The Ski Resort
As a New Year ski resort Chamonix is one of the very best as Chamonix is a bustling town, great historical architecture, numerous bars, three nightclubs and lots of restaurants. And on New Years Eve it really does party with the culmination being a massive fireworks display where literally thousands of people see in the New Year together. So if you are looking for somewhere to really party on New Years Eve, the ski resort of Chamonix really will fit the bill.
But it is much more than just a great place to party for New Year as Chamonix is a beautiful historic town with magnificent mountain peaks that are just stunning any time of the year. But with the festive lights against the beautiful architecture it does go up another level.
New Year celebrations to one side, in terms of the skiing, Chamonix is famous around the world for its steeps slopes and great off-piste. But that this is just half the story as the skiing at La Tour and Les Houches is great too for family ski holidays and ideal for New Year skiing with the family.
Worth Knowing
Chamonix is a high altitude ski resort with second highest lift station in Europe a 3,842m for off-piste and 3,275m on-piste. For New Year ski holidays it is therefore probably as snowsure as it gets anywhere in the world.
For family ski groups with young children or groups with beginners viiting New Year, La Tour or Les Houches come highly recommended. Les Houches especially as it has very gentle green and blue runs with a travelator (magic carpet) and a slow moving chair (including a special child safety bar).
Off Piste Skiing
Chamonix skiing off-piste is exceptional and we strongly recommend that good skiers hire a Guide for a day or two to get the most out of Chamonix. Being the busy New Year week however, we suggest that a Guide is booked prior to arrival and we are happy to provide site details for Guides here at New Year Ski.
Conditions permitting at New Year, the Vallee Blanche should be high on the list, 2,800m of descent and 17km long its a journey under seracs and through glacier terrain and here at New Year Ski we still remember our first trip vividly over 20 years ago.
On the Brevent, there are the couloirs below the Plan Praz cable-car but these are extremes and most of us will probably prefer crossing over to Combe Lachenal which is considerably less challenging and in the right conditions are great to ski and photographers delight.
Further up the valley La Tour are over the back into Vallorcine is good (but note can be avalanche prone)and there is of course the Grands Montets where there is some great skiing off the top or th back (note it is glacier terrain), or you can try around the top of the Herse lift (great name) or the Bochard which drops you into the Lavancher (note Lavancher means avalanche in French).
Ski School
ESF are the main ski school in the Chamonix ski resorts.
Other Ski Schools include Evolution 2 and BASS. Being New Year ski week, booking prior to arrival is strongly recommended so please contact your New Year Ski sales team for more information.
Snow Boarding
New Year ski week, Felege and Brevent are good sunny areas that offer nice blue and red slopes, or there is
the Grands Montets or Les Houches (Area 43) free-style snowparks to start the New Year celebrations on the si slopes.
View Chamonix Ski Resort Guide - Chalet Ski in a larger map
Pros
Nearly always open in November - long before the New Year week
Massive New Years Eve ski party
Picturesque town centre in lights
Cons
Some areas not ideal for family ski groups or beginners
Some chalets some way away from pistes.
Ski Resort Map
Ski Piste Map
Getting Around the Ski Resort
Some operators provide in resort transfers which during the New Year celebration is advisable as Wsome chalets are away from the slopes and the town centre.
Chamonix does have a good bus service that operates quite late but not past twelve on New Years Eve so if you are not close to Chamonix centre, a transfer service is advisable or make sure you book your taxi in advance.
Activities Outdoor
Activies to do during the New Year ski holidays are limitless it often feels and includes indoor and outdoor ice skating, sleigh rides, huski rides, swimming, shopping, and many more.