Mountain Adventure Holidays
The 'Trans-Jura Swiss' is a 'tracked' point-to-point cross country ski journey over the Swiss mountains of the Jura. Following the success of our Grand Traverse of the Jura (GTJ), which is mainly in France, we now offer the 'TJS' - the Swiss version. The journey, first made in 1976, is made on classic cross country skis. If it is peace and tranquillity and a true taste of authentic mountain life you seek, then look no further!
Our route starts at the Col Givrine and travels eastwards along the Swiss/French border finishing at the well named 'Vue des Alpes'. Nearly all on prepared, pressed tracks covering 154km (97.5 miles), the route keeps high along the ridge and offers superb views into the Canton of Jura and southwards towards the Alps and Neuchâtel. Each day we aim to cover between 17-35km (11-22 miles) whilst carrying a small day pack. The trail keeps high ensuring the best snow conditions feeling quite often very remote. The terrain changes continuously amidst a beautiful landscape. Each night we arrive at our hotel to find our luggage waiting for us.
We meet in Les Rousses, which is actually in France. We meet here as the village is easily reached from Geneva airport, has good ski rental, and is not far from our starting point. This typical French farming town has ATM's, a tourist office, post office, sports shops, supermarket and pharmacy, useful for any last minute purchases. It is also well known in the cross country ski world for hosting one of France's most important races, the Transjurasienne. Close by are the towns of Morez and Morbier, renowned for their 300 year history in watch, clock, spectacle and cheese making.
Your guide will meet you at your accommodation this evening to assist with organising any ski hire and to brief you on the days ahead. Dinner will be a traditional French Jura style menu.
We begin our journey with a short transfer to La Givrine, just over the Swiss/French border. At the trail head we will buy our ski pass for the week. It is useful to have cash in Swiss francs as quite frequently the credit card machine at the ski pass kiosk does not work!
Our route begins with a short climb from a road pass at 1228m (4027ft). We soon link into a network of well pressed tracks through woodlands and mountain pastures. The trail undulates along a ridge, keeping at 1300m (4264ft) and winding it's way to the 'alp' and ski chalet of Les Pralets where we can stop for a picnic lunch. Continuing along rolling terrain we make the final climb to reach a mountain pass, the Col du Marchairuz at 1447m (4746ft) where we check into our first hotel for the night. We are also rewarded with the option of a sauna before supper.
Ascent: 460m (1508ft) Descent: 230m (754ft) Distance: 21km (13 miles)
Leaving the Col du Marchairuz we enjoy much of the skiing today in open countryside linking high pastures below the peak of Mont Tendre which sits at 1678m (5503ft). In the summer, the cows produce milk for both Tomme and Gruyere cheeses. Well situated for our lunch break is the 'Refuge Bon Accueil' an old charabanc now offering an ideal mountain refuge at 1500m. A charabanc was a type of horse-drawn vehicle or early motor coach which was common in the early part of the 20th century. After lunch we begin a superb descent via the Chalet Mollendruz for coffee and cakes, before reaching the Col Mollendruz at 1200m (3936ft) where we finish today's ski. A taxi will transfer us down to 1100m (3608ft) to our accommodation by the Lac de Joux.
Ascent: 340m (1115ft) Descent: 700m (1607ft) Distance: 17km (10.6 miles)
Today is one of the longest days and requires a prompt start. We resume our trail today in Pont by the Lac de Joux. Pont was once famous for it's 'ice-railway', as when the lake froze over jobs were created in cutting and shipping it's produce to the ice houses of wealthy family homes. The TJS then reaches the village of Les Charbonnieres, named so from it's history of charcoal production. We then climb the Forêt de Risoux - home to the famous wood used to make the stradavarius violins, to Le Porteau on the French border. Here we find a 5km (3 miles) section of 'untracked' trail in the forest where we make the trail ourselves! We plan to have our lunch at the wonderful Auberge Le Petite Echelle deep in the heart of the woods. Our afternoon ski meets again with good tracks before commencing a superb 300m (984ft) descent below the Mont d'Or. A final 7km (4.4 miles) on rolling terrain finally gets us to Métabief, a small ski town and our destination for the day. Due to limited accommodation here it is often necessary for our group to transfer to a neighbouring village for the night. Métabief is in France and has some shops including a pharmacy, bakers, supermarket, sports shop and an ATM.
