Pre-Christmas Off-Piste Skiing in Chamonix

Things to know

• What’s included?

  What you get in this adventure:

  • • An experienced, IFMGA certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • Five days of guided off-piste skiing
    • Transportation for days 1-5 of the tour

  What’s not included:

  • • Transportation to Chamonix
    • Transportation on days 0 and 6 (departure day) of the tour
    • Airport transfers — we recommend Mountain Drop-Offs
    • Accommodations in Chamonix
    • Food and drinks 
    • Ski passes (several tiers, must be purchased in advance of the tour)
• How fit do I need to be?

  To enjoy this off-piste adventure, you need to be in excellent physical shape. You will be on your feet for 5 full days, covering miles of complex glaciated terrain every day. You will need to manage controlled ascents and descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs, have experience in glacier traversal, and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

  For the enjoyment and safety of everyone involved, participants must be approved to participate in advanced backcountry skiing tours either through a previous trip with the guiding service or through recommendations.

• What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

  To participate in this tour, you need to have extensive backcountry skiing experience. You will be skiing on challenging glaciated terrain for 5 full days. You also need to be adept at using glacier gear, such as crampons and an ice ax. Your guide will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you how to better manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe.

   If you’ve never backcountry skied before, we suggest joining a guide for a day of beginner-friendly ski touring or a 5-day avalanche education and ski touring course in Chamonix.

• What equipment do I need to bring?

  For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

  • • Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
    • Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
    • Helmet (can be rented)
    • Glacier gear (can be rented):
      • Harness for glacier travel
      • Ice ax
      • Crampons
    • Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
      • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
      • Lightweight snow shovel
      • Avalanche probe

  For personal items, we recommend bringing:

  • • Sunglasses or ski goggles
    • Gloves and hat
    • Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Down jacket or vest
    • Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
    • One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
    • Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
    • Water bottle and 1L of water
    • Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
    • Food you can eat on-the-go
    • First aid kit
    • Sunscreen
    • Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack)
    • Camera — optional
• Can I rent equipment?

  All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent: 

  • • Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe from Sanglard Sports. 
    • Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles can be rented from Sanglard Sports.
    • Splitboards can be rented from Sanglard Sports.
    • Glacier gear and helmet can be rented from Snell Sports.

  Gear rental locations are in Chamonix and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing:

  • • For this adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 4:1.
    • Cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows.

  Off-piste skiing in Chamonix can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors aren’t permitted to join this tour.
• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to Chamonix, most people fly into Geneva International Airport (GVA), one hour away. Once you arrive, there are several ways to reach your destination, including public transport. Looking to make airport transfers hassle-free? Check out Mountain Drop Offs—they provide door-to-door service in their comfy and spacious shuttles. Use the code 57HCHX to get a 5% discount!

  Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, which will usually be at Hotel Chamonix on Day 0 of the tour, so make sure to arrive before 6 pm. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.

• Safety measures and insurance

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

  Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

  Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Secure your early bird spot with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you’ll be the first one to know. Pick the month that suits you best and we’ll let you know once the dates are live—don’t risk missing out on your bucket list adventure!

  • • Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure anytime in case the dates don’t suit you.
    • Once the set dates for the following season are live, you can confirm your booking by the end of this year by paying another 20% of the total amount.
    • The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.
    • Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy applies.

  For set dates, a deposit in the amount of 30% is required at the time of booking. The remaining amount must be paid 90 calendar days prior to the trip departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. If you cancel the booking…

  • • If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to sixty (60) calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a full refund. 
    • For cancellations forty-five (45) to fifty-nine (59) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount paid when Booking. 
    • For cancellations thirty (30) to forty-four (44)  calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total amount paid when Booking. 
    • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund. Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable as soon as they are incurred by the Guide.

  Please note that booking fees are non-refundable in all cases and will be deducted from the refund amount.

  Please note that to ensure your safety and the safety of other clients, your guide reserves the right to alter the itinerary in case of unfavorable ski conditions or bad weather.