Ski touring: where to go

Ski touring, also known as ski mountaineering or ski de randonnée, allows skiers and splitboarders to explore ungroomed backcountry areas, ascending peaks and powder slopes using climbing skins and specialized gear before skiing down off-piste descents. Across the listed mountain destinations, this activity is primarily practiced during the winter and spring seasons, when high mountain routes and powder fields become accessible across varying elevations.

Numerous destinations provide dedicated touring circuits, equipment hire, and professional mountain guide services. In Champéry, Switzerland, tourers can use the Rando Parc Val d'Illiez, a network of marked and secured routes designed for different skill levels. Bonneval-sur-Arc, located in Savoie, France, serves as a base for guided expeditions into the high-altitude terrain of Vanoise National Park, which extends up to 3,642 metres. In Bormio, Italy, ski mountaineers can climb the Vallecetta Ski Touring Route toward the Vallecetta peak for open powder descents, supported by local mountain guides.

In Austria, Kitzbühel features the dedicated Bichlalm sector for ski tourers and off-piste enthusiasts. For longer itineraries, Verbier in Switzerland provides access to guided multi-day ski tours deep across the Valais Alps, climbing up to 3,330 metres. Additionally, destinations such as Serre Chevalier support touring with specialized ski touring and splitboard rental shops located in Briançon alongside local guide services.

Ski touring by country

Ski touring in Italy (24)Ski touring in France (9)Ski touring in Switzerland (9)Ski touring in Austria (7)

52 destinations compared

DestinationCountryVillage altitudeMax altitudeSki areaLiftsSeasonPrice levelServices
Serre Chevalier
Hautes-Alpes
Italy1,200 m2,800 m250 km59Winter, Spring–3
Corvara in Badia
Alto Adige
Italy1,568 m2,665 m130 km53Winter€€€€4
Bormio
Lombardia
Italy1,225 m3,017 m50 km12Winter, Spring€€€2
Bonneval-sur-Arc
Savoie
France1,759 m3,642 m32 km10Winter, Spring–1
Heiligenblut
Carinthia
Austria1,288 m2,902 m55 km11Winter–1
La Grave
Alte Alpi
France1,497 m3,983 m19 km3Winter, Spring–1
Santa Caterina Valfurva
Valtellina valley
Italy1,738 m2,880 m35 km10Winter, Spring–1
Champéry
Wallis
Switzerland1,055 m2,254 m650 km196Winter–1
Claviere
Piedmont
Italy2,032 m2,823 m400 km70Winter, Spring–1
Filzmoos
Salzburg
Austria1,057 m2,458 m20 km8Winter, Spring–1
Folgarida
Südtirol
Italy1,607 m2,180 m63 km25Winter, Spring–1
Kitzbühel
Kitzbichl
Austria762 m2,000 m233 km58Winter€€€€1
La Clusaz
Aravis Valley
France1,040 m2,600 m125 km49Winter, Spring–1
Obertauern
Salzburg
Austria1,928 m2,526 m100 km26Winter, Spring–1
San Domenico
Piedmont
Italy1,420 m2,551 m35 km7Winter–1
San Sicario
Susa Valley
Italy1,715 m2,823 m65 km11Winter, Spring–1
Santa Maddalena, Val di Funes
South Tyrol
Italy1,339 m2,490 m1 km1Winter–1
Verbier
Canton of Valais
Switzerland1,490 m3,330 m410 km72Winter€€€€1
Arabba
Dolomites
Italy1,600 m3,343 m63 km26Winter, Spring––
Gressoney-La-Trinité
Aosta Valley
Italy1,627 m4,527 m180 km37Winter, Spring––
Hasliberg
Canton of Bern
Switzerland1,082 m2,534 m60 km13Winter, Spring––
Selva di Val Gardena
Dolomites
Italy1,563 m3,181 m175 km83Winter, Spring–2
Andalo
South Tyrol
Italy1,040 m2,125 m50 km15Winter, Spring––
Campo Imperatore
Abruzzo
Italy2,130 m2,912 m15 km4Winter, Spring€€€–
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
France1,030 m4,807 m172 km65Winter, Spring€€€€–
Champoluc
Aosta Valley
Italy1,568 m3,275 m180 km10Winter, Spring––
Chiesa in Valmalenco
Lombardy
Italy960 m2,370 m50 km9Winter, Spring––
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Veneto
Italy1,224 m3,243 m120 km36Winter, Spring€€€€–
Fiesch
Wallis
Switzerland1,060 m2,927 m104 km36Winter, Spring––
Limone Piemonte
Piedmont
Italy1,009 m2,085 m80 km16Winter, Spring––
Macugnaga
Piedmont
Italy1,327 m4,618 m32 km9Winter, Spring––
Madesimo
Lombardy
Italy1,550 m2,948 m60 km12Winter, Spring––
Montgenèvre
Hautes-Alpes
France1,860 m2,700 m110 km24Winter, Spring––
Morzine
Haute-Savoie
France1,395 m2,460 m120 km48Winter, Spring––
Ordino
Andorra
Spain1,290 m2,915 m30.5 km16Winter, Spring––
Ponte di Legno
Lombardy
Italy1,260 m3,069 m100 km30Winter, Spring––
Pontresina
Canton of Grisons
Switzerland1,805 m4,049 m36 km5Winter, Spring––
Pozza di Fassa
Dolomites
Italy1,320 m2,812 m23 km7Winter, Spring––
Rauris
Salzburg
Austria970 m2,175 m32.5 km10Winter, Spring––
San Martino di Castrozza
Südtirol
Italy1,450 m2,740 m60 km21Winter, Spring––
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
Tyrol
Austria1,427 m2,828 m214 km68Winter, Spring––
Silvaplana
Canton of the Grisons
Switzerland1,716 m3,380 m120 km14Winter, Spring––
Valtournenche
Aosta Valley
Italy1,524 m3,883 m54 km9Winter, Spring––
Courchevel
Savoie
France1,100 m3,054 m150 km58Winter, Spring–1
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Oberbayern
Germania708 m2,962 m60 km38Winter–1
Laax
Graubünden
Switzerland1,016 m3,018 m224 km29Winter, Spring–1
Les Arcs
Savoie
France1,200 m3,226 m200 km52Winter, Spring–1
Les Deux Alpes
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
France1,650 m3,600 m200 km40Winter, Summer€€€1
Realp
Canton of Uri
Switzerland1,000 m2,429 m1 km2Winter, Spring–1
Seven Rila Lakes
Kjustendil
Bulgaria2,100 m2,535 m2 km1Winter–1
Sölden
Tirol
Austria1,377 m3,340 m146 km31Winter, Spring€€€1
Zermatt
Valais
Switzerland1,620 m3,899 m360 km52Winter, Spring€€€€1
Compare Serre Chevalier, Corvara in Badia, Bormio

