View from chair-lift of ski terrain with trees and mountains

Les Houches

Chamonix Mont-Blanc, Haute-Savoie, French Alps

Gateway to the Chamonix valley, Les Houches has 55km of groomed terrain for all levels of skier.

The varied terrain includes some long, tree-lined descents to the village and above Saint Gervais.

It’s readily accessible via flights into Lyon, Geneva and Chambery or by road via Geneva, with a non-autoroute option from Lyon via Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc and Albertville.

Lone skier on mountainside passing timber chalets and pine trees at Les Houches.

The Ski Area

  • Varied terrain in a compact ski area.
  • Solid choice for mixed-ability groups.
  • Possible to base yourself here if you want to ski Chamonix Valley.

The skiing above Les Houches has something of a split personality. Hardened experts often dismiss the local terrain as being too tame, yet there are some long (and quite steep) runs here, including the world-famous black-graded ‘Verte’.

What Les Houches doesn’t have, though, are the kind of nasty surprises (and conservative piste grading) which can catch out less-confident skiers further up the valley in less-than-ideal conditions.

Resort Information

Altitude : 950m - 1900m
Les Houches
Pistes Total:
55 km
2 Green
6 Blue
12 Red
2 Black
Ski Resort Lifts : 18
1 Magic Carpets
8 Draglifts
7 Chairlifts
1 Gondolas
1 Cable Cars

Green Credentials...

  • The Chamonix Valley has been awarded the Flocon Vert label for its environmental actions.
  • Since February 2009, all the villages in the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Valley have been engaged in a voluntary initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapting the area to climate change. The Climate and Energy Area Plan has a total of 184 actions and was set up in consultation with major stakeholders in the Valley.
  • Free public transport by bus and train throughout the Valley with a Carte d'Hôte pass.
  • Les Houches is one of the closest resorts to Geneva airport.
  • Travel by fast TGV train to St Gervais les Bains - le Fayet then take the Mont Blanc Express which serves all the villages in the Chamonix Valley.

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Piste-side, chalet-style apartments with mountains in late afternoon light above Les Houches

The Ski Village

  • Close to the buzz of Chamonix but small and relaxed.
  • Recent expansion in accommodation with luxury and budget choices available.

After the lively buzz of Chamonix, Les Houches feels pretty calm and relaxed. It’s visibly on the up, however, so is clearly just what plenty of people are looking for, since remaining building plots seem to be snapped up by chalet-builders as soon as they become available. In the heart of the village you’ll find a helpful Tourist Office, Mairie, etc., plus a mini-market which these days is no longer quite so mini. It stocks most of what you’ll require for self-catering stays. Not that you'll be quite self-sufficient here; if you decide to dine out then chances are you’ll still end up heading up to Chamonix, where the choice is impressive, if predictably pricey.

A welcome, but slightly less obvious feature of a stay here (particularly if you come in summer) is easy access to a choice of walks. You can begin with a relaxing perimeter stroll around the Lac des Chavants and work your way up to something more demanding in the form of a hike through near-silent forest on the benign-sounding Allée des Diligences, which will bring you to the rail halt at Vaudagne.

Talking of which, if you’re staying locally, your accommodation supplier should provide you with a Carte d’Hôte giving free, unlimited travel on train and shuttle-bus services in the Chamonix valley. This brings areas as distant as Argentière and Vallorcine within reach of anyone based in Les Houches (and vice versa, of course).

Staying There

Value for Money Accommodation Dining Out Nightlife Village Charm

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Skiers on wide piste at Les Houches, French Alps

Why go skiing in Les Houches ?

Novices should feel comfortable here, while intermediates can explore a surprising variety of long, varied runs down through the forest to the village. Advanced skiers will also enjoy the challenge of ‘La Verte’, a relentless, black-graded descent made world famous by the annual Kandahar World Cup Downhill Skiing events. There’s also a snow park.

One unexpected retro feature is the Mont Blanc Tramway, which climbs from St Gervais to Belleview, at almost 1800m altitude.

Les Houches is a solid choice for those looking for relaxing skiing amid glorious mountain scenery or non-downhill activities like Nordic skiing, walking or snow-shoeing.

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Skiing There

Beginners / Families Intermediates Advanced / Expert Mountain Scenery

Snowboarding

Wide slopes great for beginners.
1 Snowparks


Cross-Country Skiing

Free cross-country at Les Chavants, pedestrian ticket only required for high-altitude trails.
10km Cross-Country and Nordic Ski Trails

Handiski...

  • Les Houches is a popular destination for Handiski, with its wide slopes and relatively quiet pistes.
  • One of the first schools to teach Handiski, ESF Les Houches offers lessons for any age and disability, in partnership with the Loisir Assis Evasion association.
  • Chamonet.com offers guides for lift access etc.

icon-smileyYes please...

  • Free local bus and rail services for accommodation card-holders.
  • Efficient lift system.
  • Year-round, living village.
  • Quality equipment hire locally.
  • Panoramic views.
  • Relaxed atmosphere.

icon-frowneyYes but...

  • The party's in Chamonix...
  • Not linked by lifts to other ski areas.
  • Difficult drag-lift serves some terrain.

icon-winkingOur Tips

  • While you're here, spend a few days with a Mont Blanc Unlimited lift pass to ski elsewhere in the Chamonix Valley, using the free train and bus travel.

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Practical Information

Tried and testedResidences CGH
Le Hameau de Pierre Blanche

127 Allée des Diligences
74310 Les Houches

Hameau de Pierre Blanche, Les Houches

Comfortable and spacious apartments within six attractive chalets set in a quiet location bounded by forests and close to the Prarion gondola lift, with stunning mountain views. Facilities include heated indoor swimming pool with solarium, Jacuzzi, hammam, fitness suite, ski-lockers, secure underground parking, launderette and boulangerie service.
Free WiFi iin the apartments. Also on site is an Ô des Cimes Spa and Beauty Care Centre (payable).
Frequent buses during the day from next to the Prarion lift are useful to access the main village of Les Houches for food shopping, post office, Tourism Office and a range of restaurants and bars. Your Carte d' Hôte (travel card issued by to guests on arrival) entitles you to free travel on efficient bus and train services between Servoz (just below Les Houches) and Vallorcine (beyond Chamonix and Argentière).

Enquiries and bookings:

Peak Retreats
023 9283 9310
reservations@peakretreats.co.uk