3 Days, 1 Igloo, 0 Network
Complete winter immersion in the Alps
Experience a unique adventure by building and sleeping in an igloo! Hot and cold at the same time, this is an intense togetherness adventure with a real team cohesion challenge to ensure a night under the Igloo.
The Altimood mountain guides invite you to first reach a private refuge perched at 1,700m altitude for a first night, then wake up on the second day ready for the Igloo adventure: build your own igloo and spend the night in it.
A disconnected parenthesis combining rustic comfort and an arctic challenge in an exceptional setting.
This is an adaptation of our 2-day Igloo formula, designed to let you fully enjoy the experience while minimizing the risk of encountering a weekend that sadly illustrates the consequences of climate change in the mountains. You will need to take Monday off, as the igloo adventure usually runs from Saturday to Monday, see upcoming dates.
Highlights of this snowshoe + igloo trip ⭐❄️🏔️
- 🏠 Build and sleep in an igloo – live the complete experience with a professional who will guide you through the most efficient construction method
- 🔥 Adjustable to your motivation level – choose your second night at the refuge or in the igloo (to include your more cautious loved ones in the adventure!)
- 🚅 Accessible by train, even from Paris for a quick getaway!
Physical commitment for this 3-day snowshoe + igloo weekend
This adventure is designed for people with good physical fitness. The approach to the refuge represents 650m of elevation gain over 4 km (it's steep!) and can be a real challenge after fresh snowfall. Building the igloo is also a sporting challenge (2h30 to 3h30 of collective effort).
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The 3-day igloo adventure
👣 Detailed itinerary
Day 1 – Reach the High Plateaus
Meeting point is at 1pm at the cross-country ski lodge in Chichilianne (1,200m) – see on Google Maps. For participants arriving by train, carpooling is organised from the nearest station at 12:45pm (see below, section Welcome).
The ascent to the High Plateaus begins at the foot of an impressive limestone cliff, offering welcome breaks to admire the views of the surrounding mountains. After this vertical effort, the scenery changes dramatically upon arrival on the gentle relief of the High Plateaus: another world opens up to us.
We reach the refuge (1,660m) at the end of the day, in the golden light of sunset. It is near the refuge that the igloos will be built the next day.
The evening unfolds in a convivial atmosphere, between lighting the wood stove, collective dinner preparation, and presenting the adventure that awaits us the next day.
Prior to the trip, the refuge is supplied on foot specifically to lighten our backpacks.
- Distance: 5 km
- Elevation: + 600 m
Day 2 – Building the Igloo
Wake up to the rhythm of the mountain and breakfast, before setting off to explore the surroundings of the refuge and find the ideal spot to build the igloo.
The snow cover provides an opportunity for a fun, educational, and especially nivological lesson about snow conditions which, as you probably know, is a magical material.
After analysis, your guide suggests the most suitable igloo construction method. Following this advice, the group organises itself to successfully build a snow dome.
Between the pleasure of building and endurance, count on 2h30 to 3h30 to build an igloo large enough to sleep in!
Construction is punctuated by a picnic, in the sun if possible, or in the shelter of the refuge depending on the weather.
If energy is still high, the adventure continues with a snowshoe outing into the heart of the High Plateaus.
In the evening, dinner at the refuge before choosing your camp:
- adventure: spend the night in the igloo, well settled in an extreme cold sleeping bag
- comfort: enjoy a second cozy night at the refuge
Sleeping in an Igloo
The experience continues, always supervised by a mountain professional ensuring your safety and cold management. They share their final tips for a successful first igloo bivouac night… then it's your turn!
To find out if previous participants were cold, discover their testimonials in the « Reviews » section.
Day 3 – Return to Chichilianne
A final shared breakfast in a suspended atmosphere between the refuge and the igloo… and after packing our belongings and tidying up the refuge (sweeping, maintaining dry toilets, extinguishing the stove), we retrace the path of day 1 in reverse.
Perhaps we'll have the chance to spot the ibex playing on the cliff?!
