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French & Italian High Alps Ski Touring Adventure
The High Alps (France & Italy)
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This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Packing list
Grade:
Entry Level
Type:
Activity
Transfers
Duration:
9 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
Tour Highlights
- Explore Europe’s highest mountain range
- Expert Ski or Snowboard instruction/guiding
- Authentic French & Italian cuisine and accommodation
- Visit Cultural sites and charming villages
- Ski across boarders to unique mountain-top hotels
- Explore true mountain wilderness
Ski the Southern Alps: A Cultural Alpine Journey Through France & Italy
Step beyond the ordinary winter holiday and into a curated alpine adventure designed for discerning travellers: This 10-night journey through the Southern Alps of France and Italy blends exceptional skiing with deep cultural immersion, gourmet cuisine, and wild, untamed landscapes.
Begin in the historic spa town of Monêtier-les-Bains, nestled in the Serre Chevalier ski domain. Carve fresh tracks on tree-lined slopes by day, and soak in natural thermal baths as the sun sets over the Haute-Alpes. Snowshoe to the storied Col du Galibier for a fireside lunch in a remote mountain refuge, before exploring the UNESCO-listed walled city of Briançon and dining in an authentic French restaurant tucked within its ancient walls.
Cross borders on skis with your expert local guide, gliding from Montgenèvre through five picturesque Italian villages, arriving at a spectacular mountain-top hotel—once a cable car station—where a panoramic sunset and five-course Italian feast await.
Ski from France to Italy through 4 villages to you mountain top hotel in Sesstriere. The historic re purposed cable car station is perched on top of the world, with breath taking sunsets and star gazing. As you take in the sunset, you will be served a uniquely Italian 4 course meal before retiring to you cosy room with the most unique view.
The last 4 nights are based in alpine chalet nestled into the tree above the Italian alpine village of Claviere. Located at the top of the ski field, once the lifts close you are isolated in the snow covered oasis. Hearty Italian food will be served in the chalet as you experience the isolated mountain location. On one evening you will be collected by Snowmobile and taken through the snow to a mountain restaurant for a 5 course Italian feast.
You ski guide will insure you maximise you skiing over these days with tailored itineraries to satisfy the groups wishes. Optional add-ons include heli-skiing, paragliding, and ski touring. With a focus on authenticity and adventure, this journey offers so much more than world-class skiing. It’s a rare opportunity to live the rhythm of the mountains—through local traditions, regional cuisine, and unforgettable alpine hospitality.
Day 1: Arrivals & Shakedown day
Transfer
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
Private Transfer from airport direct to your hotel in Monetier le Bain where the team will be waiting to welcome you. Dependant on timings, there will an evening meal awaiting. We will also take the opportunity to arrange equipment hires so that you are ready for the first day on the slopes if timings allow.
In the morning you will be introduced to you mountain guide and instructor team for the week. You will head up into the Serre Chevalier Ski domain and while exploring the …. Miles of slopes your mountain team will access and finalise an optimum itinerary for the next 10 days, tailored specifically around your abilities and aspirations. Your instructor will get you familiar with the terrain and show you some of the best spots in the ski field.
Evening Meal – After a little Apree in the old towns bars, we will settle down to a delicious French meal of locally-sourced produce.
Day 2: Explore the Domaine
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
Back up in the Serre Chevalier Domaine we will ski the whole mountain, exploring all the best kept secrets of the ski field. Enjoying a unique mountain top BBQ experience for lunch. There will be the option to arrange private off piste guiding to explore the untapped powder valleys that are adjacent to the ski field.
Evening – Optional Alpine Spa experience at Les Grand Bain
Traditional French 3 course meal with local wine
Day 3: Col Du Galibier Snow shoeing and Briançon Old town
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Guest house
A short private transfer up to the picturesque Col du Lauterat, we start our snowshoeing experience. Walking up through the snow covered wilderness, we will climb up to the Col du Galibier. Most famous for its annual feature role in the Tour de France it’s a picturesk mountain pass. Your guide will educate you on the local wildlife and history. As you reach the pass, you will discover isolated and ‘snowed in’ Refuge du Galibier. You will receive a warm welcome and delicious locally sourced lunch with the most amazing views back down the Valley.
After lunch you will don the snow shoes again for the decent back down to the Col du Lauterat. After some time to shower and change, we will transfer you to the other end of the valley, to experience the UNESCO world heritage site on Briancon Walled city. After a tour of the historic city and cathedrial you will enjoy a meal in a quintessentially traditional French restaurant nestled in the walls of the old town.
Day 4: La Grave Experience
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Guest house
Taking a private transfer for the 1 hour drive to the picturesque and world revered La Grave ski Domaine you will have experience a full days ski guiding. Offering some of the most extreme lift accessed skiing in the world, it has earned infamous reputation within the extreme ski world. Your expert guide will tailor a days skiing to give you a memorable but safe experience that suits your abilities and the conditions.
In the Evening we will return to Monetier for our last evening. Enjoying a hearty 3 course meal in your hotel.
Day 5: Ski from France to Italy and stay on top of the world
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
4 star hotel
Leaving Monetier Le Bain in the morning, we will head to the French ski resort on Montgenevre. Setting off from here with our mountain guide, we will ski across the border into Italy. Through the picturesque ViaLattea ski field we will make our way through the 5 Italian villages to our unique evens accommodation. The Tana Del Volpe is a converted cable car station, perched on top of a mountain ridge looking west across Sesstriere.
As you arrive in the hotel, you belonging will have already been transported to the hotel and be awaiting you. You can change and enjoy the best Italian aperitifs as you watch the sun set from the most unique view point. As you settle in to your 5 course Italian meal, the dining 15ft high glazed fronted room looks out over the moon lit mountain range.
