Adventure Base Ski Offering

Intro to Ski Touring

For skiers who are new to ski touring and want to learn the basics. This is where it all begins. If you have never ski-toured before, this trip is the perfect starting point. You’ll get hands-on experience using ski-touring equipment to move efficiently uphill and make safe decisions in the mountains.

What you’ll learn:

• How to use ski-touring equipment
• Basic uphill techniques and transitions
• Intro to avalanche safety and how to use your safety kit
• Understanding terrain and route planning

The vibe: Relaxed, supportive, and all about building confidence. Based in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc with day tours out and back from your hotel base in the valley.

Requirements:

Ski Ability & Experience

• Confident, experienced piste and off-piste skier
• Comfortable skiing off-piste in variable snow conditions (powder, crust, crud, slush)
• Some prior ski touring experience is a bonus but not strictly required

Physical Fitness & Endurance

• High level of cardiovascular fitness
• Exercise regularly (more than 3 times per week)
• Capable of spending a full day exercising outside, going uphill and downhill in cold, snowy environments

Intent:

These requirements are here to ensure you won’t struggle with skiing in off-piste terrain and to warn those who may not be ready for the physical demands of ski-touring.

 

Intermediate Hut Ski Tour

For skiers who’ve already completed a handful of day ski-touring and are ready to take it further. This trip is your next step. Hopefully you will have completed our ski tour intro course, or you’ve done a few day tours yourself — and now you want to experience the real deal: ski-touring in the backcountry to a mountain hut, learning to manage multiple days on the move, and getting deeper into the world of ski touring.

What you’ll learn and experience:

• Ski-touring over multiple days, including spending 2 nights in a mountain hut
• Advanced uphill techniques and efficiency
• Dealing with changing conditions and group decisions
• Building the confidence to take on bigger objectives

The vibe: Adventurous but accessible. You’ll overnight in a mountain hut, carry a bit more kit, and cover more distance — all while continuing to learn and develop your skills. The vibe is supportive and there is a definite “progression” feeling to this course.

Perfect for: Confident off-piste skiers with previous ski-touring experience who want to gain experience to take on a hut-to-hut trip like the Skiers Haute Route.

Requirements:

Ski Ability & Experience

• Comfortable skiing off-piste in varied alpine terrain
• Previous ski touring experience (ideally our intro to ski touring course or equivalent)
• Basic avalanche awareness or training, familiarity with safety equipment

Physical Fitness & Endurance

• High level of cardiovascular fitness
• Exercise regularly (more than 3 times per week)
• Capable of spending a full day exercising outside, going uphill and downhill in cold, snowy environments
• Able to comfortably ski both uphill and downhill while carrying a heavy backpack

Intent:

These requirements are here to make sure you have the basic skills, safety awareness, and stamina needed for multi-day ski touring. This helps to warn those who may not be ready for the physical demands of ski-touring.

 

So, which is right?

If you have never ski-toured before or want to make sure your foundation is solid — start with the Intro to Ski Touring trip. You’ll learn all the essentials in a relaxed environment without needing to commit to more challenging and technical terrain just yet.

If you have already gained the basics of ski touring and are itching for a bit more adventure, the Intermediate Hut Tour is the perfect step forward. It bridges the gap between intro ski-touring and our multi-day hut-to-hut ski-touring adventures like the Skiers Haute Route.

 

How Do Our Classic Ski Tours Compare?

Silvretta, Ötztal, Haute Route, Gran Paradiso & Bernese Oberland

If you’re looking at one of our multi-day ski tours and wondering which one suits your experience level, goals, or appetite for adventure — this is for you. Each of these tours offers something special, from mellow terrain to big alpine objectives. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.

 

1. Silvretta Ski Tour, Austria

Level: Intermediate

Best for: First-time multi-day hut-to-hut ski tourers with strong off-piste skills. The Silvretta Ski Tour is a classic and a favourite for a reason. This tour offers a mix of glaciated terrain, great huts, and stunning peaks — but without pushing into highly technical territory. The ascents are steady, the descents are fun, and the overall pace is manageable for those stepping into the world of hut-to-hut touring.

• Terrain: Moderate glaciers, broad valleys, scenic cols.
• Technical: Some glacier travel, but minimal technical climbing.
• Why it’s great: Super accessible but still a full mountain experience. Excellent for building confidence on a longer ski-tour.

