Ski Touring & Off-Piste skiing courses

Alpine ski-touring is the perfect way to enjoy the mountains throughout the spring, giving the freedom to travel anywhere quickly and efficiently when deep snow makes walking impossible. It appeals to keen skiers who want to escape lift queues and crowded pistes to ski off-piste on the pristine snow of the higher mountains, and also to mountaineers (with some ski experience) who want to gain new skills and add a new dimension to their mountain activities.

ISM's alpine ski touring courses are distinguished by the depth of experience of the Guides (a crucial factor in determining safe routes) and their detailed local knowledge - which ensures that you get the best ski touring available in the prevailing conditions. Our ski tours (or Haute Routes) take you to the wildest and most beautiful parts of the Alps, well away from overcrowded ski resorts and beaten trails such as the Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route in peak season.

Off-Piste Skiing is an integral part of alpine ski-touring and offers perhaps the most exhilarating experience you can have on skis – taking you away from prepared slopes into the real mountain environment with its infinite variety of snow conditions, each of which you can learn to understand and ski proficiently. The skill, training and local knowledge of our Guides will enable you to enjoy this serious environment to the full and in safety.

Grading of Ski Courses

Snow conditions vary from year to year and week to week, so grading of ski touring courses is not a precise art. However we hope you find these a useful indication of how demanding a tour will be and whether it suits your ski experience. If in doubt please contact the office.

Introductory: These ski touring courses and off-piste skiing courses aim to take a competent skier into a new world of ski adventure away from prepared ski slopes. They are suitable for people who are comfortable skiing linked turns on piste and have tried some off-piste skiing, and who are keen to learn ski-touring techniques. The trips are not too arduous or serious, having shorter uphill days involving at most four hours skinning with light packs.

Intermediate: For confident skiers who are happy skiing off-piste in most snow conditions and who have some knowledge of ski-touring techniques. Experienced off-piste skiers with no ski touring experience are also welcome. There may be some strenuous days so a good level of fitness is required, but the routes are generally less committing as there is flexibility in the programme.

Advanced: For strong skiers with previous alpine ski touring experience and able to ski a range of snow conditions off-piste. There may be several strenuous days (involving ascents using skins for 4 to 8 hours) and the routes are more committing, with several sections on and above glacier level. Packs will be slightly heavier so a high level of fitness is required.

Important Notes:

COURSES CONVENE IN LEYSIN except for the Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route which convenes in Argentiere and the Haute Route du Soleil which convenes in Andermatt. Details for joining these courses will be found on the relevant course page.

Inclusive Prices
Once you have reached us, your course fee covers everything apart from personal ski equipment and lunches/drinks taken in restaurants. (All picnic lunches are provided.)