Ascent: 740m (2427ft) Descent: 755m (2476ft) Distance: 29km (18 miles)
We rejoin the trail in Métabief and continue our crossing with another long but satisfying stage along the French/Swiss frontier. Through open farmland and deep forests we reach the Swiss liaison at Les Fourgs where we stop for our lunch. Gently well maintained trails continue before we reach a short section where we must remove and carry our skis for a walking descent. We walk over the Swiss border & customs control today at Les Verrieres-des-Joux - so don't forget your passport! If the snow is good we will now be back on track to complete Day 5 with a final 200m climb to reach our hotel for the night at the hamlet of Les Cernets.
Ascent: 800m (2624ft) Descent: 730m (2395ft) Distance: 33km (20 miles)
A shorter day today means we can enjoy a later start. The trails from Les Cernets offer first class skiing as they are regularly used for both local and international cross country ski races. Meandering through small settlements and farmland we have now reached the canton of Neuchatel. Our destination is La Brevine, known to locals as Swiss Siberia due to the fact that it once recorded Switzerland's lowest ever temperature of an amazing -40 degrees! To celebrate, it hosts the annual Fête du Froid (cold festival) but don't worry we are promised that was a one off!
Ascent: 470m (1541ft) Descent: 570m (1869ft) Distance: 19km (11.8 miles)
Our final day on the Swiss Jura traverse crosses two valleys. The first 10 kilometres (6 miles) leaving La Brevine is on flat open trails to reach La Chaux-du-Milieu. We then climb over 'La Grande Joux' giving us views north to the Val de Morteau in France. We aim to lunch at the Som Martel auberge. A fun descent through the woods to La Sagne brings us to our second valley crossing where we commence our final 300m (984ft) climb to reach the col of the Tete-de-Ran, where we have views down to la Chaux de Fonds, birthplace of architect Le Corbusier. We complete our traverse with an easy ski down to La Vue des Alpes, where on a clear day we are rewarded with views of the Jura as well as a stunning panorama of the Alps. We overnight here and enjoy a well deserved celebratory meal.
Ascent: 790m (2591ft) Descent: 540m (1771ft) Distance: 33km (20.6 miles)
Today is departure day. Buses from La Vue des Alpes has become increasingly limited in winter. We will therefore include one group transfer, included in your trip price, to the nearest train station, Neuchatel, which takes about 20 minutes. The transfer will leave at 07h45 to allow for connections to Geneva airport in time for late morning flights.
It is always our aim to complete the proposed itinerary outlined above, however, it may be necessary for our guides/instructors to adjust the daily itinerary based on the weather conditions, group safety and enjoyment.
On all of our trips we aim to accommodate our guests in well-situated, comfortable, characterful, family run accommodation.
We take time to research, update and view the best options available to us on every trip. Detailed below are examples of our favoured venues and those we intend to use. If unavailable at the time of booking we will use alternative accommodation of a similar standard.
The trip fees are based on two people sharing a room. However on many of our trips single rooms are available on request for a supplementary fee.
We meet to start our trip at our hotel in Les Rousses, France which is in fact only a few kilometres (miles) from the Swiss border. Our hostess Virginie always gives a warm welcome, and will direct you to the ski locker on arrival if you need to store your own skis. There is a little bar area, and the dining room is traditional and rustic.
Dinner will feature local dishes, and breakfast is buffet style. The rooms all have en suite facilities. There is also a 'meeting room' which we will use for our evening briefing and discussion of the trip which lies ahead.
This is a family-run hotel, well situated on the col du Marchairuz at 1471m (4824ft), offering comfortable and cosy rooms. The restaurant serves classic Swiss dishes of the region and it decorated by wood sculptures created by the owner. The bedrooms are en suite, and there is a sauna available for a small fee.
The hotel is very traditional in terms of its cuisine and you should be prepared to sample some cheese, the aroma of which will normally be quite distinctive when we arrive!
