Ski touring
Ski touring in the Alps: freedom, effort and breathtaking panoramas in Les Trois Vallées and Paradiski
Ski touring, once reserved for seasoned mountaineers, has been booming for several years. More than a sport, it is an intimate adventure with the mountain, blending physical effort, the discovery of nature and the sensations of riding untouched terrain — a quest for raw nature and freedom.
Dive into the world of ski touring, explore the finest itineraries in Savoie across the most beautiful areas of Les Trois Vallées and Paradiski, and live a sporting nature experience during your stay in a chalet in the Alps.
What is ski touring?
Ski touring is a discipline that involves climbing a mountain on skis, under your own steam, and then descending by gliding on virgin or groomed snow. Unlike classic alpine skiing, it does not (or only marginally) involve the use of ski lifts.
It is an activity that appeals for its immersive dimension, its total freedom and its strong connection with nature. You climb at your own pace, far from the crowds, in silence, with grand landscapes and a well-earned descent as your reward.
The origins of ski touring
Ski touring traces its roots back to the ancestral practices of mountain peoples, long before modern alpine skiing became popular. The earliest traces of skis date back more than 5,000 years in Scandinavia, where they were mainly used to move across the snow for hunting or exploration. In Europe, it was at the end of the 19th century that the idea of skiing for pleasure and adventure really took off, particularly thanks to Austrian and Swiss explorers and mountaineers.
Pioneers such as the French mountaineer Henri Duhamel and the guides of Chamonix helped to popularise the practice. The first great traverses, such as the Chamonix–Zermatt Haute Route launched in 1911, marked the history of ski touring and laid the foundations of the discipline. Today, ski touring is a fast-growing activity, driven by a desire to return to nature and to push one’s limits.
The atmosphere of ski touring: freedom and communion with nature
There is something profoundly different when you leave the pistes to explore untouched slopes. The air is purer, the sounds more subtle, and the silence of the mountains is felt at every step. The absence of crowds, the soft crackle of skins on the snow and the rhythmic breath of effort create an almost meditative atmosphere.
Ski touring is also a human adventure. You share unique moments with your group, whether contemplating a sunrise from a ridge or laughing together on a powder descent. Mutual support and solidarity are essential, because in the mountains, everyone’s safety depends on the group.
Tips for getting started in ski touring
To start ski touring, you mainly need good physical condition and a spirit of adventure. Here are a few tips for a strong start:
- Learn the basic techniques: Familiarise yourself with using skins, kick turns on the climb and descent technique on ungroomed snow.
- Train in safety: Following an avalanche-management and safety-equipment training course is essential.
- Choose suitable itineraries: Start with simple, progressive routes before tackling more technical terrain.
- Surround yourself with experienced people: Going with a guide or more experienced friends is an excellent way to learn.
- Plan your outing: Check the weather, the avalanche risk and prepare your route in advance.
How ski touring works: equipment and technique
Ski touring relies on specific equipment that differs from classic alpine skiing.
Basic equipment:
- Touring skis: lighter than alpine skis, often narrower, designed for the climb.
- Specific bindings: the heels release on the climb to allow a natural walking motion.
- Climbing skins: adhesive strips applied under the skis to prevent sliding backwards.
- Lightweight boots: articulated for the climb, lockable for the descent.
- Telescopic poles: to adjust to the gradient.
Safety equipment:
Ski touring requires specific equipment to ensure your safety in the mountains.
- Avalanche transceiver: essential for quickly locating someone buried in the snow.
- Shovel and probe: complement the transceiver to locate and dig out a victim.
- Airbag rucksack: useful in the event of an avalanche to stay near the surface of the snow.
- Helmet and technical clothing: to protect you from the cold, the wind and falls.
- First-aid kit and repair tools: always carry the means to treat injuries and repair your gear if needed.
- Transceiver, shovel and probe: avalanche safety equipment (mandatory off-piste).
The technique:
- Climb: you move forward in sliding steps, with skins under the skis. The pace is slow but steady.
- Kick turn: to change direction on a steep slope.
- Descent: once the skins are removed, the bindings locked and the boots tightened, you ski as in alpine — sometimes on virgin snow, sometimes in forest or in a narrow couloir.
The finest ski touring itineraries in Les Trois Vallées
The Les Trois Vallées domain is not just an alpine skiing paradise. It also offers magnificent ski tours, marked or off-piste, for every level.
