The Chamonix ski area truly needs no introduction - it is simply one of the best known and most highly regarded in the world. Its skyline is a roll call of some of the Alps’ most famous peaks; every panorama reveals yet another iconic summit, such as the Aiguille du Midi, Les Drus, and the Alps’ highest mountain, Mont Blanc.

While the valley itself sits at a relatively humble altitude of just over 1,000m, gondolas soar to as high as 3,842m and offer everything from powder to glacier skiing to some of the Alps’ best cross country trails.

Chamonix comprises five main ski areas: Les Houches at the south-westernmost end of the valley, followed by Le Brévent, La Flégère, Grands Montets, and Le Tour to the north-east. The areas are not linked, so it’s best to choose one ski area to explore each day - there will be plenty to keep you occupied, with over 150 km of pistes in total across the valley.

Piste map – Click here for a piste map of the Chamonix ski area.

Ski lessons and guiding – Everybody can benefit from ski lessons, beginners and experts alike. A ski guide can really help you make the best of your time on the mountain, whether on piste or off! Chamonix is blessed with some superb ski schools and instructors – for more details see our ski lessons section.

Lift pass prices – To learn more about the different types of lift pass available in Chamonix, please visit the lift pass prices section.

Real time lift openings – For complete details of the pistes open today, just click here.

We strongly recommend that you book your ski lessons / guides as soon as possible after booking your holiday to avoid disappointment.

Please note that Purple Ski is not itself a ski school.

Chamonix is blessed with several excellent ski and snowboarding schools, as well as a wealth of private guides. We would be happy to provide advice to all our clients regarding ski lessons and help with making advance bookings; please contact us on Alternatively, you may book these lessons directly with the provider (web links and contact details are given below).

Please note that by booking lessons via Purple Ski you agree to the Purple Ski ski lesson reservation terms and conditions, which can be found here

Please book your ski lessons at the earliest possible time to avoid your required lesson being unavailable. This is important for all weeks of the season but particularly at New Year and February half term. Morning sessions tend to be the most popular, so tend to be sold out first.

Please note that even if a lesson is listed here it does not mean it will be available at your particular week, level, discipline or location. All details are subject to change without notice.

NOTE: Helmets are required for all children's' lessons – and are recommended for adults too!

Lift passes can be pre-booked using our concierge service, or arranged on arrival at your hotel.

There are three types of lift pass for you to choose from during your stay in Chamonix: Chamonix Le Pass, which covers the Brévent-Flégère, Grands Montets, and Le Tour ski areas; Les Houches pass, which is limited to the 31 km of pistes in the excellent Les Houches - St-Gervais area; and the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass, which not only gives access to all ski areas in the Chamonix valley, it’s also valid in Courmayeur, Crans Montana, Verbier, and Megève.

The Chamonix lift pass system is “hands free”. You simply leave the lift pass in the left-hand pocket of your ski jacket and the gates automatically open for you. You don't need to show your lift pass and no photograph is required.

Having the right equipment properly fitted can make all the difference to your skiing.

All the hotels we recommend offer an in-hotel ski and boot fitting service. Some even have their own rental shop on-site.

Please get in touch with us for more information on your hotel’s ski rental service and to pre-book your equipment.