Chamonix

Not many places have the highest mountain in Europe on their doorstep, Chamonix does. With something for everyone, it’s the only place you should be this winter or at least that’s how we feel. Whether you want to drop in to endless bowls of powder or shake your way down your first groomed ski run, there is no better place to do it than here.

Chamonix has got it all, arguably the finest mountaineering in Europe, the world capital of extreme off piste skiing, and incredible rock and ice climbing. A snowboarding and paragliding mecca, the place where speed riding and base jumping were invented, home to the first ever winter Olympics when alpine skiing was still a thing of the future. It's a place where many take to their first sliding sport, be it sledging, skiing or snowboarding.

Ski Areas

There are four main ski areas:

Le Tour, the domaine du balme is the ultimate in dual personality ski areas; one side offers incredible views of the whole valley with gentle wide sweeping pistes, while the other side offers pristine tree lined groomers heading towards the small town of Vallorcine and Switzerland.

You can drop from the top of the Grand Montet at 3300m and we dare you to be unimpressed. The biggest and baddest of Chamonix’s ski resorts you can race the locals for first tracks on powder days and if you feel like trying your hand at a few tricks there is the new snow park, whether it's synchronised wipe outs or huge switch tricks your pulling, everyone can get involved.

Brevent and Flegere are linked, they offer sunny skiing on the south facing slopes of the Aiguille Rouge catering for all capabilities, and are ideal for perfecting that goggle tan to show everyone at home. Both of these areas have slopes dedicated to the more unstable where the first tentative steps can be made and techniques perfected for the day when you can zoom past your more experienced friends with a smug ski school smile on your face.

Finally there is les Houches the all round resort with fantastic views of the valley. Catering to the some of the most experienced snow riders with the Kandahar World Cup piste as well as beginners with long rolling groomers and tree runs for everyone.

There are so many other ways to get your dose of adrenaline in Chamonix that if skiing and snowboarding "aint quite your bag baby" we will still get those hands shaking for the next year. We can make sure that you are getting the best possible service by recommending the most experienced and passionate people to go to and try something crazy somewhere new.

If the incredible "valle blanche" is something you have always wanted to do we can recommend the best guides to do it with, and even put together a packed lunch for you. Not only that but let us know in advance and we can book in any days you want, from ice climbing to Heli skiing with one of the famous Chamonix mountain guides. We can even recommend a ski school and help you book lessons for all abilities. Even the most experienced skiers can benefit.

For the days where you want a break, your legs ache and you just can't bring yourself to put in another turn, there is an alternative. There are a number of people in the valley who for a small sum of money will take you up, strap themselves to you and a piece of nylon, which would have been put to much better use as lingerie and hurl themselves off a cliff. Instead of hurtling towards a rather abrupt and horrible death you will soar majestically upwards with fantastic views all round of the Alps, such is paragliding. If you feel like giving it a go there are few views that will compare and we know a couple of people who would be more than happy to take you.

When you have been out there ripping it up on the slopes all day there's nothing better than a great après ski scene to get those aching limbs moving again. With a huge range of restaurants, bars and clubs in the town, and our expert, tried and tested knowledge we will always be able to find the place that sits just right with you. If it's late nights at “Soulfood” or “le vert” or the fantastic local cuisine which seems to consist of hundreds of different ways of melting cheese you are after, we can point you in the right direction.