Guided Treks
Snowshoeing Intro - Chamonix
Introducing keen hikers to the world of winter snowshoeing. This is a great way of experiencing backcountry snowy landscapes whilst trekking with snowshoes on your feet. If you're a hiking lover and need your fix in winter, this is the trip for you!
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Duration
5 days
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Start Location
Chamonix, France
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Date(s)
January - March
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Price
From €995.00
Adventure Snapshot
VIEW GALLERY
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+ 7
LEARN HOW TO BACKCOUNTRY SNOWSHOE IN CHAMONIX
Ever fancied hiking in snowy places but with snowshoes on your feet? Want to get away from the crowds in one of the most beautiful locations on the planet? If so, learning to snowshoe and improve your backcountry knowledge is the next adventure for you.
This trip will teach you everything you need to know about the equipment, the techniques and the safety aspects of exploring the backcountry in the mountains. It's been designed for those who are comfortable hikers looking to go further, or more remote. What's not to like?!
YOUR ADVENTURE STARTS HERE
WHO IS THIS FOR?
Some prior hiking experience is useful but no snowshoeing experience is required. We also strongly advise you come with a high level of fitness as you'll be on your feet most of the day going up AND downhill.
Not sure whether you're ready? No sweat! Drop us a note and we'll be happy to talk it through with you.Â
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Duration
5 days
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Start Location
Chamonix, France
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Date(s)
January - March
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Guide Ratio
10:1
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Ability
Level ALevel A
You’re not quite sure where to start but you’re hungry for an adventure and can’t wait to get going. Bring it on!
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Price
From €995.00
Adventure Overview
LIVE THE ADVENTURE
Meet The Team
01:48Introducing our crack squad of mountain lovers and adventure junkies. We spend most of our days plotting, planning and building some of the very best trips out there for you all to enjoy.
Kit & equipment required for this adventure
Most of the items below are available to rent or buy in Chamonix on arrival. Please note this is a guide and you may be required to rent or purchase last minute equipment on arrival dependent on the weather and changes in itinerary.
For the full downloadable Snowshoe Intro kit list please click here.
Down Jacket
Lightweight and thin down jacket.
Hardshell Jacket
GORE-TEX® or Similar
Softshell Jacket
Light technical jacket, ideally with a hood.
Lightweight fleece
Something light and thin.
Thermal Tops
Keep them light and thin.
Tech T-Shirts
Highly breathable, lightweight synthetic technical t-shirt.
Hardshell Trousers
GORE-TEX® or similar
Thermal Bottoms
Keep them light and thin.
Sun Hat
Choose your hat of choice as long as it shields you from the sun.
Warm Hat
Ideally thin and single layered so it can fit under the helmet.
Transceiver
Probe & Shovel
Rucksack
Mountaineering-specific 35-40L backpack
Sun block
For your nose and lips
Sun cream
Factor 30-50 High Mountain sunscreen
Sun hat
Choose your hat of choice as long as it shields you from the sun
Sunglasses
Goggles
Just in case you hit bad weather
Thermal socks
Good walking socks are required
Thermos flask
Lighter gloves
Thinner to be used for mid mountain conditions and glacial walking. Â Look for a pair with good grip.
Fleece windproof gloves
Water bottles
You must be able to carry at least 2L of water in your backpack
Cash / credit card
For extra costs such as drinks and snacks
First aid kit
Blister kit, paracetamol, etc
Trekking Poles
Foldable or telescopic poles are best
"Just what I was looking for to get me into ski touring. I've wanted to do the Haute Route for years and now I should have the skillset to take it on next spring."
"Perfect mini trip to introduce to ski touring. I had always wanted to try it and now I'm addicted!"
FINER DETAILS
YOUR ADVENTURE PACKAGE
On arrival day you meet with your guides and fellow snowshoers at the accommodation for a welcome briefing and dinner in the evening. Here you will have an opportunity to ask any last minute questions as well as share your pre trip excitement with your group.
What's Included?
- 3 days' guided snowshoeing introduction
- Learn essential snowshoeing skills
- Great preparation for backcountry exploring
- 4 nights Chamonix hotel accommodation (Half Board)
- Handpicked snowshoe guide
What's not Included?
- Airport transfers to/from Chamonix
- Uplifts (approx. €50-60 per day)
- Mountain hut option (approx. €60)
- Personal equipment and insurance
What to expect from your accommodation
We know the importance of having a comfortable and cosy base to return to after each day of snowshoeing. That's why we've chosen a mountain lodge with super comfortable rooms and a warm atmosphere. The perfect spot to rest up in-between your days in the mountains. But don't let that nice linen and chocolate on the bed win your favour just yet. Wait until you've experienced a good old mountain hut with its basic, but charming amenities and friendly hosts. We bet you go home missing the huts more!
