Skiing rentals areas and lessons Haute-Savoie

The ski area of Les Houches/Saint-Gervais is one of the ski areas of the Chamonix Valley. Below 2,000 meters, it's mainly forest terrain, but it's also a technical area where our national teams come to train and where major international competitions are held (notably on the famous "Verte des Houches", a World Cup downhill). Whether you're a family or a fun-loving skier, you'll enjoy the thrills and spills of the Mont-Blanc Massif in this superb area.

A mountain peak between 1,500 and 1,700 m with 360-degree panoramic views. Easily accessible by car or public transport in season, just 20 minutes from the center of Annecy, the Semnoz resort offers a privileged natural setting for skiers and hikers. This medium-altitude resort boasts a varied, affordable ski area with 18 alpine runs, 1 freestyle snowpark and 35 km of cross-country ski trails in 3 sectors (forest, petit plateau, grand plateau). Signposted walks and other activities in summer and winter.

The downhill ski area covers the village of Grand-Bornand and the high-altitude hamlet of Chinaillon. Lifts leave from Le Lachat (lower village or Grand-Bornand) and from La Floria and Le Maroly (upper village or Chinaillon). Accessible by TandemSki, a wheelchair adapted for people with reduced mobility and driven by a qualified instructor. Don't hesitate to extend your ski pass to the Aravis ski area, with the resorts of La Clusaz, Manigod and Saint-Jean-de-Sixt (211 km of pistes), where ski-bus connections are available throughout the day. You can buy your ski pass online, without waiting. New snow sports enthusiasts are not forgotten either, with the SnowparkGB regularly ranked as one of France's top facilities. You can record your run on the VideoparkKGB (Airbag) video zone and view it at the park hut or on your cell phone. Downhill enthusiasts can take to the Dénivel'Maxx, a 3 km non-stop descent with a 1,100 m vertical drop. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, the Charmieux chairlift is in operation and the slope is lit up from 5pm to 9pm for night-time descents. New sensations on skis, yooner, paret, snow-coot, véloski and fatbike! The Rosay site is ideal for beginners, with a world-record 230 m-long, fully-covered Alpage Express carpet for a wide range of descents. Don't miss the superb Grandborama gondolas, like a contemporary art gallery suspended in mid-air.

Alpine skiing in the Contamines-Hauteluce area is possible thanks to the 25 ski lifts located between 1,200 and 2,500 meters of altitude, giving access to 48 runs over 120 km. 3 secured Xzones dedicated to new glides. This ski area is part of the larger Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area. For Nordic skiing, 23 km of groomed and marked trails (paying), on the classified site of Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge. In the summer, beautiful hikes or mountain bike rides.

A company whose name is intertwined with the history of mountaineering, and above all the best address to find qualified and passionate guides. Because of overcrowding, ropes without certified professional guides become risky. Calling on these experienced guides is therefore a guarantee of safety. Some multi-day ski tours are for experienced skiers and the ascent of Mont Blanc cannot be improvised, a real physical and technical preparation is necessary. Hiking, climbing, snowboarding, heli-skiing, snowshoeing, tour of Mont Blanc, many packages are offered, for all levels, summer and winter: TMB (Tour du Mont-Blanc) in 5 days with an option to carry a bag; the mountains and wonders of the Aosta Valley in 6 days; more affordable, for families, the Chamonix Valley in five days; an introduction to mountaineering in three days, etc. With almost two centuries of history (it was created in 1821), the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc has become a true legend. The mountain house, which also houses the French Ski School and the Cham'Aventure company, offers a free information point, the Office de Haute Montagne. Three weather reports are posted here every day, just like at the neighboring tourist office: always highly recommended before any outing, on any terrain, even if it is considered easy. An office is also open during the season in Argentière.

The International Ski School, accredited by the French Ministry of Sports, has 95 schools in France, Switzerland and Italy, offering ski, snowboard, skwal and Telemark lessons. Lessons, given by ENSA-trained instructors, are available from Sunday to Friday, mornings for skiing and afternoons for snowboarding, starting at the top of Le Signal. Private lessons, on or off piste, and private days with an instructor are also available.

As part of the Portes du Soleil area, Châtel's connection to the Swiss ski area is fairly easy. The Châtel ski area itself offers 41 lifts opening onto 45 pistes located between 1200 and 2200m. Two snowparks will delight freestyle enthusiasts. The free shuttles, for all and even in the evening, allow easy access to the slopes. 60 km of Nordic slopes linked with the resorts of La Chapelle and Abondance, sledging, ski joëring and pedestrian-snowshoe circuits including two educational trails.

Starting from Saint-Gervais, take to the air in the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area. 400 km of pistes in the most beautiful mountain scenery in the Alps, an area linking 6 resorts and 4 ski areas between 850 and 2,353 meters above sea level. Skiing for all levels! In summer, the lifts provide easy access to high-altitude trails for hiking, with 180 km of marked trails, and mountain biking.

Les Gets is part of the Portes du Soleil ski area, one of the largest in the world. It includes 12 resorts linked between France and Switzerland, which offers you 600 km of skiing! From the resort-village of Les Gets, you can ski to Les Gets-Morzine and the Portes du Soleil. The domain offers many slopes, from the most technical to the most adapted for beginners. The area is wooded and the landscapes are breathtaking.

The Col de Joux Plane, well known to cyclists, is transformed into a Nordic domain once the snow has fallen. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the Giffre valley and the famous Mont-Blanc. For beginners or the most experienced, the domain offers 7 groomed trails, from green to red. A pedestrian and marked itinerary also allows beautiful walks, feet or snowshoes in the powder. The youngest will enjoy their exploits on the sledging track.

Downhill skiing at Praz-de-Lys-Sommand (now known as Espace des Lys) means family vacations in an exceptional natural setting. The ski area offers 55 km of pistes spread over 27 blue runs, 7 green runs, 12 red runs and 6 black runs for the more athletic skiers. For the acrobats who don't shy away, 1 snowpark and 3 boarder-crosses provide thrills and spills, and even a few laughs and spills... A ski area that takes you to the summit of Haut Fleury, with a breathtaking view of the Giffre mountains and Mont Blanc.

The family resort of Bernex boasts a unique panorama of Lake Geneva and the Mont-Blanc massif. It is accessible to skiers of all levels, who can enjoy 22 runs totalling some 30 km of descent. There is a snow line for children under 5 and lifts, including 3 chairlifts, for beginners and experts alike. In addition, two Nordic ski circuits offer a different way of discovering the landscape. Bernex has been awarded the "Station Verte" (Green Resort) label, and offers numerous hiking trails, as well as mountain bike trails in summer.

The Loisirs Assis Évasion association enables disabled people and their families to enjoy year-round outdoor adventures in the heart of the Mont-Blanc region. In winter, enjoy sit-skiing with a wide choice of adapted equipment. In summer, go hiking with equipment such as the Cimgo or the Joëlette. Training courses are also available for accompanying and piloting the machines. Activities are available for all ages and all types of disability. What's more, you'll be supervised by experienced professionals.