Download Brévent Flégère ski map

Resort Height:             1035m
Highest lift:                  2525m
Slopes:                       33
Blacks:                       5
Reds:                         9
Blues:                        13
Greens:                      6

Formerly two separate ski areas, in 2000 these two areas above Chamonix town were joined together via a cable car, and are now called Brévent Flégère. The combined areas stretch from Chamonix centre up to the village of Les Praz and offer the largest number of pistes of all on Chamonix valley's ski areas. There are good size car parks at both the ski stations too if you are driving. Best suited to intermediate skiers and boarders (or better) there is a good spread of challenging skiing to be had, both on piste and off from the top of Planpraz (Le Brevent), Cornu(Le Brevent) and Index (La Flegere) chairlifts. La Flégère and Le Brévent are connected by a cable car which enables you to go from one mountain to the other. On powder days the area is less busy then the Grands Montets and it's possible to get fresh tracks all day long if you are prepared to do a bit of hiking. Le Brévent ski station is the closest to the centre of Chamonix.

To see accommodation at the foot of the Flegere ski lift click here.

Download Grands Montets ski map

Resort Height:             1200m
Highest lift:                  3297m
Slopes:                       18
Blacks:                        6
Reds:                          4
Blues: 5
Greens:                       1

The largest and most challenging of Chamonix's ski areas, the Grands Montets offers skiing at up to 3300m, both on and off the glacier, and is a mecca for free riders and off piste enthusiasts. There is also a snowpark at the top of the Marmottons or Tabé chairlifts. There are 6 blacks, 4 reds, 5 blues and 1 green...doesn’t seem much but this area isn’t famous for the piste terrain, it is the off piste (both marked out patrolled areas, and the unmarked areas) that makes it the most popular area in Chamonix.

Download Le Tour / La Vormaine ski map

Resort Height:              1453m
Highest lift:                   2270m
Slopes:                        18
Blacks:                         1
Reds:                           7
Blues:                         11
Greens:                       1 (nursery slope)

Le Tour is situated at the top of the valley and is a traditional Savoyarde village.  The area is also known as the Domaine de Balme. Le Vormaine at the foot of Le Tour has the largest nursery slopes in the valley for beginners. This is great for gaining confidence and progressing quickly. And for the more experienced skier or boarder Le Tour is also a good area with an array of blues, reds, blacks and off piste to negotiate your way down. The area has been extended recently with a new gondola and additional pistes taking you down into Vallorcine. This is also a great venue for ski touring (randonee) with some great tours through powder bowls over the back into Switzerland.

Download Les Houches ski map

Resort Height:             1000m
Highest lift:                  1860m
Slopes:                        24
Blacks:                         2
Reds:                           12
Blues:                          6
Greens:                        4

The domain of Les Houches extends from an altitude of 950m to 1860m. There are two main telecabines in the vaillage: Bellevue & Prarion.  From the summit you have a spectacular 360° view of the Mont-Blanc massive. And with pistes meandering through the forests, the ski area is ideal when visibility is poor. It is also a great area for beginners. Les Houches is also very proud of its privately owned mountain restaurants and refuge huts. They are nearly all family run so there is excellent variety and as well as serving superb food and wine they all have individual charm.

Simply put, the Vallée Blanche is one of the most famous ski run in the world, and not without due cause:  It is the longest run in Europe at 22kms, and offers 2780 vertical metres of skiing or boarding - that's nearly three vertical kilometers. It starts at thetop of the Aiguille du Midi, and finishes either at the Montevers train and Ice Grotto or, weather permitting, all the way down to the Chamonix Valley.

The Ascent:

The Vallée Blanche is accessed via the 40 minute ride in the  Aiguille du Midi cable car. There is a mid-station – Plan de l’Aiguille – at 2300m, before passing across the north face and the Pelerins Glacier, finally arriving at the top of the Aiguille du Midi, a 3,842m rocky ‘needle’  on the shoulder of Mont Blanc, western Europe’s highest mountain.

A quick note on hiring guides:

Basically if you are reading this, then you should have one! Via the ‘Voie normale’, the run is not technically difficult, but it is still a high mountain off piste environment, so without expert assistance and knowledge you are running distinct risks. We have some great guides we recommend through personal experience.

When to do the Vallée Blanche:

Obviously when the weather is good as the scenery on the way down is stunning. Also it is more enjoyable if you can avoid the crowds; namely the end of the week when everyone on holiday has warmed up their legs and is planning on going. It gets busier and busier so best go early in the week or even on changeover days (Saturday & Sunday).

To Ski or To Snowboard:

Both skiing and snowboarding are extremely feasible, but you can come a cropper on a board if conditions are not great.  There is a long shuss at the bottom of the appropriately names Mer de Glace which can be a pain on a board. However, don't be put off as riding the powder on the Vallée Blanche is awesome but it helps to take a telescopic pole as you may need to push yourself along in places.

The arête:

Possibly as well known as the run itself, the arête is the first hurdle everyone has to tackle before taking on the glacier. It consists of about 150 yards of descent along a ridge with steep drops on either side. Early in the season the lift company guides and rescue services put a safety rope and steel posts along it for people to use. You do the arête on foot, with crampons if it's icy and usually roped together with the members of your group and your guide. You need a good head for heights. Many have been known to turn back at this early stage!!

Possible Routes:

Once you are down at the Col at the bottom of the arête, there are four main routes down, but many others if you are touring: The Vallée Blanche normal route, The "real" Valley Blanche, The Petit Envers du Plan and the Grand Envers du Plan with each one being technically more demanding. The Petit Envers and the Grand Envers make for some very interesting skiing and involve some steep pitches and couloir skiing. From the bottom of the arête you continue straight ahead to ski directly down to the Refuge du Requin. There is also a steep and technical couloir directly below the Requin hut which leads to the Salle a Manger.'

Resort Height:             1224m
Slopes:                        29
Blacks:                        4
Reds:                          17
Blues:                          8

Courmayeur is situated at the end of Italy's Aosta Valley next to the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Chamonix and is covered on the MBU skin pass. Courmayeur is more than just a little bit special. It has an atmosphere of easy going friendliness and has some lovely restaurants on and off the slopes. It is well worth a day’s skiing whilst you are staying in Chamonix. It has lots of nice easy slopes as well as some great and usually not over crowded off piste options too.