Off-piste Ski/Snowboard Safari

This is a full week of off-piste skiing or snow boarding, beginning with an introductory near-piste session and working up towards the Pic du Midi descent – one of the best off-piste routes in Europe.

During the 6 days, your guide will look at off-piste techniques for turning in different snow conditions, on steep terrain and tree-skiing.

The minimum group numbers are 4 people and the maximum 6, so you will have all the personal attention that you need.

We’ve not set a date for this holiday type, so we are totally flexible, contact us to arrange a date that suits you.

Accommodation

For this week accommodation is at our 3-star Ski chalet in the traditional French mountain village of Barèges, in the Pays Toy.

Contact us to book your off-piste skiing holiday.

A typical itinerary

Saturday – Arrive in Barèges

Arrive in Barèges late afternoon and we’ll head out to arrange your equipment and lift passes. This evening you’ll meet your guide and the rest of your group.

Sunday – warm up and instruction

Today we’ll have a morning of downhill skiing to warm up, before our afternoon’s introduction to off-piste round the resort.

As a warm up, we’ll spend the morning downhill skiing in the Tourmalet resort. Once we’ve got our muscles to remember what they’re meant to be doing, we’ll meet our ski-safari guide after lunch. We’ll then spend the afternoon having our introduction to off-piste skiing, practicing in and around the ski-resort.

This is an opportunity for your ski-safari guide to find out what your skill levels and preferences are.

Monday – off-piste descent of the Augues Cluses valley

Today we head off-piste in the beautiful Neouvielle nature reserve – the Lake District of the Pyrenees.

We ride the Quatre Termes chairlift to the top of the Tourmalet ski area. We then start to leave the pistes behind us and after a short scramble up through a narrow pass, we arrive in a winter wonderland – the Neouvielle Nature reserve. We then have to come back down – via an exciting, totally off-piste descent of the secluded ‘Aygues Cluses’ valley.

Tuesday – Woodland off-piste

Today we’ll perfect our turns, skiing through woodland and maybe even surprising a few squirrels along the way…

Barèges is a rare jewel in Europe, as one of the only places with skiing through open mixed woodland. Today we’ll off-piste ski in the beautiful environment of the Lienz forest so we can develop the perfect, instinctive turn!

Wednesday- technique day

Today is about perfecting our technique, so that we can do more challenging off-piste skiing on Thursday and then do the Pic du Midi on Friday.

Improve your off-piste skiing on steeper ground and in different snow conditions. This is a great chance to focus on technique, whilst still within reach of those handy lifts.

Thursday – choice of options today

Today you have two options to choose from. Either we can do an off-piste descent to La Mongie, or we can have an introduction to ski-touring.

Your group today can choose what they would prefer to do.

Option 1) Starting from the Quatre Termes lift, a short climb takes us to the Breche du Contade. We then traverse around a steep hillside to reach an isolated valley, with a spectacular descent into the heart of La Mongie.

Option 2) Under the careful and experienced tutelage of your guide, you can have an introduction to ski touring, practicing using skins and alpine skiing techniques.

Friday – Pid du Midi: TWICE!

We take the highest lift in the Pyrenees to the summit of the awesome Pic du Midi at 2872m, and one of the best off-piste descents in Europe.

Claimed by pistehors (www.pistehors.com) to be one of the best off-piste descents in Europe, we spend today developing the technique of off-piste carving and “freeride” skiing through 1000 metres of open snowfields. Unbeatable!

Saturday – departure

Today you leave for home, already planning your next off-piste adventure…!

This is a sample itinerary as, obviously, where you go and what you do depends on the weather conditions, snow conditions and your group’s ability and tastes.

Please click on an image below to view the gallery.

Dates & Prices for the winter season are on the winter calendar, if you don’t see a date that suits however please do ask us as we are often able to change our calendar for groups:

Pricing for one week off-piste skiing safari includes:

• 3* en-suite accommodation at either our hotel or chalet
• Breakfasts, picnic lunches, afternoon tea and three course evening meals
• Six days of professional guiding with a local expert AND all safety equipment.
• Prices are based on a minimum group size of four people, maximum 8.

Ski/snowboard and boot hire (new season’s range) are available locally for around 100-130€ for a week. Lift passes are not included.

Please contact us if you have a date in mind for an off-piste ski / snowboarding safari.

Contact us to book your off-piste skiing holiday.