Les Houches’ gentler slopes are popular with families and ideal for relaxing skiing, but there’s much more to this very pretty area. The enormous Kandahar black run is a World Cup venue with every bank and dip having its name and history. Les Houches can often be open when bad conditions have closed the upper slopes, and the trees provide visibility in heavy snow.
Les Houches
Beware though, it does have some flat spots, especially the top of the Bellevue lift. The Prarion and St Gervais areas are much better for snowboarders. There is now also a terrain park, sponsored by DC shoes, called Area 43, which has just installed an amazing system that films you whilst in the park, for free, via a sticker on your helmet: http://www.dceurope-livepark.com/
Access: Direct bus services from the road near the chalet (check the times) or from the Flegere lift (more frequent) — it takes about 25 minutes. It’s also 25 minutes by train to Les Houches, but then it is a 15 minute walk from the station so the bus is probably better.
Where to lunch: Les Houches has really lovely on-piste restaurants including the atmospheric Vieilles Luges (a bit tricky to find, check the map). It’s is extremely popular so drop in at the beginning of your day to reserve for lunch. Also be aware that it doesn’t take credit cards so make sure you’re OK for Euros. The restaurant at the base of the Prarion does a nice vegetarian tartiflette.
