Chamonix is world famous for its off-piste skiing and boarding.  It is a fact that the endless miles of untouched powder are the main reason why people revisit year after year.  Due to this, coupled with their experience for finding the best conditions, we always recommend using a qualified ski guide.  All the guides we use are IFMGA qualified and they will help reduce the dangers to a minimum.  They will also ensure through local knowledge of weather systems and snow conditions that you go to the best areas in the Valley and areas which will suit your ability.  Remember you don’t have to be an excellent skier or boarder to enjoy the off-piste.

From the classic to the lesser known descents, the Mont Blanc massif offers some of the longest vertical drops imaginable, often departing directly from the cable cars stations.

Ski Guide in Winter, Mountain Guide in Summer, Sebastien Rougegré has more than 12 years experience in the mountains. Professionaly qualified as a ski instructor and previously worked with the Mountain Rescue Organisation (PGHM de Chamonix) here in the Chamonix Valley, Sebastien has founded World Wide Guiding.

Mention you're a guest with Mountain Lifestyle for priority bookings.
Sebastien Rougegré and his expert team of guides can find the best ski or snowboard runs on both the French and Italian sides of Mont Blanc or Switzerland. They specialise in this valley and in all types of skiing, they will take you to their secret “powder spots” and can introduce you to all the amazing scenery and skiing that the valley has to offer. No queues, no crowds, just you, your guide and great snow!

Guiding will cost €350 per day for a group of up to six people.  It is usually possible to add to this, but at an extra cost per person.  The Vallee Blanche is 330€ per day for up to 4 people (15€ pp to add to the group, max 6 people to the guide).  Booking a ski guide requires a deposit of 25% of the guiding fee, which is refundable only if the guide considers the conditions unsuitable.

Avalanche safety kit available to hire:

• 10€ for transceiver, shovel, probe & rucksack.
• 15€ for all of above plus crampons & harness.
• 25€ for all of above plus ABS rucksack.

Or, if you are aiming to improve your off piste skiing, a week long off piste course is the way forward. Please contact Mountain Lifestyle directly to help sort out an itinerary.

We can also organise a guide to take you Ice Climbing, please get in touch for more info! 

EXAMPLE OF OFF PISTE COURSE..

Day 1: OFF PISTE  AT LE TOUR:

Le Tour is the top hamlet of the Chamonix Valley. This village is famous for the record of annual  snowfall in the Alps.. There are opportunities to practice steep couloirs, wide fiedls of snow, forest skiing.  Today is the first day to recover your legs, check your kit, practice technique, gain confidence and new techniques from your guide. Usually we finish the day by a long off piste run to Trient a village in Switzerland. We go back to Chamonix by bus.

Day 2: OFF PISTE IN THE VALLEE BLANCHE:

This is one of the longest (23km) and most famous off piste ski runs in the world. The Aiguille du Midi cable car takes you to 3842m. We descend the short narrow snow ridge, which is fixed with rope handrails.  There are many options for the Vallee Blanche and all  the routes are spectacular. They all converge at the Requin  hut, where there is a restaurant, before skiing through the impressive Requin  icefall. Your Guide will show you safely the best passages through the seracs for avoiding crevasses on snow bridges. Once you reach the flatter Mer de Glace glacier there is a straight run to the Montenvers railway. If there is snow at the bottom of the valley, we descent to Chamonix on a slope through the forest. If you have made quick time there is the opportunity for a second descent of the Vallee Blanche by an other route.

Day 3: PAS DE CHEVRE & GRAND MONTETS:

Grand Montets cable car, which ascends to 3300m. From the top cable car there are two main route variations: left onto the Argentiere Glacier or right onto the Mer de Glace glacier (Pas de Chevre). From the top cable car you can ski from 3300m down to the valley, over the Argentiere glacier, off the end of the glacier snout, past the Cremerie ice falls, and through the trees. The Pas de Chevre is a great run to the Mer de Glace glacier to Montenvers. Usually there are multiple descents over the day.

Day 4: ITALIAN OFF PISTE

Drive through the Mont Blanc road tunnel to the Italian town of Courmayeur. Here you have the Italian face of Mont Blanc towering above you. You ascend the lift system to the top, Helbronner, where there are fantastic views of the famous summits of  Dent du Geant and Tour Ronde. The descent is either by the steep couloirs to Courmayeur, or traverse on to the Vallee Blanche to find good snow on this side of the massif.

Day 5: OFF PISTE: THREE BORDERS FRANCE, ITALY, SWITZERLAND

Starting  early  from Chamonix, we drive to Cervinia in Italy. From here you ski into Italy or towards Zermatt in Switzerland. The numerous lifts enable you to find good snow with all the possibilities of orientations and steepness of slopes.
The descent of a run passing the famous land mark of the Matterhorn is a must! There are plenty of excellent run options.