Adventure Travel with Sally Guillaume - Undiscovered Mountains France

Guest BioSally 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 SummaryIn 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. Big World Made Small guest features are invitation-only and selected based on story, experience, and fit with the show. Some guests support the show through paid production features, cross-promotion, referrals, or other partnerships. This helps keep the show free of third-party ads and interruptions while keeping the focus on real, story-driven conversations.Learn more about the Big World Made Small Podcast and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers on our website.