Mont Blanc Winter Activity Week

Staff member Louisa Richardson travelled to Chamonix in winter and you can read her article to get a personal viewpoint of the holiday.

The Chalet is run by Oliver and Elaine Ensor and is perched on the hillside above the charming village of Les Houches. There are 9 bedrooms, all with private facilities and some with balconies. There is also a sauna and hot tub that can be used after a day's walk - very welcome! The chalet has a dining room, a comfortable wood-panelled lounge with leather armchairs opening onto 2 balconies, and fire place room where complimentary tea and coffee can be taken and drinks are available from a self service bar. Chalet facilities include free unlimited internet on your computer or the chalet computer, satellite TV, DVD, video and drying room.

Katarzyna Crompton - Customer Operations

All of the activities arranged are designed as beginner level and full instruction will be given before you undertake any of them. Previous experience isn't essential (although it always helps!) but a reasonable level of fitness is required.

Ian Langford - Sales

There's really no restiction, whatever feels comfortable for you. Whether that's a wheelie case or a rucksack, you won't be carrying it too far so don't worry!

Amanda Ceraolo - Product Manager

You should take waterproof walking boots or insulated boots with good ankle support. Snow shoes can be adjusted to fit any size boot, so you shouldn't have any problems.

 Rachel George - Customer Operations

Sue Weatherby, one of our clients, travelled on an Exodus showshoeing trip and you can read her article to get a personal viewpoint of the activity.

Even well established ski resorts have trouble guaranteeing good snow conditions throughout the season, but we have the great advantage that we can operate in a variety of snow conditions which skiers might find difficult. There is generally good snow cover throughout our snowshoeing season, but at times we may have days when we will be walking below the snowline. In light snow conditions you might expect to begin walking with your snowshoes strapped to your pack, then stop to put them on as we reach more consistent snow-cover. Usually April departures may be spring-like, with snow on the top, and wild flowers appearing at lower levels, although recent years have had late heavy snowfalls.

Danuta Janik - Customer Operations

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to Switzerland where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to France where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to Italy where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

Our Winter Grading system: Many of our holidays are aimed at beginners and are designed for people of just average fitness. All necessary instruction and equipment is included. Snowshoeing, dogsledding and snowmobiling are easy to pick up and require no previous experience. Cross-country skiing will involve more intensive instruction, and our groups are carefully graded to ensure participants have similar levels of experience.

It is important to choose a holiday appropriate to your fitness and experience levels. Of course some are tougher than others and the activity profile section gives more detail about what to expect. All of our cross-country skiing holidays use the grading systems below.

Cross-country ski grades
1 Beginners
2 Intermediates (suitable for confident beginners)
2+ Intermediates (not suitable for beginners)
3 Advanced
4 Strenuous

NB: The cross-country grades are listed against the departure dates on the holiday dates and prices pages so you can check which is the best week to travel with the correct grade for your ability. 

Cross-country skiing or Nordic skiing is becoming one of the most popular winter sports. Using longer, thinner and lighter skis than downhill, with bindings that let you lift your heel, we explore the winter landscapes away from the confines of the alpine pistes. Cross-country skiing can be undertaken on prepared tracks (loipe) or off-track, allowing the group to explore the winter landscape.

Tom Wilkinson - Product Manager

For XC skiing, generally warm and comfy should be the rules!

The important thing is to wear layers: when you wear several layers you stay warmer because the air can circulate between them (so always better than one t-shirt and one big jumper for instance); the other advantage of layers is that you can adjust what you wear to the temperature. So it might be cold in the shade, but when in the sun and moving around, you may want to wear just a long-sleeved t-shirt (you need to have your arms covered to as it is easy to get ‘snow burn’ if you fall on uncovered arms).

Traditional downhill ski clothing is usually too warm for this type of skiing, particularly in the Alps where temperatures can be warmer. We recommend a long-sleeved thermal base layer and a windstopper fleece, or an ordinary fleece and a light weight waterproof. We also recommend that you wear thermals or tops made from wicking fabric: they keep you warm and dry a lot quicker than synthetic materials. If you’re sweating and it is really cold outside, you need clothes that’ll dry quickly; otherwise, once your body cools down, you’ll be really cold from having a wet t-shirt.

Trousers need to be windproof, but jeans and lightweight cotton ones are not suitable. For colder days and a buff or scarf is useful and it is good to have a hat that covers your ears, and both thin and thicker gloves (downhill skiing gloves are usually too bulky). Walking socks are generally best for warmth and comfort in cross-country ski boots. Finally, don’t forget your sunglasses and sun cream!

Rachel George - European Operations

For more information on the different types of winter trips that we do, please have a look at our Winter Activies programme online.

Our leaders will do their utmost to ensure the personal safety and security of our clients,but all winter activities do bring a risk of physical injury. Beginners to certain activities such as cross-country skiing or ski-touring will inevitably fall over many times; usually the falls are minor and are regarded as part of the fun, but occasionally more serious injuries (such as broken bones) occur. On all mountain winter holidays we have to take extra care for our clients’ safety. Where there is a risk of avalanche, falling on slopes or dangers due to the cold, our guides are extra cautious. If the guide considers situations to be above a reasonable level of risk, activities may have to be cancelled. However, please note that we can never completely eliminate all risks.

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!