Guest Bio
Sally Guillaume is the founder of Undiscovered Mountains, a specialist adventure travel company based in the Southern French Alps. Originally from the UK, Sally’s path has included work as a science teacher, outdoor pursuits instructor, and BBC journalist before her love of mountain life led her to France in 2005.
Through Undiscovered Mountains, Sally helps travellers experience a quieter, more authentic side of the Alps through walking, cycling, climbing, canyoning, ski touring, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, wildlife tracking, and tailor-made mountain adventures. Her work is rooted in responsible tourism, local partnerships, and a deep respect for the landscapes and communities of the Southern French Alps.
Sally’s commitment to sustainable travel began long before she founded the company, including undergraduate research into tourism’s impact in Ladakh. Today, she continues that mission through Undiscovered Mountains France, which was among the first French travel companies to achieve Travelife certification.
Show Summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Sally Guillaume, founder of Undiscovered Mountains, about building a life and business around the mountains of the Southern French Alps. Sally shares how her early love of snow, outdoor adventure, and wild landscapes eventually drew her away from city-based work in the UK and into a lesser-known region of France where she could raise her family close to nature.
The conversation explores what makes the Southern French Alps different from the more famous Alpine destinations. Sally describes a place shaped by authentic villages, locally run guesthouses, strong French and Italian cultural influences, a stable mountain climate, and a slower style of tourism that extends far beyond the traditional ski season. From ski touring and cross-country skiing to via ferrata, canyoning, hiking, biking, wolf tracking, and local food experiences, Undiscovered Mountains introduces travellers to a more personal and less crowded side of Alpine adventure.
Sally also reflects on the challenges of starting a tourism business in a new country without speaking the language, raising a young child while learning French, and slowly finding her way in the adventure travel industry. Her story is one of determination, resilience, and a deep belief that travel can support both visitors and the communities they come to experience.
Key Takeaways
- ✓ The Southern French Alps offer a quieter, more authentic alternative to the better-known Alpine destinations.
- ✓ Undiscovered Mountains focuses on year-round mountain adventures rather than mass-market ski tourism.
- ✓ Travellers can experience hiking, biking, climbing, canyoning, via ferrata, ski touring, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and wildlife-focused trips.
- ✓ Sally’s move to France was driven by a desire to build a family life surrounded by mountains, seasons, and outdoor opportunity.
- ✓ The region’s villages, locally owned accommodations, and food culture are a major part of the guest experience.
- ✓ Sustainable tourism is central to Sally’s work, including a focus on supporting local communities and reducing dependence on seasonal ski tourism.
- ✓ Starting a business abroad required Sally to learn the language, understand local systems, and build partnerships from the ground up.
- ✓ The company’s success has grown from deep local knowledge, strong guiding relationships, and a passion for sharing lesser-known mountain experiences.
- ✓ Sally’s story highlights the persistence required to turn a lifestyle dream into a long-term adventure travel business.
- ✓ Responsible adventure travel can help visitors connect more deeply with a place while supporting the people who live there.
What You’ll Find on Undiscovered Mountains
- Year-round adventure holidays in the Southern French Alps
- Walking, biking, climbing, canyoning, via ferrata, and multi-activity trips
- Winter adventures including ski touring, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and wolf tracking
- Locally run accommodations, authentic villages, and regional food experiences
- Tailor-made trips designed around ability, interests, season, and travel style
- A strong commitment to sustainable tourism and responsible mountain travel
- A trusted local DMC for other tour operators, offering reliable on-the-ground support, logistics, guiding, and first-hand destination expertise
Learn more about Undiscovered Mountains France and connect with Sally at:
https://undiscoveredmountains.com
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