Mountain Adventure Holidays
A magnificent snowshoe adventure in one of France's best kept secrets: the Queyras Regional Natural Park. It's widely considered as one of the most beautiful mountain areas in France due to its wild, unspoilt mountain valleys, impressive rock faces and jagged ridgelines in abundance. This is the place to get away from it all and enjoy these magnificent mountains far from the crowds.
The Queyras Park lies south of the ancient town of Briancon, a World Heritage Site, and is just west of the Italian frontier. We base ourselves in a very cosy and comfortable auberge in the characterful village of Aiguilles. There are eight mountain villages in the Queyras, and in terms of mountains the Park includes several summits over 3000m (9840ft) such as the Pic de la Font-Sancte, and the Pain de Sucre. The Queyras villages are integral to the character of the landscape, with their numerous sun-dials, wood crafts, and exceptional lace.
This evening we meet at our accommodation in Aiguilles at 1800 hrs when your guide will be available to discuss the itinerary and answer any questions about the week ahead. Please note that for those arriving into Turin airport a transfer is included, departing at approximately 1630 hrs to allow us to arrive in Aiguilles in time for the evening meal.
We ease into the week by heading for an excellent view point which gives a good introduction to the area. We begin by wandering through the larch forests on a steady trail before gaining the ridge line and the summit at 2391m (7842ft). This is one of the best belvederes of Saint Veran, the highest village in Europe to be inhabited all year round sitting at a height of 2050m (6742ft). There is the possibility of doing a loop on our descent to vary the terrain and views, and we will also aim to do some training. This will involve some snowpack science, and a chat about mountain safety in winter. We will stop at St Veran for a well earned ‘refreshment’ before heading back to our hotel. It is a great opportunity to check out the ancient architecture and traditional style of the village buildings. If the conditions are good we may do a circular route for which the statistics are given below. If we do an 'out and back' the ascent will be a few hundred metres less. Ascent: 481m (1572ft) Descent: 512m (1674ft) Distance 6.3km (3.9 miles).
Ascent: 762m (2491ft) Descent: 730m (2394ft) Distance: 7.5km (4.7 miles) 5.5hrs
Today we are aiming for the summit of a mountain that rises above the ancient village of Chateau Queyras. We wander through the pine forests, zig-zagging our way up the mountain side until we reach our destination at Sommet Bucher at 2254m (7393ft). The trail to the summit climbs very steadily, with gentle slopes, yet it offers an incredible panorama that includes the Ecrins mountain range, and in fact you can see all the way to Monte Viso in Italy. Monte Viso 3841m (1259ft) is well known for its pyramid-like shape and, because it is higher than all its neighbouring peaks by about 500m (1640ft) it can be seen from great distance. On a very clear day it is said it can be seen from the spires of Milan Cathedral.
Ascent: 846 m (2122ft) Descent: 846 m (2122ft) Distance: 10km (6.2 miles) 5hrs
More picturesque villages on offer this morning as we head for the Col de la Creche. We begin with a climb up a steep mountain road to the community of Les Meyries, from where we begin. A gorgeous ascent then follows through the snow covered pine forests, until we rise above the tree line. It is about now that the impressive ridge leading to the Pic de Agrenier comes into view on our right hand side. We then swing round and aim for our goal at the Col de la Creche. At the Col we have excellent views over the region. We then make our way a little further through the sculpted mounds and ridges of snow to claim the summit ridge!
Ascent: 609m (1997ft) Descent: 609m (1997ft) Distance: 9km (5.6 miles) 6hrs
We start at the Montbardon trailhead, with the high alpages of Fontantie as our goal. This is a superb mountain pasture, and we should get a great view over the Ecrins National Park from the top which sits at 2500m (8200ft). The pastures are home to the cow herds during the summer months, but in winter they are a silent snowcovered landscape with all the cattle safely 'tucked up' in the barns in the valley. As with all the Queyras area, on a good day, we are rewarded with views of snow covered mountains, and ridge lines as far as the eye can see.
