Off piste skiing in the Pyrenees

Off-piste skiing adventure, including the legendary 1500m descent from the Pic du Midi!

We are offering a new off-piste ski or snowboard safari holiday using qualified local guides with a lifetime of experience skiing and exploring the Pyrenees.

The Pyrenees have a little-known, yet extensive network of ski resorts set in beautiful, unspoilt country. While the piste-skiing here is excellent, there are huge areas of undeveloped skiable terrain, so it is easy to get off the beaten tracks and into the real mountains. Taking advantage of the ski lift system, our off-piste ski safari will take you onto barely-tracked snow and stunning untouched valleys. The wild interior of the mountains can be opened up to strong skiers or boarders who are comfortable on red-runs in all conditions. Our guide will concentrate on off-piste technique and offer personal tuition.

We use fully qualified local ski instructors and mountain guides for our off-piste ski safari and ski touring, who will tailor their instruction and routes to the particular skills and requirements of your group.

What's it all about?

Off-piste and free ride is about having fun, skiing for the sake of skiing, and getting to places that the crowds will never see. Off-piste is exciting and exhilarating - an adventure but nothing terrifying! If you are looking for a bit of a challenge, and something different, get off-piste. Skiing or snowboarding as part of a group, with an experienced, qualified guide, you can feel confident that you are in safe hands. You do not need any previous off-piste experience for this trip, but if you're the one who's always standing at the bottom of the piste twiddling your thumbs, it's probably for you!

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Itinerary / Highlights

A full week of off-piste skiing, beginning with an introductory near-piste session and working up towards the Pic du Midi descent - one of the best off-piste routes in Europe. During the week, the guide will look at off-piste techniques for turning in different snow conditions, on steep terrain and tree-skiing. Groups are small, so you will have all the personal attention that you need.

Itinerary:-

Saturday
Flights to Pau Pyrenees airport, transfer to Bareges, arrive mid afternoon. Arrange equipment and lift passes. Evening drinks with the group and guide.

Sunday
Off piste day 1 - Warm-up morning of downhill skiing in the Tourmalet resort. We meet our ski safari guide after lunch for an afternoon's introduction to off-piste skiing in and around the ski resort.

Monday
Off piste day 2 - Improving your off-piste skiing on steeper ground and in different snow conditions. A great chance to focus on technique, whilst still within reach of those handy lifts!

Tuesday
Off piste day 3 - An exciting, totally off-piste descent of the secluded 'Aygues Cluses' valley. We ride the Quatre Termes chairlift to the top of the Tourmalet ski area, then a short scramble up through a narrow pass takes us into wonderland - the Neouvielle Nature reserve.

Wednesday
Off piste day 4 - Bareges is a rare jewel in Europe, as one of the only places with skiing through open mixed woodland. An off-piste skiing day in this beautiful environment will develop the perfect, instinctive turn!

Thursday
Off piste day 5

Option 1) Starting from the Quatre Termes lift, a short hike takes us to the Breche du Contade. We traverse around a steep hillside to reach an isolated valley, with a spectacular descent into the heart of La Mongie.

Option 2) Introduction to ski touring - use of skins and alpine skiing techniques

Friday
Off piste day 6
Pic du Midi - TWICE!

We take the highest lift in the Pyrenees to the summit of the awesome Pic du Midi at 2872m, and one of the best off-piste descents in Europe. Develop the technique of off-piste carving and "freeride" skiing through 1000 metres of open snowfields. Unbeatable!

Saturday
Morning departure for Pau airport.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Stay in our newly-renovated chalet in the heart of the lively mountain village of Bareges. After an adrenaline-packed day, relax at the thermal spa, or in our own sauna at the house before sampling our delicious French cuisine and wines. All bedrooms are en-suite and guests have access to a heated equipment room, spacious dining room and large lounge with wood-burning stove, games table, CD player, big-screen home cinema and internet access. There is also a patio garden with mountain views.