Discovering free ride ski
Itinerary
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Day 1 Off-piste on the Flégère area
For our first day, we will meet at the Stages Expéditions agency (we’ll tell you how to get there). The guide will check your equipment and we will eventually rent some material if needed. Then, we will head up to the Flégère to ski on our first ski runs and learn how to use an avalanche transceiver. Once we’ve warmed up, we’ll move on to serious stuff! Our guide will take us to hidden parts of the area (e.g. La combe Lachenal and La combe des Crochues), and we’ll slalom between fir trees in powder snow! Once the sun is set, we’ll have the pleasure to do some activities (included in the trip’s price): alpine coasters (slide runs), museum, ice skating park, sauna, hammam…
Max Altitude : 2595m
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Day 2 Off-piste around the Brévent
Our playground today is the Brévent. We’ll have fun on slopes near our hotel just to warm up a little. On each slope, every year, is organized the Freeride World Cup, but don’t worry, no competition between us today, the goal is to fully enjoy our day out of crowded ski runs.
According to weather conditions, we may be able to cross other off-piste ski corridors: ENSA, Bellin, Allais, the Bozon; and depending on the amount of snow, we will head down in the valley from the Brévent corridor or from other variants. Heaps of fun!Max Altitude : 2525m
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Day 3 Off-piste in the Plan de l’Aiguille
After a good night sleep and a nice breakfast, we put our skis back on and start our day skiing on the Mont Blanc side, absolutely fantastic! The Pré du Rocher is a descent that Chamonix inhabitants absolutely love, and you’ll understand why once you’ll be there.
Taking the Aiguille du midi cable car, we’ll go up to the Intermédiaire in only 8 minutes and enjoy a 1300m descent. We’ll ski down several runs (Pré du Rocher, Blaitière, the Pélerins glacier...). The range of possibilities is very large. We get back to our hotel in the evening for a well-deserved rest.Max Altitude : 2317m
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Day 4 THE ski freeride spot
Today, we will go up to THE ski freeride spot that we cannot miss: the Grands Montets. Located in the Mont Blanc massif, this is the favorite spot of free riders. Indeed, valleys are huge, both large and long, and the snow is glistening and thick, just what we need for a great ski day! Between the Grand Montets peak and the Argentière village, 2000m of ascents and descents are waiting for you. Your guide will take you to the secret places of the area: The Pendant valley that will get us to the Lavancher hamlet - the hidden valleys of La Rachasse and Cordier - or the variants in the middle of crevasses on the Rognons and Argentière glaciers. Such a fun day!
Max Altitude : 3275m
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Day 5 Icing on the cake : the Vallée Blanche
Before taking the cable car to go up to 3777m, we put our harnesses on to descend the ridge, roped up. We will pay attention not to get away from the guide’s marks, because we move on a majestic but quite unpredictable glacier. During the excursion, we will find ourselves in the mountain’s heart: the Dent du Géant, the Aiguille Verte or the Grandes Jorasses will be our neighbors, and we’ll be breath taken by the incredible views.
Our ski freeride experience will get us to play with the Vallée Blanche variants. You’ll get to decide if we’ll go right or left, get back up and back down, tour around the Aiguilles and have some fun on bump runs. We’ll end this beautiful day with the Montenvers train ride or by skiing one last run through the Mottets refuge. We will separate in Chamonix in the end of the afternoon.Max Altitude : 3777m
Dates & prices
International departures:
No departure for now
Departures for French-speaking groups:
From | To | Price per person | Guaranteed | Booking |
---|---|---|---|---|
€1,695 | No | Book now! | ||
€1,695 | No | Book now! | ||
€1,595 | No | Book now! |
Trip code: SHPCH
Included
- Technical organisation of the trip
- Cable car tickets
- Hight mountain guide
- Safety material rental : avalanche transceiver
- Collective material (carried by your guide)
- Lunch picnics
- Harness
- Free pass for : bus, Richar Bozon centre (swimming pool, sauna, hammam), Chamonix, Argentières and Les Houches ice skating park (free skate rental), museums, one descent in the Planards alpine coaster (entrance of Chamonix), and cinema’s discounts.
