Category Archives: Les Houches

Les Houches is a great family ski area. It is a little lower than the other domains in the valley but is covered in pistes for all abilities and little restaurants and buvettes. The top of the hill is a little flat in places which is worth snowboarders avoiding if possible. The nursery slopes are at the top of the hill (Prairion Lift) which is really great as beginners get to experience skiing up the mountain. There is loads of “tree line” skiing which is great on poor visibility days as it helps with perspective and to be able to see.

The off piste is great on powder days if you can cope with tree skiing (aim for the gaps). Though it is worth learning the terrain from someone else rather than following tracks as it is very easy to end up in a whole world of bother.

There are 3 lifts up from the valley floor; a gondola at Prairion which is super speedy and loads of parking; stay on the bus to the end of the line to get here. There is a cable car at Bellevue in the centre of Les Houches which is slower with very poor parking; the bus goes past here to get to Prairion. Lastly there is the chair lift which goes from above the bottom of the Prairion, limited parking and mostly used by locals; then bus does not go to here. Les Houches is not an easy place to get skiing from the train station so do not bother.

Favourite restaurant is the Vieilles Luges under the Maison Neuf chair lift, slightly off piste and accessed by a skiable track, amazing food in a funky cabin with prices to match. Even if you only call by for a very memorable hot chocolate it is well worth the effort.