We are by the lakeside tonight in the Hotel de la Truite, in the village of Le Pont. This is a lovely old hotel with very nice bedrooms, which are all en suite. The bar has some great old photos of the activities on the lake in days gone by. In the past the ice was 'harvested' for use in hotels, and industry, and on a lighter note the lake as used for ice-skating. It claimed to be the largest natural ice-rink in the Jura.
With a surface area of 9.5 km², it is the largest lake in Switzerland lying above 1000 metres (3280ft). Lac de Joux and the nearly adjacent but much smaller Lac Brenet have no surface drainage; the water trickles away underground and only comes to the surface again a few kilometres away near Vallorbe!
Another lakeside hotel tonight, something of a theme here! The owners run four hotels in the village; the Hotel Le Lac, Hotel Beau Site, Hotel de la Poste and Hotel Spa les Rives Sauvages and availability at the time of booking will depend on which of these we will stay in. All rooms are en suite, with modern facilities including wifi. Whilst staying at any of the hotels, and if time allows upon arrival, guests have access to the pool and spa at the Hotel Les Rives Sauvages for a fee of 25 Euros. Dinner will be eaten at a local restaurant La Fromagerie where we will enjoy a traditional meal, most likely cheese fondue or raclette.
We are either in the main building of the Hotel le Lac, or most likely we stay in one of the two accommodations adjacent. The accommodation is all owned by the Hotel le Lac, with the other two buildings known as the Beau Site and La Poste.
This is a comfortable hotel in the heart of the Swiss Jura region, offering traditional dishes and expert ski tips from the owner and former Swiss cross-country ski team member Pierre-Eric Rey. After a long climb from the valley we are always happy to be here and enjoying the sauna!
The bedrooms offer en suite facilities. Dinner is usually excellent with good local dishes. It is always a treat to chat to Pierre-Eric about the snow and trail conditions, and to benefit from his expert advice.
Given that La Brévine is also known as Swiss Siberia it is good to know that our overnight is cosy! We stay at the 'white wolf', the Loup Blanc, where the dining room has a huge fire place where meat dishes are often grilled before us. The rooms are very nice, but do not all have en suite toilets and showers. As the number of rooms is limited we are just happy to have a characterful Auberge to stay in. Dinners are usually excellent.
Tonight we are on a high col which on a clear day offers amazing views of the Alps - hence the name! Once again it is right beside the ski tracks, and perfect for our overnight. The hotel is comfortable, and has sauna facilities. Dinner is normally traditional Jura fare, and breakfast is served buffet style.
Built in 1840, the hotel was last extended and fully renovated in 1948. It has always played a major part in the route over this high pass in the Jura and for nearly two hundred years has welcomed travellers.
Arrival
The Jura is easily reached by road, rail or air. The easiest way to Les Rousses is by rail to La Cure, just 3km (1.8 miles) away. The small tourist train climbs up from Lake Geneva to La Cure, which is the Swiss/French border, and offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Lake and the Alps with Mont Blanc behind. The nearest airport is Geneva which is just under 90 minutes by rail - you need to change once at Nyon. Once in La Cure local buses or a taxi can be arranged to Les Rousses. If arriving after 1830 hrs we can help organise a taxi on your behalf - but please advise us of this as soon as you know.
Please refer to the Swiss Rail Website to make connections to La Cure. The rail ticket includes municipal travel around Geneva if you have time to spare. Advanced bookings are not necessary but tickets can work out cheaper when bought online in advance. For further details and a map on how to reach the resort please refer to the Les Rousses Tourist Office.
Departure
Buses from La Vue des Alpes our end point, have become increasingly limited in winter. We will therefore include one group transfer, which is included in your trip price, to the nearest train station, Neuchatel, which takes about 20 minutes. The transfer will leave at 07h45 to allow for connections to Geneva airport in time for late morning flights. The train journey from Neuchatel to Geneva airport takes approximately 1h36.
It is a condition of booking that you have appropriate insurance for your chosen activity, including emergency helicopter rescue, repatriation, medical costs, as well as trip cancellation/curtailment insurance in the event of you being unable to join/complete the trip.
