Winter Outings in the Alps: Skiing, Snowshoeing, or Snowy Walks

Try Out a Snowy Hike

Sticks in your hands, snowshoes on your feet: ready!

To start the season off on the right foot, put your snowshoes on to admire the snow-covered spruce and pine trees in the Forêt du Boréon. Further north, you will sink into powder at the Vallée de la Clarée, where you’ll enjoy the calm of the wild landscapes. On the other hand, if you are crazy about skiing, leaving the slopes does not mean you have to release your bindings! Explore the resorts of Vars or Le Sauze in ski touring mode: the same backcountry concept in a quieter, well preserved atmosphere. Similarly, Le Dévoluy also offers three marked routes to try this new discipline. When you get back to the ski area, finish on a high note with a siesta in a giant hammock. Finally, well warmed-up after a 3 km walk to the Espace Nordique de Haute-Ubaye, running addicts can try an introduction to snow trail-running or running on snow, starting from the village of Maljasset.

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Une publication partagée par Valberg – The place to be (@valbergalpesdusud) le 2 Mars 2016 à 6 :32 PST

Discover New Excursions

Resort stays are full of surprises

If you already know the basics or are an expert skier, what about enjoying a change of scene this year? Firstly, you can head out with the ski patrol to learn about their work readying the slopes in Le Sauze or le Val d’Allos. After that, you’ll almost be experts – end the day with a night trip on the snow groomer in Risoul! Secondly, for those who are nostalgic for their bike, jump on a fat bike in Vars to ride effortlessly in fat-tyre mode with an electric boost. Further, at the Valberg ski area, you can even leave Earth for a few moments. Make like the solar system on a snowshoe-hike with your head in the stars. At every stage of the trail, you will land on a new planet.

Contemplate in Cross-Country Skis

So many ways to glide through paradise

Cross-country skiing in the Vallée de la Blanche provides the most beautiful views, between the intimacy of the larch forests and the plateaus. For first-time skiers, Valberg’s blue runs are perfect. Likewise, Le Grand-Puy resort at the centre of the Vallée de Blanche Serre-Ponçon is also a favoured place by families, as are the routes in the undergrowth at the Le Fanget area. In addition, at Le Puy-St-Vincent 1600 or La Clarée, you can even count on an intro to biathlons for children. Or, enjoy a change of scene at Beuil learning about the traditional savoir-faire of dry-stone dwellings. Then, head to the Hautes-Alpes for a fun and spectacular trail at Freissinières; it will lead you to its famous cliff and its suspended footbridges. Lastly, the master in this field, Le Queyras offers three options to please every level of skier: four Nordic areas with 200 km of slopes for starting out, relaxing or even pushing your limits.

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Une publication partagée par Tourisme Guillestrois Queyras (@tourismeguillestroisqueyras) le 22 Févr. 2018 à 7 :43 PST

Let Yourself Be Towed

We adore our new travelling companions

Want to be guided at a different pace while enjoying original encounters in the snow? At Super Devoluy, get your skis on, snap your bindings in place, and then let yourself be towed by a horse. Skijoring is a perfect activity for young and old. For example, you can also try it out in the Vallée Champsaur-Valgaudemar, at the Orcières family resorts, or at Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes! But, if you prefer sledding, here’s an alternative: the pony-sled, a treat for children. Relive the story of Jack London’s White Fang at Parc Alpha, spending time with wolves in their natural habitat and following their daily life in the snow. Finally, make one of your craziest dreams come true with a dog-sled outing in Le Queyras or in the Vallée de l’Ubaye.

Take an Expedition to the Highest Summits

Follow the trail of the greats: a new challenge!

The wonders of the Southern Alps also offer great challenges. A long time before us, the most famous climbers saw the birth of Valberg. To follow in the footsteps of the resort’s pioneers, a historic trail criss-crosses 80 years of history through models and photos of the time. Certainly, these great people as well as great summits will inspire you. With the Bureau des Guides of La Grave, try out this epic hike: an accompanied walk on France’s biggest ice cap. Dizzying, cultural walks can also turn into memorable climbs. For example, at the heart of a beautiful frozen wilderness, Le Boréon’s Nordic Centre and the Freissinières valley give you access to discover icefalls.