Guided Snowshoeing Holiday in the Alps for Foodies

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.

All our guides for the guided snowshoeing weeks are fully qualified UIAGM high mountain guides. They will have your safety and enjoyment as their priority through out the trip.

We will collect you from Gap at the train station at 17h and drive you to the luxury farmhouse accommodation in time for an aperitif and dinner!

Please make sure you arrange your journey to coincide with this time. Gap is a beautiful town to spend some time in if you arrive a bit earlier or even the night before.

Full day snowshoeing up to a plateau with views over two valleys.

The Champoleon valley is a wild winter wilderness frequented by chamois and ibex. It is walled by 3000 meter peaks with a river along the valley bottom, a scattering of traditional alpine villages, trees and cliffs. You will depart from here and make your way up to the plateau of La Coche through the woods.

Once you arrive on the plateau, you will be pleasantly rewarded with beautiful panoramic views over the Champsaur and Champoleon valleys. Have fun exploring the open snow meadows of the plateau before heading back down. This will be a gentle start to your week, to help you get used to wearing snowshoes and warm up your walking legs. The guide will also explain the safety of the mountains in winter!

Full day snowshoe walk through forest with views over the valley.

St Leger Les Melezes is a beautiful little ski village situated half way up the mountain in a forest of larch trees (melezes - is larch in french). There is a whole network of forest tracks and trails criss crossing the mountain side with magnificent views over the Champsaur valley and of the Vieux Chaillol mountain (Champsaur's highest mountain). The top of the forest brings you out on to a spectacular ridge and the possibility to snowshow up to the summit.

This snowshoe walk can be as strenuous or relaxing as you like - it is very easily adaptable. There are steep paths going all the way up to the summit of La Cuchon or gentle traverses of the forest - you can decide on the day!

Full day snowshoe with picnic on the col (6 - 7 hrs)

This is a beautiful and very rewarding day out up to the summit of La Palastre at 2278m. It is a gradual ascent through open snow fields and rocky outcrops with beautiful views over the Champsaur valley - about 720m of ascent in total.

You will see ice falls, woods, interesting rock formations and magnificent views so plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the scenery, look out for animal tracks and take photos.

After reaching the col for a well deserved picnic lunch in the sun, you head up to the summit for that real top of the world feeling! Then it is all down hill and on snow shoes you can slide, run, jump and generally have lots of fun getting down the mountain - the snow is very forgiving! A really good day out in the mountains!!

There are plenty of things to do in the area from a day ice climbing to a day relaxing in the pool and jacuzzi complex. So you can either relax and let your legs recover, chilling out at your accommodation admiring the views, try something completely different like: ice climbing, husky dog sledging or cross country skiing or continue snowshoeing and go on one of the self-guided snowshoe walks in the area.

It is really up to you and we can discuss the options available when you are here.

Please note that any activities or ski passes organised for this day are not included in the price and would be payable as an extra, either at the time of booking if you already know what you would like to do or locally when you are here.

Full day snowshoe through a classic alpine village and in to the Ecrins National Park.

This snowshoe walk starts in Prapic, an ancient farming village, still habited all year round by about four families, with classic alpine architecture and village lay out - very pretty. After the village you walk in to the Ecrins National Park through a beautiful classic u shaped valley.

There are choices for exactly where you go - up on to a plateau or following the river, but which ever way you choose you'll be rewarded with stunning scenery. At the top of the valley there is a waterfall (usually frozen in winter) called the Saut du Laire which means 'jump of the thief' - it has an interesting little folk tale associated with it that your guide will be only too pleased to tell!

The way back passes a quaint little chapel situated all on it's own in the winter wilderness - a reminder of the religious heritage of this valley! It is possible to start this walk later and finish it off as the sun is setting. The glow of red and orange as the sun sets over the mountains and the glow of orange lights from the village is a truly beautiful scene.

And what better way to enjoy it than in the peace and tranquility of the high mountain environment on snowshoes. Experience the calmness of the Alps at night, gaze at the stars and pin point the man on the moon!

Full day snowshoe with picnic on the summit (6 - 7 hrs)

This is a big but very rewarding day out up to theca de la Pourrachière. This snow shoe walk starts off following the beautiful Rouanne valley from Ancelle. Then about half way up you start to climb, zig zagging through beautiful mixed forest with a view of a dramatic cliff face (Le Lauterat) across the valley.

Then as the woods start to thin you walk out on to open snow fields with magnificent views all around you. You'll then head through the snowfields gradually working your way u to the col de la Pourachrere at 2173m. This is a great picnic spot with amazing views right over the Gapencais and Champsaur valleys.  Then it is all down hill and on snow shoes you can slide, run, jump and generally have lots of fun getting down the mountain - the snow is very forgiving!

This is the sad day when we have to say goodbye :( but hopefully it will be more a bientôt!

We will drive you back to Gap train station to get you there for 8h30am. If you require a transfer at a different time, this will be at your own charge.

There is a fabulous market in Gap on Saturday mornings so if you like markets and can book a later bus or train it is worth doing this!