Our Team, our agency, our DNA

Azimut is a small travel agency, and even though it's a major player in the mountain sports holiday sector, it's determined to retain its human scale and its values!

Putting people first

With us, there's no switchboard that treats you like a number. We don't know all our customers personally (as there are new ones every year), but that's part of the project! As soon as we can, we go out to the groups to meet our customers, get to know them, understand their expectations, their desires, their state of mind... and we have a blast doing it! There's nothing more satisfying than having a laugh with you, knowing that your thing is more ski touring but in comfort because you like your single room, that you've already been to such and such a valley but we've got something new for you to discover that should please you...

The same goes for the guides we work with: apart from their undeniable skills, we choose them above all because they're friendly, funny and educational - in short, guys - and gals - who we also appreciate over a drink!

And finally, that's also how we work with the accommodation we select: a warm welcome, conviviality, good food, we like there to be a real personality behind the counter, whether it's an Italian nonna who pretends to bawl you out if you don't finish your plate, or a refuge keeper who's still happy to welcome people after twenty-five seasons in his perch.

As for us, working together, but also riding together, skiing together, sharing convivial moments over a barbecue or an aperitif... Even if we each have our own lives, at the agency there's something that binds us together beyond work: a passion for the mountains and everything that goes with them. More pleasure than performance!

In short, for you as for us, going away together and meeting new people is an incredible opportunity to mix different knowledge and cultures. It's a great way for us to get together and enjoy each other's company, and everyone brings with them a sense of respect, conviviality, mutual support and open-mindedness! Whether we're skiing, mountain biking or sitting around a table, we say no to sorting lentils and yes to having a good laugh!

Adventure, a passion that binds us

It's amazing how the unexpected can spice up a trip! At Azimut, we're aware that although we pamper all our trips with kind words and tight logistics, unforeseeable events can happen. But as a close-knit team, we'll always find a solution together so that everyone can make the most of their holiday.

The environment

We're all passionate about nature and the outdoors in the team, and it's unthinkable not to leave the places we cross clean. We do everything we can to reduce our waste and our impact on the environment, as far as possible of course, because we're tourists after all... And we sometimes kill green salad.

Attention to detail

Your holidays are important, you look forward to them, you prepare them impatiently and we don't play around with that at all!

We're a small, independent travel agency with every guarantee for our customers. We're a human-scale agency, we're all tourism professionals and guides, and we offer you the kind of trips we like to make: fun, original itineraries, close to the people, in good accommodation chosen for the quality of its food and welcome, and with our team of friendly guides. We recognise our trips, search out and visit accommodation, eat in restaurants and meet people on the spot to find the “rare gems”... Those places, those itineraries, those people who will turn your holiday into an extraordinary memory!

On powder days, the agency may be short-staffed, but we'll get back to you and call you back without a hitch.

Quality has its price

Our prices are calculated as accurately as possible, taking into account the quality we want to associate with our trips. Above all, we want you to feel good, look good and eat well.

We will not compromise the quality and success of your trip in order to lower the price or ‘make volume', as you would be the first to be dissatisfied. We try to fine-tune all the details that make our trips enjoyable: the accommodation, the meals, the picnics, the top-quality cereal bars, and so on. We travel differently, we are different.

Satisfaction is our driving force!

Our satisfaction rates are top-notch: 97% of the people (around 30% of all our customers) who answer our questionnaires are satisfied or very satisfied. This is our driving force, confirmation that putting our heart, passion and attention into our work pays off. We will continue to do this by listening to our customers and giving them the right advice on the trips we build ourselves. We're here for you, to advise you, guide you and do everything we can to ensure that everything goes smoothly. So, yes, there are always mountaineers or skiers who are a little frustrated not to have reached a summit, because the conditions or their condition didn't allow it... It doesn't matter, the mountain is there, we'll go back. Let's remember that we're playing with nature and that she decides in the end, and that the mountain, a summit, is never guaranteed... Fortunately.

A note on safety

Beautiful itineraries, the itineraries of a lifetime, are like us: they live, they change, they are practicable or not depending on many parameters that our guide tries to analyse as best he can at all times. These parameters are not always visible or understandable to everyone: a superb powder slope may be based on a poor sub-base that puts the skier in danger. Our guide will have researched the day's conditions, precipitation flows and wind directions, to try and choose the best option, the safest in his opinion and based on his experience. He will not do just any route, at any time, and we are counting on the participants to respect the guide's choices at all times, not to exert pressure to go through this or that place when he has expressed his choice of routes and explained them. Our guides are passionate about what they do and are willing to help you ski and share great experiences with you. As there is no such thing as zero risk, we want them to guide you in the best possible conditions and thank you in advance for respecting their choices.

Avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes are loaned to you on all our off-piste skiing (freeride - freerando) and ski touring courses. On every holiday, every trip, our guides will provide training or review the use of safety equipment, so that you master the basics.

Airbags: on many of our trips, particularly those involving day trips on freeride, freerando or ski touring skis, Azimut guides are equipped with ARVA Reactor airbags from our partner brand ARVA.

You will be able to hire an airbag from us for all our trips at very advantageous conditions to encourage you to adopt this “extra” safety feature: 15€/day, to be booked when you order in the “equipment” section.

