Chamonix lies in the shadow of the stunning Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps. Here, skiers can explore an almost endless ski area in the Evasion Mont-Blanc region with the Ski Pass Mont Blanc. Chamonix proper also has a collection of diverse neighbouring ski areas. One of the main attractions of this area is, of course, the off-piste route through the Vallée Blanche, which can take more than four hours to complete and will leave you in awe of this majestic region. A must for all competent skiers on their ski holidays in Chamonix!
Chamonix is made up of almost a dozen smaller ski areas that offer nursery slopes, World Cup pistes, challenging off-piste routes and everything in between. The smaller ski areas - Brévent, Flégère, Balme Vallorcine, Grands Montets, Les Houches, Vormaine, Poya, Chosalets, Planards, Savoy and Tourchet - combine to offer around 150km of pisted ski runs. Chamonix's ski area is also part of the Ski Pass Evasion Mont-Blanc area, with access to 490 individual ski runs. In addition to the skiing in Chamonix itself, with the appropriate ski pass, you are able to ski or snowboard in the other Ski Pass Mont Blanc ski resorts of Argentière, Combloux, Le Tour, Les Contamines, Les Houches, Megève, Passy Plaine Joux and Saint-Gervais. Make sure you take your ski map with you!
Mountain: 450 cm
Valley: 15 cm
The ski areas of Poya, Vormaine, Chosalets, Planards, Savoy and Tourchet have gentle beginner slopes. For the most part they are easy to reach from the village and feature magic carpets and dedicated children's areas, making them the perfect destination for families. Higher up, Brévent, Flégère, Balme Vallorcine, Grands Montets and Les Houches offer challenging slopes for more experienced skiers, including the infamous Verte World Cup piste. Bear in mind that most of the ski areas at Chamonix are not connected by pistes or lifts, so you may need to drive or take a bus when you want to explore a different ski area. That being said, some of the lower-altitude beginner's areas connect to the neighbouring high-altitude areas by gondola.
La Vallée Blanche is quite possibly the most famous off-piste skiing destination in the world. The classic route is 20km long, with a vertical drop of 2700m. Starting at the top of the Aiguille du Midi, you'll pass through an ice tunnel and conquer an "arrête" with a steep drop-off on both sides before continuing down into the valley. There are several ways down and you can choose what you prefer - experienced skiers might like to tackle the couloirs. Snowboarders, be aware that there's a flat stretch at the end. Freeriding at La Vallée Blanche should only be attempted by experienced freeriders in the company of a guide.
