Fleur Couloir

A classic steep colour, for expert skiers only and with tricky route-finding
Extreme Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 931 m
- Ascent
- 1 m
- Descent
- 477 m
15 of the best couloirs in France, spread across some of the Country's most magnificent mountain ranges, this trip should be on every skier's bucket list!
Freeride Skiing, Ski Touring Difficult, Severe, Extreme
Also in Hautes-Alpes, France • Haute-Savoie, France • Isère, France • Savoie, France • Valais, Switzerland
France has a realistic claim to being the World's best country to ski in - it has the highest mountain in the Alps and the largest ski area on Earth. As if that wasn't enough, it's home to hundreds of ski resorts of all shapes and sizes, and literally thousands of ski tours. The terrain in France varies from mellow, open slopes through to steep, narrow couloirs and it is these on which this guidebook focuses.
Narrowing (pun intended) France's many couloirs down to just 15 is a tough task and these were selected primarily for their quality, but also because they will take you around some of the Country's best known resorts. In the process of skiing these you'll visit the legendary 3 Valleys and ski beneath Mont Blanc and the Meije. In addition, you'll also ski tour in some wild and relatively unknown areas such as the Queyras and the Aravis.
So, book some time off work and head to the south of France!
Once you've got the taste for the skiing there, check out some of our more specific guidebooks to the various ranges that the Country is home to.
A classic steep colour, for expert skiers only and with tricky route-finding
Extreme Freeride Skiing
Easy to access, steep couloir skiing. A La Grave classic.
Severe Freeride Skiing
A wild adventure and 800m long couloir
Severe Freeride Skiing
Epic, wild terrain with tricky route finding. If in doubt, go with a local instructor or guide.
Difficult Freeride Skiing
Probably the most spectacular descent on the Hellbronner, this line goes through some huge terrain and features steep freeriding.
Severe Ski Touring
This is a classic extreme skiing line, not only in Chamonix, but across the Alps. 900 meters of sustained and serious terrain between 40-50 degrees; enough to get anyones heart pumping.
Extreme Freeride Skiing
A long complex descent on moderate terrain; a great adventure.
Difficult Freeride Skiing
Fantastic but serious big mountain line on a majestic, wild north face
Severe Freeride Skiing
A ski mountaineering classic involving a steep climb from the Refuge de la Vanoise to the summit of the Grande Casse, the highest in the Tarentaise.
Severe Ski Touring
A large and very attractive couloir in plain view from Chamonix
Severe Ski Touring
An easy ski tour to a perfectly positioned peak, followed by a steep and exciting descent. Ski touring doesn't get much better!
Difficult Ski Touring
An excellent couloir on a prominent and quiet peak - what more can you ask for?!?!
Severe Ski Touring
A truly brilliant ski descent which you are unlikely to share.
Severe Ski Touring
A big adventure through some huge terrain
Severe Ski Touring
A classic ski couloir in a wild valley
Severe Ski Touring
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