Ski in Chamonix

Where to ski in Chamonix?

This is undoubtedly the first question you will ask yourself, as the choice of slopes to choose from is vast and the possibilities are almost endless.

For a fun ride, you can opt for the Chamonix Le Pass package:

• Over 119 km of slopes

• 3 major ski areas in the French Alps not linked to each other: Brévent-Flégère, Grands Montets and Balme-Le Tour-Vallorcine

• 6 stations for beginners: La Vormaine, Les Chosalets, Le Savoy, Plateau 2000, Plateau de Lognan and Les Planards

• 119 slopes, including 18 green, 43 blue, 42 red and 16 black slopes

• Around 67 ski lifts

• from 1,042 to 3,275 metres above sea level

For an intensive skiing experience and an extraordinary adventure, this is the ultimate package: Mont-Blanc Unlimited! With it, you will have access to more than 870 km of slopes spread over:

• Three countries: France, Switzerland, Italy

• Ten ski areas in the Alps: all the resorts covered by Chamonix Le Pass, the Houches - Saint-Gervais ski area and the Evasion Mont Blanc Megève ski area. Add to that the Italian domains Courmayeur and Skyway, and the Swiss domain Verbier - 4 Vallées Mont-Fort 3330, and you are ready for an extraordinary skiing experience with a breathtaking view!

• 3 excursion and hiking sites: the Aiguille du Midi, Montenvers - Mer de Glace and the Mont-Blanc Tramway

Skiing for everyone

With its three major ski zones, Chamonix offers an à la carte ski configuration that appeals to families seeking easy slopes as well as the most demanding skiers.

With its superb panorama over the Chamonix Valley and its vast, gently sloping slopes suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers, the Balme area will appeal to the whole family. You can ski between the pines, a stone's throw from Switzerland on the Vallorcine slope, or move on the snow-covered mountain pastures near Charamillon.

Suitable for all levels, the Flégère offers a view of the Aiguilles to be admired at all costs! Once the slopes are downhill, you can reach the valley's southern slope by cable car: the Brévent sector. Rather intended for intermediate to expert skiers, it offers the most beautiful view of Mont-Blanc under a bright sun most of the time. There, you will find a very popular black slope, but one that demands connoisseurs' opinion: the Charles Bozon, which will take you to Planpraz.

Although it has two beginner areas on the Lognan plateau and Les Chosalets, the Grands Montets area primarily attracts skiers in search of adrenaline. People come from far away to taste the most significant drops in the world, located near the glaciers. The off-piste here is sensational, and the snowfall is exceptional due to the north orientation and the resort's high altitude—a legendary resort and the flagship attraction of Chamonix in France, without a doubt.

With children

In an area as vast as that of Chamonix, there is no shortage of good ideas to occupy your children with. Each station has regions adapted for beginners, and some have fun and exciting areas to entertain the young ones.

At the Mont-Blanc Legend play area in Flégère, children can set off on the boardercross and participate in races on themed routes linked to the tales and legends of the Mont-Blanc region.

Many fun activities, such as snow tubing, await young audiences at the Les Houches Ski Camp in a mountain-themed activity and entertainment area.

The Planards' estate loves children and does everything to accommodate them in excellent conditions. Families will find a children's village, a mogul course, a snow garden, mascots, and ski lifts suitable for children, ensuring safe skiing.

From the age of 3, your little skiers can spend their day at the Panda Club, a base camp in Argentière. They will learn the basics of skiing through games organised on the track by adorable mascots.

Other slides

Snowparks and boardercross are not lacking in the resorts around Chamonix. To begin or improve, everyone will find the best space at their level.

The Les Houches Snowpark is divided into two areas: one for beginners and the other for more experienced skiers, accommodating all riders regardless of their level.

One of the largest freestyle areas in Europe has taken up residence in the Balme - Tour - Vallorcine ski area. Do not miss the Summit Park: "an evolving space with playful, original and creative sequences" located at an altitude of 2000 m on the blue Le Col slope. It offers a sequence of 10 modules and a cool zone with Mont Blanc as a backdrop.

At the Grands Montets, snow parks and boardercross (a blue one, filmed and sponsored by BMW, and a red) welcome riders who come to perfect their technique.

Finally, in the Brévent et Flégère area, you can surf on natural slants like a snowpark! The station also features a jump with a giant Airbag, allowing you to have fun without worrying about the landing.

Free-ride version

Chamonix is ​​a powder enthusiast's paradise. Great off-piste routes in glacial areas, incredible panoramas, exceptional snow and endless possibilities: this is what the site has to offer.

Impossible to name all the off-piste routes to be tested in the Chamonix valley, as there are so many choices. Here is a good minimal selection to whet your appetite:

• For the breathtaking view: the Vallée Blanche at the Aiguille du Midi. Even if the route remains classic and not very technical, it is glacier skiing that requires a reasonable level of experience and supervision by a high mountain guide.

• For extreme sensations: the Grand Envers and its succession of three steep slopes. It is possible to continue via the Rond Glacier and the Cosmiques corridor, but this should only be reserved for fans of extreme skiing!

Impossible to consider off-piste skiing in Chamonix without going to Grands Montets! Mythical freeride resort offers marked but never groomed slopes, a steep drop on the north face, and incredible snow, the perfect combination! Among its glacial routes, each more spectacular than the last, we can mention:

• The descent of the Glacier des Rognons, on the north-eastern slope,

• The Pas de Chèvre, which joins the Mer de Glace

• Orthe Poubelles corridor from Bochard. But that is only a tiny glimpse of what you will find there!

Nordic version

More than 50 km of cross-country trails extend into the valley between the sites of Chamonix and the surrounding area. With loops of all levels to satisfy both beginners and experienced cross-country skiers.

From Chamonix, you will have the choice between three loops of varying difficulty located just a few steps from the city centre:

• The green loop Le Bois du Bouchet stretches over 3 km,

• The blue Orthaz is around 6-7 km

• And the red Les Bois features 11.7 km with some pretty steep descents

Three tracks also make up the Nordic area of ​​Argentière, with many climbs and descents:

• The Iles green loop and its kilometre and a half near the car park

• The blue of Chosalets, 3.5 km long

• And the red Moraine, quite complicated, which stretches over 9.5 km

Finally, there are still possibilities in Vallorcine where the cross-country trails wind between hamlets and forest:

• The green loop of Mermy offers a good start with over 1 km

• The blue mouth of Courzilles allows you to continue for 3.5 km

• Finally, the Mayens red will attract experienced cross-country skiers over its 6.5 km

The Les Houches sector will satisfy cross-country skiers with its two 3 km loops, which encircle Lac des Chavants and continue through the forest.