a mountain biker riding through yellow flowers near a ski lift

Les Houches

A large town at the bottom end of the Chamonix Valley

featured in Towns & Villages Updated 1 February 2022

Les Houches is one of the largest towns in the Chamonix Valley, spreading over 8km from Vaudagne and the Col de Voza at one end, towards the bottom of the Taconnaz glacier and the Merlet Animal park at the other.

It is made up of a number of different hamlets, with oratories, pretty chapels, old bread ovens and farms bearing witness to its long history. It lies about 6km from the centre of Chamonix and sits at 1,000m elevation. From the top of its ski lifts, you can get spectacular views of Mont Blanc and the Dome de Gouter.

Chef Lieu is the centre of Les Houches, with the Mairie, tourist information office, an ice rink, indoor climbing wall, mountain museum, post office and library. Vaudagne is one of the older hamlets in Les Houches with accommodation spread out over the Vaudagne hill, which is a popular spot for road cyclists. It's also home to local artist Martial Bourlot and a husky dog centre. Coupeau hamlet sits across the valley on the other side of L'Arve river, and this is where you'll find the Merlet Animal Park, the adventure park and the statue of Christ Roi (Christ the King).

Things to Do in Les Houches

Les Houches is a popular place to ski for families thanks to its sunny, lower altitude slopes that have a base of pastures instead of rocky outcrops like some of the other ski areas in the valley. Take a look at our Les Houches Ski Area Guide for more information. It's a good place for beginner skiers too, as the slopes tend to be a little wider and less steep. It also draws people to the tree runs on bad weather ski days.

In summer there are lots of hiking and mountain bike trails that criss-cross the area. You can drop over the top of the Col de Vosa into St Gervais and take the Tramway du Mont Blanc or the regular train back.

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Nightlife in Les Houches

There are a small number of bars and bars within hotels in Les Houches. Since it's quite a spread out village, they are a little thin on the ground. Try the Délice, the Kitsch Inn or Le Solerey.

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Chalets in Les Houches

Whether you're looking for self-catered or catered chalets, Les Houches has got a broad selection available, some tucked away in far-flung corners for ultimate peace and tranquility, with others nearer the centre of this large village.

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Apartments in Les Houches

Les Houches offers a range of apartments for summer and winter, from 4-star to more basic accommodation. Take a look at our selection by clicking the link below.

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