Self-guided, star-shaped ski touring in the Écrins region
In summary
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Sports
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Duration5 days
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LevelBeginner
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DestinationVallouise-Pelvoux / Écrins Massif
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AgeFrom 12 - 90 years
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CO₂-Emissions44.55 kg CO2
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Type of stayIndependent traveler
In a few words
For this self-guided ski touring trip, your base camp is at L'Écho du Riou in Pelvoux, at the foot of the Écrins National Park. It's a great way to get started with ski touring safely, without having to organize everything yourself or worry too much about the routes.
For this trip, we've prepared three days of ski touring on marked and secured routes, spread between Pelvoux, Vallouise, and Puy-Saint-Vincent. This will allow you to discover different facets of the valley without returning to the same slopes each day. Equipment is provided, and an app will accompany you during your outings to help you navigate and track your progress.
After exertion, it's time to relax: the valley offers plenty of options for unwinding at the end of the day, from massages and spa treatments to cultural activities. And if you prefer to stay in, nothing prevents you from settling down by the fire with a good book instead of going out again.
A stay designed to allow you to progress at your own pace, without pressure, between effort during the day and true relaxation in the evening.
The highlights
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Eco-friendly accommodation close to nature
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Marked and safe ski touring routes
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Spectacular panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks and surrounding valleys
Photos
Sport
Level
Ski touring
The expert's opinion
This self-guided trip is a wonderful way to gently discover ski touring at your own pace, on routes carefully selected for beginners. It's ideal for skiers already comfortable on the slopes of a resort, ready to experience their first taste of ski touring.
In figures
Ski touring
- Average duration/day: 2h30
- Average distance/day: 5 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 503 m
- Average daily descent: 503 m
- Maximum altitude: 2000 m
Management
This stay does not include supervision.
Program
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Arrival and check-in
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
After settling into your accommodation and collecting your equipment, you can stroll around the beautiful village of Pelvoux-Vallouise before returning to your bed and breakfast to relax!
Day 1 -
The heads, Puy Saint Vincent
- Activity Ski touring
- Duration of the activity 2h
- Distance 4 km
- Positive elevation gain 297 m
- Negative elevation 297 m
- Maximum altitude 2000 m
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
This first route of your stay takes you to Puy-Saint-Vincent, starting at the Pré Loubet Nordic chalet. The entire route is marked with signs and markers specifically for ski touring, eliminating any risk of getting lost. A real advantage, allowing you to focus on technique rather than navigation right from your first outing.
This route offers the opportunity to discover ski touring in a dedicated and safe area, gradually ascending through the larch forests surrounding the resort. Upon reaching the end of the route, at an altitude of around 2000m, the forests give way to an impressive panorama.
A great introduction to laying the foundations of ski touring, in a reassuring and already spectacular setting, before moving on to the other routes of the stay.
Day 2 -
Pelvoux-Vallouise
- Activity Ski touring
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 5 km
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Negative elevation 600 m
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Put on your skis right from the Pelvoux snow front to discover ski touring in complete safety. The resort offers a marked and secure route, connected to the FFME ski touring network, designed to teach the basics in a supervised and reassuring environment.
It is a real gateway to getting started in the sport: progressive ascents on an identified route, without having to worry about orientation or avalanche risk, to concentrate solely on learning the movement and technique.
The entire experience unfolds in a remarkable setting: you'll traverse sun-drenched plains and larch forests, with views of Mont Pelvoux, the Vallouise valley, and the Sélé valley. This accessible yet already spectacular environment allows you to enjoy a true first ski touring experience without the constraints of off-piste skiing.
An ideal way to confidently lay the groundwork, before, why not, going further during a future stay.
Day 3 -
Pré Rouge, Puy Saint Vincent
- Activity Ski touring
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 5 km
- Positive elevation gain 611 m
- Negative elevation 611 m
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
This route takes you from the Puy-Saint-Vincent resort, with a possible starting point at 1400m, or by going directly to the top of the Prés chairlift at 1800m altitude. The ascent begins in a forest of larch and birch trees, before gradually climbing towards the higher parts of the resort.
As with the Têtes route, the entire trail is marked with dedicated signs and markers, allowing you to progress with confidence without worrying about orientation. The complete route provides training on approximately 1000 meters of elevation gain, a significant improvement after the first two days. If you take the chairlift up, you will cover less elevation.
Upon arrival, the forest gives way to a ridge line where the panorama is breathtaking, with an impressive view of the Fournel valley, a viewpoint so remarkable that it was designated the most beautiful route in France by France Montagne in 2019.
A third day that concludes the stay on a spectacular note, between technical progress and visual reward.
Day 4 -
Departure
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
It's departure day, you can still take the opportunity to stroll around the Vallouise after leaving the chalet at 10am.
Day 5
Accommodation
At the foot of the Pelvoux mountain, in the heart of the Écrins National Park, L'Écho du Riou welcomes you to a 1960s house that has been completely renovated using eco-friendly methods. This renovation was awarded the Grand Prix départemental for sustainable construction and development in 2018. Anne-Claire, your hostess, welcomes you year-round to this warm and environmentally conscious retreat. Surrounded by the majestic peaks of the massif, the house is an ideal base for enjoying the mountains, both summer and winter.
Access
Meet at 4 PM at your accommodation in Vallouise-Pelvoux for the start of your stay. Parking is available on site. The nearest train station is L'Argentière-les-Écrins. On the last day, your stay ends at 10 AM at the same location.
Go to the starting point
Parking is available next to the accommodation.
Price details
The price includes
- Bed and breakfast accommodation
- The half-board option
- Touring skis and appropriate boots
The price does not include
- Transportation to the place of stay
- Lunch
- The tourist tax
- Personal expenses
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
- Ski touring
Equipment to bring
- Sunglasses
- Headlamp
- 1L thermos water bottle
- Slippers for the chalet
- 30L backpack
- Personal pharmacy
- Camera
- Tupperware for lunch
Clothing to bring
- Fleece or down jacket
- Gore-Tex jacket or ski jacket
- Ski pants
- Pair of mittens or gloves
- Pair of glove liners
- Hat or fur hat
- High and waterproof shoes
