For those living in the North Hemisphere, the last days of summer are here already. Thinking of dusting off your ski boots? If you are anxious to jump on your skis and up the mountain again, we've got you some ideas to get back on the slopes as soon as possible.
Where does the ski touring season start off the soonest? Here are some of the best ski touring locations in the Alps, North America, Russia and Kyrgyzstan. Great snow conditions, unbeatable landscapes and great tours with certified guides. All of this and more, in this Explore-Share.com blog post. Mark your calendars for some great ski touring this November!
The Alps
The Alps offer a wide variety of sites to explore in the early stages of winter. Whether it’s on the Austrian, the French, the Italian or the Swiss side, this is a great region for ski touring! Here are some locations where the snow and weather conditions tend to be very good in the early stages of the season.
Kitzsteinhorn (Austria)
Discover this impressive glaciated mountain, 3,203 m high on the High Tauern range. Open all year round! As you descend on these breathtaking amazing slopes in the heart of the Alps, you will ski into the beautiful Muhlbach Valley. Tours here are available for groups of up to 6 guests, like this one guided by IFMGA-certified local guide, Andreas. Tours start at 90 EUR per person per day. Perfectly adaptable to your time availability.
Zermatt (Switzerland)
One of the greatest advantages of glacier skiing is that it is available all year round. Another advantage is that they are unpredictable and changing, which means that each tour there is different. The list of glaciers you can choose from for your Zermatt ski touring experience includes Unterer Theodulgletscher, Gornergletscher, Fingelgletscher, Schwarztor and many, many more! Cable cars are available in this area. Zermatt-based and IFMGA-certified guide Herbert will guide you here to an amazing time in the Alps. 1-day ski touring programs are available from 118 CHF.
Great ski touring places to go this November
Maurienne, Savoie (France)
600 km of cross country tracks. This is what the Maurienne valley offers, and the season here starts in November. Apart from well-established ski resorts, you will find small, quaint local mountain villages. This area is open to every skill and experience level. Depending on your experience, goals and weather and snow conditions on the day will determine the series of possible itineraries for you. Experience the quiet and the wilderness of the Savoie region, with just unique powder snow! 1-day ski touring programs in Maurienne are available with IFMGA-certified guide Victor, for groups of up to 6 people, from 350 EUR.
La Thuile, Aosta Valley (Italy)
Enjoy a ski touring experience around giants like the Dent du Geant (4,013 m) and Mont Miravidi (3,066 m). Tours around the beautiful town of La Thuile are unique for their amazing views of the Italian Alps. The town itself is also worth spending time in, getting to know the locals and the traditional stores and comfortable accommodation options. Chamonix-native and IFMGA-certified guide, Nicolas, offers 1-day ski touring trips starting in November from 380 EUR.
Great ski touring places to go this November
North America
Thinking of heading to North America for some fascinating ski touring this November? There are several options in the United States and Canada worth considering.
Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia (Canada)
The Garibaldi Provincial Park is a Canadian treasure, and a great location for ski touring, with the season kicking-off in November. A ski touring includes visiting several stunning glaciers. Certified guide Brian offers a 3-day ski touring program, between November and January, from 475 CAD. A perfect adventure for the beginning of the skiing season!
Idaho (United States)
Ski touring – or back country skiing – in Idaho is available from November to March. There are programs as short as 1-day long available in the beautiful area of Banner Summit. Forests, meadows, open glades, impressive ridges, frozen rivers… There are so many beautiful landscapes to witness here! This is also a great location to improve your skiing skills. Learn more about ski touring in Banner Summit, Idaho.
Off-the-beaten track
If you are feeling extra-adventurous, here are some less traditional ideas for your ski touring plans this November. For the following destinations, November is not only a good month to go skiing. It is also the month of the year with the optimal snow conditions!
Baikal Lake, Siberia (Russia)
Get ready for some Siberian wilderness! The Khamar-Daban mountain range is an incredible location, totally worth considering. Spots like the Mamay valley have very special microclimates, temperatures are milder, and precipitations are abundant. This is an ideal combination for ski touring: good snow conditions, and stable temperatures. When it comes to ski touring, it doesn’t get much better than this.
The specific geography in the north-west Siberia provides protection from strong winds. So this region is pretty much ideal. The ski season goes from November to May. And it is precisely November and December when you will find the most snow. Certified guide Grigory offers a 6-day traverse in Khamar-Daban, for max 6 people, from 2080 EUR.
Great ski touring places to go this November
[More on the Explore-Share.com blog]
Want to learn about ski touring in Siberia first-hand? Read about the experience of six skiers from Switzerland and their 6-day ski touring adventure in one of the most remote areas of Siberia in November. Where did they start off from, where did they sleep, and why this was the experience of a lifetime for them.
Suusamyr Valley, Tian Shan mountains (Kyrgyzstan)
Discover the beautiful Suusamyr Valley in the Thian Shan mountains. A great ski touring spot in Kyrgyzstan, with a great variety of slopes and descents. The weather here is stable, and November is one of the best times of the year to visit. The Suusamyr Valley has great snow conditions from November to March.
You can join an 8-day tour to the Sussmayr Valley with IFMGA-certified guide, Anastasiya, from 350 EUR – for groups of up to 5 people.
If you’d rather go on a shorter trip in this same area, you can join a ski touring weekend program in the Tian Shan mountain with IFMGA-certified guide Pavel, from 170 EUR.
Great ski touring places to go this November
Terskey mountains, Karkara Ski Tour Camp (Kyrgyzstan)
Another great off-the-beaten track ski touring destination in Kyrgyzstan is the Terskey mountains. The outstanding scenery here will take your breath away. The Terskey mountains are also part of the Tian Shan mountain range. A 6-day ski touring program in the Terskey mountains includes the Karkara Ski Tour Camp, at an impressive 2,200 m altitude. You can join experienced guide Andrey for an 8-day ski touring adventure in the Terskey mountains, for groups of a maximum of 5, from 1,115 USD.
These are some of the best ski touring options for November. There’s no need to wait until January or February to put your ski boots back on. What will it be? Check out what options tick the most of your boxes and kick off the ski touring season in your calendar!
