Les Houches Ski Resort Guide
Les Houches Ski Resort Guide
Les Houches is the home of the world famous Khandahar Verte des Houches Downhill ski run, hosting the Chamonix Valley leg of the World Cup circuit in early January of each year. Although a rather small resort, the 47 km of runs offer a good variety of alpine skiing sweeping down through woodland on the north-western slopes of Mont Blanc, the white dome of which tower's above the ski area. A number of race clubs use Les Houches as a training ground so, understandably, the standard of skiing is generally on the high side. Les Houches is also the winter training base for the British Ski Academy. Whilst not an area large enough to consider for an exclusive trip, unless specifically for training, it is well worth paying a visit if skiing in the Chamonix valley. For Intermediates and above, with the exception of race days, you can ski the Khandahar from the 1860m summit, back to the town centre at the resorts base, uninterrupted.
Les Houches is at last being managed by the Chamonix Lift Company and many changes are scheduled for next season (2012-2013) with new lifts and expanded pistes. In the meantime the two terrain parks have been closed. This gives more space for the resort's traditional use for race-training and instructor development courses.
Resorts close to Les Houches include:
Saint Gervais (6 km),
Chamonix (7 km),
Argentiere (9 km),
Les Contamines (9 km),
Combloux (11 km),
Les Houches Chalets, Ski Hotels & Lodging
Select Les Houches Location Map Detail:
(Also see our detailed Weather Map around Les Houches, which will give you visual overview of current and future snow conditions)
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Trails (Pistes): 22 |
Halfpipes: 0 |
| Summit: 1860 m |
Toplift: m |
| Beg: 40% Int: 50% Adv: 10% |
Terrain Parks: 2 |
| Vertical Drop: 852 m |
X-Country: 15 km |
| Lifts: 18 (2 gondolas, 7 chair lifts, 9 surface lifts) |
Snowmaking: 70% |
| Gondolas / Cable Cars: 2 |
Slopeside accommodation: Y |
| Restaurants: 14 |
Acres of ski: - |
| Bars: 14 |
Nearest Airport: Geneva |
| Nearest Train: Houches |
Tourist Info Phone:: +33450555062,
Les Houches Tourist Office Website |
NEW!
Announcements & News from the Les Houches ski resort manager
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- Season closes: 15 Apr 2012
Great skiing everywhere and still some secret areas of powder. This is an extraordinary season.
Very low temperatures are expected but everyone will be hoping that the World Cup races run without fog disrupting the programme. There is a chance that it might form towards the bottom of the course. When you are travelling at 70mph you have to be able to see where you are going! Come and see whether Didier Cuche can make it three in a row tomorrow. And then four in a row on Saturday?
The first Downhill is tomorrow (an additional race to substitute for the cancelled Val Gardena event earlier in the season) and the Kandahar Downhill itself will be run on Saturday the 4th of February, and the following day the Mens' Super-Combined will see the Downhill leg in the morning and the single Slalom run in the afternoon. Good spectating all down the course and at the finish area near the Bellevue Cable Car station in the village. Details here: http://chamonixworldcup.com/index.php?lang=en
Remember that there are 9 mountain restaurants on the slopes of Les Houches, three of which are among the very best in the whole Chamonix valley. Not too bad for a relatively small area!
Now that Les Houches is at last under the management of the Chamonix Lift Company the Area 51 snow park has been closed. That side of the Col de Vosa piste has been reinstated as a race training slope. There are ambitious plans for new lifts and remodelled pistes to further improve the skiing here. These changes should be made during the summer of 2012.
Information supplied 2 Feb 2012
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City Forecasts
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Surf Breaks
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Resorts and Mountain Peaks Surrounding Les Houches
Mountain Peaks
Closest to Les Houches
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