Ski Area in Chamonix

As we've said, Chamonix is a little unique as a ski resort, as it's actually made up of five different areas, plus those further afield that are included in its Mont Blanc Unlimited lift pass. 

Brévent and Flégère 

Sit on the sunny, south-facing side of Chamonix Valley with stunning Mont Blanc views. Linked by cable car and close to town, they offer terrain for all levels, from steep challenges to long, flowing groomers. Off-piste lovers are spoiled too, with endless powder possibilities on the right days. Whether you’re skiing or snowboarding, these areas give you a great mix of variety, scenery, and easy access. Find out more in our comprehensive guide.

Grands Montets

Located above Argentière, this is the freeride hub of Chamonix and one of its biggest ski areas. Its shady northwesterly slopes can be icy in the mornings, but the snow lasts longer here than anywhere else in the valley, making it ideal for late-season skiing. Whilst not the best for beginners, intermediates and experts will love the challenging pistes, epic freeride terrain, and reliable snow that make Grands Montets a standout choice. Find out more in our comprehensive guide.

Domaine de Balme

Links Le Tour and Vallorcine, it's a top spot for intermediates with its wide blues and gentle reds. Beginners are well catered for too, thanks to La Vormaine’s spacious nursery slopes – the largest in Chamonix – perfect for learning and building confidence. Add in some fun off-piste routes and a great snowpark, and you’ve got a well-rounded area that offers something for every skier or snowboarder. Find out more in our comprehensive guide.

Les Houches

Just 6km from Chamonix, it's packed with gentle tree-lined slopes, making it ideal for beginners, intermediates, and families. More advanced riders won’t be bored either, with varied terrain and the famous Kandahar World Cup downhill run. It’s also the best place to ski in poor weather, as the trees give much-needed definition. Add in a lively snowpark, and Les Houches offers a fun, versatile experience for all levels. Find out more in our comprehensive guide.

The Vallée Blanche

The famous 20km off-piste route that is on the bucket list for many skiers and snowboarders. On a sunny morning after it's dumped it down, you'll find the queue for the Midi lift snaking round Cham Sud. It's an early start, but worth it for a day you'll never forget. Make sure you enlist the services of a local mountain guide in order to safely navigate this beautiful, yet dangerous glacial terrain. Find out more in our comprehensive guide.

Courmayeur

Although it's not strictly part of the Chamonix valley, Courmayeur is included on the Mont Blanc Unlimited lift pass. It's easily accessible from Chamonix through the Mont Blanc Tunnel (journey time 30 minutes). Read more in our comprehensive guide.

The Evasion ski area

The Mont Blanc Unlimited ski pass might only be the size of a credit card, but with the addition of the Evasion ski area it gives you access to a huge and varied ski area that includes Megève, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, Les Contamines-Montjoie, Combloux, St-Nicolas-de-Véroce, La Giettaz. Read more in our comprehensive guide.

Situated in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of southeast France, Chamonix is one of the oldest ski resorts in France.

Tourists first started coming here in the mid-1700s. And in 1924, Chamonix was chosen as host of the first Winter Olympic Games.

Popular both in winter and summer, Chamonix's sky line is dominated by Mont Blanc and the Aiguille du Midi (3,842m). The cable car up the Midi was built in 1955, making it the highest cable car in the world at the time. It's still the highest vertical cable car ascent in the world to this day.

The ski area is open in winter usually from mid-December to mid or late April, weather conditions dependent. You can find out more about the season dates in our guide.

Free travel between Chamonix's ski areas

Due to it being a resort spread out along the valley floor, you will need a car, or you can easily take advantage of the bus and train network to travel between the different ski areas. 

The cost of the bus and train is included in your Chamonix ski pass. Check the small print for details.

The Chamonix valley is known for its steep pistes and challenging slopes, and it's a mecca for advanced skiers and snowboarders. Grands Montets is where most people flock and if you want to go ski touring, the top lift in Grands Montets is your gateway to endless bowls, gullies and ridge lines. 

Chamonix has a reputation for being an extreme resort, but that's not entirely accurate. Sure - you'll find some of the world's finest lift-accessed off-piste here. But there's also plenty of terrain in Chamonix suitable for all types of skiers and snowboarders - including beginners. 

Are you itching to try your first kicker or rail? Freestyle is great fun and if you want to learn, there's no better place to head than a Chamonix snowpark.As well as the natural gullies and half-pipes in the Chamonix valley, there are also a growing number of snowparks, boardercross and freestyle zones for you to try out. There are also a handful of fun zones for children.

Chamonix's off-piste and backcountry skiing is legendary and people flock here from all around the world to experience it. To get the most out of the off-piste here, we'd always recommend you hire a Chamonix mountain guide. Their local knowledge and expertise means you'll often get to ski fresh lines even when the more accessible off-piste is completely tracked out. 

Some of the world's best ski touring terrain is to be found in the Chamonix valley, especially high up on the glaciers at Grands Montets and behind the Aiguille du Midi.

There are also numerous routes from the back of Flégère over towards Le Buet (Vallorcine).

Up and out in the wilderness, there are often no real markers for pinpointing where you are. Glacial skiing requires complex route finding, and having someone with you who knows the terrain will help you get the most out of your day. We recommend you hire a guide, they might get you out of a spot of bother if things go south.

When the cloud comes in and the snow starts to fall, it helps to know where to head to. 

The trick is normally to head for the pistes that are tree-lined, as they help provide definition when everything else seems to be white. Although sometimes when the valley itself is a white-out, the top of the mountains can be bathed in glorious sunshine. 

It's always a good idea to check out the webcams in Chamonix. You can read more about where to go on our dedicated bad weather page.