Snowshoeing beneath Les Dents du Midi, Swiss Alps

Our snowshoe hikes bring us into the most beautiful valleys between France’s Savoy region and Switzerland’s Valais region, with accommodations in delightful mountain lodges.

Photo by Nicos Caravellass

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Snowshoeing in the Alps route-map
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Trip Details at-a-Glance

Cost From: TBA  
Length: 8 days
Arrive: Chatel, Switzerland
Depart: Megeve, Switzerland
Lodging: 7 nights in lodges and chalets
Meals: All meals included except 2 dinners
Activity: Hiking / Trekking, Cultural Adventures
Trip Level: Easy to moderate snowshoe hikes; no previous experience necessary—if you can hike, you can snowshoe!
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Highlights

  • Snowshoe-hiking beneath the peaks of the Alps
  • Night hike in a winter forest
  • Cozy mountain lodges, cuisine and culture of France and Switzerland
  • Led by one of our most veteran Alps Leaders, Nicos Caravellas

Choosing the Right Trip

We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References

We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.

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Departure Notes

Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.

Resources

Repertory Trip

This is one of our special Repertory Trips offered only every two to five years. The exact dates have not been finalized but we expect they will be in January 2012. The “Itinerary at a Glance” and the “Full Trip Brochure” are available below. Please note there may be slight changes to the itinerary for future departures. Contact us to receive early notification of the trip dates. These special trips fill very quickly once the exact dates are set!

Snowshoeing is a wonderful way to savor the winter glory of the French and Swiss Alps. Modern, lightweight snowshoes make snowshoeing fun and they give us access to spectacular off-trail terrain from deep, silent forests to winter-white meadows beneath glistening snow peaks. Herds of chamois and ibex are often seen here in winter, and the architectural heritage is stunning, with centuries-old farmhouses tucked into the alpine landscape. One evening, we head out for the magic of a torch-lit (maybe even moonlit!) hike in the winter forest. Our lodge-based adventure explores in two unique valleys nestled between France’s Savoy region and Switzerland’s Valais region. No prior experience is needed; snowshoeing is just like hiking—sometimes even more exciting and off the beaten path!

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Days 1-2
Châtel, France / Vallee d’Abondance

We gather in Châtel, a well-kept secret in the heart of the Portes du Soleil ski circuit in the French Alps. Nestled at the top of the Vallee d’Abondance with spectacular mountain views in all directions, this picturesque village retains its old Savoyarde atmosphere. We begin our snowshoe adventure on the slopes of Mont Grange (7,976') and in the nature reserve that surrounds it, home to some 500 chamois and the highest point in the Vallee d’Abondance.

Days 3-4
Châtel / Dents du Midi

Above the village of Morgins, we snowshoe in the mountains on the Swiss side of the border. In summer, the pastures above this village echo the music of hundreds of cowbells; in winter, they give shelter to ptarmigans and mountain hares. Our snowshoe hike offers us a unique panorama of the Dents du Midi (10,705') and the peaks of the central Swiss Alps. The next day, we set off from the hamlet of Le Mont. Some of the oldest working farms of the valley, dating from the 18th century, still stand here, defying time. Our snowshoe hike brings us to the Pointe d’Autigny (6,232'), a modest summit with a wonderful 360-degree view from the top. After dinner, in the quiet of the night, we experience the magic of light and shadows on a torch-lit snowshoe hike in the forest under a starry night sky.

Days 5-8
Megève / Col de Bassachaux

We move our snowshoe adventure south to Megève, one of France’s first winter resorts, with its wonderful proximity to Mont Blanc. Snowshoeing through a beautiful spruce forest, we ascend through snowy meadows to the Col de Bassachaux (6,000'), then descend to Linderets, a village of goat herders and one of the most picturesque hamlets in Savoy. We also explore Le Petit Croise Bollet (6,586'), a nature reserve created for the rare black grouse that survives in the upper limits of the spruce forest. The peaks around Megève are the perfect playground in full view of the Mont Blanc range. We venture by snowshoe across Le Mont de Vorès (6,770'), where three different valleys open out between Mont Blanc and the mountains of the Beaufortain. Depart on Day 8.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure