Backcountry Skiing in La Grave: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You
4.7
(27 reviews)
Discover the stunning scenery and impeccable off-piste action in one of France’s premier backcountry skiing destinations!
Nestled at the foot of Massif des Écrins, near France’s eastern border, La Grave boasts dozens of incredible backcountry skiing opportunities for participants of every level. From simple half-day excursions to week-long hut-to-hut expeditions, there is no shortage of backcountry fun to be had. Compare and book a certified guide for your trip on Explore-Share.com: 1500+ guides, 70+ countries and more than 8000 different programs to choose from. Take a pick from our selection of Backcountry Skiing trips to La Grave. The mountains are calling!
Top backcountry skiing trips | La Grave
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FAQs: Backcountry Skiing in La Grave
What should I know about Backcountry Skiing La Grave?
Home to just 500 full-time residents in the summer, La Grave comes alive when the snow begins to fall. As January rolls around, enthusiast backcountry skiers flock to the tow in order to explore some of the incredible backcountry terrains found here.
Among the most popular activities for off-piste enthusiasts is the Haute Route des Ecrins. This week-long ski touring adventure takes you hut-to-hut through the heart of the stunning Ecrins massif. Complete with a challenging ascent and thrilling descent of Dome des Ecrins along with many others, the less traditional Haute Route is no less of an adventure.
Heading up onto the slopes of the mighty La Meije is another excellent option. The peak boasts several routes that take skiers down its slopes and back to La Grave as well as longer and more challenging routes for those looking for another type of ski touring adventure. Heading out for a day of freeriding down the couloirs is the perfect way to put your skills and nous to the test.
Why should I choose La Grave for my Backcountry Skiing adventure?
Stunning scenery
Sitting in the shadow of mighty La Meije, La Grave boasts plenty of incredible mountain scenery. Complete with glaciated mountain peaks and thick evergreen forests, there is plenty of natural beauty to keep you in awe as you head through the pristine snow covered slopes of the popular resort town.
Something for everyone
Whether you plan on heading out on your first backcountry skiing expedition or you’re a seasoned pro, La Grave has something great in store for you. From beginners getting a taste for the backcountry in nearby Serre Chevalier – learning the necessary skills to head off-piste – to advanced ski tourers striking out on the Haute Route des Ecrins, there is the perfect route for every type of skier here.
Fantastic freeriding
For those thrillseekers looking to get their adrenaline pumping, La Grave is the perfect place to be. The cable car from the town leads up onto the La Meije massif and provides two trilling 2,000 vertical meter descents back into town. Get off-piste in a hurry and careen back down to the lovely resort through pristine powder.
What can I expect from the weather during my Backcountry Skiing trip in La Grave?
During the winter, average daily temperatures in La Grave hover between 0 ºC and -5 ºC (32 ºF to 23 ºF). Winter is also one of the wettest times of the year with an average of about 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) of rain per month.
How can I get to La Grave?
Any trip to La Grave likely begins with a flight into Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS). From here, La Grave is two hours away by car. La Grave can also be reached by a combination of train and bus in about three hours.
Which language is predominantly spoken in the La Grave region?
French
What's the country code for the La Grave region?
+33
What currency is accepted around La Grave?
Euro
Best time to climb
January to April
What people are saying about Backcountry Skiing | La Grave
Guide was good, skiing was mediocre but that is because of snow conditions which can't be helped.
Remco
We had a nice trip. Unfortunately one of us fell en had to skip 1 day. The guide Olivier is very professional, knows the area well en is high skilled. Thereby he is a nice guy and wel had good talks and laughs. He brought us to some simple but very good auberges and we had lovely meals, accompanied with good wine.
Gaspard
Malgré le peu de neige et une station de Chamonix bien peuplée, Benjamin a réussi a nous trouver de chouettes itinéraires de rando, a l'écart des foules et au milieu d'une nature splendide. Ses bons conseils nous ont aussi été d'une grande aide lors de montées en peaux de phoques plus techniques. Très sympathique et posé, Ben est un guide de montagne que nous recommandons vivement! Harald et Gaspard
Jacob
Nous sommes partis 2 jours avec Benjamin. C’était fantastique de découvrir une autre façon de faire du ski. Benjamin est un gars super sympa et sécurisant. On a passé deux belles journées avec lui. Un regret : Que l’on ne découvre qu’à 54 balais la randonnée à ski. Qui sait !! On prendra peut-être goût à l’alpinisme à 70 ans. Merci à Explore-Share.com de nous avoir présenté Benjamin. Il est sûrement à conseiller à d’autres candidats.
Justin
Quentin m'a permis de découvrir le ski de randonnée, que j'aimerais, grâce à lui, pouvoir essayer à nouveau. Son côté belge est très sympathique et son expérience de la montagne est enrichissante.
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