Day 6: Exploring the Italian Alps
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
We allow you a relaxed morning to enjoy the complete tranquillity of your mountain top location. When you are ready to leave paradise, we will head out and explore the Italian ski areas of Sauze d’Oulx, Sestriere, Sansicarrio and Cesana. Stopping at some uniquely Italian mountain restaurants and bars.
Skiing back over close to the French boarder, you will arrive at your own Italalin Chalet in the hidden snow covered enclave of Sagna Longa. Again you bags will be waiting for you, and our cattering team will be awaiting you to serve up a hearty Itallian feast.
Once the ski lifts close, you will be able to enjoy the truly remote location, gazing up at the stars from the chalets large terrace.
Day 7: Explore Italian Alps
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
A day to revisit and explore your favourite runs and areas from the previous few days at your own pace. Dig a little deeper into the ski runs and areas previously visited and return to your favourite mountain side restaurants. Optional Ski guiding can be arranged if wanted
In the evening snow mobiles will collect you from the chalet and wisk you through the snow covered mountain to an isolated mountain restaurant when you will enjoy locally sourced Italian meal before a night time snowmobile ride home in the dark
Day 8: Ski Touring or Snow Shoe experience out into the snow-covered meadows
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
Walk out into the wilderness direct from your chalet. Depending on experience and preference you can choice to ski tour or snow shoeing. Explore the high altitude meadows surrounded by the Haute Alp peaks. Trek out to a remote refuge for a authentic Italian lunch.
In the evening enjoy a hearty Italian meal served in you chalet.
Day 9: You last day, your choice
Transfer
Breakfast
Boutique Hotel
On you last day in the mountains, we give you the option to choice where you would like to ski, continue to explore the Italian Alps, return to Serre Chevalier or experience a unique small ski field.
Optional Add on Adventures: (cost not included)
Wilderness Ski Touring – Ski touring days can be arranged with your mountain guides, but will be dependant on ability and fitness along with conditions – If this is of interest, we can share with you some possible routes
Parapente Experience – Learn to fly like a bird on the mountain thermals. Ski off the mountain and float into the air with you instructor. Taking in a unique perspective of the mountains and valleys below.
Heli Ski Experiences – Ski some of the most best fresh snow availbe in the Alps with the Italian Heli Ski experience. Your guide will select the best routes to deliver a safe but memorable day.
Day 10 – Transfer to Airport
Transfer
Breakfast
Private transfer to Airport
Adventure Optional Extras
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Included
- International Flights
- Insurance (compulsory)
- Dinner in Reykjavik on Day 1
- Lunches (except for Day 7)
- Drinks
- Optional excursions and visits
- Transfers outside our group transfer timings
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism, using hotels run by locals. We put time and effort into building our relationship with them to ensure you have a a great trip.
We choose hotels based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel), and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Some hotels will be basic, and in modern buildings and or in towns. Wherever we can, we will choose smaller more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, this may not be available.
This tends to occur in the smaller, more remote hotels. Very rarely a hotel lets us down and we are required to find alternative suitable accommodation that might not be our first choice.
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
Travel & Arrival
Your YellowWood adventure starts at Reykjavik airport.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights. We will send you a Flight Information Sheet with further pointers on which flights to book.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately, anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend arranging your insurance cover when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered.
YellowWood partners with battleface as a travel insurance provider. Click here for a quote.
battleface insurance is provided in the UK by battleface Insurance Services Limited, a UK insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details provided on this webpage are for information only. Terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations apply. Always read the description of cover contained within your policy to ensure it is suitable for your needs.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hour emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
You must ensure the travel insurance you purchase provides you with suitable cover for the entirety of your trip. Your travel insurance must include cover in the event that you have to cancel for a reason outside your control prior to departure, for any medical expenses you may incur whilst away (including repatriation in the case of medical need) and for the activities which you may participate in during your trip.
General Information
For information on Iceland, such as climate, weather, language, social norms, food & drink etc, please have a read of our Country specific information.
Receive a 15% discount off Water-to-Go filtration water-bottles to help reduce plastic waste.
Compulsory
- Passport & insurance documents
- Credit / debit card for ATM use
- Prescription medication & antibiotics such as Azithromycin to stop serious traveller's diarrhoea
- First aid kit: paracetamol, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape)
- Washbag & usual contents
- Travel adaptor model C
Rain Jacket
- Packable Down Jacket or Vest
- Hat or Headband
- Buff
- Gloves
- Hiking Boots
- Thermal Base
- Flip Flops or a pair of slip-on shoes
- Swimwear
- Quick-dry towel
- Some dry bags or waterproof cases to keep your phone and any electronic gear dry
- 20-30L daypack for hiking / sightseeing, preferably with waist and ideally, chest strap
- Water-to-Go filtration water-bottle & additional storage water-bottle - ideally 2 litres per person
- Sunglasses and high factor suncream
- Insect Repellent
Optional
- Mini crampons that fit your walking boots - available from stores such as Blacks, Decathlon etc
- A good face moisturizer
- A moisturizing lip balm
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates: Choose the dates for your adventure and consider adding any extra adventures or add-ons to enhance your experience.
Check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
Make Booking: Click on "Make Booking." If you're booking more than 56 days before your adventure, you'll be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit. If it's 56 days or less before your adventure, you'll need to make full payment. Rest assured, your money is held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Confirmation: We'll be in touch as soon as possible to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Please refrain from booking transport or flights until we've emailed you to confirm your booking. (Note: Receipt of your booking form is not confirmation.)
Making payment: Once your booking is confirmed, we'll change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding,' indicating that it's ready for payment online.
You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Get in touch
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