Cross Country Skiing Week exploring the French Alps

Arrive in Guillestre and check into your centrally located hotel. The nearest train station is Gare de Mont-Dauphin Guillestre, 4km from the village. Buses (some free) run from the station, or we can arrange a shared taxi if preferred.

Guillestre is a beautiful village with pedestrianised lanes for strolling and outdoor terraces in the main square for relaxing.

Meet in the hotel reception around 18:30 to connect with fellow participants. We’ll book a group dinner at a local restaurant (payable directly) and confirm details closer to your stay.

Crévoux is a stunning ski domain nestled in the mountains above Serre Ponçon lake. Situated at 1700m with excellent exposure, it boasts early and consistent snow throughout the season, making it a true winter paradise.

The domain offers 45km of groomed cross-country ski trails, with green and blue pistes perfect for beginners and easy tours. Experienced skiers can enjoy a challenging red-level ascent up to the Refuge des Cébieres. As you ski, keep an eye out for unique art sculptures seamlessly integrated into the natural landscape.

For lunch, there's an excellent on-piste restaurant (highly recommended), and in the afternoon, you can also explore downhill skiing or snowshoeing if you’re looking for a change of pace.

This is the nearest Nordic ski domain to the renowned Queyras mountain range, highly popular for its ideal snow-preserving exposure and varied slopes for all skill levels. Explore 48km of pistes on the map, offering plenty of opportunities for both skating and classic styles.

Experienced skiers will enjoy the challenging black-level traverses, while others can explore the enjoyable blue and red trails. There’s a convenient picnic room on site, along with restaurants in the village for lunch. Additional activities like electric fat biking, husky sledding, and snowshoeing are also available, though some require advance booking and minimum group sizes.

The village of Arvieux is a popular destination for Nordic skiing, located at the base of the Col d'Izoard. It offers 28 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails for both skating and classic styles, ranging from 1550m to 1780m in altitude. With early-season snow and artificial snowmaking, it attracts local, regional, and even national teams for training.

The cross-country ski area includes six trails (green, blue, red, and three black), spread over two zones and covering 32 km. The Nordic ski stadium at Brunissard, located at the foot of the Col d'Izoard, offers 16.5 km of trails, including green, blue, red, and black options. This is also where the Nordic ski centre is found. The black trails of Souliers and Belvédères du Lac de Roue cover 15.5 km and begin at La Chalp d'Arvieux.

Additionally, there is the 14 km Col d'Izoard route, starting directly from Brunissard. Several "Intégrale Izoard" events are held annually, where the trails on both sides of the Col are groomed and reserved for Nordic skiers in the mornings.

Afternoon activities include husky sledding, sledging, snowshoeing, or more cross-country skiing.

The Guisane Valley, also known as "Serre Chevalier Vallée," offers 91km of groomed cross-country ski trails, ranging from 1353m to 1668m in altitude. Additionally, the Le Lautaret site at 2057m is available for late-season skiing or as a backup when snow is sparse at lower altitudes. The trails span from La Salle Les Alpes to Le Lauzet, following the Guisane river with several access points depending on your preference.

Monêtier les Bains, the main access point, features 8 trails, a biathlon stadium, and a heated picnic room, offering a wild and scenic setting. Chantermerle is ideal for beginners with its 2 easy trails, while the route from Pontillas to Les Guibertes provides a fantastic selection of trails for endurance skiers.

In the afternoon, we'll visit the renowned hot spring baths at Monêtier les Bains for some well-deserved relaxation.

This stunning Nordic ski domain in the wild Queyras mountains takes you through Europe’s highest village, Saint Véran, at 2400m, offering Alpine charm and breathtaking scenery. The area features a variety of cross-country ski trails, with experienced skiers and skaters enjoying high mountain routes. For a true adventure, you can embark on a long tour to the mountain refuges of either L'Agnel or Refuge de La Blanche, depending on conditions, making for a unique skiing experience and an unforgettable lunch stop.

For others, the wide-open spaces and high-altitude environment provide the perfect backdrop for a memorable day on the snow.

In the afternoon, you can try activities such as husky sledding, snowshoeing, downhill skiing, or electric fat biking (some requiring advance booking and minimum numbers).

The Abriès/Ristolas Nordic ski area features 9 trails (3 green, 3 blue, 2 red, 1 black) spread across 3 villages, totalling 41.5 km of groomed tracks.

On the Aiguilles Abriès side, 20 km of trails begin near the alpine ski station and lead to Aiguilles via the forest path, with connections to the Gouret campsite and green trails like La Chaillole. These trails also host the finish of the annual La Traversée du Queyras race.

On the Ristolas side, 21.5 km of trails start at the village, following the forest path towards La Monta/L’Echalp, with options to ski towards Abriès via the red Jassaygue trail.

This is the sad day we say goodbye. You will make your own way home from Guillestre. We hope you are going back with some amazing memories.