LA TOUR & VALLORCINE

La Tour is quite rightly seen as one of the best ski areas in the Chamonix Valley for beginners an intermediates, however amongst locals, it is also considered one of the best areas for off-piste skiing too so it generally has something for everyone.

At the far end of the Chamonix Valley, Vallorcine is somewhat isolated but as you will see from our description below, if you like your mountains quiet and 'real', Vallorcine provides 'real mountain charm' in abundance, if not quite in the 'chocolate box charm' we ideally think of for such.

Skiing Balme La Tour and Vallorcine

In terms of accessing the ski area, most visitors will head for the La Tour car park and gondola (Gondola Tour Charamillon). Locals however (when the Col des Montets pass is open) will instead head for Vallorcine where you can normally park easier, right next to the modern high speed gondola and where at Luxury Chalets Chamonix we think it provides quicker access in to the best ski areas, off-piste and on-piste, as well as a lovely blue run home through the trees at the end of the day. Add to this a nice bar at the railways station (next to the gondola and car park) for an apres-ski drink or two and it is a clear winner everytime!

The above said, there is no beginner slopes at Vallorcine, whereas La Tour has a two greens and very gentle blue at the bottom of the La Tour Gondola, served by draglifts. To the right of the Gondola as you look up the mountain. In terms of La Tour for intermediates, if you access the Gondola, straight in front as you exit at the top you will see the Autannes chair. At the top you can go left on a relatively gentle blue, or choose one of the two reds on the right. The first red (Ecuries), heading straight down, is generally considerably easier than the second (Charamillon to the left as you look down the mountain) which can be quite moguled in the chute lower down.

If you stay right, the path (La Liason Balme) will also take you around to the a series of reds and blues. Here if you stay right it will take you to the Vallorcine side. All reds and blues are relatively easy, although the Alpages has one smallbut steep section.

If you access the Vallorcine side, as you leave the Gondola left, there is a lovely blue to warm through the trees (esserts) that takes you to the Tete de Balme chair at the bottom of the Belle Place red (a great run for comptent intermediates).

Off-piste, surprisingly good for a family ski area, in fact, it is one of the Chamonards favourites which suggests it is outstanding in fact. We have to agree here at Luxury Chalets Chamonix, but it shouldn't be taken lightly as it is one of the higher off-piste risks in respect of avalanches.  We would always suggest taking a guide at any time, even more so here. Between the Belle Place lift and the ropes to the right as you head down it is a lower risk category, but as soon as you duck under the ropes, whilst the off-piste skiing becomes world class, the dangers heighten.

For dining, there is a self-service restaurant at the top of La Tour as well as a couple of restaurants at the bottoms. It should be said that these are 'typical' self-service restaurants and not in the fine dining category. Instead, head across to the Petite Alpe, a small and intimate restaurant at the bottom Aigiulettes drag-lift where you will find a homely welcome and good food.

La Tour

Is a traditional hamlet just under the Balme, it is a 'hardy' village with a church, and a few farm and chalet buildings. It is far from glamorous, but it is honest and reflects the true elements of alpine life. Below lies Montroc, scene of the devastating avalanche in 1999 that took 14 lives after days and days of snow. As you head down the hill towards the small hamlet of Montoc, the memorial on the left provides a poignant reminder of the harsher side of mountain life. Nowadays, as a result of this sad event, hard lessons have been learnt and strict planning guides and increased avalanche protection for properties in 'risk' areas` ensures a safer alpine life for all. 

Vallorcine

Vallorcine is situated right next to the Swiss border. Visitors from Switzerand arrive via Trient and the Route de Forclaz which involves a 1,500m pass, not recommended after heavy snowfall. In reality, most vitiorss however arrive from Chamonix. This route also involves a low alpine pass, the Col des Montets, and is quite often subject to closure after heavy snowfall as well. At such times access by car is via the train tunnel and is controlled by the Gendarme accordingly for safety. If you are driving to Vallorcine, in such cases where the Col des Montets is closed, head for the La Tour train station (on the way to La Tour ski area).

As a consequence of its mountainous position, Vallorcine has a somewhat isolated feel. Here at Luury Chalets Chamonix we quite like the 'lost in time feel' but it is not to everyones taste. If you want a true mountain hideaway, away from the noise, that looks and feels like a mountain village from yesteryear, this is the place. This said, you may want to visitor sooner rather than later as the new high speed gondola, combined with limited development opportunities elsewhere in Chamonix, means in some ways, regrettably, that Vallorcine is fast changing.