When to Go Ski Touring: Month-by-Month Guide
There is good ski touring somewhere in the world for most of the year. This guide shows which of our destinations are at their best in each month, from Caucasus powder in January to spring snow on Iceland’s fjords in May and the volcanoes of Chile in October. Every destination links to a guided tour with dates, price and itinerary.
Ski touring destinations at a glance
| Destination | Best months | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Julian Alps – Triglav National Park | January – April | Steep limestone peaks and short approaches from Kranjska Gora |
| Slovenia Ski Touring | January – March | A week of varied tours in the Slovenian Alps |
| Monte Rosa freeride, Alagna | December – April | Big glaciated terrain and long freeride descents |
| Pyrenees – Aneto | January – April | Wild valleys below the highest summit of the Pyrenees |
| Andorra – Pyrenees (new) | February | Summits near 3,000 m from a hotel with wellness |
| Bulgaria – Rila and Pirin | January – March | Quiet peaks and comfortable bases |
| Montenegro – Durmitor | February – March | Limestone plateau above deep canyons |
| North Macedonia | January – March | Remote Balkan mountains with very few skiers |
| Romania – Carpathians | January – March | Forests, ridges and mountain huts in the Carpathians |
| Georgia – Svaneti | December – March | Caucasus powder and weekly departures from Mestia |
| Turkey – Taurus, Aladağlar | January – March | Couloirs and steep lines in a big limestone massif |
| Turkey – Lake Van | February | Dry snow on volcanoes above a high-altitude lake |
| Kyrgyzstan – Tien Shan | February – March | Cold continental powder in the mountains of Central Asia |
| Russia – Elbrus | April – June | Ski from the highest summit in Europe (5,642 m) |
| Russia – Altai | February – April | Remote Siberian mountains and deep powder |
| Iran – Damavand | March – May | A ski ascent of the highest volcano in Asia |
| Morocco – Toubkal and the High Atlas | January – March | Ski touring in Africa, up to Toubkal (4,167 m) |
| Norway – Lofoten | February – April | Peaks above the sea and northern lights |
| Iceland – Troll Peninsula | April – May | Summit-to-sea descents and long spring days |
| Chile – Volcanoes of Araucanía | October | Spring snow on five volcanoes and araucaria forests |
| Argentina – Patagonia | September – October | Hut-to-hut touring around Bariloche |
December
The season starts where the snow comes early. The Caucasus usually has good cover by Christmas, and our first Svaneti week leaves on 26 December. In the Alps, December is often a month of resort freeride and short tours while the snowpack builds.
January
Cold, short days and the best chance of light powder. January suits destinations with lower avalanche exposure and good forest terrain, and the Balkans are at their quietest.
- Georgia – Svaneti
- Bulgaria – Rila and Pirin
- North Macedonia
- Romania – Carpathians
- Turkey – Taurus, Aladağlar
- Morocco – Toubkal and the High Atlas
- Pyrenees – Aneto
- Julian Alps – Triglav National Park
- Slovenia Ski Touring
February
The busiest month of the winter and the widest choice. Continental snow is cold and dry in eastern Turkey and Central Asia, the Arctic is waking up, and the Balkans are deep in winter.
- Andorra – Pyrenees (new)
- Turkey – Lake Van
- Georgia – Svaneti
- Kyrgyzstan – Tien Shan
- Norway – Lofoten
- Montenegro – Durmitor
- Bulgaria – Rila and Pirin
- Turkey – Taurus, Aladağlar
- Morocco – Toubkal and the High Atlas
- Pyrenees – Aneto
- Slovenia Ski Touring
- Russia – Altai
March
Longer days, a deeper and more settled snowpack and the first spring snow on south faces. For many skiers March is the best all-round month.
- Norway – Lofoten
- Kyrgyzstan – Tien Shan
- Montenegro – Durmitor
- Georgia – Svaneti
- Pyrenees – Aneto
- Morocco – Toubkal and the High Atlas
- Julian Alps – Triglav National Park
- Monte Rosa freeride, Alagna
- Iran – Damavand
- Russia – Altai
April
Spring touring: early starts, firm snow in the morning and corn snow in the afternoon. High-latitude destinations are at their best.
- Iceland – Troll Peninsula
- Norway – Lofoten
- Pyrenees – Aneto
- Julian Alps – Triglav National Park
- Monte Rosa freeride, Alagna
- Iran – Damavand
- Russia – Elbrus
- Russia – Altai
May
The season moves north and up. Iceland still has snow down to the fjords, and high volcanoes such as Damavand come into condition.
June to August
Summer in the northern hemisphere. Our program pauses, which makes it a good time to plan, service your gear and book the southern hemisphere trips for the autumn.
September
Spring arrives in the southern Andes. Patagonia’s huts open for ski touring season and the snowpack is usually deep and stable.
October
Volcano season in Chile: long descents on soft spring snow from Lonquimay, Llaima and Tolhuaca, and the last weeks of the season in Patagonia.
November
Between seasons. Snow in Europe is not reliable yet, so it is the right time to check your avalanche equipment, fit new boots and book winter dates.
Frequently asked questions
In most of Europe the season runs from December to April. January and February bring the coldest snow, March is the best all-round month, and April and May are best in the far north, such as Iceland and Lofoten.
Iceland’s Troll Peninsula and high volcanoes such as Damavand in Iran usually still have good snow in May. In the Alps, May touring is possible high up but conditions vary from year to year.
In the southern hemisphere. September and October are spring in the Andes, so Patagonia and the volcanoes of Chile are at their best while Europe waits for winter.
January and February, especially in continental climates such as the Caucasus, eastern Turkey and Kyrgyzstan, where the snow stays cold and dry.
From March to May in the northern hemisphere and in September and October in the southern hemisphere. Spring snow is firm in the morning and softens into corn as the day warms up.
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