Chamonix, if you did not already know it, is a mountaineering Mecca and world class ski resort.  It sits with Switzerland on one side and, through the Mont Blanc tunnel, Italy on the other. Justly famous for some incredible off-piste, the valley also offers wonderfully inspiring slopes for beginners and intermediates.  PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE PISTE MAPS: BREVENT FLEGERE, GRANDS MONTETS,  DOMAINE DE BALME.  Also COURMAYEUR (included in lift pass) and LES HOUCHES.

In the valley there are the main ski areas of Brévent, Flégère, Les Grands Montets and Le Tour. From the highest cable car in Europe, L’Aiguille du Midi, the famous Vallée Blanche starts. This is a magical 22km off-piste run down a glacier. You can also ski in Les Houches or at Courmayeur in Italy.  It has over 150 km of pistes and 15,000 acres of off piste skiing, and with a skiing altitude of 1035 – 3842 metres it has an excellent snow record, the season lasting from December to May.  For further details have a look at the Compagnie du Mont Blanc site.

Alternatively discover the mountains from another perspective, on snow shoes, cross-country or touring skis, a hanglider or by paragliding. You can ice-climb a frozen waterfall or mountain bike along the valley floor in spring.