Ascent: 791m (2594ft) Descent: 788m (2584ft) Distance: 9km (5.6 miles) 6 hrs
We head into some really wild terrain today and experience the Queyras at its best. We drive to the picturesque village of Brunissard, which is en route to the famed Col d'Izoard which features in the 'Tour de France' and it is near the village that we will begin our hike. We follow the stream to begin with until we are under the impressive limestone cliffs of the Pic de Beaudouis, which reaches 2843m (9296ft) and has various rock climbing routes. From here we venture into a small combe, and then over Le Collet pass where we enter the open valley of Clapeyto. Here we pass ancient summer homes buried under the snow and it is easy to imagine how lovely this area will also be sin summer. We have various options today as we may just consider the Chalets as our goal, or if conditions are good and we do not have too much trail breaking to do, we may aim for the Col de Neal which sits at 2,509m (8204ft). This is an amazing cirque and one which offers a great reward on a blue sky day. The statistics below refer to the full day to Col de Neal.
Ascent: 914m (2988ft) Descent: 913km (2985ft) Distance 14km (8.7 miles) Duration: 7 hrs
The Col de Longet sits at 2701m (8859ft) and is an excellent goal for a great day out on snowshoes. We're spoilt for choice today with a couple of route options available. We can ascend to the Col from near the hamlet of Fontgillarde, the last inhabited village before the Italian frontier. The trail starts from the Pont de Laminae, and takes us through forest to begin with before opening out into the mountains with the jagged ridgeline of the Pic de Chateau Renard towering above us. High on its slopes sits the highest observatory in France, perched at 2930m (9581ft) and from where the stars are often studied. We work our way up through a high combe to the Col where the views open out into the adjacent valley. Or we may start from the ancient village of St Veran, with its characterful architecture before heading south east in the direction taken by the summer hiking trail known as the 'Tour de Queyras'. The statistics given below are an average for today and depend on our chosen route.
Ascent 738m (2420ft) Descent: 2535ft) Distance: 8.5km (5.3 miles) 5.5 hrs
Departure day and our morning transfer to Turin airport, Italy. Please ensure that any departure flight is after 1300 hrs. The journey to Turin will take approx 2.45 hrs.
It is always our aim to complete the proposed itinerary outlined above, however, it may be necessary for our guides/instructors to adjust the daily itinerary based on the weather conditions, group safety and enjoyment.
In the event of there being a lean winter and a lack of snow to cover the entirety of our route this trip will go ahead. Snowshoes are an aid to hiking in winter and if we do not require them we will still enjoy a winter walking trip.
We always aim to accommodate our guests in well-situated, clean, characterful, family run accommodation. All of our trips are based on two people sharing a bedroom, what we call a 'twin' means two single beds in one bedroom. If you are booking as a single traveller you will share with someone of the same gender. In many cases a single room is available for a supplementary fee, but these can be in short supply and require early booking. Note that it is very rare to have air conditioning in European mountain areas, and most bedrooms do not have this facility. If you have any questions about the accommodation please contact us.
The Yak Avenir is a characterful Auberge with a great atmosphere. This old building has bright and cheerful rooms done in 'montagnard' style with en suite facilities. The spacious living area has a vaulted roof with a wood burning stove and is ideal for 'chilling out' at the end of a day in the mountains. The meals are from local produce and reflect the cuisine of the area. Charlotte and Phillipe, from Belgium, recently took over the Auberge and in 2020 installed a sauna and hot tub. There is a charge of approximately 25 Euros for use of the spa, but it may be worth it to ease tired muscles. This is for one hour and a maximum of 2 people. Local osteopath Cecile is also basing her services at the Yak Avenir. Very convenient if you 'twinge' anything!
There are various options for getting to the Queyras and our base in the village of Aiguilles. You can take the TGV train from the UK to Paris and then head south to Mont Dauphin/Guillestre. Information on trains from www.raileurope.co.uk.
