Ski
Tour Long Weekend 2025
Three day ski tour, with 2 nights spent in mountain huts   
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| Course
overview |
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This
is an exciting long weekend of ski touring
where you can minimise time off work
and summit an Alpine mountain. You have
three full days ski touring and spend
two nights in mountain huts, surrounded
by stunning Alpine scenery. The
itinerary is flexible to take account
of the previous skills and experience. |
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If
you have already had some experience
of ski touring, but don't want a full
week of touring, this is an ideal long
weekend adventure. This course is also
ideal to be used as acclimatisation
or preparation for one of the famous
week long ski tours such as the Haute
Route (Chamonix to Zermatt). |
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In
terms of ski ability you should have
some previous ski touring experience,
being able to cope with either icy slopes
or deep powder. Any mountaineering skills
or knowledge of ropes are an advantage,
but not essential as all necessary techniques
are taught during the weekend. |
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Skiing
ability should be fairly good as although
there is only a little steep skiing,
the slopes can be icy or rutted in
places, with breakable crusts. There
is also often more than a little powder
on the descents! You will encounter
most types of snow conditions. |
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Dates: these
are listed in the column on the right,
and they show the live availability
from our secure online booking system.
When you book online, you receive immediate
confirmation, your Alpine Information
Booklet, course specific kit list and
invoice. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary |
| Fri |
At
08:30 you meet your Guide and have an introductory
safety briefing. After the Guide has checked
your kit you are driven the short distance
to start your ski tour. The ski tour up to
the mountain hut usually takes between three
and five hours through the forests and alpages.
The destination mountain hut is usually one
of the following; Argentiere or Conscrits
Hut (France), Velan Hut or Grand Saint Bernard
monastery (Switzerland), Benevolo or Bonatti
Hut (Italy), or another suitable location
depending on snow conditions. You have a three
course dinner cooked for you in the hut. On
the approach to the hut you practise your
ski touring techniques and use of the avalanche
safety / crevasse rescue kit. There is usually
the chance to take in a col or a nearby summit
either on the way to the hut, or above it
after you have dropped off some kit. Guiding
ratio 1:6 (max). Night in hut. |
| Sat |
There's
an Alpine start, to take advantage of the
overnight re-freeze, to tour over crisp snow
at dawn, as you ski tour towards your objective
for the day. There's a choice of heading to
a different hut for the night, or returning
to the same hut for a second night, to allow
you to leave some kit there, so you can ski
tour with a lighter pack. The guide will generally
make this decision based on the snow conditions,
weather forecast, and how busy the huts are.
During the morning the objectives could include
one of the following;
France - Col du Tour Noir, Col du Passon,
Domes du Miages
Switzerland - Mont Velan, Mont Fourchon,
Col de Fenetre
Italy - Tete Entre Deux Sauts, Col
des Rhemes, Punta Paletta
After some fantastic summit photos, there is the welcome reward of the
long ski descent back down to a mountain hut
for your second night in the mountains. Again
you stay half board, so get a good three course
evening meal cooked for you. Guiding
ratio 1:6 (max). Night in hut. |
| Sun |
An
early start from the mountain hut to the
summit or high pass of an Alpine mountain.
For the options outlined before, these might
include one of the following;
France - Val d'Arpette, Armancette
Glacier, Mont Tondu
Switzerland - Three Cols, Mont de
l'Arpille, Col de la Cheval
Italy - Col Malatra, Grand Col Ferret,
Grand Vaudalaz 3270m
After some fantastic summit
photos, there is the welcome reward of the
long ski descent back down to the valley.
By late afternoon you are free to depart
for home (flights should be after 20:00). |
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technical elements covered during the course
usually include the following: |
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Avalanche
beacon searches |
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Use of skins
and harscheisen |
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Kick
turns on steeper terrain |
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Crevasse rescue
and hoists |
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Basic glacier
travel ropework |
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Trip
planning and preparation |
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Transceiver
detection fields |
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Techniques on touring
skis |
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Equipment
choice & selection |
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| ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries.
Mountain adventures are weather and conditions
dependant, so occasionally we are forced to
alter the plans. If this is the case, suitable
alternatives are offered. Please use this
outline itinerary as a guide to the types
of route / activity that you will attempt. |
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| Course
Prices |
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| Standard
course |
3
full days IFMGA guiding, 1:6 max ratio
3 days holiday in total, Friday-Sunday |
£1295 |
| Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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| How to book |
Secure
payments, bonded tour operator
Details of how to book, click
here |
Book
online |
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| Standard
Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain
Guide for three days, 2) Chamonix concierge service for logistics, advice and support, 3) Pre course
information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher
for our UK shop, 5) Free 36 page technical Course
Instruction Booklet, 6) Road / rail transport to
and from the start point from Chamonix, 7) Safety
briefing before guiding, 8) Two nights half board
(dinner, bed, & breakfast) accommodation in mountain hut for you & Guide. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (not
usually required), 3) Ski / boot hire, 4) Personal
laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals,
& any purchases in mountain huts / hotels /
restaurants, 5) Any accommodation in Chamonix (should
not be needed), 6) Road transport outside the Chamonix valley, and any tunnel passes or road tolls as required, 7) Activities insurance, & excess
baggage charges. |
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| Group
sizes: 2 - 6 people per
IFMGA mountain guide. For group sizes of over 6
people, there are multiple guides, and the teams
travel independently of each other. Course guaranteed once 2 people book on a date. |
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Current
course availability
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| Testimonials |
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| Press
& media |
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| Films
& videos |
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| Photo
gallery |
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| Location
data for this trip |
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| The
trips all start in Chamonix valley in the French
Alps, at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is easily accessed
via a 90 minute transfer from Geneva airport. |
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Time
Difference
GMT +1hr |
Local
Currency
€ Euros |
Travel
from UK
1hr flight |
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| Skis
& equipment advice |
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| Because
we know it is so important to you to have the most
suitable equipment and clothing for off piste skiing
and touring, we have devoted a page especially to
it, which you can access by clicking on the image,
or by clicking
here. This page outlines the key equipment
you should bring, and gives examples of skis that
are suitable for the course. If you have any queries,
please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. |
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| Suggested
reading and kit |
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View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here |
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| Any further questions? |
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A key part
of choosing a company is being able to come and
talk about your plans with an experienced course
advisor face to face. In an increasingly virtual
world, we know our clients value speaking to real
people, getting open and honest advice. The vast
majority of our clients are British, and our office
and outdoor store is based in Windermere in the
English Lake District.
 
Get in
contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a
coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip advisor.
Many people opt for this service, and it is an integral
part of what we offer, as we are keen to ensure
that you are prepared as possible, and that you
select a course that is suitable for you. It makes
it easier and more enjoyable for you and us, if
you are on the right trip. |
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