Please read the relevant clauses which are numbered 10, 11, 11a, 12, and 22 and are set out in our Terms and Conditions.
We also recommend your insurance covers you for baggage loss/damage. Tracks and Trails Ltd are unable to accept responsibility for the loss or damage to any client equipment or luggage.
If you are booking on behalf of other people it is important that you ensure that insurance has been arranged by all others included in your Booking Form.
You should bring all insurance documentation with you at the time of the activity. If you fail to provide proof of insurance we reserve the right to ask you to leave the trip.
If you are joining a trip in the UK helicopter/mountain rescue insurance is not required as this is a free service.
For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.
Winter mountain weather in the European Alps can vary considerably, and in this respect it is no different to any mountain environment where the terrain influences the weather and it can change from valley to valley.
In winter the weather can deliver everything from clear blue skies, and glorious sunshine, to heavy snowfall and strong winds. Essentially, as with all mountain journeys, you should be prepared for any eventuality.
Temperatures vary depending on the month, generally December, January, and February are colder, but by March and April the temperatures are warming up and spring is on the way.
In December and January they can range from -10°Celsius (14°F) to 3°Celsius (37.4F), in February from -5°Celsius (23°F) to 7°Celsius (44.6°F), and in March from 0°Celsius (32°F) to 13°Celsius (55.4°F).
The above figures are a general indication only as the weather can vary considerably year on year for any given month.
We ski the Trans Jura Swiss at a time of year when the snow is normally at its most reliable. However, in the event of a poor winter season, the complete traverse may not be possible.
If this is the case we will still have a great ski week but will ski in different locations each day using a vehicle to transfer us along the lower sections. Please note that we do not charge extra if this means hiring a mini-bus, we prefer that you enjoy your holiday and that we ski the best areas possible.
Cross country skiing equipment, which includes 'fishscale' classic skis (not skates or waxables), Salomon compatible or NNN boots, bindings and poles, can be hired locally at the start of the traverse. The total ski hire for the week is 150 Euros per person (this includes the cost of returning the equipment to the hire shop at the end of the trip). On the first evening you will make your payment for ski rental directly to the guide (cash only).
All equipment hire must be arranged in advance, as it will be necessary to pre-order correct sizes. Please note your equipment hire on our Booking Form. We will need to know your height, weight, normal shoe size (you must give us your everyday shoe size and not your personal adjustment for wearing boots) and the measurement of your height up to your armpits (for ski pole hire). At the start of the trip your guide will accompany you to the hire shop, and at the end of the trip will collect any hire equipment and organise its return.
Your safety while skiing is our top priority. All skiers are requested to adhere to the Code of Conduct published by the International Ski Federation, or FIS. The aim is to make you, the skier, aware of how to avoid risks, take responsibility and act thoughtfully while on the cross-country ski tracks.
When packing for a trip in the mountains it is important to have appropriate equipment and clothing. This kit list features items we believe are necessary for the weather you will encounter and accommodation you will be staying in.
Equipment
We use 'classic' style cross country track skis for this trip either ‘fishscales’ or ‘skintec’. You can choose to bring your own 'classic' track skis (non-metal edged), however, do check with us first to ensure they are suitable.
Skis, boots, and poles - can be hired at the start of the trip. The cost of hire is indicated in 'Trip Information'. If you are intending to hire you must inform us as soon as possible as equipment must be booked in advance. The type of ski supplied by the hire shop is provided in the 'Ski Rental' section of the Trip Information page. If in doubt about the suitability of your own skis please contact us.
Clothing
Comfort
Personal First Aid
Documentation
Additional Items
**Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet**
Leaders are all first aid trained and carry their own first aid kit
This image shows examples of how to attach your skis to your rucksack should we need to walk a short distance
On many of our trips there will be an element of 'group kit' which will be shared amongst our guests. As mountain people you will be used to team work and working together to the mutual benefit and safety of the group.
The 'group kit' will be minimal and usually just a case of sharing a few lightweight 'survival shelters'. For example on a week-long trip you may carry a small shelter for just one day before passing it on to the next person.
