Chamonix

Chamonix is world famous for being the Mountain Sports Capital of the world.

Majestic peaks, its beautiful old town, some of the best off piste skiing in the world, and the towering Mont Blanc - Western Europe's Highest Mountain, make this a cosmopolitan mecca for skiers, climbers, walkers, paragliders, you name it regarding adrenalin sports.

With its outstanding scenery and Chamonix's virtually limitless off-piste, it attracts the real expert skiers and snowboarders and has a reputation accordingly for being an advanced skiers resort. However, this is a misnomer as the resorts of Le Tour and Les Houches offer great family skiing and the latter some of the best family friendly ski chalets and ski school in Europe.

In terms of the ski areas, Brevent, Flegere, and Les Houches all offer great skiing for beginners and intermediates, and as noted above, with Les Houches ideal beginners and intermediates. Les Houches is also the ski area where you will find most, if not all ski in ski out accommodation, and some of the best luxury chalets Chamonix has to offer. For non skiers, Chamonix is ideal with many restaurants, shops, from designer through to your hardy mountaineering specialists, and other activities including ice rink and sports centre, or a trip to view Mont Blanc from the 3,842m Aiguille du Midi cable cars viewing platform.

If we get back to skiing, if you are visiting Chamonix, and your a competent and confident skier, a trip down the Vallee Blanche with a Mountain Guide (intermediates and advanced skiers only), starting at the top of the Aiguille du Midi (3,842m) is not to be missed in our view. The descent is 17km long and some, no, the most spectacular scenery you are ever likely to come across.