Skiing & Snowboarding in Les Houches

Les Houches, described as the balcony of the Chamonix Valley, is dominated by the mighty Mont Blanc. From its vantage point 6 km west of Chamonix you get a stunning 360° panorama of the whole Mont Blanc range. There are 55 km of pistes to explore in the Les Houches / Saint Gervais domain, between elevations of 950m and 1900m. It’s not very high, but the area is equipped with over 120 snow canons to give Mother Nature a little helping hand.

With a couple of green runs and lots of blues and reds, Les Houches has a bit less gradient than the resorts higher up the Chamonix valley and is ideal for intermediate skiers. The resort also has plenty of easy access off-piste for more accomplished skiers and boarders and is renowned for its tree runs. Top to bottom forest provides exceptional off-piste skiing through the trees right from the top of the mountain.

The huge vertical drop and challenging terrain is why one of the most famous downhill ski races, the Kandahar Alpine Ski World Cup, takes place in Les Houches every year. The run named La Verte is “green” in name only. It is in fact a black run over 3 km long and covering a whopping 870 metres of vertical drop. The best skiers of the world get down it in two minutes! A series of technical sections and jumps make this descent one of most challenging in the world. The only other resort in France to have a World Cup run is Val d’Isère.

Ski and snowboard rental

There are several shops offering ski and snowboard hire in Les Houches. Try Skimium – Cyprien Sports, 244 Rue de l’Essert, 74310 Les Houches, France. Or, Skiset Serge Cachat Sports, Pl. de la Fruitière, 74310 Les Houches, France.

Where to eat

La Guinguette des Chavants, down by the lake at the Base de Loisirs is a popular option. It has an imaginative menu with fresh ingredients and a fantastic view of the mountains.

Restaurant La Chavanne on Place de la Mairie is another good choice. Expect traditional Savoie faire done really well. For a nice burger, try Restaurant Le Basilic on Route des Trabets.

Après-ski in Les Houches

Post-ski, the scene in Les Houches may be chill, but there are a handful of bars and a some nice bar-restaurants – there’ll be something to satisfy your appetite for après. Check out Le Solerey Brewpub on Avenue des Alpages for local beers and après snacks. And, Le Délice on Rue de l’Eglise has a good bar and serves burgers and fries. If you’re looking for more, Chamonix is only 10 minutes away and the bus service runs until midnight.