Ski Touring Valley Style

The Mont Blanc Massif, and Chamonix in particular, are simply wonderful locations to embark on a ski de randonnée (ski tour). Ski touring is the perfect way to get up close to the stunning nature of this area, and the excellent lift facilities provide easy access to the magnificent mountain wilderness that this region is so renowned for. With a bit of exertion and the help of specialist equipment and experienced local guides, ski tourers will manage to get away from the crowded slopes and experience some truly spectacular skiing.

Safety First: Get a Guide!

This is not a family-friendly activity, so it would be better to find a babysitter or to leave the little ones with grandma and grandpa so you can fully experience and enjoy the thrill of ski touring.

A High Mountain Guide is not merely a guide, but also a learned teacher who can impart essential skiing wisdom. In Chamonix all guides are members of the UIAGM, so you know you’re in good hands before you embark on this exciting new adventure. You can choose to join a group, hire a guide privately or if you are part of a party then you can choose a guide to suit your party. Highly professional and, with a mountain of mountaineering knowledge, these guides are the best way to get the most from your ski touring holiday.

Some of the Best Routes

The Aiguilles Rouges massif is nothing short of spectacular, and it is well known for having some of the best ski touring route options in the Chamonix area.

The Crouches-Bérard traverse is a classic Chamonix ski-tour route, with easy access from la Flégère only 3km from the town. It passes through the gorgeous Aiguilles Rouge and you’ll end up in Le Buet village centre in time for a vin chaud! It’s a comfortable and not too difficult descent, known for always having very good snow. You’ll ski through a little forest, along a stream and into a beautiful valley along the way. It’s best to visit between January and April, and you should expect to spend 4 to 6 hours en route, so bring something to eat and drink.

Another Chamonix ski touring classic is the Col du Belvedere, and on a clear and warm spring day it’s not unheard of to find untracked snow on the Northern descent! The views looking over the Bérad valley are unmissable, and you will be spoilt with beautiful vistas containing the peaks of Le Dru and Les Grandes Jorasses, too. This is a trickier descent definitely more suited to those skiers who are more advanced, and its remoteness means you should not attempt it without a guide. Open from January until May, you should factor in 4-5 hours for this magnificent ski tour.

How to Get There

Getting to Geneva from the UK won’t be a problem, as many airlines including easyJet and British Airways fly from different UK airports into the Swiss city every day. For the next stage, Shuttle Direct can meet you in Arrivals, help with your baggage and take you from Geneva to Chamonix in a quick and comfortable private shuttle. From the UK to Geneva to Chamonix and the slopes, all in a matter of hours!

Author Plate

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for an affordable transfer from Geneva to Chamonix, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.