Guided Alps snowshoeing holiday in a luxury French farmhouse

Snowshoe through pristine wildernesses on this guided Alps snowshoeing holiday in a luxury French farmhouse with experienced guide and wildlife expert.

 
Activities
Snowshoeing
Duration
8 days
Price
€1,294 to 1,294
 
 

This is a trip with specific departure dates over January to March that individuals or couples can book on to. It is also possible to book this guided Alps snowshoeing holiday in a luxury French farmhouse as a private trip for groups of 6 or more people.

THE AREA:
Discover one of the most dramatic and beautiful parts of the French Alps by snowshoe. On the edge of the Ecrins National Park, the Champsaur valley is a little known Alpine gem that is perfect for snowshoeing thanks to its many accessible 2000 – 2500m mountain passes and undulating valleys with spectacular mountain views.

Animal lovers will be rewarded with sightings of chamois, ibex, deer, wild boar and plenty of birds including golden eagles. There are also wolves and lynx in the proximity and your guide, a passionate wildlife expert, will help you identify the tracks, indices and other signs of the rich mountain habitat as you snowshoe.

THE SNOWSHOEING:
There are a huge variety of snowshoeing walks in the area and the guides will finalise the itinerary during the week to make the most of conditions. There are mountain passes, summits, high alpine plateaux, pretty alpine woods and large valleys choose from. Our guides will find the virgin snow away from the well trodden paths! You can expect to do between 300m and 800m of ascent on an average day with 4 to 6 hours of walking – with plenty of stops!!

FREE DAY:
For your free day, you can either rest at your accommodation and enjoy the views or go for a self guided snowshoe walk in the surrounding area. Alternatively, if you would like to explore the winter wilderness a bit further, why not try another activity like ice climbing, husky dog sledging or cross country skiing!

YOUR GUIDE:
All the guides we use are fully qualified UIAGM high mountain guides and will make your safety and enjoyment their top priority. This qualification is the highest of all guiding qualifications in the mountains and their competence, knowledge and experience means (s)he has the flexibility to take you wherever is safe. Other qualifications for snowshoeing are limited to the wide valley bottoms and pisted routes in nordic areas.

WHO WILL ENJOY THIS TRIP?
No previous snowshoeing experience is required to join this trip but a good level of fitness is recommended to be able to make the most of it. Regular hill walkers, nordic walkers, hikers and trekkers will love this guided Alps snowshoeing holiday in a luxury French farmhouse!

YOUR ACCOMMODATION:
You will be staying in a traditional stone farmhouse that has been beautifully renovated in a charming and modern style whilst preserving its Alpine charm. Your hosts, Jean and Meg will look after your every need and you can expect to be inspired every evening by Meg’s creative cuisine marrying traditional Alpine food with world cuisine. There is a hot tub available to hire in the property and messages are also possible to book. the perfect way to end an active day in the mountains.

Price Includes

  • 7 nights half board accommodation (evening meal and breakfast) at the luxury farmhouse accommodation.
  • 5 picnic lunches
  • 5 full days guided snowshoeing with qualified UIAGM high mountain guide and wildlife expert
  • Snowshoes and poles
  • One free day with options to try out other winter activities (activities are extra)
  • Transport to and from snowshoeing
  • Return transfers from Gap train station
  • A tree planted on your behalf to help with your carbon offsetting
  • A personalised App for your phone with all your trip details and practical information

Price Excludes

  1. Getting to Gap (we can help you arrange this - we are experts at finding the best way to get to Gap!)
  2. Drinks / spending money
  3. Lunch on your free day
  4. Any additional activities and / or transport
  5. Tips for the Guide

What to expect

The Champsaur and Valgaudemar valleys are situated just on the edge of the Ecrins National Park and are rarely visited by mainstream tourists. They remain one of the true winter wildernesses and wildlife refuges of the Alps.

There are numerous possibilities for snowshoeing in and around the area and this itinerary is just an example. In reality when you are here, the guides will decide where to go to make the most of the conditions of the day.

Guided Alps snowshoeing holiday in a luxury French farmhouse: Itinerary

DAY 1: Arrival
You will make your own way to Gap (we can help you organise this). We'll collect you at 17h from the train station and take you up to your accommodation where jean and Meg will welcome you with an aperitif and delicious dinner.

DAY 2 Full Day Snowshoeing
Your guide will collect you in the morning and kit you out with your snowshoes. Today's snowshoe walk will include an introduction to snowshoeing technique and some snowshoeing tips so you can make the most out of this amazing winter sport. You'll then go off to explore one of the many beautiful mountains in the area. Lunch will be a picnic in the mountains.

DAY 3: Full Day Snowshoeing
Another fun day out in the mountains exploring a new area. Another picnic lunch in the snow.

DAY 4: Full Day Snowshoeing
More snowshoeing off the beaten track discovering the local mountain wildlife. Another picnic al fresco!

DAY 5: Free Day
You can relax at your accommodation or we can arrange another activity for you. We can discuss this before your arrival and make sure you have something booked in or arrange something last minute depending on how you feel and availability locally.

DAY 6: Full Day Snowshoeing
Your walking legs will be ready for another full day out after your rest day so we'll make the most of it and find a new area to explore. Picnic lunch on the mountain on day 6 of this guided Alps snowshoeing holiday in a luxury French farmhouse.

DAY 7: Full Day Snowshoeing
Over the week your guide will have got to know you and will plan a last snowshoeing day to impress and seduce you!

DAY 8: Travel home
This is the sad day we say goodbye but hopefully it will be more of an a bientôt!
We will take you down to Gap train station for 8h30am.

 

Guided Alps snowshoeing holiday in a luxury French farmhouse: From €1,294 to €1,294 for 8 days

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€1,294 to 1,294 8 days
From €1,294 to 1,294 discount: %
 
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