Ski Touring Skills & Coaching

Ski Touring Skills & Coaching

Ski Touring Adventures
Difficulty
4 / 10 Moderate
Duration
Choose your own dates
Availability
Dec 2026 → Apr 2027
Group
max 5 pax
Ratio
1 : 5
Meeting point
Exact meeting point agreed with the group according to the chosen objective and current conditions

This trip uses our 1-10 overall difficulty scale (technical + fitness + exposure + environment). How this scale works

HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights

  • Improve your ski touring technique, efficiency and confidence.
  • Work on uphill movement, kick turns, transitions and off-piste skiing.
  • Develop better terrain awareness, route finding and decision-making.
  • Coaching adapted to your experience, goals and the conditions.
  • Progress towards greater independence on ski tours.
  • Small groups with plenty of time for individual feedback.

OVERVIEW

About this trip

Ski touring involves much more than moving uphill on skins. Once you leave the pistes, the way you move, ski, read the terrain and make decisions all become part of the day.

This coaching programme is designed for skiers who are comfortable on skis and want to improve their skills and become more confident on ski tours.

You may already have some ski touring experience and want to refine specific aspects of your technique, or you may be looking to build a stronger foundation and understand how to approach a ski tour more effectively.

We start by looking at your current level and what you would like to improve. From there, each day is adapted to your experience, objectives and the conditions.

Depending on your goals, we can work on:

  1. Uphill technique and efficiency
  2. Kick turns and traverses
  3. Pacing and energy management
  4. Ski touring transitions
  5. Skiing different snow conditions
  6. Off-piste technique and line choice
  7. Route finding and navigation
  8. Terrain awareness
  9. Avalanche awareness
  10. Decision-making during a ski tour

There is no fixed course programme. The emphasis is on coaching during the tour, so that technical skills and decision-making develop together.

Avalanche awareness is an important part of ski touring. We look at how weather, snowpack, terrain and group dynamics influence the choices we make before and during the tour.

With additional days, we can progressively explore longer tours, more varied terrain and different mountain areas, while giving you more responsibility for route and terrain choices.

The aim is simple: to help you ski tour more efficiently, make better decisions and enjoy greater confidence in the mountains.

ITINERARY

Itinerary

  1. Day 1
    Getting comfortable

    The programme below is an example. The actual objectives are adapted to your experience, goals and current conditions.

    We begin by skiing together and assessing your technique, experience and familiarity with touring equipment. Depending on your level, we work on off-piste skiing, uphill movement, skins, transitions and the basic techniques needed for an efficient ski tour.We also introduce the fundamentals of avalanche awareness and terrain assessment. The aim is to establish a good foundation for the days ahead.

  2. Day 2
    Touring technique

    We spend more time on skins and work on efficient uphill movement, kick turns, traverses, transitions and pacing. The skills are incorporated into the day's tour, allowing us to work on technique while managing energy and rhythm over several hours in the mountains. On the descent, we continue working on skiing technique and adapting to different snow conditions.

  3. Day 3
    Terrain and route choice

    We focus more on the mountain itself. During the tour, we work on route finding, navigation and terrain selection, considering slope angle, snow conditions, weather and the objectives of the day. We also look at how to choose appropriate lines on the descent and how terrain affects both skiing and uphill movement. The goal is to connect technical skills with better decisions throughout the tour.

  4. Day 4
    Avalanche awareness and decision-making

    With the basic skills established, we can focus more closely on avalanche awareness and decision-making. We review the use of the transceiver, shovel and probe and look at how to combine the avalanche bulletin, weather forecast, maps and observations from the terrain. The focus is not only on the equipment, but on understanding how information influences route and terrain choices.

  5. Day 5
    A complete ski tour

    With several days available, we finish with a longer ski tour where you can bring the different skills together. The objective is selected according to your progress and the conditions. Throughout the day, you can take a more active role in managing the pace, route and terrain choices, while we continue to work on technique and decision-making.

  6. Day 6
    Longer programmes?

    Additional days can be added to explore new areas, work on specific technical aspects or progressively develop greater independence on longer and more varied ski tours.

REQUIREMENTS

Requirements

  • Skiing level
    You should be comfortable skiing red and black pistes and able to ski off-piste in different types of snow. You do not need to be an expert skier, but you should feel comfortable skiing outside marked slopes.
  • Ski touring experience
    Previous ski touring experience is helpful but not essential. If you are new to ski touring, we can introduce the equipment, skins, transitions and basic uphill technique during the first day.
  • Avalanche safety equipment
    For ski touring days, you must have an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe. Rental is available on request.
  • Personal equipment
    You need suitable winter mountain clothing, a suitable backpack, water and food for the day. A detailed equipment list is provided before the activity.
  • Fitness
    You should be comfortable spending several hours in the mountains and moving at a steady pace. The elevation gain, distance and length of the tour are adapted to your level and the objectives of the day.

