Improve Your Cross Country Skiing in the French Alps | Classic, Skating & Biathlon Short Break

Take your cross country skiing to the next level on this guided short break in the southern French Alps, designed for skiers who already have some experience and want to progress further.

Based in Guillestre, you will explore a selection of the region’s most beautiful Nordic ski domains — Arvieux, Crévoux and Ceillac — while improving both your classic and skating technique. Working on the two styles side by side helps you become a stronger, more rounded skier, improving your balance, coordination, efficiency and confidence across a wider range of terrain.

Over the three days, the focus moves beyond the basics. You will refine your technique, ski more continuously, and begin to link trails together across open valleys and forested terrain. Alternating between classic and skating adds variety and challenge, while also helping each technique support the other.

A highlight of the trip is a biathlon initiation in Crévoux, where you will combine skiing with target shooting in a relaxed and supportive setting. It’s a fun and memorable way to experience this iconic winter sport and adds a unique dimension to your time on the snow.

Holiday highlights

• Improve your cross country skiing with both classic and skating techniques
• Explore three varied Nordic ski domains: Arvieux, Crévoux and Ceillac
• Experience a biathlon initiation in a relaxed and supportive environment
• Become a stronger, more versatile skier by developing both techniques side by side
• Develop efficiency, balance and confidence on a range of pistes
• Enjoy relaxed lunches in mountain restaurants or picnic in scenic surroundings
• Stay in Guillestre with access to local restaurants and a welcoming Alpine atmosphere
• Unwind after skiing with optional spa and pool access at your hotel
• Share the experience with a small group of like-minded travellers

Who will love this holiday

This trip is ideal for skiers who already have some experience of cross country skiing and are comfortable on gentle slopes. You should be able to control your speed using a snowplough, ski confidently on blue pistes, and be open to tackling slightly more varied terrain, including sections of red pistes.

It’s perfect for active travellers who want to improve their technique, become more confident across both classic and skating, and enjoy longer, more varied days on skis in a relaxed and social environment. Whether you are travelling solo, as a couple or with friends, this trip offers a great balance of progression, exploration and shared experience.

Sustainable Tourism

This trip is designed to support a more sustainable kind of winter tourism. By staying in one base in Guillestre, using a locally run hotel, and working with local guides and instructors, more of your money goes directly back into the communities you visit. 

We also eat in local restaurants with a preference for regional products and specialities, helping support local producers and year-round tourism beyond the main ski resorts. 

To help offset the carbon footprint of the trip, we make a contribution on your behalf to a rewilding project with Mossy Earth, and we offer a 3% discount for anyone travelling to Guillestre by train rather than plane.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need previous experience for this trip?

Yes — this trip is for skiers with some experience. You should be comfortable controlling your speed, skiing on blue pistes, and open to more varied terrain.

Will I do both classic and skating?

Yes — you will work on both techniques. Developing classic and skating together helps improve your balance, coordination and overall efficiency as a skier.

Do I need to have done skating before?

No — prior skating experience is not essential. You will be introduced to it in a supportive setting.

What is the biathlon experience?

You will take part in a biathlon initiation, combining skiing with rifle shooting in a safe and supervised environment — a fun and memorable highlight of the trip.

What does a typical day look like?

Each day includes around 2 hours of skiing in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon, with a relaxed lunch in between. Sessions combine technique development with more continuous skiing.

How fit do I need to be?

A good level of fitness will help you enjoy the trip. If you regularly hike, go to the gym or do endurance sports, you will be well suited. You can always ski at your own pace.

Is equipment included?

Equipment hire is not included as standard. As this trip includes both classic and skating, you may need two sets of equipment. We can organise this in advance — expect around €15–€20 per day for each set.

Is there a snow guarantee?

While no trip can guarantee snow, these high-altitude Nordic domains have an excellent snow record. The region also benefits from the retour d’est, a weather pattern that often brings significant snowfall.

What is the group size?

Groups are typically between 6 and 8 people, giving a good balance of individual coaching and a social atmosphere.

What happens if minimum numbers are not reached?

If the trip cannot run, we will contact you in advance to offer alternatives or a full refund.

Itinerary

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BY TRAIN / BUS: 

WE OFFER A 3% DISCOUNT TO ANYONE TRAVELLING BY TRAIN INSTEAD OF PLANE. To claim your 3% discount, you will need to show us proof of train travel for routes of over 3 hours that could have been taken by plane. Please ask when you book.

The nearest train station to Guillestre is the Mont Dauphin - Guillestre station which is 4km from the village centre where your hotel is. For the last 4km there are buses (some paid and some free) or you can get a taxi. We can help organise grouping you together with other participants for a shared taxi nearer the time. 

There are train links to Guillestre from Grenoble or Marseille TGV station there is also an overnight sleeper train from Paris to Guillestre.

There is also a regular coach service which operates from Aix-en-Provence TGV directly to Gap from where you can get a train to Guillestre. 

You can plan your train journey using the Oui SNCF website. This works from all major European cities.

BY PLANE:

The nearest airports are Marseilles (MRS) and Grenoble (GNB). From Marseille airport there is a regular coach service directly to Gap every two and a half hours, from where you can get the local train to Guillestre. Or you can get the shuttle into Marseille St Charles train station and get a train directly to Guillestre from there.  Plan your journey using this website.

From Grenoble you would need to get the airport shuttle to the train station and then a train from Grenoble to Guillestre.

Please ask us about transport options when you enquire as we have become pros on getting people to this beautiful region!