The ski areas in chamonix
“Many thanks for the best one yet.”
Paul NabarICAP
Now we get to talk about what brought us here in the first place. Whether the snow is a new friend or an old mate, Chamonix has a place for you in its heart.
Skiers and boarders of all levels will have no end of fun exploring the 182 kilometres of piste over the 2,800 metre vertical drop and all the snow in between.
The 5 main areas covered on the Cham'Ski pass all offer something different to the beginner or the legend, be they boarder or skier. This is what we can recommend.
- Grands Montets
- La Flégère
- Le Tour
- Le Brévent
- Aiguille du Midi
- Les Houches
Grands Montets
Les Grand Montets or Argentiere is one of the world's most renowned ski areas. Sitting high above the town of Argentiere on the southern side of the valley, Grand Montets offers a staggering vertical drop (2023m) with a great variety of terrain, the best northerly aspect and generally the best snow. It is one of the reasons why Chamonix is famous.
The replacement of the old La Herse chair with a new high speed 6 seater has markedly increased the movement of skiers to that part of the hill. While the snow making facilities and general clean up of the Pierre à Ric home run has made skiing to the bottom possible much later in the season.
Finally Chamonix has a snow park worthy of a leading international ski resort. Open all season with a skier/boarder cross course, various table top jumps and rails. It has something for the timid beginner to the world of big air through to the hardened park jibber.
Beginners
Les Chosalet beginners area on the valley floor is a good area to start and practice. The upper slopes at Grand Montets do not offer much for those who are not confident on a blue run.
Intermediates
The runs around the Marmottons chairs and the Plan Joran Restaurant are the best place to start. For the more adventurous the Bochard bubble lift opens up a whole new world of skiing either off the front or down to Le Lavancher. The Combes red run from the top of the La Herse chair is also an excellent red.
Advanced
In addition to the amazing terrain, stop and enjoy the standard of the other skiers and snowboarders on Grand Montets. It goes without saying that there will be no shortage of wannabes but you are guaranteed to see some of the best skiers and riders anywhere in the world. That said, don't stop for too long because they will get the best tracks. It is all here - steeps, bumps, off piste, jumps, drop offs, fast pistes, narrow couloirs, snow parks & much more.
The top of the Grand Montets requires a separate ticket and is glacial skiing. If you are strong enough to ski there, read the signs and pay attention - it is amazing.
Snowboarding
As Grand Montets is a free riding heaven there is no difference for the snowboarders in the best places to be. Some long traverses off the Bochard are a little harder for boarders than skiers. Certainly not impossible just more tiring.
Le Flégère
La Flégère sits above the golf course and the village of La Praz on the northern side of the valley. Access is via a cable car from the large car park. A real haven for the snowboard community with some great natural boarding terrain, Flégère has some good skiing for all and is the starting point to some of the valley's best ski touring.
The effort made by the pisteurs to keep mountain in tip top condition is the best of all the ski areas in the valley. The new improved L' Index even goes further up the mountain and gives much easier access to the Lachenal bowl.
Like Brevent, to which it is linked, Flégère enjoys more than its share of sunshine and it is popular with those seeking a tan or some warmth on the colder days. The views from Flégère over the Mer de Glace are jaw dropping and some of my favourites in the valley.
Beginners
Flégère has a good variety of green and blue runs well serviced with chair lifts, so no button tows to negotiate. Some of the lower runs are below the tree line, which is a good place to be if the weather is not clear.
Intermediates
The majority of pistes on Flégère are blue and red with only one black run in the main ski area. So it is a great place to explore for intermediates skiers. The Index is the highest peak and the L' Index chair is now faster, more comfortable and easier to get to than before. Explore the two red runs, Pylones and Pic Janvier or the blue Index run from the top. Or go further up on the Floria button tow and explore a whole new area to your right as you go up the mountain. The Crochues red run from the top is intermediate heaven.