Requirements:

Ski Ability & Experience

• Comfortable skiing in all off-piste conditions in backcountry alpine terrain
• Previous ski touring experience (intro / intermediate ski tour course, multiple day tours or previous hut-to-hut trips)
• Avalanche awareness or training, familiarity with safety equipment

Physical Fitness & Endurance

• High level of cardiovascular fitness
• Exercises regularly (more than 3/4 times per week)
• Capable of a full day in cold, snowy environments
• Able to ski both uphill and downhill while carrying gear

Intent:

To make sure you have the necessary touring and skiing skills, safety awareness, and stamina needed for multi-day ski touring. This helps to screen for those not ready for the technical or physical demands of the trip.

 

2. Ötztal Ski Tour

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Best for: Ski tourers with a hut-to-hut ski tour under their belt, and a high level of fitness. The Ötztal tour takes things up a notch — bigger distances, more vertical, and more glaciated terrain. You’ll attempt to summit iconic peaks like the Wildspitze and stay in some of the most atmospheric huts in the Alps. It’s a great progression for those ready for a more physical and varied adventure.

• Terrain: More complex glacier travel, occasional steep climbs.
• Technical: Some crampon use, glacier safety knowledge expected.
• Why it’s great: A perfect step up from Silvretta with higher peaks and more challenging routes.

Requirements:

Ski Ability & Experience

• Confident skiing off-piste in varied and sometimes challenging alpine terrain (variable snow, steeper gradients)
• Substantial prior ski touring experience, including multiple full-day ski tours and a smooth ability to kick turn
• Practical avalanche training with the ability to use beacon, probe, and shovel efficiently

Physical Fitness & Endurance

• High level of cardiovascular fitness
• Exercises regularly with a strong aerobic base (4+ times per week recommended)
• Comfortable with long, demanding days in cold and changing mountain conditions
• Able to skin uphill for several hours and ski downhill with a loaded pack over consecutive days

Intent:

To ensure you have the experience, fitness, and mountain awareness required for sustained, multi-day ski touring in more demanding terrain. This helps confirm you can travel efficiently, manage fatigue, and contribute to group safety in backcountry environments.

 

3. Gran Paradiso Ski Tour

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Best for: Skiers with a high level of touring experience, fitness and summit ambitions. This tour includes a summit of Gran Paradiso (4,061m) — Italy’s highest peak entirely within its borders. The skiing is beautiful, the setting is wild, and the mountain huts are some of the best. Expect big climbs and technical terrain on summit day, but a more relaxed pace compared to some of the days on the Skiers’ Haute Route.

• Terrain: Big alpine slopes, high-altitude glacier travel, a 4000m Alpine summit
• Technical: Crampons, harness, rope use on the summit ridge.
• Why it’s great: Combines a challening summit with beautiful skiing and a more steady rhythm.

Requirements:

Ski Ability & Experience

• Very confident skiing off-piste in complex alpine terrain, including steep slopes, firm or variable snow, and glaciated environments
• Extensive ski touring experience, including multi-day tours and trips in high-alpine terrain
• Strong avalanche education with proven, hands-on experience using safety equipment and applying risk assessment in real conditions
• Comfortable with boot-packing, kick turns, ski crampons, and basic glacier travel techniques

Physical Fitness & Endurance

• High level of cardiovascular fitness
• Excercise regularly with a high level of fitness and endurance (4–5+ times per week)
• Capable of long, sustained ascents at altitude (1,200–1,500 m vertical days)
• Able to perform efficiently over consecutive long days in cold, exposed, and high-alpine conditions while carrying a full pack

Intent:

To ensure participants have the technical skill, fitness, and mountain judgment required for high-alpine ski touring objectives such as Gran Paradiso. This level screens for those who are prepared for altitude, glaciated terrain, long summit days, and the increased commitment and self-sufficiency required in serious alpine environments.

 

4. Haute Route

Level: Advanced

Best for: Experienced ski tourers wanting a legendary traverse.This is the classic ski traverse — linking Chamonix and Zermatt through the heart of the Alps. The Haute Route is demanding: long days, big climbs, and some complex navigation across high mountain passes and glaciers. Conditions can change fast, and group efficiency is key.

