Randonnée – heading out on tour in high alpine terrain – is an overwhelming experience of nature! High up among snow-covered alpine peaks and deep valleys, the silence and sense of freedom are total. Here you are left to your own strength and the forces of nature in a very tangible way. We organise around ten tours of varying difficulty and intensity. Below you'll find some of the best in the French Alps!
A typical day
We offer two types of Randonnée trips. The first type consists of day trips or morning and afternoon sessions. The ski group meets in the morning to go through the day's programme. After the activity you return to your centre. In the second type (Adventure) you are away all week, walking from mountain hut to mountain hut.
Randonnée with UCPA
Please note that there is a difference between randonnée programmes and off-piste randonnée programmes, where the latter focus more on the downhill skiing. These programmes are listed under the category off-piste.
What is Randonnée / ski touring?
Randonnée, also known as ski touring, is a form of skiing practised in unprepared terrain outside the ski area. Randonnée is a challenging and physically demanding activity. At the same time, it's a fantastic way to explore different mountain areas and get closer to nature!
Instead of using the lift system, you use climbing skins, a strip attached to the base of your skis that stops you from sliding back, to climb up the mountain. Depending on the terrain and the gradient, you may sometimes have to put your skis on your back and climb using crampons, a type of spiked frame that attaches to the soles of your boots.
Unlike off-piste skiing, randonnée is more about the climb up, in untouched areas surrounded by stunning views, than the descent. The descent, however, offers the same thrills and sense of freedom as off-piste skiing.
Safety first!
Activity outside the ski area involves risks such as avalanches, crevasses and cliffs. It's important to always be well informed and to plan your skiing according to the weather and snow conditions. It is also vital to wear your safety equipment correctly and to be prepared for how to handle an emergency.
With UCPA you have the chance to enjoy this type of skiing together with a certified guide. UCPA's guides undergo several years of training and have the expert knowledge needed to read different terrain and weather conditions. Your guide will teach you how to handle the various situations that can arise when ski touring. They will also make sure to find the best runs of the day for you and your group.
Thanks to their many years of training, they give you technique tips and tools to become a better skier.
Choose the right Randonnée - Ski touring level
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ACTIVITIES
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UCPA - Freely translated to English as "National Federation for Sports and Outdoor Centers" - has a history of over 50 years. It is, in short, a non-profit, all-French organization supported by, among others, the French state. The purpose is to give ordinary people the opportunity to learn and develop in one or more sports together, in pleasant and unpretentious forms. The organization has about 80 centers in France and the West Indies, 28 of them are located at well-known winter sports resorts in the French Alps.
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