Advanced
A quick glance at the Flégère piste map shows two black runs and potentially not a great deal more for the expert skier. It is often one of the forgotten places in the valley by the hordes at Grand Montets. While everybody else is lamenting the crowds on a blue ski powder day, those at Flégère are still getting fresh tracks. The skiing and snowboarding between the pistes and in the Combe Lachenal is fantastic.
The Floria button tow has given Flégère a new black run from the top, known by the same name. Plus the Praz run to the valley floor is also a black. The Floria has also opened up some fantastic off piste and made the touring trails north of Flégère 20-30 minutes shorter.
Snowboarding
Every boarder in the valley describes each jump and run in Flégère to one another with ease. They all know it well because they all love it. The natural terrain is like a snowboard park and it is as good as it gets.
Top Tip - Do not forget Flégère after new snow and when it's cold, even the day after.
Le Tour
Le Tour or Le Domaine de Balme sits at the top of the valley and is the furthest drive from Chamonix and our chalets (15 minutes) but well worth the visit. If you come as a group, or there is a broad range of abilities, Le Tour is generally the first place we will take you. It is easy to find your way around and has lots to do for everybody.
Last season was the opening of the new 8 seater gondola from the village of Vallorcine to back of La Tour. This has eased congestion on to the mountain by giving guests two main access points and allows for easier access to some of the best skiing in the area during bad weather. A further ski lift is planned from the top of this lift to the top of the Tete de Balme in the next few seasons.
Beginners
Nearly all ski schools use La Vormaine - the beginners area at the bottom of Le Tour. It has three button tows and the largest blue and green open area of runs in the valley. After mastering this, it is a trip to the upper slopes to try a range of blues above the mid station and then the long blue run to the Tete de Balme chair. This is the best and most scenic blue in the valley.
Intermediates
It is one of the best confidence building areas in Chamonix, with nice open runs and a variety of gradients to practice technique. A lot of the skiing in Le Tour is not obvious on the first inspection so be sure to check the piste map and try all the runs.
Advanced
The recently opened gondola on the back of Tet du Balme has given advanced skiers faster access to some of the best tree skiing in Chamonix and a way to get back on the hill after skiing to Vallorcine. It is still a well kept secret in comparison with Grand Montets and, with a bit of luck, will stay that way for a while but we doubt it. There is also the option to ski east to village of Trient in Switzerland and catch the bus back.
Snowboarding
This is a great place to learn with good blue runs serviced by lifts and not button tows. It has some excellent terrain and is easy to navigate. For the better boarders it is into the trees with the advanced skiers.
Le Brévent
Le Brévent is situated on the northern side of the valley directly above Chamonix’s town centre. The southerly aspect ensures Brévent has lots of sunshine and spectacular views of town and across the valley to Mont Blanc and the Aiguille du Midi.
This is a good place to be early in the season on those cold January days and the first place to be if you are looking for a suntan. There has been serious investment in a new lift from the base of the moutain and two new lifts around Col Cornu, so a great part of the hill just got a whole lot better. The new base station and lift has doubled the uplift capacity and banished the queues which used to build up in the spring.
Brévent has something for all levels of skier and boarder, even a cable car link to La Flegere.
Beginners
Beginners have the choice of practicing on the blue and green runs of The Clos du Savoie ski area before catching the cable car to the runs higher up the mountain. The Savoy offers an excellent area to find your confidence or practice with the kids. Once on the mountain the beginners have the Piste 2000 button / drag lift and the Parsa quad chair to access green and blue runs.
Intermediates
Intermediates should make their way to the Parsa quad and enjoy a variety of blue runs. The recently installed Les Source and upgraded Charlanon chairs also offer more blue runs. Those skiing red runs will have the Brévent’s great range of red runs to explore from the new Col Cornu high speed 6-seater.
Advanced
Advanced Skiers will love the easily accessed off piste and some of the best steep skiing the valley has to offer. A challenging black run from the top of Brévent and plenty of red runs, as well as great off piste options, will keep any advanced skier entertained. The new black piste to the valley floor adds another option to downloading and opens up some great gullys to ski in fresh snow.
