2024 ALPINE SKI SAFARI

SKI THROUGH THE ALPS,
experience new places daily !

Summary:

In this grand slam ski adventure, we take you to the best the French Alps has to offer. Instead of staying in the one resort and ski the same place everyday, we offer you to ski everyday to a new accomodation in a different valley. A new itinerary every day that takes you on piste (and off piste if you want), through forests, altitude passes, and incredible slopes as we weave through the Tarentaise valley. You will discover both traditional villages and many luxurious ski resorts and feast on hearty mountain food. The Tarentaise Valley is a valley  in the heart of the Alps where some of  world-renowned ski resorts are (Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens, Val d'isere, Tignes). It also was home of the 1992 Albertville winter Olympics.

Highlights

• Enjoy some of the best skiing in the world
• Travel a truly stunning environment
• Ski on and off-piste every day
• Discover world-renowned ski resorts
• Relax as a qualified guide shows you the way !
  

Why choose us

Because this is where we come from: Cyril Delafosse-Guiramand, Managing Director of No Limit Journeys is French, and while he currently lives in Australia with his family, he grew up in this area of Savoie, with the French Alps as his backyard and playground. Skiing from the age of 5, he has covered most runs in the region, and loves skiing or snowboarding, and occasional heliskiing. He is intimately familiar with the landscape, sites and conditions, and is eager to share the adventure with others, show how great his 'homevalley' is.

1.Departure Dates:

January to March 2024 - Friday to Friday departure starting 12 January

• 12-19 January
• 19-26 January
• 26-02 February
• 02-09 February
• 09-16 February
• 16-23 February
• 23-02 March
• 02-09 March
• 09-16 March
• 16-23 March

2.Duration:

8 days (6 skiing)

3.Group Meeting Point:

Lyon (FR)

4.Who can go?

a.Min age: 18yo

b.Physical condition: must be fit. This trip involves 6 days of skiing morning to evenings in alpine terrain ranging from 1400m to about 4000m.

c.You will need to:

• To be a confirmed skier
• Be physically fit
• To bring your own off-piste ski gear (or rent it there)
• To bring some warm clothes
• To bring a daily backpack that you'll carry. And a travel bag that will be ferried to our next destination by our van.

d.Group size: max 7 pax + 1 guide

5.Rating (1 to 10): Overall = 5,3 /10

Difficulty = 6

Isolation = 4

Danger = 6

6.This activity involves (%):

Transport: = Van 10%  Ski-lifts: 15%

Skiing = 75%

Fun & amazement = 100%

7.Schedule:

Day 1:

Meet at Lyon Airport, drive to Valmorel, settle into your accommodation and meet your guide/instructor. In the evening, we will have a welcome drink, our itinerary briefing and the safety briefing, we will check the gear and enjoy our first dinner together!

Day 2:

Breakfast and daily security briefing. Head to toward the ski-lift, from there ski your way to Saint Francois Longchamps. Probably at one point you discover the mystical Col de la Madeleine pass that has knocked off so many Tour de France riders. It will take the whole day to reach your night destination. Dinner and night in a beautiful B&B right in the old part of the village, where you luggage will await you.

Day 3:

After breakfast we head to the ski-lift in order to climb toward the Belleville Valley and spend the day navigating our way between forests, cliffs and grand lower hills vistas of the Alps. Reach Saint Martin and stay at 'Dede's' lodge, and what a character that guy !! For the ones with a bit left in the tank we should have a walk in the village, to re supply for tomorrow's lunch, drop by the local church (a small bar) to see what locals are made of and drif back via the iconic Roman chapel of the village. Be ready for the dinner because Dede has no sense of quantity and volume (of alcohol).

Day 4:

When you wake up (if you can), our host will drop us with his van at the local ski-lift. We will then head toward Val Thorens and Les Menuires. Steep slopes and glacier like views will be the price of the day. If you are interested in trying you have the second steepest ski run in the world and it is used for Speed Ski World championships. At this stage, you will realize that we have gone above the tree line and we are skiing on top of the world! It is estimated that during this day we ski around 55km, one of our longest. This night we will sleep at Meribel, in what the english call a Chalet! It is half way between a hotel and a serviced house, with our in house chef! Down the street the best bakery of the valley supplies our breaky!

Day 5:

The smell of fresh croissant, hot chocolate (coffee for me!) and crispy bacon will pull you out of bed in no time. Geared up and itinerary briefed; we will walk down to our lifts. Passing by the Vanoise National Park, the Saulire couloirs and Pyarmids we will head to Courchevel's altiport. We cannot miss watching a landing or a take off from the highest airfield in Europe. And for any courageous one you can have a joy flight while we enjoy a wine at the Air Club's bar. We carry on to La Tania where we will spend the night in a classic 1992 Olympic building. Tonight we eat in town, at a traditional restaurant.