Ski touring in each destination

Serre Chevalier

Hautes-Alpes, Italy
Ski Touring
  • Ski Touring & Freeride Guiding with Bureau des Guides Serre ChevalierWinter, Spring

    For those seeking the untouched beauty of the off-piste or the challenge of ski touring, the Bureau des Guides in Serre Chevalier offers expert-led excursions. Guides provide invaluable local knowledge, ensuring safety…

  • Specialized Ski Touring & Splitboard Rental (Briançon)Winter, Spring

    Beyond standard downhill ski rentals, several specialized shops in Briançon offer high-quality equipment for ski touring (randonnée) and splitboarding. This includes lightweight skis, bindings, skins, boots, and…

  • Ski Touring Equipment Rental (Briançon)Winter, Spring

    Several specialized sports shops in Briançon offer comprehensive rental packages for ski touring, including high-performance skis, bindings, skins, boots, and poles. Unlike general ski rentals, these shops cater…

Full guide to Serre Chevalier

Corvara in Badia

Alto Adige, Italy
  • Sella Ronda Ski TourWinter

    The Sella Ronda is a world-renowned ski circuit circling the majestic Sella Massif, directly accessible from Corvara via the Col Alto or Boé gondolas. This circular route covers approximately 40 km of slopes and lift…

  • Alta Badia Gourmet Ski Tour 'Sciare con gusto'Winter

    Combine the thrill of skiing with an exquisite culinary journey across the Alta Badia slopes. The 'Sciare con gusto' (Ski with Taste) initiative involves several mountain huts (Rifugi) that collaborate with…

  • Guided Sunrise Ski Tour with Mountain BreakfastWinter

    Experience the magic of skiing on freshly groomed slopes before the public lifts open. This exclusive tour, led by certified local guides, takes participants up to a pristine mountain peak to witness the sunrise over…

  • Specialized Ski Touring & Freeride Equipment RentalWinter

    A specialized rental shop offering a comprehensive range of high-performance equipment for ski touring, splitboarding, and freeride skiing. This includes modern touring skis, bindings, boots, skins, splitboards, and…

Full guide to Corvara in Badia

Bormio

Lombardia, Italy
Ski Mountaineering
  • Bormio Ski Mountaineering & Freeride GuidesWinter, Spring

