Winter in Chamonix: Les Houches:
Skiing and Snowboarding - an ideal resort for beginners, intermediates and mixed ability groups. Les Houches is a very pretty ski station, with wide groomed tree lined pistes, and a variety of delightful piste side restaurants. There are 22 ski runs )55 km of pisted ski runs) served by 18 lifts. There are also 86 snow cannons covering 23 hectares - just in case! Ski Schools: There are 3 ski schools operating in Les Houches, ESF, Ski Sensations and Evolution 2. We can book lessons for you. Ski Hire: There are approx 10 ski hire shops in Les Houches. We will arrange and collect equipment for you. Guiding and Ski Touring: We can offer guiding by internationally qualified UIAGM High Mountain Guides. So whether you would like a day out on the Vallee Blanche or a day Ski Touring to find some of the isolated snow fields far from the bustling pistes. Or a day Ice Climbing or learning about Mountain Safety and Cravasse Rescue. We will be very happy to arrange activities for you.
Summer in Chamonix: Les Houches:
Most people think of the Chamonix Valley as a winter ski resort - but there are actually more visitors here in the summer. The visitors come to pursue such activities as mountain biking, walking, climbing, golf, fishing, paragliding and water sports. The lifts are open in summer to give access to the higher mountain playgrounds for walkers and mountain bikers alike. In summer the streets are lined with flowers. The sound of cow bells can be heard. There are markets, visiting circus’s, carnivals, climbing competitions, craft fayres, music and beer festivals. We even stage a Marathon! The days are usually long and hot and the evenings sweet scented and cool. Paragliding: Take a tandem flight - see the valley from a different perspective. Or learn to fly - courses are available for beginners. Golf: Chamonix's famous 18-hole Championship Golf Course in Les Praz. Children: Kid Adventure situated by Lake Chavant in Les Houches offers 20 activities in the trees 4 - 9 years.
Skiing Information: :
The skiing in the Chamonix Valley is spread over 5 separate areas which are linked by a regular and efficient bus service included in the lift pass. At the base of the Valley is Les Houches, best known for relaxed easy to intermediate runs with hidden restaurants, great off piste trails through the trees. Also holds annual downhill world cup. Brévent is close to Chamonix centre, in turn linked to La Flégère. Up the valley is Les Grands Montets at Argentière and finally Le Tour. As the valley cuts through the highest mountains in Europe, the skiing in Chamonix has a reputation for being among the best available. This reputation is built on the fact that Chamonix Mont Blanc has the world's biggest skiable vertical drop that is served by lifts (2807m). It also boasts one of the world's longest runs - 22 km through the Vallée Blanche - and staged the World's first Winter Olympics in 1924. People have been skiing here since 1893 and one of the first cable cars in the world opened in 1907.