We always do our best to follow the planned program. However, the program may be adjusted at any time depending on weather conditions, physical and technical abilities of participants, accommodation availability, or any other unforeseen circumstances.
Booking 2026 / 2027
No date is currently open for individual registration. Here are several solutions:
- Be the first to know!Leave us your email address and receive an alert as soon as a new date is available.
- Discover our other scheduled trips
- Contact us to open a new date or to book this trip privately by contacting us directly
🎁 Want to treat someone special? You can offer this trip as a mountain gift card.
Trip Price
- 430 € / person
The adventure is guaranteed from 5 participants and limited to 12 people.
Price includes
- supervision by a state-certified mountain professional
- meals (2 breakfasts, 2 dinners, 1 picnic) made from organic, local, and seasonal products – meals will be prepared collectively
- refuge nights
- loan of technical equipment: extreme cold sleeping bag, insulated mattress
- loan of snowshoes and hiking poles
- loan of a sleeping bag liner (for the refuge night) and a hiking backpack if needed
The price does not include your travel insurance, administration fees, tips, and anything not mentioned in the price includes.
Technical Information
Welcome / Dispersal
On Day 1, the meeting point is at 1pm at the Chichilianne cross-country ski lodge parking.
On Day 3, the trip ends late morning at the same location.
It is possible to arrive by train at Clelles-Mens station. Carpooling among participants will be organised to allow those coming by public transport to reach the starting point. In case not all participants have vehicles, plan for ~17 € for a shared taxi from the station.
If you wish to arrive the day before or leave the day after, an inn in the centre of Chichilianne village is open during this period.
Carpooling will also be offered to participants with the creation of a WhatsApp group before the trip. When booking, please indicate if you are interested in carpooling.
Individual Equipment to Bring
We have chosen to lend you some equipment to guarantee optimal safety conditions and minimum comfort. However, you need to bring some clothes adapted to the snow:
- snow-appropriate clothing such as a ski suit with hat-gloves-neck gaiter
- a second pair of gloves and a third pair
- Several pairs of thick, warm socks
- A pair of shoes suitable for snow and hiking
- A complete change of clothes which may consist of leggings, sweatpants/joggers, and a pair of sneakers
- Something to carry 1.5L/person – water bottle or thermos
- A mini first-aid kit containing at minimum blister bandages and if under medical treatment, a prescription is mandatory
See the recommended equipment checklist for winter bivouac:
Accommodation
The Pas de l'Aiguille refuge is an unguarded private refuge:
- 🛏️ Shared dormitory (mattresses and blankets provided)
- 💧 Spring water
- 🚽 Ecological dry toilets
- 💡 Limited electricity – guaranteed reconnection to essentials
- 🌟 Zero network – true disconnection assured
The igloo: Collective construction for a unique experience
- 🏠 Snow dome built together according to snow conditions (brick, Norwegian, Russian, etc.)
- ❄️ Interior temperature: between 0° and 5°C (often –20°C outside)
Meals
Ingredients for meals are prepared and supplied in advance by the guide leading the trip. It is possible to adjust according to your allergies, food intolerances, or specific diets specified at the time of your booking. They will then be cooked together under the gourmet advice of Robin or Alice.
Your Personal Touch
You are invited to bring a specialty from your region or a bottle of wine of your choice to share up there. This is how the best memories are created: by mixing flavours and stories from everyone!
Formalities
- Valid ID card or passport
- Health insurance card or European Health Insurance Card
- Civil liability insurance: each participant must be covered by civil liability insurance for hiking as a leisure activity
- Assistance/repatriation insurance is mandatory. Cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
⭐ Night in Igloo Reviews 📍
★★★★★ A night in an iglooRobin joined us for a winter bivouac with his family, including building an igloo. A team effort that everyone enjoyed, even if it was very physical! Afterwards, we shared a delicious meal by the campfire under a starry sky, before going to bed in the igloo! Robin is a great guide, a good listener who knows how to adapt to each person and child. He organized and supervised the activity well, and we were able to enjoy an extraordinary experience in complete safety.
