The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in La Clusaz & Le Grand Bornand

Ski the first part of the red piste from the top of the Belevedere lift until the cat track. Traverse off skier's left until the ridge. Drop into the large couloir for the start of the line....

A justifiably popular ski tour in the ‘Moyen Montagne’ that has the ambience of the ‘Haute Montagne' due to the very open terrain and towering limestone cliffs all around. It is never too steep but there are big slopes above in places so stable snow conditions are needed....

A short, fun and accessible ski tour that offers a great viewpoint to the mountains above the Col de la Colombière and towards the highest mountain in the Aravis, Pointe Percée....

The Trou de la Mouche - or Flyhole - ski tour involves 1,100m of ascent up the Grand Crêt combe. The 'summit' is a spectacular hole in the Aravis limestone that you pass through before making the descent back down the combe of Paccaly....

The Col des Aravis is a well known landmark and has featured in the Tour de France several times. Having driven up it in winter you are likely to be cured of any desire to cycle up it, but there's no doubt that it is a spectacular and somewhat desolate place....

In the heart of the Aravis mountains, this is a surprisingly wild feeling tour, despite its proximity to ski areas. The ascent is atmospheric and the skiing is exciting without ever being too difficult....

Accessing the Tete Pelouse via this 'there and back' itinerary offers 1,150m+ of ascent, a spectacular summit with panoramic views of the Mont Blanc Massif and the potential of some excellent powder skiing on N/NW facing slopes....

How often do you get to link up two 40 degree north facing couloirs for just over 1,000m of ascent? If you're into bang for your buck exciting ski descents with minimum uphill slog, this traverse is a cracking option but ski mountaineers only need apply....