If you are booking a trip in winter there will be a few additional safety items. These will be distributed in such a way that no one is over burdened.
Other group items necessary for safety and comfort will be carried by your guide/instructor.
For each of our trips there is a minimum number of guests required to book before we can 'guarantee' your trip will run. It depends on the particular trip in question, but it is normally 4. The maximum number of guests on your trip is displayed in the 'At a Glance' box on the righthand side of the trip page.
We strongly advise you do not book travel until we have confirmed your trip is 'guaranteed' to run. If you book travel before we have confirmed it is 'guaranteed' we cannot be held responsible for any financial loss if the trip does not go ahead.
When booking a holiday as a solo traveller a twin bedded room comprising of two single beds, is booked as standard. This will be with someone of the same gender unless you request to pay extra for your own room. Single rooms are often limited in supply so if you would like to pay a supplement for a single room we urge you to get in touch as soon as possible. This trip has a single supplement of £330.
We go to great lengths to work with first class guides and instructors who are passionate about their work. They are all fully qualified, insured, and hold the correct documentation.
Please note your guide/instructor has complete discretion to make a daily decision on whether or not to take the advertised route based on the weather and the ability of the members of the group. They have our authority to make any route changes they believe are necessary in the interests of safety and enjoyment.
For our walking, family, and snowshoeing trips your guide will be a fully qualified and experienced International Mountain Leader. For our running trips your guide will be an International Mountain Leader, and an experienced mountain 'trail runner'.
If you have booked on a cross country ski trip you will be with a fully qualified professional BASI Nordic Ski Instructor or equivalent. BASI is the British Association of Snowsport Instructors.
On this point-to-point trip you will have luggage support which means your bags are transferred each day to the next accommodation and you only need to carry a small/medium sized 'rucksack' for items you might need during the course of the day. Please refer to the kit list for this trip for guidance on the size of rucksack required.
As your luggage will be moved along the route by taxi we ask that you keep the weight to a maximum of 15kgs (33lbs), and ONE bag per person. Many of the taxi companies who move your bags impose a 15kg (33lbs) limit and restrict the number of bags simply because they have to unload and reload the vehicle many times each day. If you take more than one bag you may be asked to pay a supplement. Also with regard to weight be aware that you may have to carry your luggage to your bedroom, which may involve climbing several flights of stairs as not all hotels have elevators. Luggage on wheels is generally a good idea.
We do not include lunches in your trip fee for various reasons. We have found our guests have particular tastes and requirements for 'trail' or 'hill' food and it is better you choose and buy what you require. Buying supplies and trying local specialities is a great way to inter-act with the local people and to practise your language skills.
Lunches on our trips are 'picnic' style lunches, in other words you take a packed lunch with sufficient snacks, food and fluid to sustain you throughout your day of activity. If there is the possibility of lunch being taken at a restaurant/farm/cafe beside the trail, your guide/instructor will advise you of this.
Each evening you can choose to order a picnic or a sandwich from the hotel, or your guide/instructor will advise you of other options such as a local shop or market and whether you need to purchase items in the evening or if the shop/market is open early enough the next morning not to delay your start. In all cases we would always ask you to settle any 'bill' for lunch or drinks in the evening before you depart, and not on the morning of your last day when there may be a queue.
On your itinerary you will find an indication of the amount of ascent and descent you can expect each day. This offers a guideline to how much effort might be expended each day and allows you to decide, based on previous experience, if your fitness and stamina are correct for the trip.
We make every attempt to ensure these statistics are as accurate as possible, but ask you to note that the most modern of technology used to record these details can show considerable variations in terms of ascent, descent, and in particular distance. In other words no two people using GPS devices on the same route will have exactly the same details recorded at the end of the day.
The statistics given should be used as a 'general' indication of the effort required.
It is useful to arrive at your destination with some cash in the local currency, however, on most occasions it is relatively easy to visit a 'cash machine' after arrival and withdraw money on a credit or debit card. Some of our locations are an exception to this in particular Norway, where the accommodation will often have no facilities for withdrawing cash, but they will take a credit card.
