Ski Schools Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (9 offers)

Learn to ski in Chamonix

Located at an altitude of 1035–3842m in the Haute-Savoie, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc can be reached within just over an hour’s drive from Geneva airport. The resort has 150km of pistes and ski schools in Chamonix make the most of the varied terrain, offering ski lessons for all levels including off-piste tours.

Chamonix resort has 4 villages - Les Houches, Chamonix Village, Argentière and Vallorcine - these villages giving access to 4 high-altitude areas: Les Houches offers a magnificent 360 panoramic view of the Mont Blanc, varied slopes and the famous World Cup run “La Verte des Houches”. In the valley, the Flégère-Brévent area offers a freestyle zone, a speed piste and the beginners’ area “Le Savoy”. Higher up, Les Grands Montets is especially popular with off-piste skiers and the Balme-Vallorcine area offers numerous wide and easy slopes.

The resort famously hosted the very first Winter Olympics in 1924 and is home to the Ecole Nationale de Ski et d’Alpinisme, the official certification body for French ski instructors.

Ski lessons for beginners in Chamonix

The ski schools in Chamonix arrange group lessons according to age and ability. Chamonix resort has 6 ski beginners areas, Le Savoy and Les Planards being the closest to Chamonix village. Beginners meet for lessons either directly at the “Kid’s Garden” slopes, or at a specific beginners’ area.

First-time skiers are taught the basic skiing techniques of gliding and the snowplough with turns. Those who have mastered the first moves are taken by the ski schools in Chamonix to practise their technique on the additional 6 green pistes and 30 blue pistes further up the mountains.

With its easy green runs, the ski schools in Chamonix recommend the Les Planards area as the ideal head after lessons, to practice the techniques learned earlier in the day.

Kid’s ski lessons in Chamonix

In Chamonix, ski lessons for kids are offered from age 3yrs upwards. Several ski schools in Chamonix have their own ski nurseries with beginner slopes and fun areas just for young beginners. Here, ski novices usually meet directly by the school slopes.

Other ski schools in Chamonix meet and hold their lessons for very young skiers at one of the beginner areas: The Le Savoy area in Chamonix village has very gentle slopes, 2 basic drag lifts and a rolling carpet. Les Chosalets, Argentière has gentle pistes that are slightly more challenging and ideal as confidence-builders. La Vormaine has a ski kindergarten plus 2 green runs and a blue slope.

Kids ski lessons have a maximum of 10 children of a similar age and level. The lessons last for between 2,5hrs-3hrs/day, or for 5 hours spread over the day with a lunch break. Ski schools in Chamonix take ski novices who are steady on their skis soon move from the beginner slopes to practise on some of the gentler blue pistes within the resort.

Young intermediate skiers to try some of the 55km of red runs within the resort, Les Houches being a favourite choice for ski schools in Chamonix, with its 13 red runs.

Ski lesson prices in Chamonix

Ski schools in Chamonix offer group and private ski and snowboard lessons. Some lesson packages come with a lunch option. The prices quoted are the lowest price per lesson within the season and do not include equipment or any extras:

	Kids ski lessons	Adults ski lessons	Snowboard lessons
Group	from 29€/2,5hrs	from 35€/4hrs	from 29€/2,5hrs
Private	from 52€/hr	from 52€/hr	from 52€/hr

The best ski schools in Chamonix

ESF Chamonix

The ESF team of 280 experienced instructors offer skiing, snowboarding, off-piste and ski touring lessons in English and French.

Meeting point kids: At the ESF chalet, Chamonix.

Meeting point adults:At the Maison de la Montagne, by the church.

ESF Vallorcine

A friendly team of experienced instructors helps skiers at all levels improve their technique.The Piou-Piou Club welcomes little skiers in groups of 8 from 3yrs upwards. Advanced skiers can try out freeride, telemark skiing or ski touring. ESF Vallorcine offers ski lessons in English and French.

Meeting point beginners: The ESF chalet at the "Stade de Neige" in La Poya, next to the Le Buet train station.

Meeting point advanced: The ESF office, next to the Vallorcine gondola starting station.

Evolution 2 Chamonix

The state-certified instructors at Evolution 2 Chamonix will help skiers of any age build their confidence on the slopes. The Panda Club has its own small ski slope and a large snow-garden, for young beginners. Lessons are offered in English and French.

Meeting point kids: The Panda Club office, next to the restaurant "L'Argentero" in Argentière.

Meeting point adults: The Savoy beginners area at the bottom of the "Plan Praz" gondola lift, Chamonix village.

CheckYeti customers reviews: Patient, beginner-friendly, experienced

Freedom Snowsports

Skiers and snowboarders from age 6yrs upwards can enjoy the experience and individual attention of the Freedom Snowsports Team. The school offers private ski lessons in English, French, Slovenian, German and Italian, plus ski touring lessons.

Meeting point Chamonix village: Brevent, just outside the top of the 'Planpraz' telecabine.

Meeting point Argentière: At the bottom of the Grands Montets lift station and 'Plan Joran' telecabine.

Meeting point Les Houches: Outside the 'Prarion' telecabine base station, by the giant piste map.

CheckYeti customers reviews: Beginner-friendly, reliable, patient

Skibex Chamonix

3 expert instructors with decades of experience between them offer private ski, snowboard, off-piste and ski touring lessons. At Skibex, lessons are offered in English, French, Swedish and Italian.

Meeting point: Arranged individually.

CheckYeti customers reviews: Relaxed, patient, experienced

European Snowsports Chamonix

ES Chamonix specialises in private lessons for skiers, snowboarders and freestylers in English, French, Italian and Spanish.

Meeting point: Arranged individually.

CheckYeti customers reviews: Experienced, beginner-friendly, relaxed

Ski hire in Chamonix

For skiers who prefer to hire equipment, there are 18 outlets offering ski hire in Chamonix, all within the central Chamonix area. Some ski schools in Chamonix may have special deals with affiliated ski hire centres.

Chamonix ski pass

Chamonix-Mont Blanc valley has 3 ski passes: The Chamonix Le Pass is for use within the beginners areas of La Vormaine, les Chosalets, les Planards and la Ploya. The Pass also covers the Brévent, Flégère, Balme (Tour & Vallorcine) and Grands Montets areas.

The Les Houches Forfait card covers the Les Houches and St. Gervais skiing areas, plus the Mont-Blanc tramway.

The Mont Blanc Unlimited card covers all of the skiing areas within the Mont Blanc region.

What makes learning to ski in Chamonix so special

The Aiguille du Midi cable car holds the world record for the highest vertical ascent of almost 3000m. At the top, visitors can learn about all things Mont Blanc at the world’s highest museum, the Musée d’Alpinisme. Also within the museum is the heart-stopping “step into the void”, where those who dare can step into a glass cube secured to the uppermost terrace of the mountain, at an altitude of 3777m.

Getting around Chamonix couldn’t be easier thanks to the free shuttle bus departs every 30 minutes and travels to each of the lesson meeting points within the Chamonix resort. Additionally, skiers staying in the Chamonix Valley are given a free travel pass for train journeys within the entire ski region.