VIEW GALLERY
Chamonix
The lodge is an excellent base for our snowshoeing intro. With stunning views of the mountains, it's well placed and just a few minutes walk from Chamonix centre. Rooms are likely to be on a twin or triple share basis with en suite bathrooms. There is a bar and restaurant for the evenings, with some lovely social space to relax in after the hard days splitboarding. Your breakfast and dinner is included here each day.
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Duration
3 Nights
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Internet
Wifi included
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Beds
Shared rooms en suite
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Food
Half board
Mountain huts
Depending on conditions and ability of the group we may propose to experience what it’s like to sleep in a mountain refuge and enjoy the warm hospitality and food. This would be an additional cost and discussed with the group to make sure everyone is happy. It would cost approximately €60 per person and would only be 'worth it' if conditions were great and the guide believed it would benefit the course.
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Duration
1 Night
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Internet
Not included
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Beds
Dormitory
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Food
Half Board
WHAT TO EXPECT
HERE'S YOUR ITINERARYÂ
While we try and stick to the tried and tested itinerary below, the mountains and the weather sometimes have other ideas. We will always remain as flexible as possible, which is why we only work with experienced and knowledgeable guides, to make sure we can change any plans if required.
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Day 1:
Arrival Day
Arrive in Chamonix. Today is the day to sort out any kit rental and make sure you have everything you need. Get to know the guides and other members of the group over a delicious 3 course evening meal at the hotel. Overnight in the Hotel.
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Day 2:
First day snowshoeing
First day snowshoeing. We head out for a lovely loop in the forest to warm up the legs. After a short while we’ll go further backcountry and get to know our snowshoe equipment in a safe and mellow environment. After a nice hike and a lunch stop we will head back down to the valley floor. Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 3:
Development day in the Mountains
Today we will continue the learning and focus on developing your backcountry knowledge as well as focusing on general mountain safety and avalanche awareness. If the conditions and ability of the group allow we may head up to a mountain refuge to experience what it’s like to sleep in the mountains. We would snowshoe up to our chosen refuge based on the current weather and conditions and aim to progress our skills during the day. If the mountain refuge is not an option, we will spend more time snowshoeing in the beautiful peaks around Chamonix. Overnight either in the hotel or in the mountain refuge.
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Day 4:
Culmination of Skills
Early start for our last tour of the trip. We enjoy a beautiful hike, putting all our skills and knowledge into practice. With tired legs from all of our adventures we head back to Chamonix in evening for a well deserved dinner and to reflect on the new skills and knowledge that you've picked up. Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 5:
Departure
Departure after breakfast. Check out is 10:00 am.
Meet your guides for this adventure
Arantxa
Marta
Ben
Mountain Leader
Ben is a fully qualified British UIMLA International Mountain Leader with Swiss and French equivalence and he is also a fully-qualified Swiss Brevet Fédéral Ski Instructor and an ISIA card holder and an accomplished outdoor educator and a qualified Outdoor Education and Geography teacher. He has been based in the Alps for a long time and has extensive knowledge on a whole variety of treks and adventures. Ben brings a whole bunch of experience to our guiding team, having worked as an Expedition Leader in challenging environments around the world in countries such as Borneo, Mongolia, Morocco and Costa Rica and at home in the European Alps, responsible for the safety and success of expeditions for many years. His passion for the mountains is infectious and he loves sharing a summit photo or long-distance trek with our community.
Pablo
IFMGA Guide
Pablo is originally from a small mountain village in Spain and came to Chamonix with only one dream to become a mountain guide. Based in Chamonix since 2013, Pablo made the Alps his playground as a guide and as an alpinist and has climbed many of the classic alpine routes. He combines mountain guiding with helicopter rescue work in Spain during the off seasons.
Alistair
Mountain Leader
As well as being a fully qualified UIMLA International Mountain Leader/Guide, Alistair is also a qualified Wilderness Medical First Responder (WEMSI), and spent 15 years working as a ski instructor. His passion for the outdoors has made him realise we all have a personal responsibility to lessen our impact on the planet. He eats a plant-based diet, has not owned a car for over 7 years and has gone from a career of travelling the world incessantly to staying in one place and connecting with nature that can be accessed from his home in the Alps. Alistair brings a well of life experience to our trips and is a joy to share the trails with. He believes it is his duty to share his passion for the mountains and a simple life and to encourage people to reconnect with nature and all that this brings in the way of health benefits both mentally and physically - working as a hiking guide provides a perfect outlet for this.
Emily
Mountain Leader
Emily is a British UIMLA International Mountain Leader/Guide and works as one of our lead trekking guides. She has a strong teaching background with Geography being her speciality which combined with her passion for adventures in the outdoors makes her a highly enjoyable person to spend time with on our trips. She fills our trips with positive energy alongside her vast experience and super skillset of navigating the alpine trails she knows so well. She's one of our most experienced guides and is based full time in the Chamonix valley and also a fluent French speaker. She is a passionate runner and has taken on some mega challenging races such as the Marathon du Mont Blanc and the CCC ultra marathon du Mont Blanc. We're sure you'll have a great time on one of Emily's trips.
