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Chamonix

Summer

Chamonix Ski Areas

The long valley of Chamonix (about 18km from Les Houches to Le Tour) is defined by its very varied skiing. There are 6 main ski stations, with the added bonus of Courmayeur in Italy and the massive area of St.Gervais/Megeve included on the Mont Blanc ski pass making this one of the largest ski area's in France, as long as you are prepared to take your car or you travel with a company like Huski, who will transport you. All the areas are 5-30 mins from our chalets. Most people visit a different ski area each day returning to their favourites later in the week.

Les Houches 1000m-1900m

Open from 1st Dec to 21st April (weather depending).

This pretty, rural and unspoilt ski village nestles just 5km from Chamonix town.

Les Houches is probably the largest pisted single area in the Chamonix valley and has the added bonus of 86 snow canons covering 23 hectares of piste. Somewhat dismissed in the ski press, compared to it's bigger brother Chamonix, this underrated ski domain has wonderful skiing for beginners, intermediates and especially families.

1 black run (actually it's the World Cup downhill run, the Kandahar!)

12 reds and 9 other runs, surrounded by forests of pine and larch make it the ideal destination on bad weather days (often it's the only place open or when the avalanche risk is elevated.)

Also what the other ski stations somewhat lack and what Les Houches has in abundance are the little buvets and restaurants that make for excellent lunch stops! All the restaurants are family owned and run. We recommend 'La Vieille Luge' for a not-to-be-missed lunch stop. It is a renovated alpine barn with the charming Claude and Julie who offer excellent home cooking.

Chamonix's Skiing 1800m-2525m

The Brevent ski area lies directly above Chamonix town and links with the next station along, La Flegere. Amazing views of the Mont-Blanc can be seen from the top of the challenging black run with the skiing up to 2525m. Like La Flegere, Le Brevent has limited green runs, but as these are located next to restaurants it allows for mixed ability groups to ski together and swap ski tales at lunch! Both ski area's are south facing, have 5 red runs apiece, several blues and offer excellent off-piste terrain and ski touring for the more adventurous. Le Brevent also hosts an Extreme Ski Competition each winter.

Argentiere 2000m - 3300m

Located 8km from Chamonix, Argentiere, like Les Houches, is an independent village with it's own skiing, restaurants, Tourist office and nightlife.

As a Mecca for good skiers from around the world Argentiere provides testing mogul fields, wide open bowls interspersed with steep pistes, unlimited off-pistes variations and a season which runs until May!. Intermediates will enjoy the challenge of the main red run 'Le Bochard' and 'Le piste d'en bas' and both have snow cannons.

At the mid station of Lognan relax at the mountain restaurant before taking the second stage cable-car to the top - Les Grandes Montets (3300m). Not only is the view stunning but the 1260m vertical descent, much of it glacier terrain, is a skiing adventure in itself. Other excellent off-piste can be reached by day tours into Switzerland or for example, alternate route skiing down the famous 21km Valley Blanche. As with all off-piste skiing, Huski will be happy to recommend a qualified UIAGM mountain guide for your skiing safaris.

Le Tour

Le Tour at the top end of the Valley is an ideal place for beginners or novice snow surfers with its long gentle nursery slopes at La Vormaine and higher up, plenty of long blues and reds to enjoy. It regularly has some of the highest snow falls in France. Recently the addition of a chair lift and piste running down the back of Le Tour towards Vallorcine has increased the off-piste possibilities making it a much more interesting ski domain for the experienced snow-lover. In 2004 a new 10 man telecabine has finally linked the village of Vallorcine to Le Tour. This means you can ski an easy blue piste down to this charming community and have a great lunch, the restaurant at the train station or the wonderful 'Trois Petit Ours' offer an excellent mountain lunch and local specialities.

Valley Blanche

For strong intermediates a great day out is offered on a guided tour of the famous 21 km Valley Blanche run. Accessed by the highest cable car station in Europe the Aiguille du Midi offers superb panoramic views and is the gateway to some excellent skiing. Ski through amazing seracs, towers of ice and along narrow tracks that cross over spectacular but potentially dangerous crevasses. Your mountain guide (UIAGM) will ensure your safety and also ensure you have a great day out!

Ski Touring

Ski Touring is especially good in springtime in the Chamonix valley. Cold nights and hot, sunny days help to create "spring snow", that sugary layer on top of a hard pack base, almost as good as powder snow. There are many excellent day tours such as the "Col du Passon", skiing from Argentiere to Le Tour or ski from the Flegere lift to le Buet and catch the mountain train back. Trips can be organised on demand or for a weekly trip we can advise to the famous "CHAMONIX - ZERMATT" tour.

Heli-Skiing

Easy to arrange but normally involves a trip to Switzerland or Italy. For 4 persons to heliski, 1 big drop and the mountain guide the cost is € 275 per person. so contact us.