Nordic Walking Tailor Made Trips

Nordic Walking is growing worldwide and what better place to take your poles than to the Alps! Here there are many trails specially designated for Nordic walking, such is the enthusiasm of the French and Swiss for this particular activity.

We can offer bespoke Nordic Walking holidays where you choose your own dates, places to visit, style of accommodation and budget. It's the perfect solution, design your own holiday, but without having to make all the bookings.

Because Nordic walking burns more calories than normal walking we only exercise in the mornings, allowing you the rest of the day to relax or to enjoy the local culture. We can organise a visit to a Swiss vineyard for a wine tasting; we can travel through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Italy; or while away the hours at the luxurious outdoor thermal baths at Lavey-Les-Bains in Switzerland. Because your Instructors are also qualified International Mountain Leaders you might also want to spend an afternoon walking in the high mountains.

The Chamonix Valley in France is an ideal base for your holiday as Italy and Switzerland are just a 30 minute drive away. With Geneva airport just over an hour away it makes a perfect weekend or longer break.

Below we've suggested walking areas for a Chamonix based holiday.

France

• Chamonix – known as the mountaineering capital of the world, this first class Nordic Walking venue has countless walking possibilities. Choose from the numerous valley walks to plateaus such as above Les Houches and peaks like the Tête de Balme. You can't fail to take in breathtaking views of snow capped mountains, including the highest in Western Europe, Mont Blanc.
• Vallorcine and Argentiere - head towards the Swiss border to the hamlet of Vallorcine which means ‘valley of the bears'. Unfortunately because the locals used to pay their taxes in bear meat there are none left today! Our tracks take us through the village following the ancient stagecoach route.
• Plateau D'Assy - a village on a stunning south facing plateau nestled under the spectacular cliffs of the Chaines de Fiz, offering commanding views to Mont Blanc, and the Aravis mountains. From here we can walk up through the wooded area, through hamlets to a mountain refuge and lake for a relaxing lunch tasting traditional French cuisine.
• Les Contamines-Montjoie – the Contamines valley is at the foot of the beautiful snowy Dôme de Miage. We suggest that you take time here to look at the town and visit the chapel of the Notre-Dame de la Gorge. Walking routes take you up an ancient farmers' droving road where you reach a mountain pasture, alpage, where the climb is well worth the view.

Switzerland

• Les Marecottes and Salvan – these two villages, situated close to the French border, have streets lined with traditional style chalets and hay barns on stilts. Each street that you turn into deserves photographing. It's a perfect location to Nordic walk, explore and enjoy your surroundings. Build in time here for the outside pool carved out of the rock for a refreshing cool down.
• Champex – is one of the villages visited on the famous circular walk around Mont Blanc, the Tour du Mont Blanc. The lake makes for a relaxing venue after a walk up and around Val d'Arpette visiting the hidden away hamlets and farming areas.
• Trient and the Emosson Dam - A short scenic train ride on the Mont Blanc Express takes us over the Swiss Border. We can explore the village of Trient and head up to the Col du Forclaz for a well earned morning coffee. We can gain height by then driving up to the mountains to the Emosson Dam. Here we can enjoy wonderful views of the big Alpine peaks that stretch into both France and Switzerland, before Nordic Walking along the lakeside.

Italy

• Val Ferret - Travel through the famous Mont Blanc Tunnel into Italy. We head up the beautiful Val Ferret and Nordic Walk to the meadows at La Vachey. The mountain views of jagged ridges, spires, and glaciers are stunning.
• Val Veny – offers some scenic Nordic walks with views to Mont Blanc and the famous Peuterey Ridge. We could consider an afternoon exploring the covered alleyways of Courmayeur and checking out the Italian ice cream and coffee, or spend an afternoon relaxing in the luxurious thermal spa at Pre St Didier. The therapeutic benefits of thermal spas have been enjoyed
  since ancient times – the perfect de-stress!

Mountain Nights

The chance to spend a night in a mountain inn is an opportunity not to be missed. Accommodation ranges from ancient monasteries to rustic wooden farming chalets and even hotel style accommodation. It's a wonderful experience to spend a night high up in the mountains away from town life. You might want to consider including this option for one of the nights of your holiday? We can walk during the day and reach our accommodation for the afternoon and enjoy a cool beer as we watch the sun set.

• The Grand St Bernard Hospice is on a high pass linking Italy and Switzerland and is home to the world famous St Bernard mountain dog. The monks at the hospice have been offering comfort to weary travellers since the 11th century.
• The Bonatti Refuge in Italy enjoys stunning views of the Mont Blanc Massif from the Italian side giving another perspective to this famous alpine range. This is a new mountain hut which pays homage to the world renowned Italian mountaineer and photographer Walter Bonatti. It makes a fantastic overnight trip, with Italian coffee and pasta to match!
• The Berrard Valley is home to one of the Chamonix Valley's wildest and most untouched areas. We can walk in the Vallorcine valley prior to heading up to the Berrard Hut for a night in the mountains.

Price

For private bookings, for individuals, families, or groups, our daily rate as qualified Nordic Walking Instructors is 200€ or £145 per day per booking.

We only use qualified Nordic Walking Instructors who are also qualified International Mountain Leaders.

If you wish we can quote you an inclusive price for bespoke Nordic Walking holidays which could include your instructor's fees and expenses, your own accommodation at a standard decided by you, pole hire and luggage transfer if required. You decide the holiday and we provide the details and price. Flights will not be included in any quote.