Discover the French Alps with Mark

Let me be your guide; walking, via ferrata or on snowshoes in the French Alps. Over 30 years experience and professionally qualified - you're in safe hands!

Mark Tennent Qualified Professional Walking Climbing Instructor

Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc seen from the Lac de Chéserys on the Tour du Mont Blanc in the French Alps. This is one of the classic views on the Tour du Mont Blanc.

Discover the Vanoise National Park

On the ancient "Route du Sel" below the Col de la Vanoise. This route forms part of the Tour of the Vanoise.

The Route du Sel in in the Vanoise National Park

Via Ferrata

Enjoy the thrill of a challenge! Via ferrata are specially equipped rock faces. Let me guide you on one of the many via ferrata in the French Alps.

Spot the marmottes ...

Marmottes are common in the French Alps and you will soon hear their shrill, warning whistles, warning of danger.

Bouquetin in the French Alps

Let me help you discover the wildlife, such as this female ibex (bouquetin). Living here I know where you are most likely to find them!

Snowshoeing in the Vanoise National Park

Enjoy the freedom of mountains, the clear, crisp mountain air on snowshoes. No previous experience necessary!

The GR20 on Corsica

Great weather on Corsica's GR20; probably the most demanding of France's "Grand Randonnee" routes.

Winter in the Beaufortain - French Alps

Wide open spaces, blue skies, sparkling snow in the Beaufortain overlooking the Lac de Roselend. Come and visit it on snowshoes with me ...

Winter in the Beaufortain, Savoie, French Alps

A Few Testimonials ...

... many thanks for your knowledge, time and effort last week it was much appreciated. Despite the weather the trip was a great success and will have many lasting memories long after other holidays have been forgotten.

- Rory C-P

Dear Mark Just to thank you for an excellent holiday and for your patience. We really enjoyed the chance to see so many different aspects of the area and to get to some of the cols and refuges: Chris is sorting through hundreds of photographs which will help us to remember it all. We also much appreciated the comfort and helpfulness of the hotel. Many thanks for all that you did for us. - Chris & Carol F - Vanoise

We just came back from ski vacation in Val Thorens. We had a free day on Friday ( you can get your apartment only on Saturday). We found in the internet Mark Tennent from Simply Savoie, and he took us for snow shoeing walk. Everything was perfect, he met us on time, gave us the equipment, and took us to very beautiful place,' with fantastic views over the mountains. Yaffa, Jerusalem Feb 09, 2011 - Yaffa, Jerusalem - Snowshoeing

"What a fabulous way to spend the day, at one with nature, in beautiful surroundings, and getting a brilliant work out as well. Highly recommend, even for adrenaline junkies!" - Adrenaline - Snowshoeing, Courchevel

Really felt part of the wondrous environment and feel much better for it. The lunches were also great, vipers and all! - GB - Snowshoeing, Courchevel, March 2010 - GB Snowshoeing, Courchevel, March 2010

Thanks so much for making the three days so enjoyable. - Three Days So Enjoyable

Hoping we shall meet again. -IL - Snowshoeing, Courchevel, March 2010. - IL - Snowshoeing, Courchevel 2010

Mark thanks again for the great day...just got back to NYC and was talking about you on the plane home. R* had a great time with Roy...hope to see you again next year. - SF - Snowshoeing, Courchevel, March 2010 - SF - Snowshoeing March 2010

I retained Mark to guide my 12-year-old son and I on the Tour du Mt Blanc in late May/early June 2010. We were pre-season, meaning that we met with some adverse weather, but Mark was consistently excellent in problem-solving, navigation and finding lateral solutions to difficult situations. He is a personable, highly experienced mountain guide with a superb knowledge of the Savoie region especially. I would certainly retain Mark again for any similar undertakings. June 28, 2010

- Alex Wade

“I hired Mark as an instructor in Courchevel. He was courteous and professional and so interesting from the moment we met before the lesson even began. He weaves his knowledge of nature and the environment into the lesson giving a dimension that I had never experienced before.
I highly recommend Mark as an instructor extraordinare!” March 25, 2010

- Susan Fleming

Hi Mark,
We really enjoyed the snowshoeing afternoons with you.

- J&B P - Snowshoeing

Dear Mark, thanks for a memorable day. It has just been perfect! Just back home from les Saisies. Another two beautiful days! Snow was great!

- A Memorable Day ...

Thanks for great pictures and thanks for a great holiday.

- Bridget & Chris - Snowshoeing Weekend, Vanoise

"Thank you for a marvellous couple of days scrambling and navigating in the hills ... you have truly whetted my appetite, and I learned a tremdous amount during the two days ... I will be in touch next time I'm looking for something exciting up north...". PB

- PB - Mountain Navigation & Scrambling

"Thanks for making our weekend on Skye not just successful but also very enjoyable" JB - Guiding on Skye

- JB - Private Guiding, Isle of Skye, Scotland

"Thank you for running a first class training course. My staff learned a great deal and are motivated to extend these skills". - Stevenson College - SPSA Training

- Stevenson College - Single Pitch Award Training Course

"We'd just like to express our thanks for organising everything and providing what was clearly first class training during our recent snow & ice climbing course." - CB

