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Ski touring course Chamonix introduction

Introduction to ski touring course Chamonix , covering the essential techniques of ski touring for beginners, as well as exploring some of the great backcountry ski tours in Chamonix.

AVALANCHE RESCUE SKILLS

Companion avalanche rescue training.

OVERNIGHT SKI TOUR

Stay overnight in a mountain hut and enjoy the winter alpine scenery & sunset.

PREPARATION FOR HUT TO HUT TRIPS

This is an excellent preparation course if you wish to join one of our hut to hut trips.

DISCOVER SKI TOURING IN CHAMONIX

Ski touring is the key to discovering all the secrets of the Mont Blanc Massif. With the right equipment and skills, no peak, hidden valley or remote mountain pass is out of reach!

Our ski touring course in Chamonix will provide a thorough grounding in the skills needed for ski touring in a high mountain environment. It is ideal preparation for multi-day ski tours such as the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt.

You will learn essential ski touring techniques such as how to fix skins and couteaux (crampons for skis), how to travel uphill and how to perform kick turns for traversing on steeper terrain.

We will stay one night in a mountain hut – no ski touring experience is complete without a pre-dawn start high in the mountains, watching the sun rise over the peaks.

The agenda will also cover the complementary mountain craft skills you will need when ski touring in the Alps, such as avalanche awareness and crevasse rescue.

On this course you will experience some of the most famous Chamonix classic ski tours such as Col du Tour Noir, Crochues Berard, Col du Passon or Col du Belvedere. The nature reserve of the Aiguilles Rouges is renowned for its excellent ski touring terrain and you’ve a good chance of encountering typical Alpine wildlife such as bouquetin (ibex) or the famous but timid chamois.

There is plenty of accessible ski touring terrain from the main Chamonix ski areas of Brevent, Flegere, Le Tour and Les Grands Montets – meaning that you can be out in the backcountry and away from the crowds in no time.

Of course, we will also be exploring the legendary off-piste terrain of the Aiguille du Midi, crossing over to Pointe Helbronner in Italy before skiing the Vallee Blanche back down to Chamonix. An unforgettable adventure that will set you on the path of many more!

From: 1190 €

Price per person for a group of minimum 4 skiers.

Beginner

You have experience backcountry or side country skiing/ snowboarding. You can descend in various snow types, without falling (excessively…) or stopping. You’re comfortable on slopes up to 35°. You have little or no ski touring experience.
  • Physical level 3/5
  • Guiding ratio 1:6
  • Group of 6 maximum
  • 5 days course
  • Available January – April
  • Chamonix
  • 1 night in a mountain hut
Blanka riding the fresh snow in Chamonix.
Blanka riding the fresh snow in Chamonix.

Dates

Ski touring course Chamonix introduction
Start dateEnd dateSpacePrice
Monday 6 January 2025
Friday 10 January 2025
Guaranteed
1190 €
Monday 6 January 2025
Friday 10 January 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 17 January 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 20 January 2025
Friday 24 January 2025
Two more to guarantee
1190 €
Monday 27 January 2025
Friday 31 January 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 3 February 2025
Friday 7 February 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 10 February 2025
Friday 14 February 2025
Guaranteed
1190 €
Monday 17 February 2025
Friday 21 February 2025
Guaranteed
1190 €
Monday 24 February 2025
Friday 28 February 2025
Guaranteed
1190 €
Monday 3 March 2025
Friday 7 March 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 10 March 2025
Friday 14 March 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 17 March 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
Guaranteed
1190 €
Monday 24 March 2025
Friday 28 March 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 31 March 2025
Friday 4 April 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 7 April 2025
Friday 11 April 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 14 April 2025
Friday 18 April 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 21 April 2025
Friday 25 April 2025
Available
1190 €

Dates

Ski touring course Chamonix introduction
Start dateEnd dateSpacePrice
Monday 6 January 2025
Friday 10 January 2025
Guaranteed
1190 €
Monday 6 January 2025
Friday 10 January 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 17 January 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 20 January 2025
Friday 24 January 2025
Two more to guarantee
1190 €
Monday 27 January 2025
Friday 31 January 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 3 February 2025
Friday 7 February 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 10 February 2025
Friday 14 February 2025
Guaranteed
1190 €
Monday 17 February 2025
Friday 21 February 2025
Guaranteed
1190 €
Monday 24 February 2025
Friday 28 February 2025
Guaranteed
1190 €
Monday 3 March 2025
Friday 7 March 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 10 March 2025
Friday 14 March 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 17 March 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
Guaranteed
1190 €
Monday 24 March 2025
Friday 28 March 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 31 March 2025
Friday 4 April 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 7 April 2025
Friday 11 April 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 14 April 2025
Friday 18 April 2025
Available
1190 €
Monday 21 April 2025
Friday 25 April 2025
Available
1190 €
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
Technical gear
Ice axe
Technical gear
Climbing harness
Technical gear
Ski goggles
Technical gear
Ski / splitboard skins
Technical gear
Ski touring skis
Technical gear
Ski touring boots
Technical gear
Ski poles
Technical gear
30 – 40 litres rucksack with attachment loops for skis or snowboard
Technical gear
Crampons
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
Optional items
Sleeping bag liner (Opt)
Included in price

Guiding & Tuition

5 days of mountain guiding and ski tuition by a UIAGM qualified mountain guide.

Mountain hut

1 night in a mountain hut with breakfast and dinner included.

Local Transport

Any local transport that is required during your course.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Accommodation in Chamonix

Accommodation in Chamonix is not included in the price but we would be happy to advise or organise it on request.

Lift passes

To keep the itinerary flexible, we do not include the lift passes in the course price. We will advise you what lift passes you will need on day to day basis and organise them for you. The total price will vary depending on the weather, conditions and the selected climbs.