Cross-Country Ski Traverse of the Jura

P1040350

P1040300

P1040220

P1040350

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Trans Jura Cross Country Ski

Discover the stunning Jura mountains
6-day point-to-point ski tour
Follow the famous Transjurassienne race route
This trip combines the highest ski areas on the TJS and the GTJ to have the best snow cover

Why Choose Cloud 9 Adventure

Fully qualified and expert guide
Authentic local accommodation
Full luggage support

Trans Jura Cross-Country Ski: Dates and Prices

AT A GLANCE

7 nights

6 days' skiing

Luggage delivery

Group size 4-8

Join: Les Rousses, France

End: Giron, France

Nearest airport: Geneva

ACCOMMODATION

5 nights in hotels

2 nights in gites/hostels

DIFFICULTY GRADING

8

Challenging

Trans Jura Cross-Country Ski

The Jura Cross-Country Ski Traverse is a challenging ski trip in the beautiful Jura mountains. This route was first completed in 1978, and follows much of the route of the famous Transjurassienne ski race. The Jura mountains are still something of a secret, allowing us to experience true peace and tranquility and a glimpse of authentic mountain life. The rolling landscapes are quite different from the more jagged mountains of the Alps, and have a much more Nordic feel.

What to expect

As this is quite a remote area the accommodation options are limited, but we have selected the most charming and authentic, where we can enjoy traditional local food, wine and hospitality. There is full luggage support, so we can travel light with just daypacks - our main bags will be waiting for us on arrival at our accommodation.

Each day we will aim to cover around 20-30 kilometres of trails, with a fair amount of ascents and descents, so participants need to be able to ski for around 6 hours per day, at a good pace. This trip is suitable for those with previous cross-country or Nordic skiing experience, and a good knowledge of cross-country skiing techniques, particularly the snowplough for steeper descents. If you have any questions at all about whether this trip is right for you, just ask.

We have combine the famous GTJ (Grande Traverse of the Jura) and the TJS (Trans Jura Suisse) in order to stick to the higher ski areas and therefore have better snow cover.

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TRIP NOTES

Trans Jura Cross Country Ski: Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Les Rousses

We meet at the group hotel in the French town of Les Rousses, a popular cross-country ski destination and easy to reach from Geneva Airport. We will meet the guide in the evening, giving us time to organise ski hire, and any last-minute kit.

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Day 2 - Transfer to Col de Givrine. Ski to Col de Marchairuz

After breakfast we take a short transfer to the Col de la Givrine in Switzerland, where we can buy our ski passes for the week. After donning our skis we ease ourselves into our trip with some gentle trails through the pine trees and across snowy meadows. The relatively gentle terrain leads us to Les Pralets, where we can have a picnic lunch, the on to the final steep climb to Marchairuz, which will be our base for the night.

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Skiing: approx 3-4 hours

Distance: 21km

Altitude gain / loss: +460m / -230m

Day 3 - Marchairuz to Mollendruz

Today's tracks take us on a journey through traditional cheese country and open meadows, below the peak of Mont Tendre (1678m). Leaving our hotel at the Col du Marchairuz, we cross country ski through beautiful, rolling landscapes as far as our unique lunch spot, 'Refuge Bon Acceuil', which is an old railway carriage that has now been turned into a cosy mountain hut. Lunch marks our high point of the day and from here it's a fun descent all the way to the Chalet Mollendruz (for coffee and cake!) before a final push to the Col de Mollendruz. Our accommodation for tonight is a hotel in the village of Pont, situated on the Lac de Joux. A taxi will take us from the col down to our hotel.

Distance: 17 km / 10.5 miles

Ascent: 340m / 1115ft Descent: 700m / 2296ft

Approximate cross country skiing time: 6 hours

Accommodation: Hotel, evening meal included

Luggage access

Day 4 - Mouthe to Chapelle des Bois

For the next three days we will follow the route of the Transjurassienne, which is one of the most important cross country ski races in France, and takes place over 2 days every February. We take a trail through a wonderful pine forest to Pré-Poncet, then head into Combe des Cives where we start a pleasant descent down to Chapelle des Bois.

Accommodation: Gite/hostel, dinner included

Luggage access

Skiing: approx 7-8 hours

Distance: 26km

Altitude gain / loss: +390m / -370m

Day 5 - Chapelle des Bois to Les Rousses

We leave Chapelle des Bois on fabulous ski trails, and head towards Bellefontaine, enjoying beautiful views along the way. We arrive in Les Rousses, which is home to the French National Nordic Ski School and over 220km of cross country trails. It is also our base for the night, and we should arrive with enough time to explore in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Skiing: approx 5 hours

Distance: 17km

Altitude gain / loss: +300m / -350m

Day 6 - Les Rousses to Lajoux

We start by heading uphill to the forêt du Massacre, named after an historic battle, and home to the oldest fir trees in France. After a steady climb we reach our highest point of the day, and the charming Chalet de la Frasse (1400m), where we can enjoy a lunch stop in the heart of the forest. We then descend to our hotel in the small village of Lajoux.

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Skiing: approx 8 hours

Distance: 25km

Altitude gain / loss: +425m / -350m

Day 7 - Lajoux to Giron

This is the last day of our ski tour, but also the longest, as we ski through the Hautes Combes. We head to the village of Bellecombe on a winding trail up and along a limestone crest, with stunning views of the mountains and ridges. We reach our highest point just under Cret au Merle at 1448m, followed by a gradual descent through the forests to the end of the trail at Giron, where we can enjoy a well-deserved refreshment break. We then take a short transfer to our hotel in Giron, where we can have a final meal and celebrate the end of our epic adventure.

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Skiing: approx 8-9 hours

Distance: 28km

Altitude gain / loss: +600m / -750m