★★★★★ Memorable winter team buildingSecond experience for me with Altimood. I met Robin and his partner during an EVG in the summer of 2023. I was won over by the service they offered and decided to ask him to organize a winter team-building event. The program included igloo building! Unfortunately, the weather conditions didn't allow us to go ahead with this project, but Robin knows how to bounce back and planned a great stay for us, including the privatization of a refuge, a magnificent hike and a raclette competition. I can only recommend his services for both personal and professional events. Thank you, Robin!
★★★★★ A perfect momentRobin is a fantastic guide who knows how to share his knowledge of the mountain environment, fauna, flora, traditions and snow. He knows perfectly well the textures of the snow and the different techniques for building an igloo.
Robin is very flexible, adapting to any situation. What's more, he's a gourmet who knows how to cook with passion, using vegetables from his garden and local produce. I highly recommend this Igloo activity to all mountain lovers.
★★★★★ An incredible igloo weekend!An absolutely incredible weekend! I went with my brother, and we met a great group, including a couple our age and 72-year-old Jean, who was full of energy. Robin, our guide, was exceptional. He introduced us to so many things: biology, history, geology, mountaineering, and many other exciting and practical subjects. The mountain meals were excellent too!!!
We learned how to pull a pulka, build an igloo and even sleep in one in optimal conditions, while mastering the use of the equipment and finding the right locations according to the quality of the snow. Robin also taught us to recognize the different states and qualities of snow, a real mine of information.
Thanks again for these unforgettable memories.
★★★★★ Building the igloo: a fun and enriching experienceThis mountain excursion was an incredible adventure from start to finish! Building the igloo was both fun and rewarding, but also quite physical, which made the experience even more gratifying. Spending the night in it was unique and surprising! And great meals with local produce.
★★★★★ Sleeping in the snowSleeping in the snow at -10°C is no mean feat, especially when you have to build your igloo as a team... A big thank you to Robin, our guide, for accompanying us, teaching us and delighting us! Everything was perfect, with great equipment at our disposal, advice passed on in a simple and educational way, a great atmosphere... not to mention the authentic meals we loved (delicious despite the difficulty of being in the mountains with nothing): nourishing homemade salad with vegetables from his garden, delicious raclette with local cheeses, homemade crêpes for breakfast, not to mention the little touches. And with advice, help and determination, we finally managed to finish the igloo... and sleep in it all 6 of us. Thanks to this, despite the difficulty and harshness, it became an intense moment shared as a family. I recommend it x 10,000!
★★★★★ See all reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if there is no snow?
This 3-day formula was specially designed to maximize the chances of igloo construction.
However, winters are becoming increasingly unpredictable.
In case of low but present snow cover: Construction of a pedagogical igloo that probably won't be large enough for everyone. A second night at the refuge will be necessary. It has also happened that rain joins the program. While the igloo is an ideal shelter against wind, it's another story for water in its liquid state.
If it is impossible to carry out the igloo experience, the program will be modified for a guided hike. You of course retain the option to cancel according to the general terms and conditions of sale. However, since the final decision is made the day before, the trip will then be due.
We do everything possible to follow the planned program. However, as part of this individual registration formula (not a private booking), people and resources are mobilized. A full refund is unfortunately not possible.
I've never slept outdoors in extreme cold…
This is the perfect time to try! The adapted technical equipment is provided, and you have the choice of your second night (refuge or igloo). A caring professional accompanies you to experience this adventure safely.
I'm coming alone, will the team spirit be there?
Absolutely! The collective construction of the igloo instantly creates strong bonds between participants. This is often how the best adventurer friendships are born.
What is the difference with the 2-day igloo course?
This 3-day version adds a comfortable night at the refuge and more time to explore the High Plateaus.
You also have the choice of your second night, which allows adapting to everyone's wishes and conditions.
And above all, this version allows adapting to climate change which makes a 2-day express version less and less possible.
Extreme cold doesn't really appeal to me…
A tent bivouac in spring can be colder than a night in an igloo.
In the igloo, it's about 5°C when it's –20°C outside! With the adapted equipment provided and the group effect, you'll discover that mountain cold is invigorating and the experience is well worth the challenge.
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