🏔 1. Le Roc de Fer in Méribel
- Elevation gain: 600 m
- Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours
- Level: intermediate
- Highlight: a superb 360° view from the summit, particularly over Mont Blanc.
- Access: starting from the Méribel Altiport, a popular yet peaceful loop.
🏔 2. The ascent of Col de la Chambre from Val Thorens
- Elevation gain: 800 m
- Duration: about 3 hours
- Level: advanced
- Atmosphere: high mountain, very few people. Best done early to enjoy absolute silence.
- Descent: opportunities to ski virgin combes if conditions allow.
🏔 3. Tougnète loop from Les Menuires
- Elevation gain: 450 m
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Level: beginner to intermediate
- Highlight: a marked, secured itinerary, perfect for an introduction to ski touring.
- View: panoramic view of the Belleville Valley.
🏔 4. Millet Ski Touring in Courchevel
- Start: Courchevel Le Praz (1,300 m)
- Finish: Courchevel 1850
- Elevation gain: 500 m
- Distance: 3.2 km
- Level: intermediate to advanced
- Description: this marked and groomed itinerary crosses a picturesque forest, offering a sustained climb up to Courchevel 1850. It is famous for hosting Vertical Race events at the French Championships and World Cup.
Ski touring in Paradiski: between forests and glaciers
The Paradiski domain, which links La Plagne, Peisey-Vallandry and Les Arcs, offers an exceptional variety of ski touring itineraries, from the most accessible to the wildest.
🏔 1. Aiguille Grive itinerary, Les Arcs 1800
- Elevation gain: 650 m
- Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours
- Level: advanced
- Setting: sublime, between forest and rocky ridges.
- Descent: possible across several combes, depending on snow cover.
🏔 2. Mont Saint-Jacques in La Plagne
- Elevation gain: 500 m
- Duration: 2 hours
- Level: intermediate
- Highlight: stunning panorama of the Vanoise National Park and Mont Blanc.
- Atmosphere: very calm, lightly visited.
🏔 3. Foran loop at Peisey-Nancroix
- Elevation gain: 400 m
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Level: beginner
- Type: marked loop, very well suited to beginners.
- Bonus: chance to spot ibex and chamois.
The golden rules for a successful outing
Ski touring is a demanding activity that requires preparation and vigilance. Here are some key tips:
- Check the weather and the avalanche bulletin (BERA).
- Never set off alone, especially off-piste.
- Know how to use the avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe (training recommended).
- Prepare your itinerary in advance: elevation, duration, escape routes.
- Dress in layers to manage temperature changes.
- Set off early: the snow is more stable, and the morning light is unforgettable.
Ski touring and the chalet experience: a perfectly complementary pairing
After the effort, the comfort. Ski touring is physically demanding, and a return to a warm alpine chalet is the best of rewards.
1. Comfort and recovery
A chalet with sauna, spa or Nordic bath is ideal for soothing the legs. We can even arrange post-tour sports massages at the chalet.
2. Mountain cuisine after the effort
Picture a homemade tartiflette, a slow-cooked dish or an invigorating soup with the mountain in front of you. You will love coming back to the chalet — you are home, with every comfort and sometimes a private chef.
3. Panoramic view at daybreak
In the morning, from your balcony, you can already see your next ascent. No car needed — you set off ski-in, heading for the summits.
Three ideas to enrich your ski touring stay
1. Avalanche-safety workshop in your chalet
A mountain guide can come to your chalet for an interactive workshop on the use of the transceiver, rescue techniques and reading the snowpack.
2. Evening sledging session
After a day of ski touring, have fun on the night-time sledging runs — atmosphere guaranteed for young and old.
3. Torchlight snowshoeing walk
If you love adventure, end your day in the mountains with a torchlight snowshoeing walk and extend the magic with intoxicating natural landscapes.
Reconnect with the mountain through ski touring
Ski touring is much more than a sport: it is a state of mind, an authentic and conscious way of discovering the mountain. Whether you are a novice or a passionate enthusiast, the itineraries of Les Trois Vallées and Paradiski offer an exceptional playground to experience this adventure safely.
And to elevate the experience, there is nothing like a stay in an alpine chalet: comfort, a warm atmosphere and immediate proximity to nature.
