Smaller Groups
These courses are designed for groups up to 30 in number (typical class size), or the first students to sign up! We build the multi activity course based around the outcomes you want to achieve. We select activities that will suit your group and their level of experience, so our instructors can adapt the sessions to make them inspiring, challenging, Fun and achievable. And your students get the quality supervision and coaching you expect.
WHITE WATER RAFTING
The Hautes Alpes is the centre of white water rafting and kayaking in France, offering some of the most exciting rivers in Europe. The region has rivers of every grade so there is something for every group. Our team of highly experienced raft guides all work under the expert leadership of David King, one of the most highly respected guides in France. Our instructors encourage and train their students to navigate their inflatable bucking bronco through the thrills and spills of the Durance’s turbulent rapids. A full-on rollercoaster of a ride!
Split into teams of seven, students are first equipped with wet suits, neoprene footwear and helmets, plus a rash top if conditions necessitate. Then a full safety brief from David and his team, before the off! It is always the most favoured activity and allows a ride not to be forgotten.
ROCK CLIMBING
The art and fun of moving over stone! Equipped with specialist safety equipment, students will scale sheer rock faces and learn to challenge themselves in this vertical arena. We teach bouldering, top roping, leading and multi pitch rock climbing. We can deliver to any level from an introduction to top-roping as part of a multi activity program session, to one of our specialist course’s where we can teach and coach you to reach that next level.
The Hautes Alpes, where we run all our courses, is famous for its rock climbing. We have six different rock types here and over 350 crag locations to choose from. This is definitely an activity not to miss teaching you the fun of balance, and moving over and across vertical obstacles where you have to think in 3D!
GLACIER TRAVEL
The AlpBase Academy is situated at the gateway to the mountains of Les Hautes Alpes, so called because the region has the largest number of high mountains between 3,000-4,000m. in altitude in the whole of France. Consequently, there are many glaciers here where we take our groups of students to enjoy the amazing alpine glacial scenery.
Glacial travel is literally as it sounds. Under the careful supervision of fully qualified IFMGA mountain guides our groups explore the various formations on and around a glacier. Our local guides instruct techniques such as ice climbing, ice axe arrest, and safe movement fully roped up over technical terrain using crampons, ski poles and ice axes. Students learn about avalanche awareness and rope techniques such as crevasse rescue and belaying on snow and ice. They are also taught about how glaciers are formed, the geology of this high-altitude range, and the history of the Ecrins Massif.
The Hautes Alpes are well known amongst mountaineers and alpinists for their dramatic peaks. The mountaineering elite have frequented this area since the beginning of the 19th century when the famous British Alpinist, Edward Whymper, together with local French Guides Croz and Almer, made the first ascent of the highest peak in this range, La Barre des Écrins (4,102m.) on June 25, 1864.
In addition to La Barre there many famous mountains here including La Meije, Mt Pelvoux and Mt. Ailefroide but there are also lots of lesser known peaks and summits complete with interesting glaciated terrain. In short, our glacier travel activity is very popular with both teachers and pupils.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
The Hautes Alpes has literally thousands of kilometers of specialist lift-assisted downhill courses, all day All Mountain trails, multi-day X-Country itineraries and gentle family routes that take as little as 30 minutes! The variety of terrain is huge including high altitude trails, forest roads, and big fun descents.
Mountain biking is always one of our most popular activities. A typical day’s itinerary starts on the valley floor when our instructors teach the students the basics of the bikes – balance, brakes, and gears! Then the principles of riding off road, inspiring the students by giving them the skills to deal with steep descents, negotiating obstacles such as steams and fallen branches, and different terrain ranging from meadowland to rocky trails.
After a morning’s training, we take a coach up to a high mountain pass when students traverse alpine slopes to an amazing viewpoint. Then it’s time for some downhill fun, as students follow purpose-built trails and single track and descend the mountain side, before the transport pick-up back to base for well-deserved tea and medals!
