Downhill & Cross-Country Skiing

Chamonix's 70-plus miles of ski runs are spread throughout four separate areas, serviced by 42 ski lifts. Offering arguably the best advanced and extreme skiing in the Alps, Chamonix steep slopes are its best but there is varied terrain that will keep skiers of all levels happy and enthralled. The different ski areas are spread out around the Chamonix valley (read about Chamonix's lay of the land), which means the ambitious can ski different regions each day and never repeat runs, and almost ensuring that at least one section will have good snow conditions. It also means that visitors need to be organized and think ahead about which areas they'd like to discover each day, as getting to lifts requires a bit more planning.

Following is a very abbreviated description of the area's best skiing during the season, which runs from mid-December through mid-May:

• Les Houches is one ski area that is close to the center of Chamonix town and good for families and intermediate skiers. There are beautiful 360-degree views of the area including the nearby Mont Blanc.
• Brévent and Flégère are two regions connected by a cable car that offer varied types of slopes and a good number of blue runs.
• The Grands Montets consists of three regions including the famed Argentière glacier. The impressive area is famous in world of freeriders and snowboarding and boasts very steep pistes at high altitudes (10,800ft.)
• Balme-Vallorcine region is reachable via the villages of Tour and Vallorcine and consists of beginner/intermediate runs that can be attempted at a more leisurely pace
• Vallée Blanche is the 23 km (14.3 mile) glacier run accessible from Auguille du Midi

All guests in Chamonix, whether staying in a chalet or hotel, receive a pass for the buses and trains, which transport skiers to the different regions. Some hotels have private and most chalets come with staff who can drive guests to and pick them up from mountain bases.

The Chamonix area also boasts 53 kilometers (33 miles) of cross-country skiing trails in Les Bois and Argentière, which can provide a nice counter-balance to downhill skiing. Tickets and trail maps can be purchased at the Foyer de Ski de Fond de Chamonix. (Route du Bouchet; 33-450-531-115)