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Winter

Ski Touring

Ski touring is both peaceful and exhilarating at the same time, and a fantastic way to see the wild majesty of the mountains.

If you’d like to get away from the crowds, Chamonix is the perfect place. There are many wonderful day tours, suitable for all levels, accessible from the lifts, taking you into the world of backcountry, far away from the pistes. Chamonix.net has an overview here.

Contact a qualified high mountain guide to discuss what you’d like to do – they will be able to suggest what’s suited to your level and in the best condition at the moment. Guides normally provide avalanche beacons and harnesses, and can suggest where to rent any equipment you need. Touring skis and skins can be rented at plenty of places in Chamonix – try Snell Sports or Ravanel. Snell also rent ABS avalanche bags.

Inbounds ski touring

This has become very popular in recent years and it’s a great way to get in shape and practice in a lower risk environment. There are marked routes at Les Grands Montets, Le Tour, and Les Houches.

You can also do some lovely inbounds routes at Plaine Joux.

Plaine Joux ski touring

Snowboarders

Many tours in Chamonix are accessible by boarders. You can do some of them on snowshoes, or with approach skis. This quite tough going so you’ll need to be fit if you’re with skiers as well as they can move much faster on the skinning sections. A much better option is to use a splitboard.

Splitboard Jones Hovercraft
Taking a break on the way up
New Year's Day, relaxed splitboard tour far from the crowds
New Year’s Day, relaxed splitboard tour far from the crowds

Multi-Day ski tours

Longer tours are possible of course! The classic is the seven day Haute Route, skiing from Chamonix to Zermatt.

Ski touring in Chamonix is a truly amazing and rewarding experience and if you’re thinking of trying it, I can’t recommend it enough! Talk to a guide to see what is in condition when you are here.