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Skiing in Chamonix One of the main reservations some people have of skiing in Chamonix is that it is a collection of ski areas rather than one huge interlinked ski region such as the 3 Valleys or Val d'Isere/Tignes. There are very few apartments/chalets where it is possible to ski from and to the doorstep. Although there is a bus and train service through the valley, having a car to get about is highly recommended. The positive side to this though is that it's possible to choose where to ski depending on the conditions and easily change (subject to the type of ski pass you've bought) from one area to another if conditions change during the day. But the great thing about Chamonix is the off-piste skiing; frequently reported in magazines to be the best in the world. This does not necessarily mean you need to be an extreme skier to enjoy the off-piste. Skiers who have reached even red run ability will have vast amounts of off-piste to choose from including the famous Vallee Blanche. This 20 Km run on the Mer de Glace glacier, right underneath Mont Blanc is spectacular and one of those "must be done" routes for anyone who loves skiing. At the head of the Chamonix valley is Le Tour, a totally unspoilt rustic village with houses dating back several hundred years. Le Tour is one of the best areas in the valley for complete beginners as there are good nursery slopes and plenty of wide blue and red pistes to progress onto. Also, the opposite side of the Tete de Balme is covered in trees so the pistes here are ideal when the mist is down as the trees afford some level of definition. There is also plenty off-piste here and it's possible to ski down to Vallorcine (on the Swiss border) both on and off-piste then take the train back to Mont Roc (included on the ski pass). 4 Km down the valley from Le Tour is the small town of Argentiere and the Grands Montets ski area; arguably the best skiing in the valley. There's a two stage cable car that takes you from the valley floor to the top of the Grands Montets, one bubble in the main skiing area plus a limited number of chairs of which a few should be in a museum, but once up there, it's choose a direction and help yourself. Any amount of off-piste of which there is plenty within the capability of a red run skier so an excellent area to improve the off-piste technique. For those looking for a greater challenge, there's the Poubelle Couloir at the top of the Bochard bubble lift (guaranteed to attract a crowd as you abseil the first 30 feet to avoid the rocks). From the town of Chamonix itself there is a 2 stage cable car leading to the Aiguille du Midi (and the Vallee Blanche) and a bubble on the opposite side of the valley leading to the Brevent ski area which is linked by a horizontal cable car to Flegere (also accessible from Les Praz between Chamonix and Argentiere). Unless you know the Mer de Glace well (in which case you don't need the information contained on this page), taking a guide is strongly recommended, in fact essential. You'll be skiing on a glacier which is heavily crevassed; some of which are 50m deep. The guides know the area well and are aware of the changing dangers such as avalanche risk and unstable seracs. They can also supply the necessary equipment for skiing on the glacier such as tranceivers, harnesses and crampons (sometimes needed for the short walk down the ridge from the cable car station to the point where the skiing starts). But don't let all this put you off, taking the necessary precautions and heeding the guide's instructions will minimise the risks and the views are stunning. On the opposite side of the valley at Brevent, the slopes face south and have fantastic views of Mont Blanc and the entire massif. In addition to a good beginners area, there are some excellent long red and black runs. The off-piste here is again extensive with plenty challenging steep slopes and couloirs for the more ambitious skier. Within the valley there are a number of other minor ski areas such as Les Houches, Plannards and Les Bossons but with so much excellent skiing to be done in the major areas, it's unlikely you'll find time, even in a 2 week holiday, to explore the smaller ones.