RESORT INFO
The following page begins with links to some of the most useful Apps for the resorts, weather and avalanche safety.
Then there is information about each of the ski areas, our meeting places and some useful links for lift passes, piste maps and web cams. Our ski area descriptions are unique as they are based on our expertise as to where to go based on your skiing ability and depending on the skills you wish to practice. Please scroll down this page and click on the relevant ski area. Finally, we have some further useful links to the major Chamonix websites and transport info and important information regarding lift passes for our courses.
Useful Apps
Chamonix
Mont Blanc Natural Resort
Saint Gervais Mont Blanc
Meteo Blue
Meteo Ski
Swiss Avalanche Institute
Ski Resorts
Grands Montets / Le Tour / Les Houches / Brevent / Flegere
LES GRANDS MONTETS
The Grands Montets ski area is one of the most famous skiing areas in the world. The 1980’s movie “The Blizzard of AAHHH’s” really put this place on the map and it provides access to some of the best steep skiing in the world. After a dump of snow this is ironically one of the places to avoid as everyone turns up and the terrain gets tracked out very quickly.
​
For the upper intermediate and advanced skier this it certainly a great place to ski, learn and challenge yourself. The Grands Montets has some of the best terrain bumps you will find and with the slopes predominately north facing the snow stays in excellent condition. However, terrain for the lower intermediate skiers is very limited.
​
For more information and lift passes click here.
​
MEETING POINTS:
-
Bottom of Plan Joran access gondola near the entrance or Marmottoms Cafe (instructor will confirm)
-
Top of Plan Joran access gondola at the resort map or at the Plan Joran restaurant (instructor will confirm)
LE TOUR / BALME
The Domain de Balme area is at the top of the Chamonix Valley and is made up of Le Tour, Vormaine and Vallorcine. Le Tour & Vormaine are about a 20 minute bus journey from Chamonix centre (free ski bus) or you can take the train to Monroc and then the bus up to the Le Tour car park.
Vallorcine provides another access point to the ski area and the village is located on the other side of the Col de Montets (ideal if you are coming from Switzerland).
​
The Vormaine ski lifts and beginners area is quite simply the best area in the valley for beginners to early intermediates. It offers wide and easy green pistes ideal for snowplough turners and the lift staff are extremely friendly and helpful.
​
The main ski area accessed by a gondola from Le Tour (new gondola was installed for season 2022/23) or a gondola from Vallorcine is a great area for carving with lots of blue pistes and easy reds. It is also a great place to learn to ski off piste as you can access great off piste without being too far from the pistes.
​
However, if you think that the Balme area is only for beginners and intermediates then you are wrong! The Les Jurs area accessable from the tete de balme chairlift offers some exceptional off piste skiing with spectacular views of the Emosson dam. The skiing is also mostly in Switzerland even though all lift access is in France! And if you are looking for something even more challenging then the Vormaine couloirs are where its at…
​
For more information and lift passes click here.
​
MEETING POINTS:
-
La Vormaine – to the left of the small ticket office near the little outdoor cafe at the bottom of the drag lifts
-
Le Tour 1 – bottom of the Le Tour gondola outside the ticket office
-
Le Tour 2 – at the top of the Le Tour gondola, outside on the snow
LES HOUCHES
Les Houches is about 6km down the valley from Chamonix and is a great area for the intermediate skier. It is rather reminiscent of a ski area in North America as it has many tree lined pistes (or trails as they would say in the USA). This in itself offers a great venue for when the weather is bad as the trees help greatly with visibility. However, do not overlook Les Houches as a ski area as the variety of runs combined with a large number of lifts (chairlifts & drag lifts) provide a great area for practice particularly if you want to work on short turns or carving. Because there are so many pistes of different gradient you can practice on easier terrain and then test yourself on something a little steeper. The runs down to Col de Vosa (Prarion side) are particularly good!
​
For more information and lift passes click here.​
​
MEETING POINTS:​
-
Prarion 1 – bottom of the Prarion access gondola
-
Prarion 2 – top of the Prarion gondola underneath the clock
​
BRÉVENT
This area offers some of the best views of the Mont Blanc massif. The “progression” for beginners and lower intermediates is however difficult as this area has some of the darkest blues you will find anywhere!! So dark in fact they could easily be mistaken for reds..
​
The skiing suits the better intermediate but there is also some very challenging pistes for more advanced skiers. If you want to work on short radius piste performance turns then this is a great place and the red run over the back from the Col Cornu chairlift is an ideal testing gradient.
​
For beginneres the little Savoy ski area is a very good starting point but it can be very cold as the slopes are beside the main town (on the Brevent side). Great for first day beginners but the progression is very tough. Our recommendation is to go to La Vormaine up at the Balme ski area on your second day. It's well worth the bus ride.
​
For more information and lift passes click here.
​
MEETING POINTS:​
-
Le Savoy – the wooden ticket office at the bottom of the two pomas
-
Brevent 1 – at the bottom of the access gondola in front of the big map
-
Brevent 2 – at the top of the access gondola outside on the snow
FLÉGÈRE
This is the “sunny” ski area. Because of its mainly southerly aspect the slopes get the sun from early morning. The access to the area was upgraded a few seasons ago with a very modern high speed gondola and the lift system on the mountain is a mixture of high speed chairs and slow fixed cable chairs providing access to lots of different pistes. While the views are amazing and the sun means it is warmer than some of the other Chamonix areas the disadvantage is that the snow transforms quickly due to melt/freeze. This area can also be assessed from Brevent via the link lift.
​
There is also a good green run although access from the top of the trappe chair is tricky back onto the nice open run. A good area for intermediates and those who like the sun!
​
For more information and lift passes click here.
​
MEETING POINTS:​
-
Flegere 1 – at the bottom of the access gondola inside near the ticket office
-
Flegere 2 – at the top of the access gondola, outside on the snow
Other important links
LIFT PASS INFO FOR OUR COURSES
Lift pass info for Chamonix Valley courses
For the duration of our Chamonix Valley courses the areas that we will use will be covered by Chamonix Le Pass. However, if you intend to ski from the Aiguille du Midi, ski in Courmayeur or Les Houches during times outside of the course then we recommend getting the Mont Blanc Unlimited Pass.
In the event of bad weather we may choose to use Les Houches and this is not covered by Chamonix Le Pass. However, you can upgrade the Chamonix Le Pass for the duration left on the pass to a Mont Blanc Unlimited, or buy a day pass for Les Houches.
​
If you are in Chamonix regularly it would be worth considering getting a Chamonix Rapid Card. You pay approximately 50 Euro for the card and are then charged for what you use so that you don't need to queue for a pass each day.
If you are unsure about which pass to buy then we recommend that you wait until we meet on the first day of the course to purchase your pass.
​​
​
Lift pass info for Evasion Mont Blanc lessons
The Evasion Mont Blanc includes the resorts of St. Gervais, Megeve, and Les Contamines. The Mont Blanc Unlimited pass covers all of these resorts as well as the Chamonix Valley resorts (but it must be validated at the main ticket office in Saint Gervais). However, you can purchase an Evasion only pass . If you have booked lessons with us in these areas please get in touch to clarify which pass is best.
​