    Beyond the groomed pistes, Bormio offers unparalleled opportunities for ski mountaineering (ski touring) and freeride skiing. Experienced local mountain guides provide bespoke excursions into the untouched powder fields…

  • Vallecetta Ski Touring RouteWinter, Spring

    A challenging but immensely rewarding ski touring route that ascends towards the Vallecetta peak, offering spectacular views and powder descents for experienced ski mountaineers. This itinerary typically begins near…

Full guide to Bormio

Filzmoos

Salzburg, Austria
Ski Touring
  • Ski Touring & Freeride GuidesWinter, Spring

    For adventurous winter sports enthusiasts, certified local guides offer ski touring and freeride experiences around Filzmoos and the wider Dachstein region. These tours provide access to untouched powder slopes and…

Full guide to Filzmoos

Obertauern

Salzburg, Austria
Ski touring
  • Guided Freeride & Ski TouringWinter, Spring

    Obertauern offers fantastic opportunities for freeriding and ski touring, with experienced local guides providing safe and exhilarating adventures. These guided tours cater to various skill levels, from introductory…

Full guide to Obertauern

Selva di Val Gardena

Dolomites, Italy
  • Freeride & Ski Touring Guided ToursWinter, Spring

    For advanced skiers and snowboarders seeking adventure beyond the groomed pistes, Selva di Val Gardena offers specialized guided freeride and ski touring experiences. These tours, led by expert local mountain guides…

  • Sella Ronda Ski TourWinter

    The world-famous Sella Ronda is a spectacular 26 km (16 miles) ski circuit that circumnavigates the Sella massif, connecting the four Ladin valleys of Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba, and Fassa. Accessible directly from…

Full guide to Selva di Val Gardena

Laax

Graubünden, Switzerland
  • Guided Ski Touring & Freeride AdventuresWinter, Spring

    Explore the pristine backcountry of Laax with certified mountain guides. These tours offer an unparalleled experience for advanced skiers and snowboarders, venturing into untouched powder fields and breathtaking alpine…

Full guide to Laax

Realp

Canton of Uri, Switzerland
  • Guided Alpine Ski Touring ExpeditionsWinter, Spring

    Realp is a renowned base for serious ski touring. These guided expeditions cater to intermediate to advanced skiers, offering ascents to peaks like Pizzo Lucendro or Witenwasserenstock, with descents through untouched…

Full guide to Realp

Sölden

Tirol, Austria
  • Freeride and Ski Touring ZonesWinter, Spring

    Sölden offers extensive and diverse off-piste terrain for enthusiastic freeriders, with designated zones safely accessible from the main lift system, particularly around the Gaislachkogl and Giggijoch areas. These zones…

Full guide to Sölden

Zermatt

Valais, Switzerland
  • Guided Ski Touring ExpeditionsWinter, Spring

    For experienced skiers seeking untouched powder and remote alpine landscapes, guided ski touring expeditions offer a thrilling alternative to piste skiing. Professional UIAGM mountain guides lead small groups on…

Full guide to Zermatt

Frequently asked questions

Which seasons are suitable for ski touring in the mountains?

Across the destinations, ski touring is practiced during the winter and spring seasons, depending on the location and local mountain conditions.

Where can skiers find marked ski touring routes?

In Champéry, Switzerland, the Rando Parc Val d'Illiez provides a curated network of marked and secured ski touring routes tailored for various skill levels, from beginners to experienced tourers.

Where can ski touring and splitboarding equipment be rented?

Specialized ski touring and splitboard gear, including skis, bindings, boots, and skins, is available for rent in Briançon near Serre Chevalier, as well as in Santa Maddalena in Val di Funes.

Are there guided ski touring expeditions available in national parks or glaciers?

Yes. Bonneval-sur-Arc offers guided ski touring expeditions into the Vanoise National Park, while Santa Caterina Valfurva features ski mountaineering routes on the Cima Piazzi glacier.

Where can you go ski touring in the mountains?

Serre Chevalier (Italy), Corvara in Badia (Italy), Bormio (Italy), Bonneval-sur-Arc (France), Heiligenblut (Austria) and La Grave (France), among 52 destinations offer ski touring according to Alpe Match data.

Which countries offer ski touring?

Italy (24 destinations), France (9 destinations), Switzerland (9 destinations), Austria (7 destinations), Bulgaria (1 destination), Germania (1 destination) and Spain (1 destination).

When is the season for ski touring?

Based on the services listed in each destination, ski touring is mainly available in winter and spring. Dates vary every year: check with local operators.

Which ski touring destination reaches the highest altitude?

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, with a maximum altitude of 4,807 m.

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