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Tour + Explore Backcountry Ski Camp

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Hold My Place

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Course Guide

Hold My Place

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Location

Serre Chevalier, France

Duration

1 weeks

Style

backcountry

Ability

Advanced

Expert

Travel To

Turin, IT

A week of touring, freeride, and off-grid adventure in the Southern French Alps. Designed for skiers ready to level up both their downhill and uphill capabilities, this camp blends coaching and guiding in Serre Chevalier’s legendary sidecountry with two iconic missions — a day exploring the raw steeps of La Grave, and a three-day hut-based tour at Refuge du Chardonnet.

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Course Spec

Terrain

Groomer

Powder/Trees

Backcountry

Freestyle

A full-spectrum backcountry adventure. From tree lines to alpine tours, you’ll build skills across it all.

Ability

Ability Guide

Novice

Intermediate

Advanced

Expert

For confident skiers hungry for deeper snow and new skills. Touring experience and a taste for adventure required.

Age

18-29

30-39

40-49

50+

Whether travelling solo or with friends, you'll find yourself in great company with like-minded skiers drawn to the backcountry.

Nationality

UK + Europe

AUS + NZ

N. America

Other

A global cohort brings this camp to life, with the kind of friendships that start on the skin track and last long after.

Course Spec

Terrain +

Ability
Ability Guide
+

Age +

Nationality +

Full Course Story 1 Weeks in Serre Chevalier, France

Spend an unforgettable week exploring the iconic terrain of Serre Chevalier and beyond — a deep dive into the backcountry culture of the Southern French Alps. This is your chance to sharpen your skiing and touring skills, push into new terrain, and connect with a tight-knit crew of adventurous skiers.

The journey kicks off with sidecountry-focused coaching around Serre Chevalier. Using lifts, traverses, and short tours, we’ll dial in your all-mountain technique, build confidence on skins, and get you moving smoothly. Midweek, the adventure levels up with a guided day at La Grave — a legendary, unpatrolled freeride mecca known for its raw terrain and steep descents.

The final chapter takes you deep into the backcountry with a multi-day ski touring mission based out of Refuge du Chardonnet. This remote alpine hut becomes your off-grid basecamp as we chase untouched snow, refine touring skills, and soak in the rhythm of hut life.

With expert guidance, wild terrain, and a crew of like-minded skiers, this is a fast-moving, high-reward week designed for those ready to explore further and ride harder — and make the kind of memories that stick with you long after the last descent.

Who’s it For +

Technical Goals +

Required Experience +

Mandatory Equipment +

Why Ski with Nonstop +

Timeline

From first turns to a backcountry finale, here’s a sample timeline to give you a feel for how your time in the Alps shapes up.

Day 1
Days 2-3
Day 4
Days 5-7
Day 8

Arrive in Serre Chevalier, settle into your accommodation, and get acquainted with your fellow participants. Prepare for an action-packed week ahead.

Spend two days exploring the sidecountry terrain of Serre Chevalier. With expert coaching, focus on refining your all-mountain skiing, avalanche safety protocols, and touring techniques, all while enjoying the varied terrain.

Head to the legendary La Grave for a day of off-piste skiing. Known for its steep and rugged slopes, La Grave offers a unique and challenging freeride experience. Guided by experts, you’ll test your skills on some of the most iconic lines in the Alps.

Embark on a three-day, off-grid backcountry adventure at the Refuge du Chardonnet. Explore pristine alpine landscapes, tackling a variety of terrain, while learning advanced touring techniques and immersing yourself in the remote, off-grid lifestyle.

Reflect on the week’s experiences and depart, taking with you enhanced skills, new friends, and unforgettable memories from the French Alps.

From first turns to a backcountry finale, here’s a sample timeline to give you a feel for how your time in the Alps shapes up.

Day 1 +

Days 2-3 +

Day 4 +

Days 5-7 +

Day 8 +

Resort

A hidden freeride gem of the Alps, Serre Chevalier is one of the largest resorts in Europe, with beautiful tree skiing, wild off-piste and a valley of charming alpine villages.

Resort Spec +

Average Snowfall

20 ft

Vertical

5,250 ft

Skiable Area

250 km

Alpine Bowls

Terrain
Snow
Culture
Nightlife

A hidden gem kept secret from the rest of the Alps, Serre Chevalier is one of the largest resorts in Europe. Famed for its uncrowded slopes, tree-lined trails and wild off-piste zones, the resort spans three valleys in the Ecrins Massif.

Serre Chevalier receives an average of 6 metres of snowfall each season. Due in large part to its north-facing slopes, high-altitude bowls and tree coverage, Serre Chevalier enjoys exceptionally good snow conditions across the resort. Deeper zones can often be found in the top powder bowls, plus lower down through the larch forests.

Serre Chevalier has a rich ski heritage, comprising four main villages in the Guisane Valley: Briançon, Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Le Monêtier. Each unique, but traditionally French and historic, all enjoy a laid-back vibe. Linked via a free ski bus, you can move easily between them.

