Best Pistes in Chamonix
Discover the best of the Chamonix pistes
The Brevent-Flegere skiing area is excellent for those of intermediate ability and above and has enough runs of varying difficulty to keep mixed ability groups happy all day long.
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Brevent and Flegere are two separate ski areas, linked by a cable car. Brevent can be accessed from Chamonix centre, the lift station is just a few minutes walk (uphill!) from the tourist office, and the Flegere lift station is beside the golf course in the nearby village of Les Praz. Together they form one of the biggest ski areas in the valley and offer a great variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities.
Le Brevent is perhaps a little harder than La Flegere but still has a couple of nursery slopes that are suitable for beginners, with some steep skiing off the top with some exhilarating hikes along the ridgeline and lots of gnarly descents down the mountain face. A red intermediate piste runs from the top of the Cornu chairlift where you can access some great off-piste just metres from the piste itself. From the top of the Brevent cable car you can take the Charles Bozon piste which is a black run and is a definite ‘goodie’ for testing your techniques. Because of its high altitude, the snow on the Charles Bozon run usually remains in superb condition throughout the season.
The home run from Brevent is via Les Nants, a winding cat track that leads through the forest back to Chamonix town centre. Nants is a long run that on a sunny day offers some beautiful views across the valley towards the Aiguille du Midi, Mont-Blanc and the snow-covered Chamonix valley below. Although this is classified as a black piste is actually not very steep, but it is quite narrow in places so you need to be aware of other people. On this route you’ll also often see people taking more direct lines between the zig zags of the run, if you’re tempted to follow watch out for rocks and the tree stumps! The bottom of the run brings you out at the top of the Savoy beginners’ slope; from here it’s easy to head back up on the Chamonix-Planpraz gondola or down the Savoy run if it’s the end of your day. We recommended you avoid doing Nants at the end of the day though as it can get busy. Instead, do it in the morning after it’s been freshly groomed and is quieter and then take the gondola down at the end of the day.
La Flegere is known to the locals as 'riders paradise'. Lots of fun runs, mostly fairly easy, with cat tracks to jump off and big open off-piste sections for letting rip on a powder day. Speed junkies should look out for the speed zone area near La Chavanne where you can race the clock down a designated run, if that doesn't sound appealing then you can watch the action from a deckchair on the terrace of the nearby bar halfway down the Chavanne piste.
La Flegere bowl is challenging and fun, and after some fresh snow it opens up a world of possibilities that you don't have to be an expert freerider to enjoy, intermediate riders shouldn't get into any trouble here. Also all down the front side there are kilometres of open ground, but be aware, light snow cover can obscure rocks and heavy snow cover can bring a high risk of avalanches; La Flegere is a very "beginner-friendly" area but the lower off-piste terrain can be treacherous and avalanche-prone. Some of the tops of the cliffs can also become very windswept and icy making it difficult to stop. If in doubt, if you can’t see over it, don’t ski over it.
The Index chairlift opens up access to some of the longest runs at La Flegere. Lachenal piste is a red run that’s almost black, giving good intermediates a technical challenge with its physically demanding, consistently steep upper section. After a fresh snowfall the whole Lachenal bowl offers exceptional off-piste but can also be avalanche prone so if it’s closed it’s for a very good reason; don’t ignore the signs.
If you take the little Floria draglift from the top of the Index Chair you’ll find the Crochues and Floria pistes which are great runs for long steep skiing. With the Crochues being the less difficult of the two; often groomed to perfection, they’re great for carving on first thing in the morning. The shorter Chavannes chairlift gives access to some easier blue runs and some gentler off-piste to the skiers left for those trying powder for the first time.
Both Le Brevent and La Flegere have long scenic runs that finish down in resort but the lower sections need good snow cover, otherwise, you'll find yourself dodging rocks and scraping over gravel. Have a look at the conditions from the cable car on the way up before you decide whether or not to attempt it.
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Advanced areas in Chamonix
Private Ski Lessons & Instructors in Chamonix
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Private ski lessons
Chamonix Sport Aventure is one of Chamonix's leading ski and snowboard schools offering a personalised service to maximise progress and fun in the mountains.
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Private ski lessons
The perfect choice for private ski lessons in the Chamonix Valley if you're staying in Vallorcine, Le Tour or Montroc, or would like to discover the beautiful Balme ski area at the top end of the valley.
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Private ski lessons
This ski school welcomes everyone from beginners to experts in private lessons.
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Private ski lessons
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British-run ski schools in France. Their team is known for going the extra mile, offering excellent customer service and delivering outstanding lessons and guiding.
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Private ski lessons
Operating across the valley, this world-class team of ski instructors is available at all meeting points in Chamonix.
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Private ski lessons
This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
Beginner areas in Chamonix
Ski School Lessons in Chamonix
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Group ski lessons
The perfect choice for group ski lessons in the Chamonix Valley if you're staying in Vallorcine, Le Tour or Montroc, or would like to discover the beautiful Balme ski area at the top end of the valley.
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Group ski lessons
Operating across the valley, this world-class team of ski instructors is available at all meeting points in Chamonix.
-
Private ski lessons
This ski school welcomes everyone from beginners to experts in private lessons.
