Skiing in Chamonix

Chamonix offers fantastic skiing and snowboarding with something for every level. You’ll find everything from smooth beginner slopes to thrilling off-piste runs and high mountain descents. With modern lifts keeping you moving and snowparks to hone your skills, it’s an ideal place to enjoy all kinds of terrain. Whether you’re carving groomers or chasing powder, Chamonix delivers an unforgettable mountain experience.

Chamonix has almost 60 km of pisted cross-country ski trails that criss-cross the valley from Les Houches all the way to Vallorcine. Tracks are maintained for both classic and skating styles, usually side by side. You can buy a pass to access them before setting out from the lodges at the beginning of the trails. Bear in mind that they are patrolled and it is likely that your pass will be checked en route. The pistes are generally open from 09:00 to 17:00 each day (snow cover permitting) and are maintained each evening. Several adventure companies also offer cross-country skiing guiding, tours and lessons too. Find your way around with the cross-country skiing maps.

Enjoying the thrill of being on the pistes need not escape you if you're less mobile or have special physical needs. ESF Chamonix has a number of specially qualified Handiski instructors who can teach people with a range of disabilities to ski using adapted equipment including UniSki, DualSki, GMS, Armchair Skiing and Ski-kart. They also offer specific classes for people who are blind or partially sighted. 

ESF Les Houches are proud of their many years of experience in teaching Handiski and have a wide range of equipment that can be used free of charge.

ESF Argentière also offer handiski lessons and guiding in the Vallorcine, Le Tour and Grand Montets end of the valley. You are advised to book at least 15 days in advance and then to confirm one week before arrival, to ensure that the most appropriate equipment is available for your lesson.

In January and February, the Tourchet beginner area in Les Houches opens for night skiing every Thursday from 20:30 to 22:00. Vin chaud and hot chocolate are offered.

Chamonix is very popular for ski touring and split-boarding, whether it's going up the pistes that most people normally ski down, or tackling more of a backcountry route. A number of ski schools, private instructors and companies can show you around or, if you've got all the necessary equipment, you can head out in your own group. Some of the most popular routes cross the Aiguilles Rouges National Park, accessible via the Flégère lifts, or head up the Col du Tour Noir over the Argentière Glacier, or Mont Buet. From Chamonix, expert skiers can also undertake the famous Haute Route between Chamonix and Zermatt or cross the border to the Aosta Valley.

There are a number of snowparks in the Chamonix Valley that you can practise your skills on. Grands Montets, Brévent and Les Houches boast small jumps, kickers and boardercrosses. However, the main park area is located at Balme Le Tour. Called the Summit Park it has small, medium and large kickers and jumps for all levels and abilities.

Télémarking is a form of downhill skiing where you are only attached to the binding at the toe so, to turn, you have to lunge and bring your heel upwards. Talk to one of the ski schools or private instructors who can teach you how to télémark and take you out on excursions using this technique.

If this whets your appetite for more ski talk, check out our recommendations of the best pistes in Chamonix. Take a look at this year's ski pass prices or, if you're not sure which pass to buy.