The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Savoie

A wonderful journey on mellow terrain, with ample opportunity to spot the many steeper couloirs and faces around the head of the Les Avals valley. Perfect for spring days or in light, cold and fluffy powder! From the Chanrossa or Roc Merlet chairs take the long traverse under the NE face of the Roc Merlet until under 3 little towers of rock....

A great, mellow descent through rolling terrain far from the lifts and pistes. On a cold powder day this is hard to beat for a relaxed run with minimal avalanche risk....

A great wide bowl that due to the ease of access is popular and quickly tracked. It nevertheless offers great skiing that is never too difficult and a good place to build confidence off-piste....

The Refuge du Roc de la Pêche gives a very comfortable start to the circuit of the Vanoise with an easy mellow approach. It can make a good warm up day with plenty of time to practice avalanche rescue or crevasse rescue skills....

Turning left off the Marquise chair gives access to the wide open expanse of gentle terrain on the eastern edge of the main basin. Alternatively directly under the chair is a buffet of snowy bowls, rocks and gullies, through what looks like (and is nicknamed) The Elephant's Graveyard....

From the top of the Aiguille chair, continue straight into the wide open south-facing bowl. Because of the southern aspect, the snow transforms well in the spring. On the gentle ride down, skiers pass a small alpine lake, and a small hamlet called Le Clou....

Col de la Grassaz is a great choice to keep you away from any temptation to take things any steeper if avalanche conditions dictate, whilst also giving you a fantastic view of the Tarentaise giant the Grande Casse as you pass in front of it....

Starting at the base of the Leisse chairlift, this route can be completed in a half day, even when you choose to take your time and stay for a few beers at the Refuge de la Leisse (if it’s open - always check!)....

A fine short tour which gets you a long way from the lifts in a short time, with great views onto the Grande Casse, Grande Gliere and more as you near the top of the skin! Starting from the Col de Chanrossa take the traverse under the Roc Merlet face to below the 2 small rock towers, where a short skin or bootpack will get you to the obvious shoulder....

A brilliant short ski tour to a well-positioned summit with views of the Grande Casse and the other major Vanoise peaks up behind Pralognan - a stunning skyline which is worth the walk....

This route could not be much more easily accessed because it starts at the confluence of the Jouty, Près and Pertuis chairlifts, all of which are part of the sprawling Megève ski area....

Situated on the edge of the Beaufortain this circular ski tour is a fantastic journey through mellow terrain. The views towards the Pierra Menta in one direction and the Dômes de Miage and Mont Blanc Massif in the other direction are fantastic on a clear day....

The traverse of the Col de la Fenêtre from La Masse to le Châtelard gives a fantastic day out on moderate terrain, with an infinite number of variations possible depending on snow, fitness, weather etc....

The Roc du Blanchon is a 2747m summit which gives a great day tour in its own right from Pralognan, or an easy day on the way in to or out of the Roc de la Pêche refuge as part of a multi-day tour in the Vanoise....

An enjoyable tour in the shadow of the imposing bulk of the Glaciers de la Vanoise, the upper slopes below the col are mostly north-facing and can hold some very good snow - it is also possible to prolong the ascent by continuing up to the Col Supérieur du Génépy (approx....

A wide open slope with lots of space for everyone to leave their track on a powder day. This is one of Courchevel’s classic off piste runs and as a consequence there can be a sizeable queue of people waiting for the chairlift to open after a snowfall! The line is easy to scope out from the Chanrossa chairlift - from the top of this or the Roc Merlet chair cut under the top of the Chanrossa chair and traverse right (or for an easier entry ski the first steep pitch and rightwards path of the Jean Pachod red run and then head out skier’s right)....

This is a beautiful run with incredible views and a real backcountry, big mountain feel. It can get tracked out very quickly as its popular with guides but that takes nothing away from the adventure....

A great view followed by some relatively gentle but flowing skiing. If snow conditions allow you can rejoin the valley through some narrow couloirs but generally it's better to take the forest path back....

Take the 'Clocheret' chairlift between Arc 1600 and 1800. At the top put skis on backpack and start the boot pack up the open gully on your right, its an obvious path to take that ascends for about 15 mins and then traverses for about 10 metres before a short climb up to reach the back of the Fond Blanc bowl....