"The peaks and passes surrounding the Swiss alpine centre of Arolla are the ideal venue for enjoying an extended multiday day ski tour. With well appointed huts and a wide range of itineraries, a great weeks touring is possible in any conditions. "
6 days
Introductory
6:1 max
Dates:
By Arrangement
Price:
Private Guiding Rates
Ski Ability:
2-3
Fitness:
2+
Experience: A reasonable standard of off piste skiing is required. The area is ideal for a first weeks ski touring.
Included:Guiding Fees.
Other Costs:Hut nights, food, travel and uplift during the tour ~ £450
This is a good intro ski touring area, where it is possible to mix coaching and instruction into a week of either single or multiday ski touring. Some nights can be spent in the valley, the whole week in huts or a combination of both.
We offer this itinerary as a private guiding special - with dates by arrangement from mid March into late April. Prices are as per our private guiding rates, up to a maximum of 6 skiers per guide.
The charming alpine village of Arolla in western Switzerland. Arolla lies south of Sion in the main Rhone valley and can be easily reached by public transport direct from Geneva airport.
Sample Itinerary
Subject to weather and snow conditions, the week could run as follows:-
Day 0 - Sat
PM, meet in Arolla - discuss plans, sort food and kit, overnight in valley.
Day 1 - Sun
Tour + off piste run from the Arolla lift system to the Cabane des Aiguilles Rouges.
Day 2 - Mon
Day tour from Cabane des Aiguilles Rouges - Mont de l'Etoile or Pte de Vouasson.
Day 3 - Tue
Ascent of Fenetre Des Aig. Rouges + traverse of Col des Ignes to the Dix Hut.
Day 4 - Wed
Ascent of La Luet + traverse Les Trois Cols to Chanrion Hut.
Day 5 - Thur
Traverse of Pigne d'Arolla to the Vignettes Hut.
Day 6 - Fri
Traverse Col de l'Eveque and descend to Arolla.
Food and Accommodation
We run all of our ski tours on a guiding and instruction only basis. Our recommended hotel in Arolla is the Hotel Les Glaciers** which has a variety of comfortable rooms (and dortoir style accommodation too). You are however free to make other accommodation arrangements if you choose (Arolla has various other hotels, gites and appartments available). The guide will book all hut accommodation for the tour, which is paid for as we go along.
Travel
Arolla is easily reached by reliable Swiss public transport direct from Geneva airport - check out the Swiss Federal Railways website for timetables and information. If you are arriving by public, then you may be able to save some money by purchasing a swiss travel pass (various options are available - click on the English version of the website).
Ability and Experience
You need to be a competent off piste skier (see ski ability level 2-3) ideally with some touring experience, though the area is suitable for a first weeks ski touring. The trip may include up to 1000m of skinning in a day, so expect to be skinning up to 3-4 hours a day (see fitness level 2+ ).
Equipment
We will supply you with a full kit list. You are responsible for bringing personal clothing, a rucsac and ski mountaineering skis, boots and kit (local hire is available). We are delighted to be working on this tour with Backcountry UK, who provide excellent service and advice as a leading retailer of ski mountaineering equipment in the UK.
