Why ‘safari’?

At the birth of Swisskisafari 11 years ago, people laughed at our use of the word ‘safari’, questioning where all the Alpine giraffes and elephants were hiding.

Fast forward a decade, and things have changed significantly.

The birth of a new concept

The safari concept originated during an avalanche training course undertaken by founder, Danielle. Moving around a section of the alps observing snow formations, each day saw a different destination and each night was spent in a different hotel. The freedom of movement and the sheer amount of ground covered during that week started Danielle thinking.

Spending each day far from the groomed slopes on a pure, magical adventure amidst chamois and alpine birds gave the group a real sense of connecting to nature far from the man-managed runs.

Into the wild

From here came the idea of Swisskisafari and Swisshikesafari, taking groups into wild, unchartered territory but coming home at night to luxurious accommodation. The days would be designed to match the activity level and challenge appetite of each group, so everyone would enjoy, but still push, themselves and leave feeling a new sense of satisfaction.

Hence, Swisskisafari was born. A safari in the sense that it extracts its participants from the man-made world, and drops them into the true wilderness. Or, to quote our good friend Lisa Lindblad, “a safari helps you to see, rather than simply look, to listen rather than to simply hear and completely immerse yourself in the moment”.

Swisskisafari: the original boundary-pushers

Much like an African safari being run by expert guides, a good quality ski or hike safari requires in-depth knowledge of the terrain, it’s dangers and how to make the most of any weather conditions. You shouldn’t drive out into a lion-filled savannah on your own, nor should you ski or hike an unknown mountainside without an experienced professional guiding you.

Swisskisafari is an unrivalled network of the most qualified and experienced mountain guides, helicopter pilots and trip planners in the Alps, and this combination of people are what makes every safari completely unique.

Whether you’re looking for a ski touring extravaganza, the snowboarding expedition of a lifetime,  a week of heli drops with never-ending descents away from the tourist crowds, or  hiking through flowering pastures and ancient villages, Swisskisafari can arrange it. Trips like this require specialised knowledge, not only to ensure safety but to maximise your chances of enjoying the best alpine conditions. And who better to rely on than a team who have lived and worked in the area their whole lives?

Put simply: we all live here. Being local means we are well connected, we are on the ground and we are wide awake. Being able to open doors where no-one else can, we are the rule makers, the snow forecasters and the boundary-pushers.
True adventure has no recognition of international borders, which is why a ski or hike safari can take you from Italy to France and Switzerland, seamlessly showing you the best remote powder fields, velvet descents, untouched mountainsides, couloirs and forest runs in the Alps, away from the crowds. This pure experience will be smoothly arranged, with many powerful people working away in the background to make sure back-up plans are laid, the weather is on your side and every guest leaves feeling a huge sense of satisfaction.

A trip like this requires in depth local knowledge. If you’re looking for a private mountain experience where the world can’t find you, look no further.