Chamonix in Winter
Alpine Skiing and Boarding
The Chamonix Valley is famous for being one of the best free ride resorts in the world. It has 5 main ski areas: Les Houches, Le Brevent, La Flegere, Le Tour, Grand Montets. Chamonix Mont Blanc can offer you a superb ski holiday with the best scenery in the Alps and for all levels from beginners to the advanced. Why not take a guide to take you down the infamous Vallee Blanche (a 20km off-piste ski run over crevasses, glaciers and magnificent scenery) or the Argentiere Glacier? Chamonix's ski areas are open from December to May, subject to snow conditions.
Cross Country Skiing
Chamonix has over 70km of cross-country trails dotted around the valley. There are cross-country trails in Les Houches, Chamonix Centre/ Le Praz, Argentiere and Vallorcine. Known as "Ski de Fond" in French. If you are not so keen on the down hill skiing this is so much fun to try.
Snow Shoeing
This is a means of travelling through the snowy mountains on foot at either low or high altitudes. Another brilliant sport for those who do not wish to ski. One has to be fit, comfortable with snow and competent in the mountains particularly in winter conditions. It is very enjoyable though since you get away from the crowded pistes and get to see the local wild life such as chamois and marmottes. Known as "Raquettes" in French.
Ski Touring
The Chamonix valley and Mont Blanc Massif are excellent for ski touring. Ski touring is a great way to access nature as it was intended to be seen. The Massif is a vast area of spectacular, glaciated mountains. The lifts provide easy access to the mountain wilderness that make this region special. With the necessary equipment and a bit of hard work, riders will be able to escape the crowds on the slopes and find some great skiing. The classic popular Haute Route starts in Chamonix on the Argentiere glacier and finishes in Zermatt (Matterhorn). Known as "Ski de Randonee" in French.
Ski Areas
Chamonix Piste MapPlease note all piste areas have a beginners area.
Le Brevent-La Flegere (1095m - 2525m)
This extensive south-facing area offers the best possible conditions for all levels. Close to the centre of Chamonix, Le Brevent, facing Mont Blanc, offers a variety of pistes for all levels. La Flegere, opposite the Mer de Glace and its mountain range, accessible from the village of Praz (2km above Chamonix), welcomes all lovers of powder snow. This is the town's main skiing is on the other side of the valley, reached either from the outskirts of the resort or from a lift station at Les Praz higher up the valley. The Planpraz gondola should have new eight-person cabins for this season, doubling uphill capacity. Linked Le Brevent and La Flegere provide plenty of scope for intermediate and strong skiers.
The two beginner ski areas in the centre are Les Planards - Chamonix (1062m - 1242m), close to the town centre, a sunny ski area with pistes prepared for all skiers. Snow on the pistes is guaranteed by 33 canons. This is one of the closest to our Chamonix apartments (400 yards from our Chamonix Ginabelle apartments) and Le Savoy - Chamonix (1049m - 1125m), right in the centre of Chamonix, at the foot of Le Ft. Favourite pistes for beginners and especially children, 2 drag lifts and a conveyor belt lift. Artificial snow.
Les Grands-Montets (1230m - 3300m)
The most demanding skiing domain, with long descents, dramatic mountain settings and glacier views. Exceptional vertical drops and famous pistes have given the Grands-Montets its reputation as a world famous ski area, part of which is on a glacier. Internationally renowned thanks to its size and the variety of its ski runs and pistes which extend over three slopes: the Argentiere glacier, Lognan and la Pendant. The length of the pistes, their vertical drop (max altitude 3300m) and the exceptional quality of snow until May makes it a paradise for skiing in Chamonix on your ski holiday. For powderhounds the main course starts at the little village of Argentiere, where an 80-person cable-car and a quad-chair give access to Lognan. From this mid-mountain station a cable-car (not included in the lift pass) rises to the 3275m Grands Montets, one of the world's greatest ski mountains. The descents from here through the glacier are as staggeringly beautiful as they are demanding. Pas de Chevre, a run from the top of Bochard via one of several difficult couloirs down to the Mer de Glace is a Chamonix classic. 'Anyone who can ski a black run competently should persuade a guide to take them to the Pas de Chevre. Long, hard, but stunningly beautiful,' commented a reporter. It has a beginner ski area Les Chosalets (1230m) a vast slope for beginners, ideal for children, situated at the entrance to Argentiere, 500m from the start of the Lognan cable car.
Le Tour-Vallorcine (1480m - 2230m)
At the head of the valley, Le Tour offers some good novice terrain as well as rewarding runs on the Col de Balme and a long descent to Vallorcine. The Grands Montets and Le Tour both have terrain parks but the majority of snowboarders here are usually busy elsewhere, climbing up or riding down a vertiginous couloir. Out in the nature between sunny fields and forests, an ideal setting for learning to ski and progressing with the family, with an invigorating backdrop. An easy area for the family ski holiday in Chamonix.
It has a beginner ski area La Vormaine (1480m) which is situated next to the village of Le Tour, very sunny with plenty of snow, for beginners and intermediate skiers. Ideal for children and an introduction to snow boarding.
Les Houches
The slopes of Les Houches are more sheltered than the rest of the valley making it a good option on bad weather days. It is also the site of the Kandahar, the challenging world cup downhill run. Les Houches has amazing south-east views of Mont Blanc!
Vallee Blanche *Non-Pisted
Chamonix is dominated by the 3842m Aiguille du Midi peak, reached by a cable car from the southern side of town. This is the starting point for the famous Vallee Blanche, a glorious 22km descent past yawning crevasses and house-sized seracs (ice boulders) all the way to Chamonix. Competent intermediate skiers with a good head for heights will enjoy the easiest of the four main routes, but it is essential to take a guide. The start is a series of ice steps cut into the spine of the ridge down from the cable-car station: the 2000m sheer drop on the left side can be unsettling. The return to Chamonix is either by train, on the Montenvers rack and pinion railway, or via a short ascent and a long descent on skis down a narrow forest track.
Italy - Courmayeur
You can also go for a day through the Mont Blanc tunnel to the Italian resort of Courmayeur. It takes half an hour to drive to the ski areas of Val Veny through the Mont Blanc tunnel. The skiing there is varied but not as difficult usually as in the Chamonix valley. You will also find the restaurants far cheaper!
