Les Houches Ski Lifts

The Prarion gondola is right at the end of the Chamonix valley bus line, with a stop right outside the lift station. During peak season we recommend this as the best way to get there as the car park is often very busy and there are few options for roadside parking nearby. At the top of the Prarion you'll find yourself on a wide plateau from where you can either drop straight on to the Table d'Orientation red run to access a number of chairlifts and draglifts on the front side, or you can scoot across the nursery slopes to cruise the Saint-Gervais side of the mountain.

Les Houches is the only ski area in Chamonix to have a high-altitude cross-country ski circuit up amongst the pistes. Access is easiest from the top of the Prarion gondola; you can either use your regular lift pass or, if you don't have one, you can save a few euros by buying a pedestrian pass. The same applies for snowshoers who want to hike around the beautiful trails signposted from the top of the Prarion and and Bellevue lift stations.

The Bellevue cable car also has a bus stop right outside the lift station and a free car park for those who are driving. The cable car brings you up to the wide expanse of the Col de Voza, where you'll find a couple of draglifts serving a short red run and a long gentle blue run. Continue on along the col towards the Voza Prarion chairlift and you'll be in the heart of the ski area with choices such as the world-famous Kandahar piste and the lovely tree-runs of Abbaye and La Cha.

Les Houches is the only ski area in Chamonix to have its own tram! The Tramway du Mont Blanc runs daily from Saint Gervais up to the Col de Voza and is a fantastic way to see the mountains. If you have non-skiing friends, they can take the tram up to meet you for lunch. It is included in your Mont Blanc Unlimited lift pass, or you can buy a ticket at the lift station in Saint Gervais.

Parts of Les Houches are a bit tiresome for snowboarders as you often hit flat sections around the lift stations; fine for skiers who can use their poles to skate along though, and perfect for little ones perfecting their duck walk!