- CB - Snow & Ice Climbing Course, Scotland

"We both felt that you made very good decisions about what to do, balancing safety with a programme that fulfilled our desire to do some challenging and interesting climbing." PB - Snow & Ice Climbing

- PB - Snow & Ice Climbing

"Thank you for a superb day last Saturday. (In Pin, Sgurr Mhicoinnich, Sgurr Alisdair) I will certainly be recommending you to my friends." DB

- DB - Private Guiding, Cuillin, Isle of Skye, Scotland

"Thanks for a superb week and hope to see you again sometime". S

- S - Hill Walking, Scotland

"Just a short note to say a big thank you for your instruction on Saturday. We both enjoyed the day enormously and feel that it has given us a bit of extra confidence to venture further afield and appreciate more of the mountain ... we were also grateful for the company of a like-minded and proficient individual rather than the bearded eccentric." NP

- NP - Winter Skills Course, Scotland

"I would commend your professionalism and ability to communicate. Also your patience with us was exemplary, and we both enjoyed your company tremendously. It was a great pleasure to share the enjoyment of these spectacular mountains with you ... Our grateful thanks for a very memorable day with a total professional" M&SK

- M&SK - Hill Walking Scotland

...Thanks for a cracking couple of days in Glencoe ... thank you again for everything - I shall certainly give you a call if I get some free time." BW

- BW - Hill Walking, Glencoe

"Thank you for a great day on Monday on the Aonach Eagach Ridge". KH

- KH - Aonach Eagach Ridge, Glencoe, Scotland

...thank you for a fantastic week on Skye ... a combination of fine weather, great company and your own professionalism made for a really great experience." MU

- MU - Skye Cuillin, Hill Walking, Scotland

Hi Mark, hope you are well and good snow keeps you busy. Again thank you very much for this amazing experience. We really enjoyed it. Many thanks, Karolina

- Karolina & Benoit - Snowshoeing, Courchevel

... "may I congratulate you on organising a fine event, thoroughly enjoyed by all of us with excellent instruction by Mark Tennent" RB

- RB - Rock Climbing

Just a quick not to say thanks for making our holiday one that will be hard to forget. We had such a great time and learned just exactly what we need to tackle a winter munro with all that the weather could throw at us. We spent the return journey to the relative flat lands of the Peak District planning our next adventure and looking forward to our future fun on Scottish winter hills. AF 22 Feb 2000

- Winter Mountaineering - Scotland - AF Feb 2000

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the winter mountaineering course I have just completed with you. I would like to give particular thank you to Jonathon who did an excellent job as guide and led us to some very interesting places! Overall I found it a very worthwhile week. PN 22 Feb 2000

- Winter Mountaineering - Scotland - PN - Feb 2000

"... I appreciated your professionalism and training skills ... the climbing in those five days was a personal high for me ... I also enjoyed your company very much" BE

- BE - Rock Climbing

"... thanks for a superb and memorable day on Aonach Eagach ..." RS

- RS - Aonach Eagach Ridge, Glen Coe, Scotland

... the course was both informative and well presented and I've learned what I had hoped for and some more". GC

- GC - Single Pitch Award, Rock Climbing

Just a few lines to let you know that I was very pleased with the mountain walking in September". MW

- MW - Mountain Walking, Scotland

... a reminder of two wonderful days on Skye under your brilliant guidance". ST

- ST - Skye Cuillin, Scotland

Dear Mark, many thanks for sending a link to your photos, they are a great reminder of 3 brilliant days. Thanks so much for making it all work so smoothly.

Snowshoeing in the Vanoise

- LC - Snowshoeing in the Vanoise, Feb 2012

Dear Mark
We had a really enjoyable day ... we talked about it a lot after and we all genuinely had a great time. She was raving to her friends about it ... all the best. Feel free to point people in my direction if you need a professional recommendation.
all the best
Malcolm

- Malcolm

"Thanks very much for a challenging but really enjoyable afternoon. I wasn't sure what to expect but I'm sure it's something we'll do again." - Snowshoeing

- Mark B.

Spring - Summer - Autumn ...

Tour of the Vanoise find out more ...	Via Ferrata find out more ...	Walking Weekends find out more ...
Beaufortain Day Treks find out more ...	The Tour of the Beaufortain find out more ...	Corsica - GR20 - Northern Highlights find out more ...
Corsica GR20 find out more ...	The Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt find out more ...	The Haute Maurienne - Hotel Based Walking Holiday find out more ...

Winter Tours ...

Snowshoeing in the Beaufortain - Hotel find out more ...	Snowshoe Walks: Courchevel & Meribel find out more ...	The Bauges Hotel Based Based Snowshoeing find out more ...
Winter Traverse of the Chartreuse find out more ...	Snowshoe Weekends in the Beaufortain find out more ...	Snowshoe & Dinner - Courchevel find out more ...
Chalet La Giettaz Snowshoeing Week find out more ...

Listen to a testimonial

To see the video click here ...

Listen to Mark

Why Mark & Simply Savoie

Highly experienced and qualified professional leader for your safety and peace of mind and enjoyment.
Professional guiding - over 30 years of experience!
Small groups for personal attention and safety.
Cultural insight from living permanently in France and speaking fluent French
Quote from a happy client " Mark - a guide extraordinaire!"

Listen to me presenting my approach - click here ...

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