• Terrain: High, committing, and exposed in parts.
• Technical: Glacier travel, rope work, steeper terrain.
• Why it’s great: Iconic, challenging, and incredibly rewarding — a bucket list tour for many.

Requirements:

Ski Ability & Experience

• Expert off-piste skier, fully confident in steep, exposed, and technical alpine terrain in all snow conditions
• Extensive ski touring background, including demanding multi-day traverses and high-alpine routes
• Advanced avalanche education with strong decision-making skills
• Solid experience with glacier travel, crevasse rescue basics, rope systems, ski crampons, and boot-packing with skis
• Able to travel efficiently in a roped group on a glacier and manage frequent transitions in serious terrain

Physical Fitness & Endurance

• Excercise consistently with excellent endurance and strength (5+ days per week)
• Comfortable with multiple long days at altitude, often exceeding 1,500 m of ascent
• Able to maintain pace and good decision-making over 5+ consecutive days in cold, exposed, high-alpine environments
• Capable of carrying a heavy backpack for extended periods while remaining efficient on both ascents and descents

Intent:

To ensure participants have the technical expertise, physical capacity, and mountain judgment required for one of the world’s classic high-alpine ski traverses. The Haute Route demands sustained effort, efficiency, and self-sufficiency in glaciated terrain where weather, snow conditions, and group decisions are critical to safety and success.

 

5. Bernese Oberland Ski Tour

Level: Expert

Best for: Fit, experienced ski tourers who like big days in big terrain.This is the grand tour of the Alps — massive glaciers, remote huts, and some of the longest days on skis. The Bernese Oberland feels wild and expansive. Distances between huts are long, the glacier travel is serious, and the scale of the terrain is unmatched. A true adventure for those up for it.

• Terrain: Huge glaciated plateaus, long transitions.
• Technical: Advanced touring skills, glacier knowledge essential.
• Why it’s great: Epic scale, remote feel, and a big sense of achievement. This one’s for the seasoned tourer.

Requirements:

Ski Ability & Experience

• Expert-level off-piste skier, fully at ease on steep, exposed alpine terrain in all snow conditions, including poor visibility
• Extensive background in high-alpine ski touring, with multiple serious traverses and long, committing routes completed
• Advanced avalanche education with strong, real-world decision-making skills
• Highly experienced with glacier travel, including crevasse rescue systems, rope management, and efficient travel across complex glaciated terrain
• Confident using ski crampons, boot crampons, ice axe, and rope on steep or icy sections
• Able to move efficiently and safely with minimal instruction in technical terrain

Physical Fitness & Endurance

• Trains at a high level year-round with excellent aerobic endurance and leg strength
• Comfortable with very long days (1,500–2,000 m+ vertical) in sustained high-alpine terrain
• Proven ability to perform over many consecutive days in cold, remote, and exposed environments with limited escape options
• Able to carry a full expedition pack while maintaining steady pace, efficiency, and sound judgment

Intent:

To ensure participants have the technical ability, endurance, and mountain experience required for one of the most demanding ski touring traverses in the Alps. The Bernese Oberland Traverse involves remote, heavily glaciated terrain, long sustained days, and limited escape options, requiring guests to move efficiently, manage fatigue, and operate confidently in high-alpine environments under the direction of professional guides.

 

Which One’s Right for You?

Silvretta is great if you’re new to multi-day ski touring and have a baseline level experience covered by our intro / intermediate ski tour courses. It offers mellow terrain and is perfect for your first hut tour.

Ötztal is a step up, suited for intermediate to advanced off-piste skiers ready for bigger peaks and more varied routes. It’s a classic tour with more challenging glacier travel.

For those with intermediate to advanced skills who want to combine beautiful skiing with a summit goal, Gran Paradiso is ideal. It includes climbing Italy’s highest peak (4,061m) with some technical sections on the summit ridge. If you’re an advanced ski tourer with good fitness, the Haute Route is a legendary challenge. It’s a high-alpine traverse with long days, complex navigation, and some technical sections.

Finally, the Bernese Oberland tour is for expert ski tourers with a very high level of cardiovascular endurance. It features long days on huge glaciers, remote huts, and big, wild terrain — a true adventure for seasoned ski-tourers.

Still not sure? Drop us a message — we’re always happy to talk through the options and help you find the right challenge for your level and goals.