- You notice so much more when you go slow! Snowshoeing offers a great connection with the environment. Moving at a walking pace, savour the scenery, and the fresh, crisp cold air.
- Explore untouched corners where skiers don’t go, discover flora and fauna, the path less travelled and pristine snow.
- If you can walk, you can snowshoe! It is often possible to walk locally on prepared trails with just your hiking boots with the addition of ‘yak tracks’ or similar grips that you can fit to your own boots to prevent slipping on icy patches. For deeper snow or to get off the beaten path snowshoes are the only way to go!
- It’s accessible to most ages and fitness levels
Cost
Self-guided: No cost if you are discovering your own paths with just your boots. Around €10-12 per day to rent snowshoes and poles.
Join a group: With DaysAway Adventures, our local English hiking guides, you can join an open group snowshoe walk with others from €40pp or why not book yourself a private guided tour for you and your group from €280.
How to
Self-guided – Route dependent
- Download a map from our links below or drop into one of the tourist offices to pick up a free map and get advice about snow conditions
- Or rent some shoes and off you go! Take a free bus to your destination or a paid pedestrian lift.
Guided
- Group – Navigate to one of the meeting points. There are pick-up points in each village
- Private – Let the guides come and pick you up!
Tips/advice
- Wear boots! Boots prevent snow being flicked up into your shoes, are more comfortable with the straps to secure them into the snowshoes and keep your feet warmer.
- Bring poles if you have them. They are included if you book a guided tour
- As always, water and suntan lotion are great ideas! We always recommend full-spectrum SPF 50 for both skin and lips.
Intro
Sadly, I am not the product of 2 massive ski fans; my dad is, my mum not so much.
This was sad as I wanted my mum to experience the inspiring beauty and exhilarating adventures of what a winter sports day offers. When mum would tell me she would like to see me on my birthday, a part of me would say ‘drat a day missing skiing’.
Then we discovered a way that my mum and I could enjoy the jaw-dropping beauty of the mountains, either together, or something she could do while I skied. Either way, we could then share the pinnacle of the day – adventure stories over afternoon tea, by the warmth of the fire, in the chalet with other guests.
Even if you are in my camp and feel you would rather spend the day skiing, you really should try snowshoeing you will be SO surprised how much you miss travelling fast skiing rather than slow. Mountain fauna – deer, ibex that get startled when you ski, so are long gone, signs of their tracks, life in deep winter, the variety of trees, hoar frosts, snow formations, frozen waterfalls/steams, different shaped flakes, hidden huts oh and views. You will never forget when you go slow and take the time to notice. It’s a quieter kind of mountain magic—unhurried, introspective, and gently transformative.
Layer this with a guide and the experience is further immersive, someone telling you who the tracks belong to, about the plants – their medicinal properties, how the snow structures form, survival techniques and you have an unforgettable core memory.
Guided Experiences with DaysAway Adventures
The guided experience is enhanced by the wonderful knowledge of some of our favourite mountain guides, Viv and Jason (International Mountain Leaders) of DaysAway Adventures. With these two walking encyclopedias, you will see the beauty of the mountains as so much deeper than snow deep and more than likely gain so many stories to tell around the fire later that day.
Core memories
- Sunset & Snowshoe
- Snowshoe & Fondue: Gather mid-route for a warm, alpine fondue served in the snow..
- Snowshoe & Yoga: Add extra mindfulness with a mountain-side yoga session
Private Snowshoe and Bespoke Experiences
Enjoy a snowshoe walk tailored just for you and your group—with door-to-door transit, equipment, hot drink and cake included.
- Half-Day Private from €280 (up to eight people, then €35 per extra person): your choice of walk, Sunset Snowshoe, Snow shelter building, Snowshoe & Yoga or Snowshoe & Fondue (Cheese or chocolate!) out on the mountainside.
- Full-Day Private from €380 (up to eight people, then €35 per extra person), with lunch at a mountain restaurant or snow shelter building in the morning and hike in the afternoon.
Open-Group Snowshoe Walks
Join small groups (up to eight) for a sociable guided walk. These sessions include minibus pick‑up from select spots, snowshoes, poles, a hot drink and cake!
- Half-Day Intro & Slower Pace – Ideal for beginners or those recovering from injury, using easier paths and at a steady pace.
- Afternoon/Sunset Walk – Fantastic for seeing Morzine glow at dusk, village lights awaken, and maybe a torch-lit return under the stars.
- Full-Day Further Walk – A longer adventure for hiking-fit participants, with a pack lunch and deeper exploration of the Portes du Soleil scenery
| Feature | Open Group | Private Group |
| Group Size | Max 8 people (mixed) | Just your group (up to 8) |
| Pick-Up | Included from central Morzine | Included from your chalet |
| Price | From €55 per person | From €280 total |
| Schedule | Fixed dates & times | You choose the date & time |
| Pace | Set by the group | Tailored to your ability |
| Route Choice | Pre-selected | Customisable (forest, summit, lakeside etc) |
| Special Extras | Hot drink & cake | Add fondue (+€10 pp), yoga (+€18 pp), or snow shelter |
| Best For | Solo travellers, couples, sociable guests | Families, groups of friends, special occasions |
| Book | daysawayadventures.com/open-snowshoe | daysawayadventures.com/private-snowshoe |
Let’s do this
- Choose your style: Open group or private.
- Select your experience: Classic half-day, sunset, yoga, fondue or full-day.
- Dress right: Warm waterproof boots, layers, gloves, hat, sunglasses and a small backpack with water and snacks.
- Book early: Seasonal slots fill up—especially for bespoke experiences.
Non guided
The hardest part is knowing if you will need snowshoes or not! In most cases, it is better to be safe than sorry so if in doubt, best to bring snowshoes. Most ski shops rent them cheaply for the day and you can always clip them to a rucksack if you don’t need them.
Select starter examples
If you don’t have snowshoes for most of these select walks, you would be alright walking in boots, maybe with poles.
- Morzine: The loop of the river that runs through Morzine is an easy well well-trodden route (# 3 on the Morzine link). Ergine is a haven (bus from Morzine, #5 on the Morzine link) lots of hikes in the wilderness, Crapahute is a nice stop for lunch/coffee .
- Les Gets: The walk to Mont Caly from Mont Chery is beautiful with a nice coffee/lunch stop at the end
- Montiond/Avoiraz: Loop of Lake Montiond.
Or pick a route
- Morzine : https://en.morzine-avoriaz.com/top-5-snowshoeing-outings-in-morzine/
- Les Gets : https://lesgets.com/medias/documents/plan_rando_raquettes_skidefond.pdf
- Montiond/Avoiraz : https://www.avoriaz.com/en/winter-activities/our-winter-activities/walking–snowshoeing/
