Introduction to ski touring in Vanoise

The Vanoise

3/5

4 days | 3 nights

Would you like to immerse yourself in nature and learn about ski touring with a qualified and passionate guide? Does a 4-day itinerant tour, meeting and learning about the life of the locals in high mountain refuges, thrill you?

Join us in the Vanoise for 4 timeless days where you can..:

Introduction to ski touring
Find out how to make the best use of sealskins and knives
Learn how to use off-piste safety equipment (avalanche transceivers) and the key gestures to be aware of via fun theory and practical workshops.
Climb majestic peaks in the wilderness of Haute Maurienne
Immerse yourself in the local culture by sharing meals in high mountain refuges

Let Clem, aka Clementar, our mountain guide, guide you through this unique expedition!

Itinerary

Day 1 | 😴 refuge |🔝 D + : 900m

We'll meet up at 10am in Valmeinier to meet Clem and check the equipment / pick it up from the rental shop in the valley.

After an introduction to ski touring techniques (putting on sealskins, putting on skis, descent techniques), we head into the wild Neuvache valley to reach the Terre Rouge refuge, where we'll spend the first 2 nights.

After a few descents into the pristine valleys of the Vanoise, we'll take the opportunity to (re)learn the basics of avalanche detection techniques (avalanche transceivers): learning how to use a transceiver, followed by a fun exercise where we'll put into practice what we've learnt.Evening and overnight in the authenticity of the Terre Rouge refuge, nestling at 2182m.

Day 2 | 😴 refuge |🔝 D + : 1100m

After waking up early, we put on our skis and set off from the Terre Rouge refuge.
A 3-hour morning hike to the summit of Roche Noire at 3134m.

We'll eat at the top of the summit, which offers panoramic views of the valley and surrounding peaks.

The day continues with a ski descent into the adjacent valley to return to the Terre Rouge refuge, where we spend our 2nd night.

Day 3 | 😴 refuge |🔝 D + : 1200m

Departure from the refuge for this 3rd day of ski touring.

Today we set off from the Terre Rouge refuge to reach the iconic summit of Mont Thabor (3178m).

During the morning ascent, we'll take a break to (re)learn avalanche detection techniques: the 6 daily checks you need to do when you set off for a day's ski touring.

Once we've reached the summit, all we can do is slide down to the Mont Thabor refuge, where we'll spend our 3rd and final night.

Day 4 | Back |🔝 D+: 500m

Wake up early for this last day of ski touring.

After a hearty breakfast, we climb our last ascent of the trip to reach the Col du Sarrasin (2844m).

We'll ski down the unspoilt valley to Val Frejus, where a shuttle will pick us up and take us back to Valmeinier.

The expedition ends at 3pm.

1 2 3 4

Location and access

Where and when we meet

Valmeinier resort

10h

Where and when we say goodbye

Valmeinier resort

15h

How to get there

If you're travelling by train, all you have to do is take the connecting train to Saint-Michel-Valloire station, where we'll pick you up and take you to Valmeinier.

➡️ Plan your most economical and environmentally friendly journey (carpooling, train, etc.) with Tictactrip

It is possible to drive to Valmeinier.

If you don't have a car, you should know that we're encouraging car-pooling between participants by creating a WhatsApp group 15 days before departure: an opportunity to get to know each other before you even start your expedition!

What level should you expect

Level 2

A ski touring expedition for beginners who want to discover this sport in complete safety under the guidance of a passionate guide:

You are capable of making a physical effort for 4 to 5 hours a day
You have a good level of skiing on piste / You are at ease off piste
No ski touring pre-requisites are necessary - this is an expedition for beginners
You practise an endurance sport 1 to 2x a week

Meet your guides

What's included in the price

Included

Not included

How to register

Step 1

Choose your date

Step 2

Book online by paying a advance or directly the full amount.
Reservations can also be made by telephone on +32 474 52 20 36 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

> If the minimum number of participants is reached, the departure is confirmed!
> If the minimum number of participants is not reached, we'll give you a full refund

Departure is confirmed 15 days before shipments of more than 4 days.
Departure is confirmed 7 days before departures of less than 4 days.

Step 3

In the case of a deposit, the remaining amount will be debited from your account before departure.

Our answers to your questions

Can I privatise this adventure for my own group ?

Yes, all our expeditions can be privatised for a group already formed on the dates of your choice. To make a privatisation request, go to the Expedition Privatisation page. Private departure

What impact does the weather have on my expedition?

Discoverent offers outdoor trips focused on reconnecting with nature and personal development. Our commitment to this unique experience means that our departures are maintained regardless of weather conditions, whether rain, snow, wind or storm. We are flexible and ready to adjust the itinerary, activities or accommodation to suit the circumstances.