EXAMPLE PROGRAMME
The following course was developed for an international school. They wanted something that would push their students and give them a real sense of achievement, as well as being adventurous and fun. Based at our centre in Pelvoux, gate way to the Ecrins National Park - the largest in France - the course included 3 days of different adventure activities, with evening preparation sessions for the end-of-week expedition. This included ice climbing, glacier travel and a night in a mountain refuge at 2,500 meters.
| Day | Activity | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT | AM: Travel day PM: Welcome to centre and brief on the week | - | - |
| - | AM | PM | EVE |
| sun | Mountain bike, training and assessment valley floor | Down Hill ride starting at the top of Puy St Vincent ski resort. | Callum Muskett talk |
| MON | Via Ferrata and zip wire around the Durance gorge | Rock climbing at one of the many local crags | Mountain boot and crampon fitting |
| TUES | All day white water rafting on the Durance river class 3 | All day white water rafting on the Durance river class 3 | Sports and team challenge’s |
| WED | Walk to the mountain refuge, walking up through stunning alpine scenery and wildlife | Go on to the glacier and try ice climbing, and learn about the glacier and the high mountains around it. | Chilled evening in the mountain refuge, cards etc |
| THURS | Walk down from mountain refuge | Trip to Briancon’s old medieval fort | Awards night and disco |
| FRI | Travel Day | - | - |
Thank you for another great Year 9 KS3 multi-activity course. It was a pleasure to work with you, as always – a great week. I was completely worn out by the end of the week, but with 62 students and 10 teachers in total it was a lot to process! In terms of the pupils we managed to get through waves, up climbs and over mountains, I think that the week was one of the most successful I can remember. Your program in the Hautes Alpes remains just about the most adventurous and ambitious course imaginable for kids of that age from a city school – long may it stay that way!!
Best wishes,
MarkMark Manville
Head of Business Studies
British School of Paris
Jun 9, 2013
From Michael Farley
Subject: Re: Well done and THANK YOU .......Leadership In Action
To all climbing participants,
Thank you so much for supporting our Climbers Against Diabetes fund raising challenge. And thank you for your inspiring school presentation, Jerry.
We're very happy to have given Sam and all involved this opportunity - a great effort and all for your fantastic cause. Lots of kids are going to benefit from the climb.
Well done again to all involved - and thanks to you Jerry for the inspiration in the first place.
Best wishes,
Mick
Michael Farley
Head Master
Harrow Bangkok
13 Jun 2016From: Kevin Moran
SMS Text
To: Jerry Gore, The AlpBase Academy
I would like to say I have been highly impressed with this year’s Yr. 7 KS3 week. All activities have been a direct improvement on other providers course. Also, the whole team was very impressed with Rob Benton, our Course Director for Yr. 7 throughout the week.Kevin Moran
Head of Activities
British School of Paris
Tuesday 21 June 2016From: Headmaster – BSP To: Jerry Gore
Subject: Residential trip (British School of Paris)
Dear Jerry,
I wanted to write to you and your team to express my thanks for all that you have done to make the 2016 BSP KS3 expeditions week such a success.
I am delighted to report that judging from all that I heard about the trips staff were very impressed with what they saw and did. Your corner of the Alps most definitely received a thumbs up!Having spoken with the students it is clear that many achieved things of which they thought they were incapable, and ensuring that they know that they really do have true grit when it comes to facing obstacles. This opportunity will be a major element in shaping their approach to challenges in the future.
Yours sincerely,
NicholasNicholas Hammond
Headmaster
The British School of Paris
Thu, Jun 23, 2016
Thank you so much for an incredible ski touring trip.
When we came up with the plan of running a school backcountry skiing trip there really were no companies out there offering this trip. But having run sport climbing trips through AlpBase Academy for a number of years, they were the obvious choice and we spoke with Rob and Jerry who were excited to work with us on this project.
This trip was completely bespoke for our requirements and Rob worked with us tirelessly to plan every detail and was always available on the phone and email to answer every query I had. In the end, the trip surpassed all the expectations of everyone involved. The accommodation was perfect, the skiing amazing and the guide was knowledgeable, connected well with the students, was patient and very safety conscious. Even throughout the course, the itinerary was tweaked to tailor it to the abilities of the students and to take advantage of the excellent snow conditions.
I think this feedback from one parent says it all “My son had an absolutely fantastic time and is smitten with powder. For a boy of few words and not known for overstatement, his rating for the trip of 9.5 out of 10 said it all”
I look forward to working with AlpBase Academy for our next trip.
Thomas Passmore
St Paul's School