GEAR CHECKLIST

Gear list

Required Provided Optional Rentable

clothing

6
  • Gloves & hat
    Required
    Light gloves, warm gloves or mittens, wool hat / buff.
  • Insulated jacket
    Required
    Warm insulated jacket (down or synthetic) for stops, summits and emergency situations.
  • Shell jacket & trousers
    Required
    Waterproof / windproof jacket and overtrousers (Gore-Tex or similar).
  • Ski clothing (layers)
    Required
    Breathable base layers, fleece or light insulating jacket, ski touring pants.
  • Ski touring boots
    Required Rentable
    Ski touring boots compatible with bindings and crampons if needed.
  • Ski touring socks
    Required
    Technical ski touring socks suitable for cold conditions. At least one pair required.

emergency

1
  • Emergency bivy
    Provided
    Lightweight emergency bivy or thermal blanket for unexpected stops or emergencies. , Guide carries an emergency bivy/thermal blanket.

hut

1
  • Overnight kit
    Optional
    Overnight kit for hut or bivouac nights: sleeping-bag liner (huts) or lightweight sleeping bag (unmanned bivouacs), spare socks, small toiletry kit; see the trip note. , Only required if a hut overnight stay is included in the final program.

personal

6
  • Backpack
    Required Rentable
    Backpack with a gear-carry option; recommended size varies by trip, see the note.
  • Mobile phone
    Required
    Fully charged mobile phone for communication and emergency use.
  • Personal kit & snacks
    Required
    1L thermos or bottle, small personal first aid, snacks for the day.
  • Sun protection
    Required
    High SPF sunscreen and lip balm for protection against sun and wind at altitude.
  • Sunglasses & goggles
    Required
    Category 3–4 sunglasses and ski goggles for bad weather.
  • Power bank & cable
    Optional
    Power bank and charging cable to keep devices operational in cold conditions. , Recommended to keep devices operational in cold conditions.

safety

5
  • Avalanche transceiver / beacon (ARTVA)
    Required Rentable
    Modern 3-antenna transceiver/beacon with fresh batteries.
  • Probe
    Required Rentable
    Avalanche probe (240–300 cm).
  • Shovel
    Required Rentable
    Metal avalanche shovel (no plastic models).
  • Skimo Helmet
    Required
    Ski Mountaineering helmet. , Personal helmet required (ski or ski mountaineering).
  • Whistle
    Optional
    Emergency whistle, often integrated into backpacks or chest straps. , Recommended (often integrated into backpacks).

technical

8
  • Climbing skins
    Required Rentable
    Skins cut to size and in good condition, with reliable glue.
  • Poles
    Required Rentable
    Adjustable ski poles for touring.
  • Ski crampons
    Required Rentable
    Ski crampons compatible with your bindings, for hard or icy snow.
  • Ski touring skis
    Required Rentable
    Touring skis suitable for ski mountaineering, with touring bindings.
  • Navigation tools
    Provided
    Map, GPS device or smartphone app with offline maps and route information. , Guide carries primary navigation tools (map/GPS/offline maps).
  • Ski repair kit
    Provided
    Basic ski touring repair kit (duct tape, cable ties, multitool). Usually carried by the guide. , Basic repair kit carried by the guide (duct tape, cable ties, multitool).
  • Boot crampons
    Optional Rentable
    Crampons compatible with your boots (if conditions require). , Required only if conditions or itinerary demand it. Rental available on request.
  • Ice axe
    Optional Rentable
    Lightweight ice axe for ski mountaineering (if conditions require). , Required only if conditions or itinerary demand it. Rental available on request.

PRICES

Prices

  • 1 pax
    €450 Per person / day
  • 2 pax
    €280 Per person / day
  • 3 pax
    €210 Per person / day
  • 4 pax
    €175 Per person / day
  • 5 pax
    €155 Per person / day

INCLUDED

Included

Included

  • UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guide for the full day.
  • Personalised coaching adapted to your experience, goals and progression.
  • Trip planning and daily route selection, based on weather, snowpack, avalanche conditions and group level.
  • On-mountain coaching in ski touring technique, skiing, terrain awareness and decision-making.
  • Daily equipment checks and mountain briefings.
  • Primary navigation and emergency equipment carried by the guide.
  • Flexible choice of objectives according to conditions and the level of the group.

Not included

  • Personal ski touring equipment: skis, boots, bindings, skins and poles.
  • Personal clothing and winter mountain equipment.
  • Avalanche safety equipment — transceiver, shovel and probe — and rental unless specifically arranged.
  • Lift tickets and cable cars used during the programme.
  • Accommodation and meals for clients and guide.
  • Transport to and from the meeting point and any local transfers not specifically included.
  • Personal travel, health and mountain-rescue insurance.
  • Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses.
  • Anything not explicitly listed under Included.