From there you can take the bus to Aiguilles or alternatively hire a taxi for the 30km (18.7 miles) journey which takes approximately 40 minutes. The bus times are available from the Office du Tourisme.
Turin, Italy is the nearest airport, and as mentioned above we have included a transfer from Turin to Aiguilles at a time to suit the majority of the group, but no later than 1630 hrs on the arrival day. The transfer time is approximately 2.45 hrs. Your flight back from Turin should ideally be from 1300 hrs onwards on departure day. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss flight and transfer times.
Early arrivals can either wait at the airport, or if enough time allows make use of the 50 minute Turin Eco City Tour detailed on the Turin Airport website.
When booking a trip we ask you to acquire insurance to cover you for the following:
Mountain Rescue Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical expenses, injury, illness, death, mountain rescue, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. Please ensure that your insurance covers you to the maximum altitude given on your trip itinerary. The maximum altitude for any trip can be checked on the 'At A Glance' box on each trip page. Most of our trips have a maximum altitude of 3,000 metres. If you are unsure or are joining a bespoke trip, then please ask us for specific details.
Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance
You should also have insurance to cover trip cancellation and curtailment. Please note that your deposit and balance payments are non-refundable, unless it is Tracks and Trails who cancel the trip due to a failure to reach the required minimum numbers. In this case we will offer you a refund or the option of transferring to another trip if one is available. We also advise that you should have insurance which covers baggage loss/equipment damage as Tracks and Trails will not be held responsible for loss/damage to baggage/equipment.
COVID-19 Insurance
As well as medical cover, we recommend that you have appropriate travel insurance so that if you fall ill and test positive for COVID-19 prior to (or during) your trip, you will be financially covered for cancelling your trip. You should also consider booking a policy that covers you if you have to cancel or curtail your holiday because you have to self-isolate. If you choose to cancel, cancellation charges will be payable, but if the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges. Please read the clauses below detailing trip cancellation and curtailment.
Travel Insurance covering COVID-19 is now available from a number of suppliers, Campbell Irvine, Trailfinders and Staysure. Please check their websites for the latest information on what is and isn't covered. It is likely that more companies will offer COVID related cover in the future.
All of the above insurances are detailed in our Terms and Conditions.
If you are joining a trip in the UK helicopter/mountain rescue insurance is not required as this is a free service.
For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.
Winter mountain weather in the European Alps can vary considerably, and in this respect it is no different to any mountain environment where the terrain influences the weather and it can change from valley to valley.
In winter the weather can deliver everything from clear blue skies, and glorious sunshine, to heavy snowfall and strong winds. Essentially, as with all mountain journeys, you should be prepared for any eventuality.
Temperatures vary depending on the month, generally December, January, and February are colder, but by March and April the temperatures are warming up and spring is on the way.
In December and January they can range from -10°Celsius (14°F) to 3°Celsius (37.4F), in February from -5°Celsius (23°F) to 7°Celsius (44.6°F), and in March from 0°Celsius (32°F) to 13°Celsius (55.4°F).
The above figures are a general indication only as the weather can vary considerably year on year for any given month.
When packing for a trip in the mountains it is important to have the appropriate equipment and clothing. This kit list features items we believe are necessary for the weather you might encounter and the accommodation you will be staying in.
Generally clothing for snowshoeing should be equivalent to that used for walking in the mountains in winter. For this trip all the necessary snowshoe equipment is provided free of charge. This includes snowshoes, walking poles, snow probe, snow shovel, and avalanche transceiver. The carrying of this safety equipment is compulsory and demonstrates ‘best practice’.
Your guide will arrive at the ‘Welcome Meeting’ with only enough snowshoe equipment for those who have booked it via their Booking Form.
