Chamonix
Luxury Chaletsin Les Houches
The first village of the valley, where chalets sit on the ski slopes and Mont Blanc fills the window.
Les Houches opens the Chamonix valley, the first village you reach on the road from Geneva. It keeps a gentler pace than the town, with a wooded ski area of its own, old hamlets scattered across the slopes and an uninterrupted view up to the summit of Mont Blanc.
Our chalets here are made for long, unhurried stays. Many have a fireplace, a sauna and mountain views, and several add a pool, a spa or a jacuzzi; some sit close enough to the pistes to walk to them. Chamonix's centre is a short drive up the valley, and your concierge arranges everything in between, from ski passes to tables booked well ahead.
In figures
- 4 properties
- 4–5 bedrooms
- Up to 12 guests
- From €6,400 per week
- 2 ski-in, ski-out
- 3 with a pool
- 4 with a spa, hammam or sauna
- 1 with staff or a chef
- The village: The first village of the Chamonix valley, quieter than the town and spread across wooded slopes.
- On the slopes: Les Houches has its own forested ski area, and some of our chalets are within walking distance of the pistes.
- The view: Mont Blanc stands in full view from the village and from many of our chalets.
- Getting there: Geneva Airport is about an hour away by private transfer, and Les Houches is the first stop in the valley.
- The season: The Les Houches ski area usually runs from mid-December to early or mid-April.
Our concierge's advice
Christmas, New Year and the February school holidays are booked first, often by early autumn, so those weeks are worth securing early. For the same dates, restaurant tables and ski instructors are best reserved before you arrive, and your concierge can arrange them alongside your ski passes and transfers.
Our properties
- Chalet Crystal: Steps from the Les Houches slopes, an indoor pool that turns into a dance floor at a touch
- Chalet Mont Blanc: Ski-in, ski-out on the Kandahar run at Les Houches, with an indoor pool facing the Aiguille Verte
- Chalet Les Chavants: A few minutes' walk from La Verte at Les Houches, with a hot tub facing the Aiguilles
- Chalet Kandahar: An 1833 farmhouse directly on the Kandahar World Cup run, facing the whole Mont Blanc massif
The slopes
The ski area of Les Houches runs through larch and spruce forest, which keeps the light good on grey days and makes it a favourite when the higher areas are exposed. It suits families and relaxed skiers well. With the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass, the rest of the valley, Courmayeur and Verbier remain within reach, and your concierge can arrange guides and instructors.
Village life
Les Houches keeps the feel of a mountain village rather than a resort: a church, a handful of shops and restaurants, and hamlets where chalets look out across the valley. Evenings tend to be spent by the fire or in the spa. When you want boutiques and gastronomy, Chamonix's centre is a short drive away, and reservations are best secured weeks in advance in peak season.
Arriving and moving
Coming from Geneva, Les Houches is the first village you reach, which shortens the transfer at both ends of the stay. A private chauffeur or a car is the simplest way to move around the valley, between the lifts, the town and the hamlets further up. Your concierge can organise transfers, a helicopter arrival into Chamonix and daily drivers.
Frequently asked questions
How does Les Houches compare with Chamonix Centre Ville?
Les Houches is calmer and more spacious, with chalets on the slopes rather than in town. The Centre Ville offers restaurants and boutiques on foot, while here they are a short drive away.
How does it compare with Les Praz and Argentière?
Les Praz and Argentière lie further up the valley, Argentière close to the higher, more demanding ski terrain. Les Houches is nearest to Geneva and its forested ski area is gentler.
Is Les Houches suited to families?
Yes. The ski area is approachable, the village is quiet, and our chalets offer pools, saunas and, in some cases, cinemas and gardens for days off the slopes.
Can we ski from the chalet?
Some of our chalets are within walking distance of the slopes. For the others, your concierge can arrange a driver to the lifts each morning.
When is the best time to come to Les Houches?
The ski area usually runs from mid-December to early or mid-April. Christmas, New Year and the February school holidays are booked first, often by early autumn, so those weeks are best planned well ahead.
What are your chalets in Les Houches like, and what does the concierge arrange?
Our properties here are spacious family chalets: most have a pool and a spa, hammam or sauna, and some are ski-in ski-out, with staff or a chef available in certain cases. Your concierge arranges ski passes, ski instructors, a private chef, a driver and transfers.