On many of our trips we will visit remote cafes/farms where it is wonderful to enjoy a drink and a cake, at places such as these they will only accept payment in the local currency in cash.
Food
On our trips we encourage you to experience local tastes and dishes that reflect the culture of the country and for this reason many of our accommodation options will be family run with a reputation for the traditional food of the region.
If you have a 'special' diet because of an allergy or intolerance to a certain food type which will make you ill the accommodation will cater for this as best they can, eg gluten free, nut free, lactose free.
If you are vegetarian then this is not a problem as the hotels/refuges are used to being asked for vegetarian meals. Our accommodation will try to cater for those with vegan diets but in remote refuges in the mountains this is more difficult. If you would like to discuss the suitability of a trip for a vegan diet please contact us. Gluten-free diets will be possible with regard to the evening meals, but we would advise that you bring along some gluten-free snacks for your breakfasts and lunches.
If you have a 'special' diet which is NOT because of an allergy or intolerance, and is not 'veggie' then we apologise, but we cannot cater for this. The accommodation on the popular routes will be catering for many people each evening, in some cases up to 70/80 meals per night, 7 days a week, and realistically they cannot produce many different meal options unless the food will result in illness.
Water
The countries we visit all have tap water which is drinkable. If for any reason a particular hotel is having a problem with a remote mountain water supply they will normally post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water. At all times you are welcome to ask your guide/instructor if the water can be drunk. We would ask, for environmental reasons, that you avoid using single-use plastic bottles, and bring a water bottle that can be used repeatedly.
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU, such as Norway. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice.
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/
Note that if your trip involves staying in a mountain refuge/rifugio/hut that electric sockets may be in short supply and for that night you may not be able to charge any items. Although the accommodation will have electricity this will often be supplied by solar panels or a generator and limited to use by the staff. For this reason we advise that carrying a small slimline and lightweight 'battery pack' can be very useful for recharging phones which many of you will also use as your camera.
Before booking consider whether you expect to be in the appropriate physical condition on the date of your departure to allow you to fully participate in and enjoy your holiday. If you have any doubts because of an illness or injury it would be advisable to check with your doctor.
For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring with you a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment in certain European countries, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance. Also note that if/when the UK leaves the European Union that the EHIC card may no longer be valid. Please check this before departing. We advise that you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number.
We feel strongly about protecting the environment and do not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We would ask that you arrive with a ‘water bottle’ or ‘hydration system’ that can be used repeatedly. We would point out that we operate a ‘zero tolerance’ for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all your rubbish items from the mountain even those you consider to be bio-degradable. In particular we ask that you remove any toilet tissue.
You can read our full policy here.
Working across international boundaries, and with various currencies means that the price of our trips can change overnight. We have, however, undertaken to guarantee that once you have paid your deposit the price of your trip is fixed. In this respect we urge you to book early to ensure that you receive the price advertised on our website. The website price may increase due to currency fluctuations, but we guarantee that the price advertised on the date of your booking will be maintained in your individual case.
Due to the specialised nature of our holidays, we co-sell a number of trips with 'partner' companies. These are carefully selected to ensure they reflect our ethos and standards in terms of the service we offer our guests. By encouraging other companies to sell our trips it means that your chosen holiday may reach its 'minimum' number earlier, allowing us to guarantee the trip and to give you the go-ahead to book your travel arrangements.
There may be occasions when our partners have helped book your accommodation and organise the logistics for your trip. On these occasions your hotel may have recorded your room reservation in the name of one of our partners.
We guarantee that companies with whom we work will offer the same package as Tracks and Trails Ltd. The price will be the same, though occasionally they may be operating in a different currency. Your itinerary and the items that are included, or not included in your trip fee, will also be the same.
We believe in team work, and enjoy working with other small high quality companies. If you have any questions about this policy please contact us and we will be happy to discuss it with you.
Prices may vary depending on date.
| From Price | £0 |
| Holiday Type | Point to Point Track Skiing |
| Duration | 8 Days |
| Group Size | 7 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Maximum Altitude | 1500m (4920ft) |
| Countries Visited | France, Switzerland |
| Meet In | Les Rousses, France |