Not included
- Personal equipment : ski, shoes, sticks, helmet
- Drinks and expenses
- Insurance / assistance
- Tuition fees
- Application fees (18€ per person)
- Battery for avalanche transceiver (LRO3 AAA, 4 batteries)
- Everything that is not mentioned in « the price includes »
International flights
Terms and conditions
Subscription
Invoice procedure
Cancellation policy
- More than 30 days before departure, you will be charged for the amount of 50€
- From 30 to 21 days before departure, you will be charged for the amount of the deposit (30% of the trip’s price)
- From 20 to 14 days before departure, you will be charged for 50% of the trip’s price
- From 13 to 7 days before departure, you will be charged for 75% of the trip’s price
- Less than 7 days before departure, you will be charged for the whole trip’s price
- Airline fixed costs : plane tickets are bought in advance to avoid too high airline prices, however they are non refundable in case of cancellation or plane changes. In that case, the charges above apply to the price of your trip without the plane ticket’s price
- Ground fixed costs : you will be charged for the fees that were paid early
- Insurance fees : Insurance fees will not be refunded if you subscribed to a multi-risk or cancellation insurance. The specific conditions will be written on your subscription confirmation
Changes to travel contract
Pricing
Contract transfer
Insurance
Practical info
Staff
Food
- Lunch picnics and diners in refuges.
- Bring some snacks according to your own tastes.
- Personal drinks are not included in the trip’s price : water, tea, coffee, beer, coke...
- Water isn't free in refuges, and it can be quite expensive.. (5 to 8€ a bottle)
Accommodation
Budget & exchange
Tips
Supplied equipment
- Collective material and safety material (ropes, avalanche transceiver) if needed.
- Sleepers and blankets in refuges : bring your own sleeping bag.
Material
Technical material
- 1 pair of skis
- 1 pair of shoes
- Sticks
- Ski helmet
- Lanyard with carabiner
- Ice anchor
- Safety equipment : avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe
- Life blanket
- Clasp knife
- Thermos or bottle
Personal equipment
- Windproof bonnet
- Hat or cap
- Scarf
- Solar cream (high protection index), face + lips
- Glacier sunglasses (category 4 index) + ski goggles
- 2 technic breathable underclothing with long sleeves (Carline type, no cotton, it is drying too slowly)
- 1 breathable technic undershirt
- 1 thick polar coat
- 1 windproof and waterproof coat (Goretex type)
- 1 pair of windproof mittens (polar or wool)
- 1 pair of windproof gloves (polar or wool)
- 1 pair of undergloves
- 2 pair of socks (one thick, one thin)
- 1 pair of windproof and waterproof ski pants (Goretex type)
- Toilet paper (biodegradable if possible)
- Biafine (sunburn cream)
- 1 sleeping bag
- 1 toilet bag (bring only necessary products)
- 1 quick-drying towel
- 1 plastic bag (100L) + 1 upper bag to protect your belongings and backpack from the rain
- 1 waterproof sleeve to put your ID, phone, money, insurance/ assistance contract with all your emergency numbers
- Some hand and feet warmers
Luggage
- You will be carrying your one-day belongings and equipment in a 40L- bag.
- Your personal belongings and replacement clothes will stay in the lodge in another bag (travel bag).
Medicine
- Personal medicine
- Anti-pain medications (paracetamol)
- Double-skin
- Elastic adhesive tapes
- Bandages
- Local disinfectant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antispasmodic
- Anti-diarrheal pills
- Eyewash
- Light tranquilizers and sleeping pills
- Earplugs
Passport
Visa
- Up to 90 days visit in France : citizens from most countries do not need a visa to visit France.
- Over 90 days visit in France : non-EU or non-EFTA citizens must have a visa to visit France over 90 days.
Identity card
Mandatory vaccines
Health information & recommendations
Weather
Electricity
Local time
Sustainable tourism
- Most of our accommodations are run by locals, thus ensuring that the largest part of the revenue generated through your trip will stay within the region.
- France is known for its exquisite cuisine. The art of cooking and the joy of eating are part of everyday life. Each region has its particular foods and flavors which we would like you to explore and appreciate.
- Water is a precious and rare good. Our team and those travelling with us are thus advised to use it with consideration and avoid excessive water use where possible.
- Please try to recycle your waste whenever possible, even though recycling may not be a well-known concept in all areas.
- Be cautious and respectful when hiking. Make sure to wear suitable footwear and avoid picking flowers, moving stones or lighting fires.