-
Private ski lessons
Chamonix Sport Aventure is one of Chamonix's leading ski and snowboard schools offering a personalised service to maximise progress and fun in the mountains.
-
Private ski lessons
The perfect choice for private ski lessons in the Chamonix Valley if you're staying in Vallorcine, Le Tour or Montroc, or would like to discover the beautiful Balme ski area at the top end of the valley.
-
Private ski lessons
This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
Beginner ski hire
Ski Hire in Chamonix
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Chamonix Ski
This ski and snowboard hire shop is only a 3-minute walk from the centre of Chamonix and perfectly located if you're staying in the Les Pècles / Les Moussoux.
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Balme Sports
You can’t wait for your next ski trip? Everything is already booked except your ski equipment? Don’t worry, they’ll help you find the perfect equipment to fully enjoy your ski holiday in Chamonix-Le Tour!
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Aiguille du Midi
Jerome and his professional, friendly and dynamic team welcome you every day to the most competitively priced ski hire in town! This Skimium ski rental shop is situated just down from the Aiguille du Midi cable car in the Quechua shop just next to the Aiguille du Midi train station.
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Ravanel & Co Alpina
This ski hire shop is situated in the centre of Chamonix right on the corner of the Place du Mont Blanc where all the ski shuttle buses run to.
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Salomon
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Chamonix? Just visit the NetSki Salomon store!
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Planards
No need to carry your ski equipment around with you! Simply pick it up from the ski shop in resort. You can collect your equipment from at least 5pm the day before your 1st skiing day.
Beginner ski lessons
Ski School Lessons in Chamonix
See all Ski School Lessons in Chamonix-
Group ski lessons
The perfect choice for group ski lessons in the Chamonix Valley if you're staying in Vallorcine, Le Tour or Montroc, or would like to discover the beautiful Balme ski area at the top end of the valley.
-
Group ski lessons
Operating across the valley, this world-class team of ski instructors is available at all meeting points in Chamonix.
-
Private ski lessons
This ski school welcomes everyone from beginners to experts in private lessons.
-
Private ski lessons
Chamonix Sport Aventure is one of Chamonix's leading ski and snowboard schools offering a personalised service to maximise progress and fun in the mountains.
-
Private ski lessons
The perfect choice for private ski lessons in the Chamonix Valley if you're staying in Vallorcine, Le Tour or Montroc, or would like to discover the beautiful Balme ski area at the top end of the valley.
-
Private ski lessons
This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
Off-piste areas in Chamonix
Mountain Guides Chamonix
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Mountain guides
Operating across the valley, this world-class team of expert mountain guides is available at all meeting points in Chamonix.
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Mountain guides
These mountain guides are the perfect choice if you're staying in Vallorcine, Le Tour or Montroc and want to explore the valley off the beaten track.
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Mer de Glace glacier trek
Strap on your crampons for a scenic stomp across the frosty wasteland known as the Mer de Glace.
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Guided off-piste Vallée Blanche
14 Feb 20264.5hrsChamonix Mont Blanc Guides specialise in high mountain guiding, skiing and alpinism. Based in the Chamonix Valley, at the foot of the Mont Blanc range, they have all the experience and expertise to make your dream adventure become a reality.
Price: €370
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Vallée Blanche private guide
At the summit of the Aiguille du Midi you will find the Vallée Blanche!
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3-Day Mont Blanc Traverse by Tacul & Maudit Summits
Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, is without a doubt the most breathtaking and beautiful mountain in the world, and every year many mountaineers ascend this famous peak.
What should I wear when skiing or snowboarding?
Ski Hire in Chamonix
See all Ski Hire in Chamonix-
Chamonix Ski
This ski and snowboard hire shop is only a 3-minute walk from the centre of Chamonix and perfectly located if you're staying in the Les Pècles / Les Moussoux.
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Balme Sports
You can’t wait for your next ski trip? Everything is already booked except your ski equipment? Don’t worry, they’ll help you find the perfect equipment to fully enjoy your ski holiday in Chamonix-Le Tour!
-
Aiguille du Midi
Jerome and his professional, friendly and dynamic team welcome you every day to the most competitively priced ski hire in town! This Skimium ski rental shop is situated just down from the Aiguille du Midi cable car in the Quechua shop just next to the Aiguille du Midi train station.
-
Ravanel & Co Alpina
This ski hire shop is situated in the centre of Chamonix right on the corner of the Place du Mont Blanc where all the ski shuttle buses run to.
-
Salomon
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Chamonix? Just visit the NetSki Salomon store!
-
Planards
No need to carry your ski equipment around with you! Simply pick it up from the ski shop in resort. You can collect your equipment from at least 5pm the day before your 1st skiing day.
More inspiration...
Take a look at this year's Ski Pass Prices or, if you're not sure which pass to buy, read Ski Pass Options for more information. Find your way around with Piste Maps for Chamonix.
Best Pistes in Le Tour & Vallorcine
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Best Pistes in Les Grands Montets
Looming above Argentiere, the Grands Montets area is made up of several high altitude and north-facing bowls that make for great-quality snow from December through to May.
Best Pistes in Les Houches
Les Houches is home to rolling hills and wide pistes lined by beautiful trees. The pistes are perfect for beginner skiers and great for those days when the clouds come in.
