Skiing in Les Houches/Chamonix

Skiing in Les Houches

• The apartment is ski-in/out to the excellent Les Houches ski area (eur27/day, eur137 for 6days, free for under 5's), which comprises 1 international black run (the famous 'Piste Verte' World Cup downhill run), 12 red runs, 5 blue and 4 green runs.
• For lift info in in Les Houches, click here, for the weather forecast click here and for a ski map click here. Les Houches also hosts the World Cup downhill event annually in early January each year.
• The local Ski School in Les Houches (Ecole de Ski Francais) is listed here: ESF (Ski School)
  The cost for a six half-day group lessons is approx eur100 or a half-day of private tuition (1-5 pers) costs approx eur112-130 or eur33/hour.
• Beginner slopes in Les Houches are available at the top of the Prairon ski lift, or further in the Le Tourchet area (by the main church in the village). This area also offers nightime skiing each Thursday (see Office du Tourisme for info). Les Houches has 67+ snow cannons to ensure sufficient snow throughout the season. Further starter slopes are available at Chamonix Les Bossons, Le Savoy or at nearby Plannards.
• The Chamonix Valley totals 150km of skiing, which comprises 8 black, 27 red, 18 blue and 6 green runs, with an additional 42km of cross-country runs.

Ski map of Les Houches

Lift Pass options

• Based in Les Houches, you also have access to the entire Chamonix Valley and can ski a different resort each day (via car or bus). Beginners/Intermediates will find plenty of variety in the Les Houches ski area, but may want to venture to La Flegere/Brevent and Le Tour for example during the week. More advanced skiiers would probably complement a couple of days 'warm up' in in Les Houches before visiting Argentiere, then possibly further afield in Les Contamines, Courmayeur (Italy) and Verbier (Switzerland) for real variety. All are easily accessible for a day's skiing from Les Houches. Ski buses connect the five ski areas in the valley and is free with either pass (bus stop in Les Houches opposite the Telecabine de Bellevue).
• The 'Skipass Mont Blanc' pass (eur216 for 6 days) covers some of the most challenging skiing in the Alps, and is valid in the entire Chamonix Valley, including the 20km long Vallee Blanche (click here: Vallee Blanche Information) via the Aguille du Midi cablecar (website) and Courmayeur in Italy (website).
• The 'Chamski' pass (eur43/day) covers the Chamonix Valley, excluding Les Houches.
• La Flégère and Le Brévent resorts (website) are linked by a telepherique. Both resorts are both south facing and have wonderful views. The Le Brévent is also the closest area to the centre of Chamonix and has skiing up to 2525m. This is a area for all abilities, and some of the best piste skiing in the valley. Cost is eur31/day.
  Ski map of Les Brevents/La Flegere
  
• Grande Montets/Argentiere (website) is where piste and off piste merge. Challenging red and black runs blend are often interspersed with semi off-piste tracks, then back into testing mogul fields. The 'TOP' lift ascends to 3300m and leads mostly onto off-piste glacier terrain, with a vertical descent of 1260m. Cost is eur36/day.
  Ski map of Grande Montets/Argentiere
  
• Le Tour/Vallorcine (website) lies at the top of the Chamonix valley and has one of the highest snow falls in France. To the right of the of the main lift station is the beginners area of La Vormaine, with a variety of green and blue pistes. At the top of the gondola is a wide open area with long blue and red graded pistes. Vallorcine is on the Swiss side of the valley, by Le Tour and has some challenging red and lack runs. A new 4 man chairlift adds to an extansive network of lifts. Cost is eur30/day for the combined resort.
  Ski map of Le Tour/Vallorcine
  
• Courmayeur lies on the Italian side of Mont Blanc.
  Ski map of Courmayeur
  
• Les Contamines is located just over the valley, east of Les Houches, just above St Gervais. The resort has a wide variety of excellent red runs and varied landscape. Highly recommended 'undiscovered' resort that is just 30mins drive from Les Houches. (website)
  
• St Gervais/Megeve is one of the most exclusuive ski resorts in France, famed for its variety of slopes, views of Mt Blanc, and shopping for those so inclined! The 'Evasion Mont Blanc' skipass allows skiing in the Les Houches area, St Gervais, Megeve and Les Contamines areas. Cost is eur151 for 6 days. (website)
  Ski map of 'Evasion Mont Blanc'