This is an all day course on and off piste, discovering the full extent of these enormous surrounding resorts. The options are endless, but here is a taster of what is available during the week:
Itinerary Options:
Val d’Isere (with the option of Bonneval Reverse Heli-Ski)
Val d’Isere needs little introduction. Thanks to its altitude, it offers some of the greatest lift-served off-piste skiing in the Alps and one of the best snow records.
Additional option: To make this an extra special ski trip, there could be an option to bolt on a reverse heli pickup (at an additional cost). We would use the ski lifts to get to the highest point in Val d’Isere, followed by a short hike to access the fantastic long off piste descent into the valley of Bonneval Sur Arc. Then the most exciting way back, helicopter! What a day out!
Sainte Foy
There might only be 4 lifts and 43 km of pistes in the quaint village of St Foy, but it’s the off piste where this quiet little resort comes into its own, some people even use the word ‘legendary’. The snow stays cold, due to its protected NW facing bowl, and stays in good condition days after the bigger resorts are already tracked out. There is also abundant tree skiing when the weather turns.
La Rosière
La Rosière is nestled on the French / Italian border and is linked with the Italian ski resort of La Thuile. There are 150 km of pistes, some fantastic off piste itineraries, including some great tree skiing, topped off with proper Italian pizza for lunch!
Les Arcs
Les Arcs has over 200 km of pistes (425 km if you include all pistes in the connected Paradiski area) and the terrain around Le Grand Col is an off piste playground. This area sits above 2500 m, so it receives more snow than other areas of the resort.
La Plagne
La Plagne, the other side of the Paradiski area, is vast with its 225 km of pistes and infinite off piste options. When conditions allow, for the best off piste itinerary, we head to the Petit Face Nord of the Bellecote for a mammoth backcountry descent.
Tarentaise Tour – 1 day: 68kms of skiing, 5800m descent, 4 resorts
There is the possibility of including this big day out in our itinerary if conditions allow. The Tarentaise not only has some of the biggest and best-known ski resorts in the Alps, but it also contains the unspoilt beauty of the Vanoise National Park. The Tarentaise Tour starts in Tignes, we start with a huge off piste descent taking us through the Vanoise National Park, offering a true backcountry experience, arriving in the small ski resort of Champagny en Haut. A short taxi ride whisks us to the ski lifts of Champagny, we then ski our way across the huge expanse of La Plagne and Les Arcs to finish back down in Bourg Saint Maurice. We will have earned ourselves a big dinner and a beer!
Maximum flexibility – Maximum fun!
Minimum requirements for this course:
• Intermediate skiers who can ski groomed blacks and easy off piste to the side of the pistes – level 4+
• Skiers with a level of fitness to be able to ski all day for 5 days
• The ability to get up unaided after a fall is essential
Check your ski level here.
In front of the hotel Base Camp Lodge
Monday 08:45
5 x full days Monday – Friday
Mini bus transfers between resorts are included in the course price.
Included in the course fee we provide:
As we are travelling out to different resorts ski passes will need to be purchased on a daily basis.
The resorts visited on this fantastic Ski Safari course will be chosen the previous day by the team. Their focus will be providing you with the very best conditions each day, depending on snow conditions and whether they plan to ski on or off piste. Monday will be skiing in Les Arcs as this is accessible by walking to the funicular train from your accommodation. Your Snoworks instructors will meet you at Base Camp Lodge on the first morning.
THIS COURSE NEEDS MINIMUM NUMBERS – PLEASE DO NOT BOOK ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL UNTIL ADVISED BY THE OFFICE
Accommodation options:
Stay in the fantastic Base Camp Lodge Hotel in Bourg Saint Maurice, just a 5 minute walk from the train station. It offers all standards of rooms from multi bed dormitories to smaller hotel rooms, and single rooms are also available. Rooms have a unique and modern feel, the Lodge features the BC7 Restaurant/bar and a modern lounge area with a pool table. Book directly with them.
Travel Suggestions:
By Air – fly to Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble or Chambery
By Rail – the closest station is Bourg St Maurice
Transfer options:
Altibus, Snow Drone, Mountain Rescue, Ben’s Bus, Cool Bus
Had a wonderful time on my first Snoworks trip! Jenny and Euan are both lovely and fantastic guides (I skied with both groups across the week so got to work with both of them). Both were very supportive instructors who did a great job managing the groups and ensuring we got to ski excellent snow — even on our last day we were still skiing small pockets on untracked powder, many days after the last storm. I learned a lot and skied a lot of terrain I would never have the confidence to do otherwise — thank you Jenny and Euan! I hope to return soon.
Just has a fantastic week with Jenny and Euan on the Tarantaise Safari. Visiting and exploring different resorts each day was a break from the normal resort-based experience and well managed with very smooth logistics in terms of transport. The skiing was excellent – some great off piste routes (North Face of the Bellecote, Vallon du Sache etc.) with fantastic snow and great weather. A trip into Italy and skiing off piste powder meadows was a highlight (as was the lunch). Jenny’s tips and encouragement were well timed, thoughtful and spot on. All in all a great week. A side point, but one worth making…… we actually enjoyed staying in Bourg, an every day town with good restaurants and a subdued but available nightlife for those who wanted it (you know who you are!)
Great week, with excellent guiding by Euan. Great snow, good laughs and a fantastic experience. I’d recommend this to anyone looking to get away from the pistes and to learn about a few different areas.
Snoworks provide really excellent courses. I genuinely enjoyed the 5 days skiing with the instructor Jenny, who is excellent, and the group I was in. I felt I learned some new skills and improved others and was challenged but also I never felt at any risk. Jenny is highly professional, skilled and safety conscious. I would 100% recommend Snoworks for anyone looking to ski the entire mountain and improve their level in a totally professional and enjoyable environment. I will certainly use them again.
Snoworks instruction was, as usual, very professional , honest in application and opinion, and dedicated with the health and safety of the clients at the forefront of all decision making. The ski safari course was adapted to suit the conditions present and applied with good effect. I have done Snoworks since 2005 and regard them as one of the best instructional ski companies.