In summary
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Sports
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Duration6 days
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LevelAdvance
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DestinationNévache / Écrins Massif
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions42.27 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
English
Italian
In a few words
Head to the Clarée Valley , a preserved jewel of the Southern Alps, and its secret neighbor, the Étroite Valley , nestled on the Italian side but part of Névache. For six days of ski touring , embark on an immersive loop through panoramic ridges, accessible peaks , and hidden valleys. Each stage takes you from mountain hut to mountain hut , in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, at the pace of encounters and ascents.
This multi-day itinerary immerses you in a wild, high-altitude landscape, where you ski off the beaten track, far from the hustle and bustle of the resorts. Each day offers a new line to carve , panoramic views of the Écrins, the Queyras, or Italy, and that rare feeling of being somewhere else, fully present .
An ideal stay for lovers of nature, powder snow and shared alpine adventure , combining effort, contemplation and conviviality .
The highlights
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A stay in the heart of a wild and unspoiled valley
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Guided by a local guide who knows the terrain perfectly
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The warm and friendly atmosphere of the mountain huts
Photos
Sport
Level
Ski touring
The expert's opinion
Ski touring trip for people who have already practiced this activity.
(If you are unfamiliar with ski touring, we offer an introductory trip with 2 nights in a mountain refuge)
Physical level : You must be able to climb 1000 meters (4 to 6 hours of effort depending on the snow conditions) and still be fit enough for the descent! You will also have to carry your full backpack for part of the trip (it will be lighter at the mountain huts, except on the day of the Thabor climb). Of course, the guide will set a pace and break trail that allows everyone to enjoy the outing.
Technical level : you are familiar with ski touring equipment, you know how to make kick turns uphill, and you have a good level of downhill skiing (you are comfortable, or almost comfortable, in all snow conditions)
In figures
Ski touring
- Average duration/day: 5h30
- Average daily elevation gain: 900 m
- Average daily descent: 634 m
- Maximum altitude: 3178 m
Management
French
English
Italian
Florian is a true Swiss Army knife! Ski instructor, mountain bike instructor and mountain guide.
The valley holds no secrets for him. He will always be attentive and will guide you on the best routes.
Jérémy is a local boy, practically born with skis on his feet and passionate about the mountains. He'll find you the best slopes to ski in his secret backyard.
Led by a high-mountain guide or an alpine ski instructor, for a group of 4 to 8 participants.
Program
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Welcome to L'Echaillon
- Activity Ski touring
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Negative elevation 300 m
- Maximum altitude 2427 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Meet at 9 a.m. at L'Echaillon, where you will be greeted by the guide and provided with equipment.
From Ville-Haute (1600m), we take the snow-covered track in the upper Clarée valley to reach the Rately bridge. In the forest, we follow the path to the refuge, groomed by the wardens. A steep but short climb leads us to the entrance of the Buffère valley, where we discover the refuge of the same name. We meet Aude and Guillaume, who welcome us for the night. We lighten our packs and continue towards the Buffère pass (2427m) at the end of the valley, from where the view opens onto the Guisane valley and the Écrins massif.
Night at the Buffère refuge at 2076 meters altitude
Day 1 -
the Chardonnet valley
- Activity Ski touring
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Negative elevation 400 m
- Maximum altitude 2830 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
From the Buffère refuge, we cross over to the Chardonnet refuge via the Casse-Pinière. We can lighten our packs, and then several routes are available to us above the refuge, including Pic Ombière (2832m) and Pic du Demi (2817m), which are our favorites.
Night at the Chardonnet refuge at 2220 meters altitude.
Day 2 -
the White Lake Peak
- Activity Ski touring
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Positive elevation gain 1000 m
- Negative elevation 1000 m
- Maximum altitude 2980 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We begin the day with a descent to Fontcouverte (1860m), from where we climb back up to the Ricou refuge. From the refuge, we ascend to the Pic du Lac Blanc (2980m) to discover a 360° panorama stretching from the Écrins mountains to Savoie. Return to the hamlet of Ricou.
Night at the Ricou refuge at 2115 meters altitude.
Day 3 -
Day 04: Cula Valley
- Activity Ski touring
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Negative elevation 500 m
- Maximum altitude 2800 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today we reach the Drayères refuge at the bottom of the valley where the Clarée River originates, before exploring the ridge that forms the border with Savoie. Several options are available depending on conditions and the season: Roche Château (2898m), the circuit around the Aiguille Noire via the Plagnette (2520m) and Aiguille Noire (2665m) passes, or even the Pointe des Cerces (3098m).
Night at the refuge at 2180 meters altitude.