Equipment
Clothing
Comfort
Personal First Aid
Documentation
Additional Items
**Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet**
Leaders are all first aid trained and carry their own first aid kit
The image below gives examples of how snowshoes can be attached to your rucksack
On many of our trips there will be an element of 'group kit' which will be shared amongst our guests. As mountain people you will be used to team work and working together to the mutual benefit and safety of the group.
The 'group kit' will be minimal and usually just a case of sharing a few lightweight 'survival shelters'. For example on a week-long trip you may carry a small shelter for just one day before passing it on to the next person.
If you are booking a trip in winter there will be a few additional safety items. These will be distributed in such a way that no one is over burdened.
Other group items necessary for safety and comfort will be carried by your guide/instructor.
For each of our trips a minimum number of guests is required before we can confirm that your trip will go-ahead. The minimum and maximum number of guests on your trip is displayed in the 'At a Glance' box on the righthand side of the trip page.
We strongly advise you do not book travel until we have confirmed your trip is 'guaranteed' to run. If you book travel before we have confirmed it is 'guaranteed' we cannot be held responsible for any financial loss if the trip does not go ahead.
When booking a holiday as a solo traveller a twin bedded room comprising of two single beds, is booked as standard. This will be with someone of the same gender unless you request to pay extra for your own room. Single rooms are often limited in supply so if you would like to pay a supplement for a single room we urge you to get in touch as soon as possible. This trip has a single supplement of £250.
We go to great lengths to work with first class guides who are passionate about their work. They are all fully qualified, insured, and hold the correct documentation.
Please note your snowshoe guide has complete discretion to make a daily decision on whether or not to take the advertised route based on the weather and the ability of the members of the group. They have our authority to make any route changes they believe are necessary in the interests of safety and enjoyment. This is particularly relevant in a winter environment where the snowpack can change on a daily basis.
Your guide will be a fully qualified and experienced International Mountain Leader. International Mountain Leaders are not only qualified to ensure the safe management of the group, but are also a source of knowledge about the local flora and fauna, and traditions of the area which you are visiting. You can learn more about our guides and instructors on the About Us page.
For this trip we ask that you keep your luggage to a minimum. To make travelling to your accommodation easier we have included a pick up from Turin airport. However, it means that there may be 8 people in a minibus with limited space for luggage. Your guide will also be arriving with all the snowshoe equipment for your week ahead, and this also will be in the minibus. In addition you will have to carry your luggage up stairs to your accommodation so please keep luggage as small and light as possible.
This is one of the few trips for which we include a packed lunch on each of the snowshoeing days. Aiguilles our base is small and it is convenient for our guests to provide a picnic. Our hosts do a great job at ensuring we have plenty to eat at lunchtime on the mountain. Please bring a plastic/tupperware box of around 300-350cc and fork/spoon as they will often supply some salad.
On your itinerary you will find an indication of the amount of ascent and descent you can expect each day. This offers a guideline to how much effort might be expended each day and allows you to decide, based on previous experience, if your fitness and stamina are correct for the trip.
We make every attempt to ensure these statistics are as accurate as possible, but ask you to note that the most modern of technology used to record these details can show considerable variations in terms of ascent, descent, and in particular distance. In other words no two people using GPS devices on the same route will have exactly the same details recorded at the end of the day.
The statistics given should be used as a 'general' indication of the effort required.
Your leader will carry the correct maps and you are not expected to navigate, but if you would like to have maps of the itinerary you will find that those listed below cover the area:
IGN 3537 ET: Guillestre
IGN 3637 OT: Mont Viso
It is useful to arrive at your destination with some cash in the local currency, however, on most occasions it is relatively easy to visit a 'cash machine' after arrival and withdraw money on a credit or debit card. Some of our locations are an exception to this in particular Norway, where the accommodation will often have no facilities for withdrawing cash, but they will take a credit card.
On many of our trips we will visit remote cafes/farms where it is wonderful to enjoy a drink and a cake, at places such as these they will often only accept payment in the local currency in cash.
