Chamonix - Ski Areas
Discover all the places you can ski in the Chamonix Valley, as well as the other resorts the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass gives you access to.
Brévent
Access the Brévent area from the Planpraz gondola, at the top of the Le Brevent hill in Chamonix town. The skiing consists of mostly blue and red pistes, with a couple of green slopes for beginners with links to the Flégère area, via the liaison lift. Enjoy fantastic views of Mont Blanc, perhaps over lunch at the aptly named "Le Panoramic" restaurant. Confident skiers can take the home run back to the Savoy slopes (snow permitting) and après-ski at La Folie Douce
Flégère
The main cable car in the village of Les Praz, a 5 minute drive or bus ride from Chamonix, whisks you up to the Flégère area or you can ski across from Brévent via the Liaison lift. The gentle wide open slopes of La Flégère are perfect for beginners and lower level intermediates, but with plenty of steep reds to keep intermediate and advanced skiers entertained too. Off-piste skiers and snowboarders love it for the deep powder bowls, steep drops and trees.
Grands Montets
This area is the most challenging, being home to most of the red and black pistes in the Valley, so perfect for intermediate to advanced skiers. There is still a wide variety of terrain from the nursery slopes of Les Chosalets, the gentle blues of Marmottons, through to the long Point de Vue black run. For off-piste experts, the bowls of the Glacier and Lavancher, are not to be missed. Enjoy a mountain meal at the Crèmerie du Glacier, a traditional crèmerie hidden in the forest, or the rustic Refuge de Lognan.
Domaine de Balme - Le Tour & Vallorcine
Le Tour is about 15 minutes from Chamonix and is a great area for skiers & boarders of all abilities, but is particularly good for a day of cruising the pistes. Beginners can enjoy the wide nursery slopes of La Vormaine, while intermediates can practice their technique on the wide varied pistes from the top of Les Autannes. Head over to the Vallorcine side for plenty of off-piste possibilities and there is a wonderful tree-lined run all the way down to the village where you can enjoy a fabulous lunch at the Le Cafe Comptoir.
Les Houches
Les Houches is especially suited to beginners and intermediates with its meandering pistes through the forest and ideal for bad weather days thanks to the large number of tree-lined runs. It also boasts the downhill World Cup run, Le Kandahar, where advanced skiers can test their skills. Les Houches a good choice for those who love on-piste lunches; the many restaurants provide excellent variety and cosy decor. Many are tucked away in the forest, and it can be an adventure in itself just finding the best spots.
Vallée Blanche
The Vallée Blanche is the famous 20km off-piste trail starting from the top of the Aiguille du Midi and finishing in the town centre (snow permitting). There are a number of routes crossing over snow-covered glaciers, and the spectacular scenery and amazing powder makes for an unforgettable day out. Although not technically difficult for experience skiers, the trail is not marked, maintained or patrolled so you should only under-take with an experienced guide.
St Gervais & Mégeve (Evasion Mont-Blanc)
Access to the vast ski area of St Gervais & Mégeve is included with a Mont Blanc Unlimited skipass of 2 days or more. This area is at the heart of the Evasion Mont-Blanc domaine, which boasts 235 runs. Closest access is from the Bettex lift in St Gervais, less than 30 minutes by car from Chamonix. There is a huge variety of runs, mostly wide and sunny, so perfect for families or groups of friends of varying levels. Ski across to Mégeve for a full day adventure before partying away at the famous Folie Douce on-piste après bar and cabaret in St Gervais.
Courmayeur
Fancy a ski day in Italy? Just a 20 minute drive through the Mont Blanc tunnels it the stunning Italian ski resort of Courmyeur. Included with the 2 days + Mont Blanc Unlimited pass, this ski area offers 31 slopes, 18 lifts and 100km of on and off-piste terrain. In addition to the excellent skiing, Courmayeur is famous for its excellent choice of piste-side restaurants and Italian hospitality, serving up delicious Italian pizzas, homecooked pastas, coffees, bombardinos, and Aperol spritz.
Verbier
With a 6 days + Mont Blanc Unlimited skipass you can sample the Swiss ski resort of Verbier which is a 1 hour car journey via the Col des Montets. Part of the 4 Vallees, the area boasts 410km of pistes with activities such as ski touring, heli-skiing on world-renowned marked routes.
Les Contamines (Evasion Mont-Blanc)
The hidden gem of the Evasion Mont-Blanc, Les Contamines may be a less well-known ski area but it still boasts 120km of pistes, making it a great place to avoid the crowds. The runs are wide and varied with some good off-piste opportunities too, so it makes an excellent day out for all abilities. There is also a good range of rustic mountain restaurants with sunny terraces, for the all-important lunch stop. Included with a Mont Blanc Unlimited skipass of 2 days or more.