At the agency

Michel Morère - CEO

After a lengthy 65,000 km cycling trip and 4 years travelling the world, he worked as a product manager for several major adventure travel agencies. Then, an unforgettable experience at the head of the La Grave cable cars (yes, it's a nice toy!) plunged him into the heart of his mountain passions. After three years “on the telly”, he dropped everything to take the reins of Azimut. A new adventure, undoubtedly the most exciting, with very strong human contact. Naturally positive, he loves new projects and new journeys, and as soon as there's something exciting, he goes for it! He spends his time looking for the right places, the right food and the right company. His absolute hobby: freeride skiing, ski touring and mountain biking.

His job: he's in charge of producing the trips, doing the reconnaissance, running the business, counting the pennies... and making his hair stand on end. You'll often see him on powder days (as fate would have it), on the groups to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Alexandre de Schutter - Production 

Originally from Belgium, Alex is naturally passionate about cycling, but also about skiing! His passion for the mountains led him to teach skiing in Canada, Val d'Aosta and the Austrian Tyrol, before settling in the Briançon area.

His job: in charge of producing and organising the trips, Alex ensures that they run smoothly, working directly with the accommodation and other local service providers. He is also responsible for developing the range of products on offer and the B2B network. His ability to speak 6 languages is a great help to us on all our far-flung expeditions.

Quentin Blais - Sales

Quentin is a local boy. He's naturally passionate about the mountains and everything that goes with them. As a seasoned sportsman, there's a good chance you'll come across him on the local peaks, whether trail running, skiing or climbing.

His job: in direct contact with travellers, Quentin is there to advise you and guide you towards the trips that best suit your desires and your level, so that you have an unforgettable stay.

Marine Turcato - Manager 

Between the Gapençais, Ubaye, Briançonnais, La Grave,... Marine has a wealth of experience in the outdoor world. The Hautes-Alpes is her playground! As an ex-rescue worker at La Grave, Marine has a lot of big ski days under her belt. But she's also a keen Enduro mountain biker!

Her job: in charge of operations, she manages the team and is in direct contact with the accommodation providers, guides and all the logistics involved in booking a trip!

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On the field

• Stephane Monari Guide 

  ‘Momo' is always on the lookout for the right places and the right itineraries. Whether in the Ecrins or at the other end of the planet, he never stops discovering and rediscovering the most beautiful places in the world. Always passionate, positive and with a twinkle in his eye, Stéphane will share some unusual moments with you on your travels. From the Ecrins to Chile, from Morocco to Greenland, from the Verdon to Japan, from Italy to Norway... destinations near and far, where activities follow the rhythm of the seasons, delight him.

  His job: Momo is the safety officer for Azimut. It's with him that the trip production team discusses certain points, such as the maximum number of participants on a trip according to customs, how he feels about a particular itinerary, any changes to be made to the itineraries, etc. He trains the guides at the start of the season, so that they can make the right decisions.

  At the start of the season, he trains the guides on Azimut's “specifications”, particularly on safety, and takes part in the overall organisation of the agency with our team of guides.

• Guillaume Mardon Guide

  Guillaume Mardon, ‘El Guigui', who has been guiding in Chamonix for a long time, is of Breton origin, but we don't hold that against him - we've just asked him to stop eating kouign-amman on the climbs, because then your fingers slip and it's dangerous. He's a guide at Azimut, which means we ask his opinion on important things and he gives it, and we even listen to him. That's great.

• Damien Fontaine Guide

  A former Parisian turned nice guy (even nicer than Romain Legrand), an ex-finance consultant turned honest (everyone has their baggage, we don't judge), brought up on the high seas rather than the high mountains, it took him a few years of peregrinations (it's good to have a literate guide) to understand the meaning of life (more than Monty Python). He has now given up everything (the famous letting go) for the mountains, which, we admit, can be scary for a guide...

  Fan des gros runs de poudre et de tout ski-grimpe en général, à la maison ou loin de la mère patrie (#autonomiepourleshautesalpes), il sera toujours aux p'tits soins pour que tu n'aies qu'une seule envie, reviendre (pas tant lettré finalement). Alors panipwoblem Ti'mal, même si quand même, il trouve cela franchement bizarre de parler à la 3ème personne comme si c'était pas lui qui écrivait.

• Antoine Eydoux (dit Manouche) 

  Antoine is originally from Paris (that's a lot of Parisians, isn't it? We'll filter things down a bit), and has lived in the Hautes-Alpes ever since he realised it was the most beautiful place in the world. 
  A keen climber from an early age, he took up skiing much later in life, but he's always been motivated, especially with big fats (as he puts it: ‘it's still practical, there's no need to turn'). He has learned to hone his instincts to find good snow/ice and good rock. But above all, he's got a keen nose for finding the right beer and food to go with it!

  He'll be joining the Azimut team of guides in spring 2021, and we're counting on Manouche les Bons Tuyaux for his knowledge of the terrain and his enthusiasm!

• Cyril Cottaz Guide

  Cyril is our great sage! Calm and collected, following in the footsteps of his Savoyard grandfather, he loves guiding, passing on values and sharing great moments in the mountains. More of a hiker than a freerider, he's capable of putting his brain down for a good thrill! With 20 years' experience in the Southern Alps, the Ecrins and Piedmont hold no secrets for him. But he's also ready to experience adventure with you in more distant lands!