Snowshoeing in the French Alps

Planet

Snowshoeing is a very environmentally friendly way of exploring the mountains. No mechanised equipment is used or needed and with simple snowshoes strapped to your feet, you can gain access to otherwise inaccessible winter wildernesses.

On the walks our guides will explain the habitat of this harsh and fragile environment and show you the tracks and signs of the wildlife that survive here. You will get to know the difference between a wild boar print and a chamois and suss out if they were running, being chased or just chilling out in the snow!

Some of our snowshoe walks go into the Ecrins National Park which is a protected area for wildlife and there have been several projects to reintroduce animals such as the ibex and safeguard other species from the erosion of development elsewhere. Snowshoeing in these special habitats will give you a good appreciation and respect for the work and it’s importance globally.

We have a range of accommodation on offer and all the hotels, bed and breakfasts and self catering chalets and apartments that we use are vetted by us. We favour family run local establishments over large commercial chains and are always on the look out for ecologically friendly buildings and environmentally conscious proprietors! We have a number of eco-gites on our books and a lot of our suppliers use solar power for hot water due to the climate here.

Our office policy is to be as paperless as possible, to use recycled paper where necessary and re-use envelopes and jiffy bags where possible.

We try and promote train travel wherever possible when discussing ‘getting here’ options with clients as in general it is a far more pleasant and practical experience as well as being better for the environment.

People

The local economy of the Alps in winter is predominantly supported by the ski industry, which other than providing an income for local people is not the most responsible vacation activity for the environment! However it is often the only way local people can earn a living.

The mountains in winter are truly at their most magnificent and there are so many other ways to explore and discover them without having to strap a pair of skis to your feet. Snowshoeing is a great activity that you can do outside of the big resorts, giving you access to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Alps. Our snowshoeing vacations provide an alternative means of making a living for the local people so they aren’t only reliant on the ski resorts.

For example, we have one ski instructor and high mountain guide who has reduced his contract with the ski school in order to have more time to lead ice climbing and snowshoeing trips for us which we are very pleased about! We always use local guides and instructors and rather than bringing over foreign guides.

Because our snowshoe walks often pass through remote villages, we will try to plan a lunch stop or drink in order to support the local community there.