Best Pistes in Les Grands Montets

Book My Ski Hire Book My Ski Lesson Book My Mountain Guide

Access to the pisted skiing area for Les Grand Montets is by either the Lognan cable car which departs from the main car park at Argentiere or by the new gondola up to Plan Joran.

The Lognan area is where you need to be for access to the highest runs. From here you can take the Bochard gondola (2765m), the Herse chairlift (2595m), or even head straight for the very top on the second section of the Grands Montets cable car. The "top bin", as it's known, is included in the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass but holders of the Chamonix Le Pass will have to pay a supplement.

From the top lift station there are a number of pistes that are definitely worth checking out. The Point de Vue and Pylônes pistes both begin close to the Argentiere glacier and give great views over the area towards Mont Dolent (3823m); as a top tip if you decide to do these runs it is best to go early morning as the light reflecting off the séracs is pretty impressive. The runs are marked on the piste map and controlled by the local ‘Security de Pistes’, however, they are not groomed and therefore require a good technical standard of skiing. Both runs are also on an area classified as ‘high mountain glacial terrain’ so you need to make sure that you don’t stray from the piste markers unless you are appropriately equipped to do so. If you are confident about heading off-piste then traversing high into the Lavancher bowl and heading as far skiers-left as you can opens up a huge area for you to enjoy.

The Bochard gondola and Herse chairlift take you to the top of a handful of long, winding, steepish runs where you can really pick up some speed on the wider sections. They can both be pretty icy first thing in the morning but are great fun when they are freshly groomed and grippy.

The tamest slope at Les Grands Montets is the Marmottons piste, accessed by taking either the Tabé chairlift. This is really the centre of the Grand Montet ski area and from here beginners can find their ski legs and perfect those wide carving turns or the more daring can dip off into the snow park situated just to your left at the top of the Tabé chairlift.