings, ski crampons, kick turns).

Fitness level 3/5
1:6 guiding ratio
5 days ski tour
Available from mid February – early April
4 nights in mountain huts
Ideal as first hut to hut tour
Showers in the huts

View dates

Dates

Les Cerces 5-day guided ski tour

Start date	End date	Space	Price
Monday 26 January 2026	Friday 30 January 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 2 February 2026	Friday 6 February 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 9 February 2026	Friday 13 February 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 16 February 2026	Friday 20 February 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 23 February 2026	Friday 27 February 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 2 March 2026	Friday 6 March 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 9 March 2026	Friday 13 March 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 16 March 2026	Friday 20 March 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 23 March 2026	Friday 27 March 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry

Dates

Les Cerces 5-day guided ski tour

Start date	End date	Space	Price
Monday 26 January 2026	Friday 30 January 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 2 February 2026	Friday 6 February 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 9 February 2026	Friday 13 February 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 16 February 2026	Friday 20 February 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 23 February 2026	Friday 27 February 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 2 March 2026	Friday 6 March 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 9 March 2026	Friday 13 March 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 16 March 2026	Friday 20 March 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry
Monday 23 March 2026	Friday 27 March 2026	Available	1470 €	Make enquiry

Itinerary

This program is an example of what can be done with good weather and snow conditions. For your safety’s sake, your guide may change the route at any time depending on the mountain conditions and the group’s abilities.

Arrival day

Please arrive in Chamonix the day before the start of the tour. We will have a pre-trip meeting with all participants and your mountain guide at our office. The guide will introduce you to the program of the week, the options available, and answer all your questions. They will take the opportunity to check your equipment and help you prepare your bag for the 5 day expedition. If you have booked rental equipment, we will take you to our partner shop to pick up everything you need.

D1 Chamonix – Névache – Buffere hut (2076m) +450m / 2h

Departure from Chamonix in the morning and transfer by minibus to Névache, in the Haute Vallée de la Clarée – the starting point of the tour. A gentle hike up to the refuge of Buffère will warm up our legs; this cute little nest of a hut has showers and cosy rooms. After lunch, we will start our trip with some essential avalanche safety training. Later on, if time allows, we will hike above the refuge and make your first tracks on the Crête de Baude or Crête de l’Échaillon (+500m / 2h30).

D2 Buffere hut – Chardonnet hut (2223m) via the Grande Manche (2823m)

Today we have several possibilities for the itinerary: one of them being the Grande Manche ascent, a splendid variant to the classic route. Your efforts will be rewarded with a very nice descent to the comfortable Chardonnet hut.

+ 1100 -1000m / 5h

D3 Chardonnet hut to Laval hut (2010 m) via the Casse Blanche (2914m)

A typically alpine day that winds its way between the Queyrellin ridges through the Casse Blanche pass (2914m). A spectacular dolomitic atmosphere at the edge of this limestone wall, followed by a descent through a wild and secret valley. Finally, a pleasant and gently sloping hike up to reach the Laval hut.

+800 -900 / 6h

D4 Laval hut to Ricou hut (2115m) via the Rocher Grande Tempete (3002m)

Another day of great atmospheric surroundings, with an ascent of the Rocher Grande Tempete at 3002m – a superb summit that offers magnificent views, then a nice descent to the refuge of Ricou.

+800 -800 / 4h30

D5 Return to Névache via Pic du Lac Blanc (2980m)

Last day, last summit! We climb the rolling hills above the refuge up to an aerial ridge leading to the Lac Blanc Peak (2980m). A gentle return to civilization as we descend to Névache after this immersion in the immaculate world of the winter mountains. We enjoy the authentic charm of the small hamlet of Névache, and celebrate with a good craft beer brewed in the village. Tired and happy, it’s time to head back to Chamonix.

+850 -1400 / 4h30

Level requirements

Physical Fitness

To fully enjoy this guided ski tour in the French Alps, you should be in good physical condition and comfortable hiking uphill for 600 to 1,000 vertical meters per day. Expect ski touring days of around 6 hours, including ascents, descents, and hut transitions. You’ll need the stamina to repeat this effort over several consecutive days without excessive fatigue.

Technical Level & Experience

This Les Cerces hut-to-hut ski tour is perfect for intermediate backcountry skiers who have completed a few single-day ski tours and want to experience their first multi-day hut-to-hut adventure.

You should be able to:

Use ski touring equipment confidently, including skins, bindings, boots, ski crampons and boot crampons.
Perform kick turns on steep slopes and varied snow
Ski off-piste confidently in variable snow conditions (powder, crust, spring snow, etc.)

If you’re unsure whether this tour is right for your level, feel free to contact us on info@chamex.com—we’re happy to help guide you to the best option!

Equipment

Included or not

Clothing

Neck gaiter (Buff)

Clothing

Warm hat

Clothing

Thermal underwear

Clothing

Fleece or woollen layers

Clothing

Light puffer jacket

Clothing

Windproof and waterproof jacket

Clothing

Windproof and waterproof trousers

Clothing

Warm gloves

Clothing

Thin gloves with leather palms for better grip

Clothing

Sun hat

Clothing

Long sleeve shirt

Technical gear

Lightweight ski harness

Technical gear

Ice axe

Technical gear

Ski goggles

Technical gear

Crampons

Technical gear

Ski touring skis

Technical gear

Ski touring boots

Technical gear

Ski / splitboard skins

Technical gear

Ski poles

Technical gear

30 – 40 litres rucksack with attachment loops for skis or snowboard

Technical gear

Ski / splitboard crampons

Safety Equipment

Lightweight ski helmet

Safety Equipment

Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe

Other essentials

Sunglasses

Other essentials

Water bottle – Ideally two 1L bottles

Other essentials

Sun cream high protection (for lips and face)

Other essentials

Headlamp with fresh batteries

Other essentials

Washbag and toiletries

Other essentials

Towel

Other essentials

Earplugs

Other essentials

Sleeping bag liner – lightweight

Other essentials

Thermos

Other essentials

Antibacterial handwash

Included in price

Guide Fees

5 days of guiding and instruction by a UIAGM qualified mountain guide

Mountain huts

4 nights accommodation in mountain huts with breakfast and dinner included

Transport

Transport as described in the itinerary is included

Group Equipment

Ropes, safety equipment, etc will be provided when needed by your guide

Office Support

Our team is based at the foot of the Aiguillle du Midi cable car and will be happy to help you with any questions you may have before, during or after your trip to Chamonix.

Not included in price

Personal Equipment

Please see the “Equipment” tab to find out what you will need on this trip / course. For private customised guiding, please contact us directly to confirm your personalised kit list.

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.

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.