That's completely impossible, as these two villages are located on either side of the Col du Tourmalet, and you can only reach one of them via blue-level ski runs. Furthermore, in case of wind or a technical failure, the link can remain closed for several hours.

For the well-being of the children and for the smooth running of the classes, we recommend:

• Equip the child with clothing and accessories suitable for snow (waterproof and insulating clothing, gloves, glasses or mask, warm socks, avoid scarves) and a helmet.
• Checking the size of your skis (level between chin and nose) is essential for beginners, and checking that the bindings are properly adjusted to the length of your ski boots.
• To take the child to the toilet before the start of class.
• To respect the times and meeting points agreed upon with the ski school.
• Not to follow or call out to the child during lessons.
• Don't hesitate to take out cancellation/interruption of stay insurance for the reimbursement of your courses when you book.

At 3 years old:
We will accept the child in the Club Mont & Souris program or in private lessons.

At age 4:
- If the child has never skied, then you can enroll them in the children's ski school, an essential step not to be skipped.
- If the child has attended the children's ski school for 6 days (and NOT just a few hours), they can move on to the Mini Souris level.
- If you're thinking of enrolling a 4-year-old in private lessons to speed up their progress, that's not the reality. The type of terrain, the pace, and the teaching methods offered by the children's ski school are the essential keys to discovering skiing at this age.
- If you wish to enroll them in private lessons, please be aware, after reading the preceding information, that their ability to be independent will require much more than 6 hours of instruction...

From the age of 5:
The child's psychomotor skills allow them to achieve autonomous gliding (stopping and snowplow turns on a small slope) after a 5 or 6 day course of group lessons (limited number of participants) or approximately between 6 and 10 hours of private lessons.

If the child is over 10 years old, this doesn't seem to be a problem.
Below this age, learning is complicated because:

• The child listens to his parent, quite naturally, and therefore not to the monitor.
• The parent repeats to the child what the instructor says, quite naturally with their parental reflexes.

Therefore, the lesson is not fully beneficial to either the child or the parent, and the learning paces of children and adults are very different! (Your body type – particularly your center of gravity – is not at the same height as your child's, your physical condition... and your anxieties are very different from theirs...)

Getting started in snowboarding is rather "ungrateful," to say the least...
With both legs strapped to the same board, you're often on the ground!
However, once you've mastered balance, the ability to control braking by sliding comes much faster than in skiing...
So, good physical condition and tenacity are essential!
We therefore recommend starting snowboarding from age 10 in group lessons, and from age 8 in private lessons.

• For a beginner: leaving the beginner area and taking the first major slopes independently: approximately 4 hours.
• For a beginner: reaching the parallel skiing stage: between 6 and 8 hours
• For someone who already skis: a 1.5 or 2-hour check-in allows you to review the basics
• For someone who already skis: regaining confidence after a long break or injury, between 4 and 6 hours.
• To explore the ski area and find the best slopes: allow between 2.5 and 3.5 hours
• For an off-piste, freeride, freerando or freestyle session: between 2.5 and 3.5 hours
• To validate the next level: between 6 and 10 hours. These numbers of hours remain a general guideline and may vary depending on various human and weather factors.

For children, yes. For adults, highly recommended.

All ski instructors teaching in France, regardless of their uniform color, have completed the same training at the ENSA (École de Ski et d'Alpinisme, located in Chamonix), one of the most rigorous instructor training programs in the world. Therefore,
ESi instructors have the same qualifications as all other instructors.
It is possible that instructors of foreign nationality may be authorized to teach in France after passing the equivalency exams.

Of course. There's no state-recognized level!
No ski school is public!
And often, ESI instructors have worked for other schools and decided to change schools to teach in better conditions... Don't hesitate!
Even if you've already enrolled your child and you're now having doubts about their level.

It is highly recommended, especially during school holidays and weekends.
You can book either directly from ecoledeski-grandtourmalet.fr, by email, or by phone.

Booked courses are non-refundable ( see General Terms and Conditions ). We invite you to read our Terms and Conditions to learn about our refund policy.

For example :

• Your child becomes ill or injured a few days before your departure...
• Your child becomes ill during their lessons (group or private) or gets injured...

You want to be sure of having a place in the class, so you book in advance, but a few days before your arrival, or during your stay, there's no snow, not enough snow, or too much snow... For peace of mind, ask to take out cancellation/interruption insurance when you register. Discover the cancellation/interruption insurance policy we offer on our website.

No, neither the lift pass nor the equipment are included in the price of the lessons. We can advise you on choosing a ski pass.

Whenever you use the ski lifts with a child, they must have a lift pass.
There is a BABY pass valid up to the age of 4.
The Baby pass costs €5 per day.
From the age of 5, the appropriate pass is the Junior pass (5-17 years), which can be a Flex, No Soucis, or Rechargeable card.

Yes. There is a pass called the FLEX CARD; as its name suggests, this pass is "flexible," meaning it covers several zones and you are only charged for the zone you use.
This card costs €5; when purchasing it online, you must enter your bank details, and then, in the days following your day of skiing, your account will be debited.

• either the Carpet area
• either from the Beginner zone
• either the Mini Domaine area

It is highly recommended to purchase your pass in advance of your stay: even if the ticket office offers late closing times, on Saturdays during school holidays, if you have had a problem on the road (including snowy roads...) and you have a lesson scheduled for Sunday at 9am or 10am, it could be difficult to be on time for your lesson and it cannot be rescheduled.

Website for purchasing packages: www.n-py.com