Are you ready?
Our adventures are attributed a difficulty level from A to E. This Snowshoeing Introduction – Chamonix trip is rated Level A, for beginners and newcomers We recommend you only book a trip that reflects your ability.
Level A
For beginners and newcomers
- You’re not quite sure where to start but you’re hungry for an adventure
- Little / no prior experience
- Shorter time duration
- No technical skills required but keen to learn
- Basic level of fitness
Think you've got this?
This trip is at this level
Level B
For those with some prior experience
- You have some previous experience in the outdoors, whether that’s hiking, skiing or climbing, and are keen to build on that
- You will either be starting to venture into more technical terrain or slightly more challenging environments
- Some basic skills
- Moderate fitness
More your level?
Level C
For accomplished adventurers
- You enjoy challenging yourself physically and mentally
- You’re comfortable on multi-day adventures and you call yourself an avid adventurer
- You're not quite George Mallory but you subscribe to his 'because it is there' attitude
- Strong level of fitness
More your level?
Level D
For the pros
- You're ready to test your skills on the next challenge
- You're comfortable in most types of alpine environments
- Some level of technical skills
- Strong level of fitness
More your level?
Level E
For the experts
- You’ve been on multiple adventures and have built up a solid skillset to tackle most challenges out there
- Good technical skills and knowledge
- Experienced in alpine/mountains environments
- Very high level of fitness
More your level?
Snowshoeing Introduction – Chamonix
Introducing keen hikers to the world of winter snowshoeing. This is a great way of experiencing backcountry snowy landscapes whilst trekking with snowshoes on your feet. If you're a hiking lover and need your fix in winter, this is the trip for you!
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January - March
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Level A
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€995.00
Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights
Experience the best of the Tour du Mont Blanc trails, trekking through France, Italy and Switzerland in just 4 days, for those that are looking for a shorter trip. Jam-packed with some of the best bits of the whole Tour du Mont Blanc, this trip has been designed in order to have an incredible trekking experience.
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July - September
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Level A
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€890.00
Gokyo Lakes & EBC Trek
Our Gokyo Lakes and Everest Base Camp Trek is a must do for anyone looking to get the most bang for their Himalayan buck. Getting to Everest Base Camp at 5,364m is an amazing achievement in itself but to then head over the Cho La Pass 5,420m to see the beauty of Gokyo Lakes is a whole other experience. Book this trip and receive a free sleeping bag and duffle bag for your adventure.
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Spring & Autumn
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Level B
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€1815.00
Everest Base Camp Trek
An absolute ‘must do’ adventure, following in the footsteps of all the legendary climbers heading to the base of the highest mountain in the world, Everest Base Camp is a memorable, rewarding and impressive experience for any outdoor enthusiast. Add it to your bucket list! Book this trip and receive a free sleeping bag and duffle bag for your adventure.
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Spring & Autumn
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Level B
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€1695.00
Tour Du Mont Blanc Guided 11 Day
This full 11 day version of the Tour du Mont Blanc trek is an incredible opportunity to completely immerse yourself in the mountains and enjoy the natural beauty of the seven valleys that surround western Europe’s highest mountain.
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July - September
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Level B
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€2250.00
Haute Route Trek Guided 11 Days
The Haute Route trek is one of the world’s great multi-day treks. The route links two world famous alpine mountains, Mont Blanc in France and the Matterhorn in Switzerland.
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July - September
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Level C
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€3250.00
Swiss, Bernese Oberland Ski Tour
The Bernese Oberland ski tour is a stunning link up of high altitude mountain huts and peaks in the wild Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps. The ski terrain in this region is suited for those with previous ski touring experience, who are looking to progress to the next level and discover some high altitude peaks and glaciers. You can expect long ski tour days, comfortable huts and big ski descents.
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March - April
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Level D
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€1850.00
Island Peak
Island Peak at 6,189m is considered one of the world's best adventures for any mountain lovers out there. Part trek, part mountaineering, this is a trip for those looking to add a little more adrenalin to the Everest Base Camp Trek. Book this trip and receive a free sleeping bag and duffle bag for your adventure.
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Spring & Autumn
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Level D
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€4250.00
Mera Peak
Mera Peak at 6476m is the highest trekking peak in Nepal. At this altitude the oxygen content of air is less than half of what it is at sea level. It is located in the Himalayan mountain range in Nepal, a little east of the main Khumbu valley on a much quieter trail. Book this trip and receive a free sleeping bag and duffle bag for your adventure.
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Spring & Autumn
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Level D
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€
Eiger
The Eiger is one of the most sought after summits in the Alps and a formidable challenge for any keen mountaineer. Located in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland, this is a major Alpine classic steeped in historic tales of heroic climbing. On this trip we climb via the Mittellegi ridge. Got what it takes?
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June - September
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Level E
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€4299.00
READY FOR THIS TRIP?
We hope you've found all the information you need above, but if not don't hesitate to get in touch. If you're ready to book, follow the link below.
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