Day 6:

Breakfast should be early today. We want to catch the first ray of light above the mountain: it goes though a crack in the rocks and is a unique feature of the area - in addition, it only happens in winter. We will ski toward Le Praz and Bozel after taking one last look at the Grande Casse. In Bozel our van will ferry us across the valley on our only vehicle link of the journey (20min drive) to Champagny. A small very cosy B&B held by Mary will be our night's accommodation. Her dad, is a butcher. See where am going? Well a bit of red wine and meat have never really been a bad combination, or has it?

Day 7:

Normally Mary packs our lunch sandwhich. With that in the bags we head toward our longest ski runs. No longest daily overall distances, but longest vertical runs. We will ski toward the Bellecote Mountain and tackle a 1700 vertical metre run - non stop! and if that wasn’t enough, we will take the lifts back up the other mountain, and dive into a 2200 vertical metre run - non stop again! You cant do that in Japan !  Ending in the valley by Sainte Foy village! A last day well deserved break awaits us with a special drink at the pub to celebrate this amazing week.

Day 8:

All good things must come to an end as this is our parting day. After a long breakfast our guide will debrief and say goodbye. But for those who can stay a bit and want a late check out (book it with us!) we will make available a half day ski pass and free shuttle to the lifts of the neighbouring Paradiski or Espace Killy. Others in the morning might need to catch a train or a train ride with us to the airport.

8.Weather / local conditions / Terrain:

Weather in the alpine range is continental. Winter temperatures can reach up to -20°C and in altitude be even colder. Though most days would be subzero temperatures, they'd be very bearable. The environment is rich in wild life: foxes, chamois, ibex and eagles. In some areas wolfs are visible. The landscape is made of pine trees, wide white virgin powder fields, beautifully prepared ski runs, high peaks, blue sky and glaciers. It is winter with its cold but its beauty!

9.Accommodation

In National Park selfcatered or manned huts, local hotels or traditional B&Bs.

10.Food

In huts, hearty food is served. It will be a mix of Italian and French traditional dishes, simply because we are so close to the border and recipes have no borders ! Often rich, food is served for people burning a lot of calories during the day. It is delicious and highly awaited for after a long day of skiing in the cold. Specially the mulled wine!

11.Transport

Airport pickups and drop offs are made in mini vans.

Most uphill is done in cable cars or local ski-lifts.

In between non skiable stretches or Ski Resorts a van will drive us to our next destination.

Heliski tour by helicopter (but these are optional and have extra cost)

12.What to expect

This trip is not for the feint hearted. You should be confident in your skiing abilities, including skiing off-piste.  As we weave through the Tarentaise valley, we will stay in different accommodation - bud don’t worry, we will take care of your bags for you. Accommodation is a mix of family run hotels and traditional Mountain Huts.

Winter temperatures can reach up to -20 C, and even colder in altitude. Most days will be subzero temperatures, though bearable if you are dressed appropriately and staying active.

13.Safety and security

We take safety very seriously, especially in an environment such as fresh snow and high altitude mountains.

There are no major risks but the ones inherent to mountain skiing (body injuries, weather, avalanches, etc.). We minimize these risks by preparing for them. The best is to act mindfully and carefully during the trip. The area is well known to your experienced guide, and the route could differ slightly depending on local conditions and obviously snow conditions.

Should an incident happen, rescue protocols are well established and local rescue operators can be contacted via the huts and in some areas directly by mobile phone. On slopes, the resorts ranger will take care of us. Off piste, the Mountain rescue service would intervene. In the Alps the emergency 112 works almost everywhere. In that regard, part of the price of this trip is a French Alpine Club (CAF) membership (35€) that provides a comprehensive rescue insurance cover anywhere in remote alpine range, including helicopter (often the only way to get out fast).

14.Remark:

• One English speaking guide for up to 7 people.
• Lunches are not included in the price as they are mostly picnics and we suggest to pull money together in a kitty to buy our baguettes, saucisson and wines. Unless you want to stop in one of the many 'altitude restaurants'.
  
• Consider low internet or mobile phone coverage during off piste periods.
• This ski safari is tiring and is taking place sometimes in remote locations.
• If needed during the safari, it is possible to 'skip' some off-piste via the ski runs network.

15.Cost:

per person in a group of 7 (twin share) and mix on/off piste = AUD $ 3990pp

Single Supplement (subject to availability): +AUD $ 450pp

for Off piste only itinerary groups are of 4 per guide, and supplement is : +AUD $ 690pp

16.Inclusions and exclusions

a.inclusions

• Ski Passes and permits to the area
• Safety Gear
• Ski insurance (you must also get travel insurance)
• Breakfasts and Dinners
• 7 nights accommodation in twin share
• Luggage transfers
• Transport and drivers
• Qualified insturctor/guide

b.exclusions

• Lunch
• Flights to the meeting point (Lyon Airport)
• Travel and Medical insurance
• Ski equipment rental
• personal expenses (beverages, entertainment, etc)
• Tips to local guides
• Visa fees (if required)

For bookings or any question, please contact us iwanttogo@nolimitjourneys.com