Day 4 -
Mount Tabor
- Activity Ski touring
- Duration of the activity 7h
- Positive elevation gain 1200 m
- Negative elevation 1000 m
- Maximum altitude 3178 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A big day is planned, weather permitting: we'll ascend the Muandes valley to the pass of the same name (2828m). If the weather is bad, we can descend directly into the Vallée Étroite, Névache's twin valley; otherwise, we'll continue the climb to Mont Thabor (3178m), straddling the border between Maurienne and Hautes-Alpes. A long descent will then take us to Les Granges de la Vallée Étroite, a small Italian hamlet in French territory.
Night in one of the mountain huts at Granges at 1765 meters altitude.
Day 5 -
back to Névache
- Activity Ski touring
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Negative elevation 600 m
- Maximum altitude 2645 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Depending on the remaining energy in the group, we have 2 options to return to Névache:
-via the Vallon pass (2645m)
-via the Thures pass (2200m), with the possibility of skiing the undergrowth of Pointe Muratière (2379m) above the refuge in the morning.
Back to the hotel for a drink and a shower before dispersal.
Day 6
Note
The organizers reserve the right to modify the sequence and content of the program if necessary depending on weather or snow conditions, the level of the participants or for logistical reasons.
Accommodation
5 nights in mountain huts, in shared rooms or dormitories, with full board (dinner and lunch in a warm room, and a packed lunch for the day). All accommodations have hot showers. The food is plentiful and delicious. We collect our packed lunch from each hut each morning before setting off.
Access
Day 06, same place, in the afternoon, returning from the hike.
Departure: You can also stay an extra night at the end of your stay with a supplement for half board from €94 depending on the package chosen.
Go to the starting point
From Paris, you have several options:
Either arriving on the Italian side via the TGV PARIS-OULX
From this station you will need to take a direct bus to Briançon. Tickets must be purchased 48 hours in advance of your trip on the website www.sncf-connect.com
Either Paris / Grenoble + bus Grenoble / Briançon line 55 ZOU, bookable on the website www.autocars-resalp.com
Either arriving directly from Paris/Briançon, by night train or daytime trains
From Marseille or Valence, there are direct TER trains to Briançon.
To travel from Briançon to Névache:
Either by regular shuttle (in season)
Either by taxi or private transport depending on the schedule and the number of people.
When making your reservation, please remember to let us know your arrival time.
Don't hesitate to call us, we'll help you with your application!
Getting there: You can drive to the hotel, where there is a large parking lot. We'll keep this description brief, given that in this modern age, GPS is standard equipment in our cars and on our phones.
From the south, you go up the Durance valley to reach Briançon.
From the north and west, you can, like cyclists, pass through the Lautaret pass and its spectacular panorama, or choose the comfort (and its price) of passing through Italy, thanks to the Fréjus Tunnel, a road replica of the ambitious railway project of the mid-18th century.
Whatever route you take in winter, you must always have snow tires or snow chains in your trunk. Practice putting them on before you leave. If you have a diesel vehicle, fill up in Briançon upon arrival to ensure the diesel fuel can withstand temperatures as low as -20°C and to prevent frost from forming if the tank isn't full.
Consider carpooling!
Price details
The price includes
- Dormitory room accommodation
- Full board from picnic day 1 to picnic day 6
- Supervision by a high-mountain guide or an alpine ski instructor
- The transfer at the start and end of the roaming
- Showers in the refuge
The price does not include
- Round-trip transportation to Névache
- Equipment rental
- Cancellation, assistance, repatriation and trip interruption insurance
- Drinks and personal expenses
Options
- Equipment rental : CHF182.96 / unit
- 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 to bring
- Identity card not expired
- A backpack large enough to carry your belongings for the week (including one lunch, water, warm clothes, a sleeping bag liner, and a change of clothes for the evenings). A 50-liter capacity is a good starting point.
- Personal pharmacy items: eye drops, skin moisturizer
- A large "garbage" bag to protect your belongings in your backpack
Mandatory :
- An insulated water bottle (minimum 1L), a knife and cutlery
- Highly protective sunglasses
- 1 roll of Elastoplast 8 cm (Useful for everything: blisters, trauma, etc.)
- Sunscreen and creams for lips and face
- A sleeping bag liner for mountain huts
Recommended :
- The "double-skin" treatment for blisters (available in pharmacies)
- Replacement eyeglasses in case of breakage
- Earplugs or Quies earplugs
Clothing to bring
- A suitable ski touring outfit (1 technical and waterproof jacket and 1 pair of pants, breathable t-shirts and tights).
- Layers of clothing to keep warm: a fleece jacket or a down jacket, and a microfleece.
- 2 to 3 pairs of ski socks!
- A very warm hat
- Change of clothes
- A lightweight and comfortable change of clothes for mountain huts
They traveled with us