Food
We encourage you to experience local tastes and dishes and for this reason many of our accommodation options will be family run with a reputation for traditional food. The hotels food is tasty and wonderfully produced. The kitchen is small and the meal options are kept to a minimum to ensure that the best quality meals are available.
If you are vegetarian this is not a problem as the hotel is used to being asked for vegetarian meals. If you have a 'special' diet because of an allergy or intolerance which will make you ill then the accommodation will cater for this as best they can but we would ask that you make it clear on your booking form of any food intolerance so that we can discuss your needs with the hotel at the earliest point possible. If you would like to discuss the suitability of a trip for a vegan diet contact us.
We request that you do not CHANGE your dietary requirements during the trip as we will have pre-ordered your meals.
Water
The countries we visit all have tap water which is drinkable. If for any reason a particular hotel or mountain hut is having a problem with a remote mountain water supply they will normally post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water.
At all times you are welcome to ask your guide/instructor if the water can be drunk. We would ask, for environmental reasons, that you avoid using single-use plastic bottles, and bring a water bottle that can be used repeatedly.
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for the country you are visiting, paying attention to your citizenship. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice.
We ask that you carry a paper copy of your passport with you on your trip. We suggest keeping your passport in your rucksack, and a paper copy of your passport in any luggage you might have. If your trip is without luggage transfers then keep a paper copy somewhere in your rucksack, separate from your original document.
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
Plug, Socket & Voltage by Country
Note that if your trip involves staying in a mountain refuge/rifugio/hut that electric sockets may be in short supply and for that night you may not be able to charge any items. Although the accommodation will have electricity this will often be supplied by solar panels or a generator and limited to use by the staff. For this reason we advise that carrying a small slimline and lightweight 'battery pack' can be very useful for recharging phones which many of you will also use as your camera.
Before booking consider whether you expect to be in the appropriate physical condition on the date of your departure to allow you to fully participate in and enjoy your holiday. If you have any doubts because of an illness or injury it would be advisable to check with your doctor.
For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring with you a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment in certain European countries, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance.
If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Please check this before departing. We advise that you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number.
We feel strongly about protecting the environment and do not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We would ask that you arrive with a ‘water bottle’ or ‘hydration system’ that can be used repeatedly. We would point out that we operate a ‘zero tolerance’ for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all your rubbish items from the mountain even those you consider to be bio-degradable. In particular we ask that you remove any toilet tissue.
You can read our full policy here.
Working across international boundaries, and with various currencies means that the price of our trips can change overnight. We have, however, undertaken to guarantee that once you have paid your deposit the price of your trip is fixed. In this respect we urge you to book early to ensure that you receive the price advertised on our website. The website price may increase due to currency fluctuations, but we guarantee that the price advertised on the date of your booking will be maintained in your individual case.
We believe in team work, and enjoy working with other small high quality companies. In this respect due to the specialised nature of our holidays, we co-sell a number of trips with 'partner' companies. All the trips being sold by Tracks and Trails are organised by Tracks and Trails, but you may find guests from other companies on your trip. Partners are carefully selected to ensure they reflect our ethos and standards. By encouraging other companies to sell our trips it means your chosen holiday may reach its 'minimum' number earlier, allowing us to guarantee the trip and to give you the go-ahead to book your travel arrangements. We guarantee that companies with whom we work will offer the same price package. If you have any questions about this policy contact us and we will be happy to discuss it with you.
Prices may vary depending on date.
| Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sat 15 Feb - Sat 22 Feb Code: QUY1 |
Price: £1875 | 1 more to guarantee | Book |
|
Sat 01 Mar - Sat 08 Mar Code: QUY2 |
Price: £1815 | Spaces available | Book |
| From Price | £1815 |
| Holiday Type | Snowshoeing |
| Duration | 8 Days |
| Group Size | 4-8 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Maximum Altitude | 2656m (8711ft) |
| Countries Visited | France |
| Meet In | Turin Airport, Italy |
