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Les Houches Ski Resort Guide

Les Houches Ski Resort Guide

Les Contamines - Evasion Mont Blanc, Les Houches photo

Photo credit: skye-1

Les Houches - Evasion Mont Blanc photo

Photo credit: skye-1

Mont Blanc, Les Houches photo

Photo credit: Clive Warren

Les Houches photo

Photo credit: Clive Warren

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Latest Snow Report

Issued: 20 Jun

  • Last Snowfall:
  • Snow Depth (upper):
  • Snow Depth (lower):
  • Piste:
  • Off-piste:

Today’s Weather (1434 m)

AM
rain showers
5 SE5
16 °C F-Level
3650m
PM
rain showers
5 SSW5
17 °C F-Level
3600m
night
rain showers
5 WSW5
12 °C F-Level
3150m

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), Les Contamines (9 km), Combloux (11 km), Argentiere (14 km),

Les Houches ski chalets, resort hotel accomodation and ski lodging Les Houches Chalets, Ski Hotels & Lodging


Les Houches Location Maps

Les Houches Location Map

All Les Houches Resort Stats

Piste info

  • Trails (Pistes): 22
  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 10%
  • Cross-country: 15 km
  • Snowmaking: 70%
  • Acres of ski: -
  • Terrain Parks: -
  • Halfpipes: 0

Social

  • Restaurants: 14
  • Bars: 14
  • Slopeside accommodation: Y

Mountain info

  • Summit: 1860 m
  • Vertical Drop: 852 m
  • Base: 007

Lifts

  • Draglifts: 9
  • Chairlifts: 7
  • Gondolas / Cable Cars: 2
  • Toplift: m

Travel

NEW! Announcements & News from the Les Houches ski resort manager

Les-Houches logo
  • Season closes: 21 Apr 2013

It's all over now at Les Houches. What an amazing season we have had, with the best snow cover for fifteen years, an early opening, and a repeat of last year with powder snow to ski on the closing weekend. Saturday was awesome and, although Sunday suffered from bad visibility most of the time, a handful of loyal Les Houches enthusiasts enjoyed good piste conditions at the top. A few of the crazier souls skied back to the village in spite of the scant cover and water-ski conditions at the bottom of the (closed) home runs.

Overall, conditions could not have been better at Les Houches this season. Now only Flegere and Argentiere remain open. Flegere closes next weekend on the 28th of April, but Argentiere continues until the 12th of May. There will certainly be a few more powder mornings on Les Grands Montets before the Chamonix valley ski season ends.

Les Houches enjoyed an increase in skier numbers in spite of a general softening of the number of visitors to the Alps in general. Hopefully it will not become too popular and will remain the hidden gem of the Chamonix valley. The Compagnie Mont Blanc have big plans to improve the slopes and upgrade the lift system and, if the financial conditions allow it, may go ahead with the work this summer. See you next winter.

Remember that there are 9 mountain restaurants on the slopes of Les Houches, three of which are arguably the very best in the whole Chamonix valley. So, if your skiing involves eating, this is a good place to be. The Kitch Inn at the bottom of the Bellevue cable car is very lively for apres-ski (and you can have a full English breakfast here before riding the lift right up to my 'secret' powder area).

Eric Jacquier has opened a new branch of his patisseries just opposite the Prarion lift and you can stand inside at small tables and enjoy truly superb coffee and a wonderful breakfast pastry before crossing the road to ride the gondolas. Delicious and good value for money too!

To continue this resort report's bias towards the gastronomical, I have to mention one of the best restaurants in nearby Courmayeur is the Rifugio La Maison Vieille. This is Heston Blumenthal's favourite ski-restaurant so don't simply take my word for this endorsement. If you venture through the tunnel to Italy you will find a resort with even more eating possibilities than Les Houches.

Les Houches is a small area and yet perfectly formed. The reason that so much race-training and instructor-assessment happens here is that this is where you can find the best piste-skiing in the Chamonix valley, and the extensive snow-making is particularly effective in an area that remains very deeply shaded until late February. Off-piste opportunities can also be excellent especially when poor visibility or huge crowds adversely affect the higher resorts in the valley. Nearby Domaine de Balme is probably the best for powder days if visibility is good, while Les Grands Montets gives access to maximum-adventure off-piste, but does tend to attract huge crowds after any dump of powder.

Come and ski here soon. Bring your close friends, but don't tell everyone!

Information supplied 22 Apr 2013




Visitor Reviews of Les Houches


Kylie McIntyre from France writes:

Picturesque Les Houches. Very pretty skiing amongst the trees with magnificent views of the Mont Blanc chain. Great choice of on-piste eateries for all budgets. For a treat Les Vieilles Luges restaurant: a charming old alpine farm is a must. Delicious home cooked dishes, yummy desserts and heartwarming spiced wine simmering on the wood fire. Bookings a must. Whilst skiing the Chamonix valley it is worth skiing in Les Houches a day just for Vieilles Luges! It's included in the Mont Blanc unlimited pass and just a bus ride from Chamonix. Can be accessed by snowshoes too (20 mins walk). New sledge track this season at top of Prarion telecabine. Have fun snowbunnies.

Click here to read 17 more reviews of Les Houches or submit your own


City Forecasts
Closest to Les Houches

city forecasts
Annecy, France 52 km
Annemasse, France 54 km
Sion, Switzerland 58 km
Thonon-les-Bains, France 58 km
Geneva, Switzerland 62 km

Surf Breaks
Closest to Les Houches

surf forecast
Acque-Calde (Savona), Italy 221 km
Varazze, Italy 221 km
Cogoleto, Italy 222 km
Voltri, Italy 224 km
Finale Ligure, Italy 227 km

Resorts and Mountain Peaks Surrounding Les Houches

Contours: Roads & Rivers: Display specific location
Les Houches neighbourhood basemap Les Houches neighbourhood contours Roads and rivers close to Les Houches

Mountain Peaks
Closest to Les Houches

mountain forecasts
Aiguille de Bionnassay, France 6 km
Le Brevent, France 6 km
Pointe Bayeux, France 6 km
Dome du Gouter, France 7 km
Aiguille Du Midi, France 8 km