Ski Tours

The World’s Best

Day one of the Haute Route: Argentiere Basin, with Mont Dolent on the far left, Aiguille de Triolet in the center, and the imposing north faces of Les Droites on the right. The Argentiere hut is visible on the far left. Chamonix, France (photo: David Hewett)

Sunrise in the Berner Oberland, 4,000m Peaks Tour, Switzerland (photo by PatitucciPhoto)

Lyngen Alps, Norway (photo: Getty Images)

Col du Sonadon from the Plateau du Couloir. Haute Route, Wallis Alps, Switzerland (photo by PatitucciPhoto)

Tour de la Meije, La Grave, FR (photo: David Hewett)

Ariel Borealis, Iceland (photo: Unsplash)

Engelberg backcountry in late afternoon light, Uri Alps, Switzerland (photo: David Hewett)

Glacier du Geant, with the incredible geology of Mont Blanc du Tacul behind, Vallee Blanche, Chamonix, France (photo by PatitucciPhoto)

⎪THE WORLD’S BEST SKI TOURS

If your risk tolerance is relatively low, but you still want to explore big mountains with incredible scenery, you should consider an organized multi-day ski tour. Many of these tours are offered by commercial guides and make use of well established hut systems, helicopters, even sailboats for support, and consequently will not necessitate carrying all the items described on the Biggest Lines Overnight and/or Multiday gear lists. This is good news, as the lighter loads make the going easier, and the skiing more enjoyable, especially when one considers the diminished levels of anxiety that can come with professionally guided, low-angle ski tours.


Important note: In most or all cases you will still need to be familiar with skills associated with backcountry skiing and glacier travel, including whiteout navigation, crevasse rescue, avalanche safety, and high elevation exposure. One should prepare themselves accordingly. For more information on acquiring these skills, click here, and here. Remember, there are serious risks associated with any mountain adventure, including guided overland ski tours. Below are 18 of the world’s best.**


⎪THE WORLD’S BEST SKI TOURS | The Biggest Lines


• SYMBOLS KEY: Click on the ⚲ symbol for location on Google Maps; info for trip reports; the ▸ symbol for video links; and STRAVA for Strava link/route info.


Bernese Oberland Traverse, Bernese Alps, Valais, Switzerland ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA

Bernina High Route, Pontresina, Switzerland ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA

Bernese Oberland 4000m Peaks Tour, Konkordiaplatz, Aletsch Glacier, Switzerland ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA

Ecrins Haute Route, Ecrins Mountains, France ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA

Grand Paradiso National Park, Valsavarenche Valley, Aosta Valley, Italy ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA

The Classic Haute Route, Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA

Haute Route, ‘St-Bernard’ Variant via Plateau du Couloir, La Folly to Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA

Haute Route Hjørundfjorden, Sunnmøre Alps, Norway ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, West Fjords, Iceland ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA

Lyngen Peninsula, Karlsoy, Norway STRAVA

The Monte Rosa Traverse, Monte Rosa Massif, Italy/Switzerland ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA

Ortler Ski Traverse, South Tyrol, Italy ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA

San Juan Hut System, Sneffels Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado ⚲ info info info ▸ STRAVA

Silvretta Alps Traverse, Paznaun Valley, Austria/Switzerland ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA

Spearhead Traverse, Fitzsimmons Range, Whistler-Blackcomb backcountry, British Columbia, Canada ⚲ info info info ▸ STRAVA

Tour de la Meije, Ecrins Mountains, La Grave, France ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA

Vallee Blanche, Normal Route (with the Brêche Puiseux/Glacier Leschaux variation), Mont Blanc Massif, Chamonix, France ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA

Wapta Traverse, Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies, Alberta, Canada ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA

**Please go to our Guide Services page for guiding possibilities on the above routes, and/or click on the photo below. Keep in mind that many of the IFMGA guides listed on our Guides page offer services in both the United States and Europe, and that some American and British guides are actually based (and reside) in Europe. Refer to the individual guide profiles for more information. Happy touring!


⎪THE WORLD’S BEST SKI TOURS | Maps

Europe (Click here for Google Map)

Map of the region of the alps traversed by the classic Haute Route from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland

Lyngen Peninsula, Norway (Lyngsalpan Conservation Area Board)

Tour de la Meije, Les Ecrins mountains, France (image: PowderGuide.com)

Wapta Traverse, Alberta, CA (All Aspects Alpine Backcountry Guides)

Spearhead Traverse, Whistler/Blackcomb, CA, Contour Map (University of British Columbia: Safe Travel on the Spearhead Traverse)

 
 
 

Cover Photo: Haute Route (Alpine Guides)