Available trips
| Sat 2nd Apr 11
- Sat 9th Apr 11 |
8 Days |
| Guide TBC | £ 1195 |
| Book Now | |
Skill: ***/*
This trip is an ideal trip for newcomers to ski touring. Endless long downhill runs and relatively short climbs. The group
will use the ski lifts as much as possible, although there will be climbs on skins of 2 to 4 hours per day.
Participants must be competent off-piste skiers, experienced in all kinds of snow conditions, you are able to do parallel
turns in powder snow, and linked stem turns in more difficult snow. The skiing is generally not too technical but there my be
the occasional steep section and so you need to have the right attitude to challenge yourself and go outside your comfort zone.
The challenge comes from managing the different snow conditions and trying to preserve your energy.
Previous ski touring experience is useful but not essential, during the week you will learn the basic technical ski touring skills.
Stamina: ***/*
Stamina-wise, you need to be able to ski all day for 6 consecutive days at a steady pace. On these courses the maximum
skinning will be 3 - 4 hours per day. Ski touring is hard work and we do find most newcomers are surprised by just how
physically demanding it can be! These tours differ from the beginner level tours in that ascents & descents will be more
demanding – i.e. longer & steeper.
To get maximum enjoyment from these trips you need to be working on your fitness well in advance of the tour which means
plenty of aerobic exercise like running/cycling/swimming.
Our Haute Route safari is a mellow version of the classic high level alpine traverse between Chamonix and Zermatt! Ideal for
everyone who wants to enjoy great backcountry skiing and easy touring rather than the high-octane challenge of the Haute Route
itself. The route makes it way through the Mont Blanc massif and Swiss Valais, some of the highest and most spectacular regions
of the Alps.
Itinerary
The Haute Route ski tour is high on the list of all aspiring ski tourers and ski mountaineers. But with a substantial amount
of uphill skiing it isn't to everyone's taste and we've designed the Haute Route Ski Safari for the skier wishing to focus on
the downhill and still achieve this classic journey.
A combination of lift assistance and light touring is used to find the best snow and descents as you travel between
Chamonix and Zermatt. Many of the ski areas visited on this safari are little known which means there is a high probability of
finding fresh tracks and good powder.
During the week, the skier will discover a different domain every day and visit the many famous places located within the
range. Between Chamonix and Zermatt we pass through, Verbier, Grimentz, St Luc and Unterbach, all of which are host to
extensive off piste ski domains.
The trip is enhanced by the use of touring equipment, which enables us to get away from the beaten track and give access
to big descents. However the emphasis is on long off piste powder descents rather than long distance touring.
This trip is suitable for competent off piste skiers. Previous ski touring experience is not absolutely essential and the
basic touring skills will be taught as you go along.
Itinerary:
Day 1
Meet in our hotel in Chamonix. Kit check and discuss the week ahead.
Day 2
After a morning spent skiing the excellent off piste in the Le Tour area, we start heading west by skiing over the back
and down to the small Swiss town of Trient. From here we use a taxi to the Verbier system. We spend the night in a hotel in
Verbier or Le Chable.
Day 3
After a morning skiing the best off piste in Verbier, we ski through the system before descending the Grepon Blanc to
Couta. Taxi to Nax where we will spend the night.
Day 4
Today we take a short bus ride to the Mt Noble ski area. A quick run to warm up here before descending off the Col de
Cou. We then skin uphill (approx 2 hours) to the Col de la Brinta before the long descent into the Grimentz ski area. We’ll
take lunch there, before continuing to the Saint Luc ski area, where we traverse the resort to stay in the magnificent Hotel
Weisshorn situated high on the slopes.
Day 5
The morning is spent skiing some fantastic terrain in the St Luc area before heading to the Pas de Boeuf from where we
ski down a magnificent remote valley to the mountain village of Oberems. From the valley bottom we take a train to Turtmann
followed by a cable car to the idyllic resort of Unterbach, where we spend the night in a very comfortable family run hotel.
Day 6
Unterbach has some fantastic off piste terrain that is easily accessed from the lifts, and we’ll make the most of them
before having an early lunch in the resort. After that we’ll make the ascent of the Augsbordhorn (2972m). The ascent will take
approximately 2 ½ hours and will usually involve a skin, followed by a walk. The payback will be the long and remote descent
down to the village of Torbel where we use local transport to travel up the Matter Tal to Zermatt. After a few celebratory
drinks we will spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
Day 7
Today is a chance to make the most of skiing in the Zermatt ski area. This area is world famous, and is dominated by the
Matterhorn and Monte Rosa Massif. Our primary objective is to ski the Schwartz Tour, a long and impressive descent on big
glacial terrain. A final night is spent in Zermatt.
Day 8
The group will disperse after breakfast.
Additional Information
Prices
Prices include 6 guided days with all guide fees and expenses, 7 nights half-board hotel accommodation, luggage
transfers.
Prices do not include: travel to Chamonix and from Zermatt, personal insurance, equipment hire, lunches, beverages,
uplift costs and local travel and transfers.
Local expenses
On all our trips we exclude the costs for local transfers and uplift. These will need to be paid for locally in Euros and
Swiss Francs. For this trip we estimate these expenses will be in the region of £250 per person.
Group Size
Minimum group size is 4. Maximum group size is 12 with 2 guides
Guides
This trip will be led by one of our team of Pro Mountain Guides. If we have a group of 8 or more, the second leader will
be a Ski Instructor who will focus on off-piste instruction and technique.
Accommodation and Meals
Accommodation is provided in comfortable mid-range hotels along the route.
Breakfast and evening meals are provided. Lunches will either be packed lunches - purchased in local supermarkets - or
taken in mountain restaurants.
Equipment
A copy of our
recommended kit list will be sent to you at the
time of booking.
For this trip you will need alpine touring equipment with touring boots and skins and ski crampons. Confused about what
skis, boots and binding combination to bring with you, then read our
Ski Equipment page to find out more.
Boot crampons, ice-axes and harness are not required for this trip.
All skiers will need to carry a rucksack (25-30 litres) with safety gear and personal items.
Everyone is expected to ski at all times with the three essential items of avalanche safety equipment: transceiver,
shovel and probe. If you ski off-piste regularly we recommend you purchase your own set and we have a special offer on BCA’s
excellent DTS Tracker. Please ask us for details.
Getting to Chamonix
The easiest way to get to Chamonix from the UK is to fly. The nearest airport is Geneva and the transfer time from the
airport is about 75 minutes.
Easyjet tend to have the most affordable flights and a comprehensive service that serves many UK regional airports
including Bristol, Belfast, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Luton, Gatwick, Liverpool, Nottingham/East Midlands.
Check
www.easyjet.com for more details.
Other flight operators include:
www.flybe.com and
www.bmibaby.com
Travelling back from Zermatt
To get back to Geneva the best option is to take the train. The journey time is about 4 hours and usually requires 1
change. Trains run frequently throughout the day.
If you are going back to Chamonix - e.g. to return hire kit - train is again the best option - unless there's sufficient
number to justify sharing the costs of a taxi. The train journey from Zermatt to Chamonix also takes about 4 hours with up to 3
changes.
Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you are insured for ski touring covering personal accident, rescue and third party
risks. You are strongly advised also to take out cover against cancellation and curtailment.
If you are looking to purchase insurance for your trip we recommend
SNOWCARD. They specialise in travel insurance for adventure sports particularly skiing
and snowboarding. Their rates for both single trip and annual policies are very competitive.
For details on their policies and to get a quote CLICK HERE or contact our office for further details.