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Les Houches Ski Holidays
It is situated just 6km down the valley from the iconic Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, an enviable position that acts as a serene, family-friendly counterpoint to its bustling, world-famous neighbour.
The atmosphere here is warm, traditional, and distinctly family-friendly, making it a beloved part of the more expansive Chamonix valley. It has retained its authentic Savoyard character, offering a more relaxed and welcoming feel than the high-octane atmosphere of Chamonix town.
The village's most significant natural asset is its backdrop: it's famous for its truly exceptional, postcard-perfect views of the majestic Mont Blanc Massif. These stunning vistas accompany skiers on almost every run, transforming a day on the slopes into a spectacular alpine experience.
The Mont Blanc Unlimited Pass, which is the recommended ticket for most visitors, covers Les Houches. This pass grants full access to the Les Houches domain and unlocks all the other world-class resorts within the Chamonix Valley, including the renowned, high-altitude terrain of Les Grands Montets.
Friendly, forested slopes where beginners can progress, and experts can tackle the famous World Cup Verte downhill run!
Rebecca Dodson, Sales Manager
Mountain facts
Les Houches offers a generous total piste length of 55km of marked ski runs, amidst beautiful forested slopes and open alpine pastures. The altitude range is relatively modest but offers a substantial descent. Skiers can start at a base of 950m and ascend to a summit of 1,900m, resulting in a respectable vertical drop of 950m.
Les Houches is home to a truly legendary piste: the ‘La Verte des Houches’. This run is one of only two men's World Cup downhill courses in France, a fact that cements the resort’s status in alpine skiing history. It is renowned for its technically demanding and challenging sections, providing an actual test for expert skiers.
For those who prefer a flatter discipline, the resort also offers Cross-Country skiing, with 10km of marked trails primarily located in the picturesque Les Chavants area.
Snow conditions in Les Houches
Due to its lower altitude, Les Houches is somewhat vulnerable to snow cover. The lower slopes, in particular, can be unreliable, especially later in the season or during periods of warmer weather.
However, the resort has natural and artificial measures to mitigate this. The slopes are mostly tree-protected, meaning the runs are cut through forest. This excellent tree cover helps to preserve snow quality by shielding it from the sun and wind, and it also offers the significant advantage of providing superb visibility even on poor weather, white-out days. Furthermore, the resort has invested in extensive snowmaking capabilities, which cover the lower slopes to ensure a reliable base and mitigate the risk of poor coverage throughout the season.
The best skiing conditions are generally found on the higher, shadier slopes and within the upper alpine bowl, where the altitude naturally ensures a more consistent snowpack.
Skiing in Les Houches
Les Houches is widely celebrated for its excellent terrain and facilities for the whole family, covering many abilities.
For beginners, the resort is an excellent destination, offering several dedicated and safe learning areas:
- Le Tourchet is a well-equipped beginner area conveniently located at the very base of the mountain.
- Prarion is accessible via the main gondola. The top of the mountain offers gentle, open terrain that allows novices to enjoy the high-altitude views in a safe setting before progressing to longer runs.
Intermediates will find Les Houches to be their ideal playground. The resort is tailor-made for those looking to progress, featuring an array of scenic, long, tree-lined blue and red descents. These runs are the resort’s great strength, offering delightful cruising with the bonus of stunning Mont Blanc views at every turn.
Advanced and expert skiers are primarily drawn to the challenge of the legendary Verte des Houches World Cup run. While the overall domain is not as vast as some high-altitude resorts, the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass ensures that expert skiers have immediate and easy access to the dramatically challenging, high-alpine terrain of Les Grands Montets and other Chamonix areas. Thus, the pass offers the best of both worlds - challenging terrain nearby and a calm base to return to.
Snowboarding in Les Houches
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Snowboarders will appreciate the resort's natural features. The terrain is notable for its excellent tree skiing and riding opportunities, thanks to the resort's extensive tree-lined slopes. This natural feature appeals to riders who enjoy carving through glades and finding natural hits.
The resort provides Bellevue Airpark for freestylers to hone tricks. Access is straightforward, and the layout allows snowboarders to easily progress from the gentle beginner slopes to the more challenging runs and up to the dedicated fun zones, ensuring a good experience for riders of all abilities.
Accommodation in Les Houches
There’s a nice variety of accommodation options to choose from in Les Houches, but to make things easier, we’ve compiled a list of our favourites.
What's available at Les Houches ski resort?
Après-ski in Les Houches
The après-ski scene in Les Houches is distinctly different from the high-energy, international bustle of Chamonix. The atmosphere is generally much quieter and more relaxed, offering a traditional, cosy, intimate evening scene perfect for families or those seeking a peaceful night.
However, lively alternatives are never far away. Chamonix's bustling nightlife and broader selection of bars and restaurants are a short, easy, and free bus ride away, allowing guests to dive into a livelier scene whenever they wish before returning to the quiet comfort of Les Houches.
Key local spots in and around Les Houches offer a traditional alpine culinary experience:
- Les Braise - Chamonix is a restaurant and wine cellar specialising in cuisine cooked over an open fire (au feu de bois). It offers a warm atmosphere and focuses on exquisite alpine gastronomy and fine wines, providing a high-quality dining experience.
- Le Refuge des Loups Restaurant is a small, family-run restaurant conveniently near the Bellevue cable car, renowned for serving traditional Savoyard and French cuisine in a cosy, authentic chalet-style setting.
- Other local haunts like Diner Club and Les Copains d'Abord contribute to the local, unpretentious, and convivial atmosphere, offering great spots for a relaxed end to the day.
Facilities in Les Houches
Two main lifts, the modern Prarion Gondola and the older Bellevue Cable Car, provide access to the mountain. However, the Bellevue Cable Car can be slow and often experiences queues during peak season, so the Prarion Gondola is often the preferred route for quick access.
Transport within the valley is highly efficient. A free, regular ski bus links the scattered hamlets of the village and provides easy and frequent access to Chamonix town.
Beyond skiing, the resort offers several compelling sightseeing opportunities. It is home to the impressive Statue of Christ the King and is a starting point for the historic Mont-Blanc Tramway, which, in winter, ends its journey on the beautiful Bellevue plateau.
For rest days or non-skiers, there are abundant non-ski activities, including thrilling paragliding experiences, peaceful snowshoe trekking trails, and the unique opportunity to visit the Parc de Merlet wildlife park (which remains accessible even in winter).
Facilities for children in Les Houches
Les Houches excels as a family destination, evidenced by its official French Famille Plus label. This distinction signifies a deep commitment to providing outstanding services, activities, and infrastructure tailored for families with children.
The highly regarded ski school (ESF) offers tailored group and private lessons for all levels. This includes specific courses like 'Ourson' for the youngest beginners and 'Team Rider' for older teens looking to improve their technique.
In addition to lessons, fun activities abound, including designated sledging areas, an outdoor ice skating rink, and even the chance to try dog sledging, ensuring that children are entertained on and off the slopes.
Why choose Erna Low for Les Houches skiing holidays?
Incredible value holidays: We’ll beat any competitor’s price, giving you the best value for money.
Huge choice of accommodation: Choose from bargain breaks, 5-star premium deals and so much more.
Customisable travel: We specialise in fully customisable ski holidays; offering a wide range of options to suit all tastes and budgets.
Fully protected bookings: We’re TOPP members and abide by their Code of Conduct.
5-star Trustpilot reviews: We pride ourselves on the service we provide, which is why out of 10 of our clients would recommend us.
Ski long, beautiful tree-lined runs, all while enjoying stunning views of the Mont Blanc Massif!
Jane Bolton, Product Director