The safety of our participants is our absolute priority. In exceptional and unavoidable cases where safety cannot be guaranteed, the DiscoveRent team reserves the right to cancel a departure. However, this decision will only be taken as the holiday approaches, i.e. less than a week before the planned departure. In such cases, we undertake to offer you the possibility of postponing your participation free of charge to another departure or to refund you in full the sums already paid. Our aim is to offer you the best possible experience while maintaining the safety of all our participants.

What is included in the price of a DiscoveRent shipment?

At DiscoveRent, we attach particular importance to price transparency for our shipments. Our approach is based on a clear breakdown of costs, aimed at providing a better understanding of the elements included in the total amount. Here's how we allocate percentages:

30% for our guides : We believe that our experienced guides play a crucial role in the success of each activity. That's why we make sure that we allocate a significant proportion to remunerating their expertise and supervision.
35% for accommodation and food : We consider comfortable accommodation and quality food to be essential elements of a rewarding experience. This percentage is dedicated to providing you with a pleasant stay and satisfying meals during your expedition.
10% for equipment and transport : The safety and comfort of our participants is paramount. Thanks to this part of the total amount, we can guarantee that the equipment required is in excellent condition and adequate for each activity. Transport costs also come into play when they are essential during an expedition.
25% for participation and operating costs of the expedition : These costs cover the logistical, administrative and organisational aspects of the expedition, as well as the overall management of the experience from start to finish.

Our aim is to provide you with a trustworthy and quality experience, while being transparent about the final cost of your shipment. If you have any further questions about our prices, please do not hesitate to contact us. here.

Is there another date planned?

No other dates are planned for this expedition. However, it is possible to privatise an expedition. All you need to do is form a group of at least 4 people, send us an e-mail with the dates you want, and we can put the expedition together!

How comfortable are the huts?

High mountain refuges offer a certain level of comfort: you will sleep in beds with blankets provided (you will simply need to bring a meat bag for hygiene reasons), and there will be heating, showers and electrical sockets.

Will there be a telephone network on the route?

There is little network coverage on the route. Network coverage depends on your telephone subscription. At times during the raid, you'll get a signal, but most of the time you'll be completely disconnected. Welcome to the great outdoors.

What do I do if I need to hire ski touring equipment?

If you don't have your own ski touring equipment (touring skis, skins, knives, poles), we can take care of your hire booking:

Once you've registered, we'll send you a form to fill in with your height and weight to reserve the right touring skis.

All you have to do is collect them from the local shop with your guide on the first day of the expedition.

I've got all my ski touring equipment except the knives. What should I do?

Knives are required for this ski tour. If you have all your equipment except knives, we can recommend shops where you can hire them (allow 40 euros for knife hire for 7 days).

Can I take part if I snowboard and not ski?

Yes, don't worry! If you snowboard, we can hire you a splitboard with ski poles. We'll send you a form to fill in when you register, so we can hire you the right splitboard for your height and weight.

All you have to do is collect it from the rental shop in the valley at the start of your holiday with your guide.

Photo gallery

An image of a group of travellers skiing with Discoverent

Do you have any questions?

Review

Sébastien Levasseur - November 11, 2023
Hello
2 of us are interested in the introductory ski tour from 16 to 19 March. We've read all the description but we still have a few questions:
- I'm comfortable with physical effort and skiing on piste, but I've never really done any off-piste skiing. Is that a problem?
- Regarding the travel "bag", do we have to carry it ourselves during the hike or do you take care of transferring the bags?
- During the course, we will be hiking between 2800 and 3200m. Do we need to bring any special clothing over and above the usual alpine ski clothing: tights, gloves, special goggles, etc.?
- What should I put in my hiking rucksack in order to invest in a bag with the right volume?
Thank you for your feedback, and have a lovely day!
Sébastien
Sébastien Levasseur - November 11, 2023
Very well done site and clear explanations.
Marie Frère - November 13, 2023
Hello Sebastien,
Thank you very much for your interest in our ski touring expedition. You will find the answers to your questions below:
- No problem if you've never really done any off-piste skiing. You do need to have a good level of skiing, and being comfortable in off-piste terrain is a plus.
- As we'll be roaming for 4 days, we'll have to carry our rucksack ourselves as we don't organise luggage transfers. However, we will be spending 2 nights at the Refuge de Terre Rouge and 1 night at the Refuge de Thabor, so you can leave your belongings at the refuge to lighten the weight of your rucksack on the 2nd day.
- Once your registration has been confirmed, we'll send you a full list of the equipment you'll need. We recommend bags of between 35 and 45 litres.
I hope I've answered all your questions,
I remain at your entire disposal, either here or directly at +32474970938.
Marie