Off the Beaten Piste in the Queyras – 3 Day Intermediate Ski Touring Escape

Venture into steeper, more technical terrain on this 3-day ski touring escape through the tranquil Queyras on the border of the French and Italian Alps — a rewarding journey for confident skiers ready to explore deeper into one of the most peaceful and untamed corners of the French Alps.

Guided by a fully qualified UIAGM high mountain guide, you'll tour across snow-covered valleys and ridgelines, tackling steeper ascents while refining your kick turns and deepening your terrain awareness. Each day offers satisfying climbs and thrilling descents on untracked snow, all with the reassurance of expert guidance.

Evenings are spent in cosy, welcoming mountain huts, where hearty local food and the quiet charm of alpine life under star-filled skies await. With its reliable snow, abundant sunshine, and truly off-the-beaten-piste feel, the Queyras provides the perfect setting for the next step in your ski touring journey.

Holiday Highlights:

About the Queyras Mountains

Tucked along the border of France and Italy, the Queyras is one of the best-kept secrets in the Alps — a ski touring paradise with quiet trails, reliable snow, and a network of high mountain refuges offering access to a wide variety of routes for all abilities.

The Queyras boasts an excellent snow record thanks in part to a rare weather pattern known as the retour d’est — an easterly flow that brings heavy snowfall from Italy into the region, often when surrounding areas remain dry. Combined with the typically sunny climate of the Southern French Alps, this creates exceptional conditions for spring ski touring: cold snow, clear skies, and long days in the mountains.

With terrain ranging from mellow valleys to steeper couloirs, the Queyras is the perfect playground for confident skiers looking to explore further. It’s a place where wild nature, history, and alpine culture meet. Home to the UNESCO-listed Vauban forts, the Queyras Regional Nature Park, and the highest village in Europe — Saint-Véran (2,040m) — this region has preserved its unique character, shaped by centuries of isolation.

As you skin into the backcountry, you'll discover a landscape of snowy ridgelines, powder-filled gullies, and total stillness. This ski tourer's paradise is made all the more welcoming by the high quality of these refuges - some with hot showers and running water no less!

Who Will Love This Trip?

This trip is perfect for confident off-piste skiers or ski tourers who are ready to take their experience further — exploring steeper terrain, longer ascents, and more remote alpine landscapes without the pressure of a formal course.

If you’ve already tried ski touring, whether through our beginner hut-to-hut ski touring adventure or elsewhere, and are looking for the next step, this 3-day journey offers the perfect balance of challenge, freedom, and expert support.

You’ll love this tour if you:

• Feel comfortable skiing off-piste in variable snow conditions
• Have some experience with skinning and kick turns
• Are fit enough for full days in the mountains, with sustained climbs carrying your pack
• Want to explore remote backcountry terrain with the safety and ease of a qualified local guide
• Appreciate a good hut dinner, a simple bunk, and the magic of a starlit alpine night

It’s ideal for those who could organise a tour themselves — but would rather switch off, enjoy the moment, and follow a well-planned route led by an expert.

Helping the Planet:

This trip is a quieter, more conscious way to explore the Alps — swapping lifts and resorts for ski touring, simple comforts, and true connection with nature.

The high mountain refuges you'll stay in are impressively sustainable. Many run off-grid and use renewable energy. They manage resources with care — from energy and water to waste-free, locally sourced lunches that reflect the rhythms of mountain life.

And for every booking, we contribute to Mossy Earth’s rewilding projects on your behalf — helping to restore wild habitats and fight climate change, one small step at a time.

By earning your turns and embracing a back-to-basics experience, you'll leave a lighter footprint and rediscover the joy of simple things: good company, shared effort, and wild, snowy silence.

Itinerary

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Your adventure begins in Molines-en-Queyras, a traditional Alpine village tucked deep within the Queyras Regional Nature Park — the perfect gateway to the wild backcountry you'll explore.

We’ll meet on the morning of Day 1, so if you’re travelling from further afield, we recommend arriving the evening before to settle in.
Looking for a cosy hotel? Let us know — we’re happy to suggest locally run options nearby.

By Train (Recommended)

For a low-stress, scenic journey, the train is our top pick.

• From Paris, take a TGV to Valence or Grenoble, then connect via regional TER train to Montdauphin–Guillestre(approx. 5–6 hours).

• There’s also an overnight train direct from Paris to Montdauphin–Guillestre — a great option if you want to travel while you sleep.

Montdauphin station is about 35 minutes from Molines, and we can help you arrange a taxi, shuttle, or transfer.
Don’t fancy organising transport? Your guide can collect you from the station on Day 1 morning at no extra cost.

Check SNCF for train times and booking.

By Car

If you're driving, here are the approximate journey times:

• Grenoble – 3 hrs

• Turin – 2 hrs 45

• Marseille – 3 hrs

Winter conditions apply: snow tyres or chains are essential. Free parking is available in the village.

By Air

You can fly into Turin, Marseille, or Grenoble. From there:

• Marseille: Take the train from Marseille Saint-Charles to Montdauphin–Guillestre, with regular shuttles from the airport to the station.

• Turin: Take the LinkBus to Briançon, then connect to Montdauphin–Guillestre by train.

• Grenoble: Use the airport shuttle to reach the train station, then continue by train to Montdauphin–Guillestre.

Need help sorting out your journey or booking transfers? Just ask — we’re here to help make your arrival as smooth as your ski turns.