PHOTO: © Paul Villecourt / outdoor-reporter.com
Action Outdoors, the UK arm of the not for profit UCPA organisation, with all-inclusive holidays centres across the French Alps, is offering more ski touring courses this winter than ever before, with over 90 weeks and short breaks available to book across the winter season.
With a recent survey of UK skiers suggesting that nearly 30% of them want to try ski touring this winter, it has become the fastest growing area of the industry and numbers continue to rise.
Ski touring holidays with Action Outdoors are suitable for every level of skier including those without any off-piste experience – but all skiers must be confident on red runs as a minimum level for any ski touring course.
There’s ski touring holidays across seven different resorts in the French Alps including Argentiere, Les Contamines, Les Arcs, Tignes, Val d’Isère, Serre Chevalier and Val Thorens. Prices start at £623pp for a 4 night stay, including 1 night in a mountain refuge with food, 3 nights full-board accommodation, lift pass, guiding and instruction and ski touring equipment including skis, boots, skins, crampons, poles and any avalanche safety equipment required for the higher level off-piste courses.
Managing Director of Action Outdoors, David Robertson, said: “There’s a few factors that are really driving the growth in ski touring right now. There’s the sense of adventure and the freedom it brings, away from the lifts and crowded slopes, then the thrill you can get when skiing back down off-piste, hopefully in powder snow. But a big driver is fitness and we’re seeing a lot of people that are into fitness sports cross over into ski touring. Another area is the sustainability side, because ski touring is a more environmentally friendly way to travel in the mountains.”
Examples of ski touring holidays from Action Outdoors:
UCPA Ski Touring Introduction, Les Contamines. For skiers looking to climb with skins for the first time. Dates in January, February and March, prices from £973pp including 7 nights full-board accommodation, lift pass, instruction and guiding from fully qualified professionals, ski hire including touring equipment, off-piste equipment. Suitable for first time ski tourers that are already confident on-piste.
UCPA Ski Free Rando High Mountain Expert+, Argentiere. A high mountain off piste course including ski touring to access remote terrain and descents. February and March dates. Prices from £1,232pp including 7 nights full-board accommodation, lift pass, instruction and guiding from fully qualified professionals, ski hire including touring equipment, off-piste equipment. Very experienced off-piste skiers only.
UCPA Ski Free Rando, Les Arcs, Val d’Isère, Argentiere and Val Thorens. Making use of climbing to access the best off-piste terrain in the area. January, February, March and April dates. Prices from £895pp including 7 nights full-board accommodation, lift pass, instruction and guiding from fully qualified professionals, ski hire including touring equipment, off-piste equipment. Suitable for skiers that can handle most on-piste terrain up to more experienced off-piste freeriders.
• More information is available at action–outdoors.co.uk/
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