Snowboarding
Snowboarders of all levels enjoy Brévent, with beginners and intermediates benefiting from the quad’s access to blue and red runs. This means no button tows/drag lifts to negotiate. There is no limit to the terrain both on and off piste.
Aiguille du Midi
The Aiguille du Midi is starting point of one of the most famous descents in the skiing world, The Valley Blanche.
The epic ski route is 17kms long and takes you from an altitude of 3841 mts back to the town of Chamonix (1048 mts). A 2.8 kilometre vertical descent through some of the most amazing alpine scenery in the world. All just two amazing gondola rides from the centre of Chamonix itself, only a few hundred metres from our chalets the Castle and Belle Cachette.
Even more amazing is that you do not have to be an experienced mountaineer to do it. It is with in easy reach of an adventurous intermediate skier. If you are comfortable skiing on a red run and you are fit enough take on a full days skiing then it is the 'must do' run of Chamonix. For any snowboarder it is much the same except there are various flat sections and these can be a lot more tiring if you have not experienced this type of riding before. Experienced snowboarders recommend taking some telescopic poles to put in your pack which can be used to push your self along if required.
We strongly recommend hiring an experienced UIAGM Mountain Guide which will ensure safety in the new terrain and guarantee the day will be one of the most incredible days on skis you will ever have. People return year after year to see the ever changing glacier and ski or snowboard the many different variants.
Les Houches
We have confirmation from the lift operator Compagnie du Mont Blanc that the Les Houches ski area will be included on the Unlimited ski pass once again. This fantastic news gives us an opportunity to share some of the best-kept secrets in the valley.
The new Prarion lift will whiz you up the hill in style, and the proposed new road access means (fingers crossed) you won’t spend any ski time sitting in traffic.
‘The Hooch’ offers fantastic skiing throughout the season. The upper lifts on the ridge and towards St Gervais are blessed with sun for beginners and those who do not do mornings.
And the north/northeast facing slopes below the tree line not being exposed to direct sunlight until the Spring. It is particularly sheltered and the forest areas make it perfect for tree skiing on those low-visibility or windy days.
Families
Perfect for a family day out, Les Houches has enough variety to keep everyone entertained. Sheltered slopes for the wobbly beginner, the terrain park and boarder cross for the energetic teen, perfectly groomed pistes for those wanting to cruise the slopes, not to mention the secret stashes of powder just waiting to be skied. There are several options for a great meal, and some of our favourites have direct access from the ski lift making it easy for any non-skiers to join you for lunch. If skiing is not your thing or your legs just need a day to recover, try marmot spotting on a guided snow shoeing trip.
Beginners
Debutantes can test their legs at the Mont Blanc nursery at the top of the Bellevue gondola or the Ecole piste at the top of the new Prarion gondola. From here there is easy progress to the gentle blue runs f Abbaye and the top section of Aillouds. Once you have warmed up and the skis are behaving themselves it is time to try the greens and blues from the Table D’Orientation, or sit and relax with a well-deserved hot chocolate at the Hors Piste.
Intermediates
Intermediates should try some warm up laps from the new tele siege Voza Prarion, before heading down to the Prarion or Bellevue via the Aillouds. Those ready to try out some red runs should explore the Stade, or work on your technique on the Maison Neuve.
Advanced
Find fresh powder near the Prarion lift pylons. Or, if you’re feeling energetic, book a guide and try touring towards the Bionnassay glacier for some amazing backcountry skiing. The local race clubs use Les Houches as their training grounds, and ENSA holds their technical exam here for a reason. The Kanadahar is the annual World Cup Downhill competition held at Les Houches, showcasing unbelievably fast skiers all clad out in rather fetching lycra suits. Well worth going to watch, for the atmosphere if not the view!
Top tip
The restaurants of Veille Luge, Hors Piste, and the Prarion Hotel - Les Houches is the gastronmique ski headquarters of the Chamonix valley. The hot chocolates are hotter, the genepi stronger, and the diot sausages…well, you have to check them out for yourself!
