Whether you are a skier, snowboarder, beginner, advanced, expert… the Chamonix valley offers you a wide variety of slopes, snow conditions, but also untouched areas and sublime landscapes for your utmost pleasure.
The Chamonix valley offers you several ski areas, some oriented towards big skiing, others more intended for family skiing, not forgetting of course, the high mountain ski itineraries such as the famous Vallée Blanche. Whatever your level, you will find the right area.
The different ski areas :
Big skiing, Large ski areas :
Les Grand Montets : This is the domain of big skiing par excellence, with slopes having long vertical drops in a magnificent high mountain setting. You will ski at the foot of the Aiguille Verte, at 3300m altitude.
The domain : Les Grands Montets offers you 4 black slopes, 4 red and 4 blue. No green slope here, the domain not being intended for pure beginners.
Some slopes are not groomed: Point de vue (black), Pylônes (black), Variante Hôtel (red) and La Remuaz (black).
This domain is really intended for advanced skiers and some itineraries demand flawless technique depending on snow conditions. Also pay attention to safety, some itineraries partly run on glaciers, if you go off-piste, do so with full knowledge or in the company of a mountain professional.
To discover : From the aiguille des Grands Montets (Lognan cable car – Les Grands Montets), by veering left on the black slope Point de Vue, you will discover the Argentière glacier and its impressive seracs. Preferably go early in the morning, the light on the ice blocks being magnificent.
Brévent, Flégère : A south-facing domain, offering soft snow and above all a truly magnificent view of the Mont-Blanc range. Connected by cable car, the Brevent-Flégère domain offers a fantastic playground composed of slopes and bowl-shaped valleys. Everyone can express themselves there, whether for leisure skiing, family or challenging skiing.
The domain : Brevent and Flégère offer you 6 black slopes, 9 red, 11 blue and 3 green. This domain being south-exposed, snow conditions will be more variable throughout the day. Don’t forget to protect yourself from the sun…
To discover : The traverse: start from the summit of Brevent to join the summit of l’Index at Flégère and enjoy the panorama of the Mont-Blanc range in its full length. Access by Brevent cable car, col du Cornu chairlift, Brevent-Flégère connecting cable car and l’Index chairlift.
Le Tour – Vallorcine : In an alpine pasture atmosphere, the last ski domain in the Chamonix valley, just before Switzerland, delights families and skiers of all levels. Its evolving terrain allows beginners to start on gentle slopes for enjoyable skiing but also to escape into the vast untouched spaces on the Vallorcine side.
The domain : Le Tour and Vallorcine offer you 1 black slope, 7 red and 12 blue. Again, no green slopes here but beginners can make their first slides on a few not too difficult blue slopes.
To discover : Treat yourself to 1200m of continuous vertical drop by linking the summit of Tête de Balme to the village of Vallorcine via a wild itinerary through alpine pastures, forests and trails (warning, itinerary not secured).
Exceptional itinerary: La vallée Blanche
Skiers, beware! You are entering here the world of high mountain, at 3842m altitude. At the summit of l’aiguille du midi begins the mythical Vallée Blanche dominated by needles and ridges that will take your breath away. The itinerary ends on the Géant glacier with a return to Chamonix by the Montenvers train.
This entire itinerary being unmarked and unsecured, the descent of the Vallée Blanche requires a perfect knowledge of winter high mountain and glacier travel techniques. Otherwise, use the services of a mountain guide to accompany you on this itinerary with maximum safety. A good skiing level is of course necessary as well as good physical condition, the descent being quite long.
Unfortunately, this itinerary is very busy. Prefer, if you can, periods outside school holidays.
Total pleasure, Small ski areas :
Les planards : A small domain 2 minutes from the center of Chamonix for beginners and intermediate skiers. 2 green slopes, 1 blue and 1 red with slalom and training stadium. Domain fully covered by snow cannons.
Le Savoy : Green slopes ideal for beginners and little ones, right in the heart of Chamonix. Artificially snowed slopes served by 2 ski tows and a conveyor belt.
Les Chosalets : Large green slope stadium in Argentière, at the foot of the Grands Montets.
La Vormaine : Large snowfields in the Le Tour domain, for beginner skiers. 2 green slopes, 2 blue, one snowboard slope and a children’s garden.