Nightlife in Serre Chevalier is generally quite low-key but can pick up on the weekends. Après ski is laid-back and friendly, with a handful of cosy bars located around the base-areas and lift terminals. In the evenings, you can usually find some live music in one of the bars dotted along the valley, stocked with regional wines and craft beers. There is a small nightclub in Villeneuve, plus a couple of bigger ones in Briançon.

Terrain +

Snow +

Culture +

Nightlife +

Coaching

This camp is all about exploration — giving you the tools, terrain access, and confidence to go further. With expert guidance throughout the week, you’ll refine technique, develop touring skills, and get comfortable navigating challenging, ungroomed terrain — all against the stunning backdrop of the Southern Alps.

Coaching Spec +

Group Size

Groups

By Ability

Touring

Yes

Video Analysis

Yes

Sessions
Groups
Coaches
La Grave
Chardonnet

We kick off with two days of resort-based coaching to dial in your all-mountain game. With avalanche and touring gear in tow, we’ll use lifts, boot-packs, and short tours to access sidecountry terrain. It’s the perfect primer: sharpening technique, building flow, and getting hands-on with your kit and safety.

We group skiers by ability and touring experience to keep the pace right. Whether you’ve tackled a few sidecountry missions or logged proper days on the skintrack — this camp is ideal for riders who’ve dipped their boots into touring. You’ll be matched with a crew on a similar wavelength — fostering both challenge and camaraderie.

The camp is guided by seasoned coaches who live and breathe this terrain. With deep local knowledge of Serre Chevalier and a passion for helping skiers push further, they’ll lead every mission, offer constant feedback, and ensure your safety every step of the way.

Midweek, the ante turns up with a day at the legendary La Grave — a raw, unpatrolled freeride zone known for its steep faces, technical slopes, and iconic status in alpine circles. With your coaches leading the way, you’ll challenge your limits and gain invaluable experience in serious terrain — safely and with purpose.

We close the week with a three-day, two-night touring adventure to Refuge du Chardonnet — a remote backcountry hut and the perfect off-grid basecamp. Each day brings a new mission, chasing fresh lines through bowls, ridgelines, and big-mountain terrain. With tailored tips on both ascents and descents, it’s a full-immersion backcountry experience. Evenings are spent fireside, sharing stories and soaking in the quiet magic of hut life.

Sessions +

Groups +

Coaches +

La Grave +

Chardonnet +

Meet Your Coaches +

Learn More

Ben

Ski Coach // Serre Chevalier

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Damien

Ski Coach // Serre Chevalier

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Julien

Ski Coach // Serre Chevalier

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Thomas

Ski Coach // Serre Chevalier

Activities

This is more than just a week of skiing — it’s a full immersion in backcountry culture. Between touring days and high-alpine objectives, this camp is built around meaningful moments in the mountains and the stoke that comes with chasing them alongside a like-minded crew.

Experiences
Socials

Expect a packed week of adventure. You’ll move through bowls, trees, and ridgelines on daily missions, gain mileage in wild terrain, and wrap it all up with an unforgettable backcountry finale. It’s about freedom, flow, and the kind of turns that stick with you long after the season ends.

There’s no formal social calendar — but with a close-knit crew, good times come organically and there’s no shortage of mountain-town vibes. Whether it’s drinks in Villeneuve, post-tour beers, or debriefs over fondue, the social side of camp unfolds naturally. Expect friendships forged in the skintrack — and skiing pals for seasons to come.

Experiences +

Socials +

Learn More

Ski in La Grave

A cult resort — ride 2,000m of legendary freeride terrain in this ultimate untamed playground.

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Avalanche Safety Awareness

Learn the fundamentals of avalanche awareness with practical training and life-saving practice.

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Touring Clinic

Get dialled in for self-powered backcountry travel with a hands-on touring intro in wild terrain.

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Refuge du Chardonnet

A three-day hut-based touring escape in the Écrins backcountry, fully off-grid and unforgettable.

$ = Extra Cost

Tour + Explore Backcountry Ski Camp

Scroll for full course details or download the Course Guide

Course Spec

Terrain

Ability

Age

Nationality

Course Spec

Terrain +

Ability Ability Guide +

Ability

Age +

Nationality +

Overview

Full Course Story 1 Weeks in Serre Chevalier, France

Who’s it For +

Technical Goals +

Required Experience +

Mandatory Equipment +

Why Ski with Nonstop +

Day 1 +

Days 2-3 +

Day 4 +

Days 5-7 +

Day 8 +

Resort Spec +

Terrain +

Snow +

Culture +

Nightlife +

Coaching Spec +

Sessions +

Groups +

Coaches +

La Grave +

Chardonnet +

Meet Your Coaches +

Experiences +

Socials +

Hotel Mont Thabor +

What's Included

On Snow

Accommodation and Meals

+

+

Other

+

Not Included

+

Dates & Prices

How To Book

Where To Meet

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