There are lots of beginners’ slopes in Chamonix; in the form of separate small ski areas, they are strung out along the bottom of the valley. When you’re starting out, rather than buying a full lift pass, which covers the whole Chamonix ski area, it’s cheaper to buy either a full or half day pass for each beginners’ area, or even a book of tickets allowing you a varying number of rides up the draglifts. As most of the slopes are low altitude they may be short of snow if you visit towards the end of the season, however the lowest ones, Savoy and Planards (1035m), have artificial snow cover so you should be ok even late on.
Beginner Ski Areas in Chamonix Town
If you’re in Chamonix itself the beginners’ slopes are: Le Savoy at the top end of town behind the Club Med building, and Les Planards just across the road from the Montenvers funiculaire station.
Le Savoy has two draglifts and consists of a large open area for complete first timers and a longer green run, the top of which starts at the bottom of the Chamonix-Planpraz gondola - this can be a good thing with mixed ability groups, with more advanced members heading up to the Brevent, and that meeting up later can be arranged more easily after lessons either at the top or the bottom of the mountain.
Les Planards is the bigger area of the two with a two-person chairlift accessing a steeper blue and a red run that’s sometimes used for slalom as well as a two draglifts and a shorter green run. Whilst the sheltered north-facing Les Planards can be a little shady and cold in mid winter, the south facing Savoy slope is more likely to catch the sun and be warmer but because of that it suffers later in the season.
Brevent & Flegere for Beginners
Higher up the mountains, there are beginners’ runs at Le Brevent and La Flegere. For those staying in Les Praz, the Trappe chairlift at Flegere serves a gentle green run. It is the next step up for those after their first day or two. This run is a little longer than the ones in the valley and being just at the top of the tree line it has some pretty impressive views across the valley to Mont Blanc and the Aiguille du Midi. The blue runs Vioz and Blanchots at Le Brevent served by the Parsa chair are good for those able to link turns and who need more of a challenge as they offer longer runs and slightly steeper slopes. Le Brevent also has the highest altitude green run with Piste 2000; to get to it you’ll have to take the Chamonix-Planpraz gondola and then the Altitude 2000 chairlift. The piste itself is fairly short, served by a draglift, and will have good snow right until the end of the season in April.
Domaine de Balme (Le Tour & Vallorcine) for Beginners
La Vormaine (1462m) at Le Tour has perhaps the largest and best beginners’ area, which is served by three draglifts of varying length and speed for all levels of beginner. You’ll find this area located to the right of the car park just behind the Olympique hotel, which incidentally is the only restaurant here with the exception of the snack hut right at the bottom of the lifts. The ski area is very wide and flat giving beginners plenty of space to make progress without having to worrying too much about collisions. It’s usually a warm and sunny spot with views of the Le Tour glacier looming above giving complete beginners their first taste of the high mountains whilst being on a green run; there’s even a blue run to progress on to.
As it’s the highest altitude of all the lower valley slopes the snow is normally good to the beginning of April. Higher up the mountain Le Tour also has some better blue runs for improving beginners which are served by the Autannes chairlift. The terrain is gentle and not too steep with runs like Arve and Stade perfect for improving beginners working on their technique. At the end of the day it’s easy to take the Charamillon gondola back down to avoid the red Caisets run, which is the only one back to Le Tour.
Les Grands Montets for Beginners
If you’re staying in Argentiere there’s the Les Chosalets beginners’ slope (1252m). You’ll find it at the lower end of Argentiere just up from the turning for the Grands Montets car park. From the Chosalets bus stop, walk uphill on the narrow lane through the houses to get to the slope. It’s surrounded by trees and has a small snack hut at the bottom of the lifts. It is served by two draglifts one very short and slow, one much longer and slightly faster. This north-facing shady area normally has good snow for those making their first turns. There are two slopes. One is very short and flat with its own draglift for those putting on skis or a board for the very first time. The adjacent slope is much longer and wider, and just as gentle lower down but steepens nearer the top making it a good slope for progressing on. From here you can see the Grands Montets cable car taking skiers up to the higher runs above, in no time you’ll be ready to ride it too.
Les Houches for Beginners
There are two nursery areas for beginners – one is in the village of Les Houches, and the other is on top of the main ski area. The Tourchet nursery area is found by the main church in the village, about 1km up the road from the Bellevue lift. You’ll find two draglifts and two pistes here on which to practice. If you are part of a mixed group, you may want to accompany your friends up the main ski area. There are two nursery slopes at the top – the Mont Blanc which is at the top of the Bellevue lift, and the Ecole piste, at the top of the Prarion lift. The Mont Blanc piste is the slightly longer run of the two. Both pistes are served by a draglift.
A Beginner Skiers Feedback from Skiing in the Chamonix Valley...
many thanks to Juliette G
My first attempt at snowboarding was 4 years ago - and I didn’t really enjoy it! As we were on holiday for Chris' (my husband) birthday I decided that it was as good a time as any to have another go...
For snowboards and boots we chose a snowboarders' shop at the top of the main street. We were surprised to find such great people who really took the time to ask about our ability and style, and after a few choice questions soon hooked us up with a beginner board with plenty of flex for me and an intermediate board for my husband which they measured and made up as we waited. A good start so far....
The next day we decided to go it alone, without an instructor, and save a bit of money. We headed up to Le Tour where we had read it was good for a first day. Chris was going to give me some pointers... When we got up there, however, it seemed like I had completely lost my confidence – I stayed up there and took in the fantastic view, but my heart was not in snowboarding and eventually I had to prise Chris off the mountain with a bribe of a beer.
I had already been thinking about having lessons – just to give me some confidence and some help in learning to turn and relax on the board. So, following our return to Chamonix that afternoon, I booked a 2 hour private lesson with Loic from Evolution 2 for 12pm at the top of the pistes for the next day. When it came to it we set off in plenty of time at 11am to get the bus up to Le Tour: without checking the bus timetable (pdf format). Unfortunately the scheduled bus didn't turn up for ages – we waited for almost an hour. Finally a bus arrived at about 12.15 – so I was already late for the 12 o'clock lesson and 40 minutes away. We called the school and as they weren't busy we were able to re-schedule for 1pm - but we were quite lucky that they could do this for us.
When we finally got up there Loic was waiting for me, un-phased at my being late and we got started. First of all he asked me if I wanted to speak in French or English, which was nice. Although I speak French we agreed on English because he thought it would be helpful if he could practise his English. He also checked with me what I had done and what I wanted out of the lesson – I explained it to him and we went up on the ski lift.
I was quite cheered along by his friendly manner and I already felt more confident. First he explained he would watch me to see what I was like. He soon realised he had quite a challenge!! The reassuring bit was that he said I would be turning by the end of the lesson! The first step, he said, was for me to learn to relax on the board, so knee-bending exercises with some relaxation exercises on the slope. Yes, I did feel and look stupid but it was excellent and I really felt the difference straight away.
Loic then explained the way to turn, step by step, so that it would be easier for me to correct myself at a later date when I would be on my own. We got halfway down and then Loic said that it was time to go for 'The Turn' – he showed me how to do it while I had a quick sit and breather!!
Eventually, with his help and encouragement it gave me the confidence I needed to get the feel of turning. After several failed attempts I made my first turn on my own! Again and again I turned before Loic decided that his services were no longer needed!
All in all it was a terrific experience and I am glad that we learnt from our mistakes - I just thought I would pass this back on to you for other vistors on the site! Find the right shop, check the bus timetable, and have a lesson: it makes the whole thing much more worthwhile. We were a bit unlucky with the snow (there hadn't been any for a while and it dumped on the day we left!) but we had an excellent holiday.
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