Speeding down slopes is a pillar of mountain culture, but slow down the pace and the wintry scenery around you will come into focus. Sprawled across the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France, the department of Isère spans 22 ski resorts, four massifs (Vercors, Chartreuse, Belledonne and Oisans), two regional nature parks and the Écrins National Park. Glistening lakes, towering peaks, snow-laden forests: with such diverse landscapes, there are countless opportunities to get immersed in nature, and activities like ski touring and snowshoeing offer the chance to do just that.
1 NORDIC SKIING
This age-old Scandinavian activity has multiple variations: cross-country skiing, popular with beginners, involves gliding with straight strides on flat or uphill tracks; skate skiing requires a more energetic, diagonal motion. Try it at the Nordic site of Haut Vercors, crisscrossed by 95 miles of marked pistes. La Royale is one of the most popular routes, covering a loop of 18 miles connecting the villages of Corrençon, Villard-de-Lans and Saint-Julien en Vercors.
2 SNOWSHOEING
This story is from the November 2021 edition of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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This story is from the November 2021 edition of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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