Pra Loup is a paradise for all skiers. Yes, all of them, without exception. Whether you like to carve on perfectly groomed slopes or carve your way away from the crowds, ski touring is an integral part of our playground. You know, that famous sealskin ski (without seals, of course — we’re not savages)?
Here, it is practiced gently, silently, at your own pace, and above all in a grandiose natural setting.
Once reserved for beautiful spring days, ski touring is now enjoyed throughout the winter, as soon as the first snowfall falls. In Pra Loup, to start serenely, marked routes are proposed. You go up in skins, you go down the slopes: ideal for discovering the practice in complete safety.
These marked routes are accessible throughout the opening season of the ski area, generally from mid-December to mid-April depending on snow conditions. On some segments, a light grooming can be carried out to facilitate progress on the ascent.
Far from the lifts The Mercantour National Park
Fancy a little more wildness? Thanks to ski touring, you have access to unspoilt off-piste sectors, far from the hustle and bustle of the ski lifts. Up there, in the secret valleys of the Mercantour National Park, the mountain offers itself to you in its raw state.
Snow ? Powdery, immaculate, ungroomed.
Silence ? Absolute. Just the squeal of the skins under your skis, your breath, and the murmur of the peaks.
The resort ? Far. But not too much either: you’ll be back in time for the aperitif (and the fondue, don’t worry).
Leaves a trace, but discreet, respectful and ephemeral.
And leave with this rare feeling: that of having experienced the mountains differently.
From Bayasse, a real gateway to the Mercantour National Park, other unmarked routes are available to you to explore the secret valleys of the Mercantour. Here, ski touring takes on another dimension: wilder, more committed, more intimate. You gain access to a unique playground where every summit becomes an adventure, every descent a reward.
- Cime de la Plate
- Col de la Cayolle
- Mont Pelat
- Head of the dovecote
- Col de Sanguinière
- Small Talon collar
- Pas de la Grande Barre
- Col de la petite Cayolle
- Rest of the Fond / Col de la Bonette
3 marked ski touring routes to explore the mountains in a different way
Thanks to our 3 marked and secure routes, you can learn or practice ski touring with confidence. Far from the noise, but always in a framed setting. Each route is mapped (GPX files available) and designed to give you an accessible, progressive and immersive experience.
With these trails, Pra Loup opens a gentle and reassuring gateway to this practice that is becoming more and more attractive. You don’t have to be a mountain pro to experience this unique sensation : climbing with the strength of your legs alone, in the silence of fresh snow.
Go up serenely, go back down the slopes, discover the mountains in a different way!
In Pra Loup, ski touring is a breath of fresh air… Marked.
“Open” itinerary
This route is suitable for those who want to try ski touring on a gentle and easy route.
“Elite” itinerary
This course is designed for sportsmen who want to train all winter long on a technical route with steep slopes…
“Alpine” itinerary
This route offers magnificent views and scenery of the surrounding mountains. The itinerary climbs in difficulty with a technical finish.
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In Pra Loup, ski touring is practiced in complete safety
Did you think that ski touring was only for seasoned athletes, ready to get lost in the infinite whites?
The good news is that this is no longer the case. In Pra Loup, ski touring is open to everyone, or almost. As soon as you master a blue slope in alpine skiing, you can put on your skins and discover another side of the mountain!
Ski touring in complete safety
The adventure does not stop at the official markings. For the most curious (and supervised!), ski touring outside the area is free of the classic opening dates. Thanks to the accompaniment of a mountain guide, you can leave earlier in the season or extend the experience after the resort closes, to secret routes, untouched.
Pra Loup ski school: ski touring
Our mission: to make your stay an unforgettable experience by sharing our passion for the mountains.
Oxygène Vallée de l’Ubaye ski & snowboard school: ski touring
Oxygène is a ski school with 30 years experience. Our small team of local people will take you on a…
Pra Loup French ski school: ski touring
The ESF of Pra Loup offers you ski touring. It’s a nice and friendly way to get away from it…
Christophe Bracciani: ski touring
State-certified instructor. Off-piste skiing, cross-country skiing.
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Want more?
Ubaye & Mercantour : a paradise for ski touring
The checklist for ski touring