French & Italian High Alps ski touring vacation

Planet

This adventure is centerd around human-powered transport, with most of your days spent skiing, snowshoeing, or walking through alpine villages. By moving under your own power, you directly reduce the carbon footprint of your vacation. As well as limiting disturbance to the environments you travel through, skiing across borders and amongst the mountains leaves no to little pollution.

Shared transport is used wherever possible. Guests are always encouraged to travel by rail into the region, and local transfers are arranged to minimise unnecessary private vehicle use and travel throughout the trip.

Our accommodation partners prioritise local produce and seasonal menus, reducing the food miles associated with meals. Vegetarian and vegan options are available throughout, and our hosts are committed to using alpine-grown ingredients wherever possible.

Guests are provided with guidance on how to reduce their impact on alpine ecosystems, such as avoiding disturbance of wildlife, respecting marked trails, and reducing plastic waste.

The French part of the adventure takes place in the Parc National des Écrins is a protected alpine area in the Southern French Alps, established in 1973, featuring dramatic peaks, vast glaciers, alpine pastures, and diverse wildlife, including reintroduced ibex and naturally present wolves and lynx. It attracts tourists for its natural beauty and offers a network of footpaths for hiking and climbing, with an emphasis on conservation to protect its unique geology, flora, and fauna.

As one of France's national parks, its core zone has strict regulations to preserve its ecological and cultural values, while a surrounding partnership zone adheres to local guidelines.

The park's creation was a response to the need to protect its ecological and cultural heritage. Conservation efforts focus on protecting species and their habitats through various educational programs and initiatives. The success in reintroducing the ibex after their decline highlights the park's commitment to restoring wildlife populations.

People

We partner exclusively with locally owned accommodations and smaller independent boutique hotels, from family-run chalets in Claviere to independent hoteliers in Monêtier-les-Bains. Directly avoiding the bigger, more commercial establishments found in the more popular areas of the Alps. This ensures that revenue directly supports the communities we visit, rather than international chains.

All activities, from guided skiing to snowshoe treks, are led by expert local guides. Their knowledge of the terrain and culture not only enhances your experience but also provides stable income for those living in the mountains. These guides help to maintain the preservation of the environments that we visit, in both Winter and Summer, which enhances the trip for our visitors and ensures a stable eco system for the mountain communities.

Meals are enjoyed in small, authentic restaurants in villages such as Briançon, where our presence supports local culinary traditions and small businesses and also uses local produce from the area.

Tourism in Parc national des Écrins supports the local population and park protection by providing alternative income, fostering a sense of pride in local heritage, and funding conservation efforts through sustainable economic activity. Ecotourism, focusing on the discovery and preservation of nature, allows visitors to connect with the landscape while supporting communities.

This economic incentive encourages locals to value and protect the park's natural and cultural heritage, preventing depopulation and ensuring that the benefits of tourism contribute directly to the ongoing preservation of the region.