Argentiere vs Les Houches: which should you book?
For families, book Les Houches. It is the sheltered, tree lined, family friendly end of the Chamonix valley, with gentle terrain, good ski schools and runs that stay skiable when the high mountains are socked in. Book Argentiere if your group is made of strong, advanced skiers who want the steep, snow sure terrain and off piste of the Grands Montets, because it is a thrilling expert base but a poor fit for young children and beginners. Both sit on the Chamonix valley pass, so this is a clean split between an experts' mountain and a family one.
Last reviewed July 2026
The short answer
Les Houches wins for families, beginners and bad weather days with its sheltered tree lined runs. Argentiere wins for advanced and expert skiers chasing the steep, snow sure Grands Montets. Both on the Chamonix valley pass.
Argentiere and Les Houches sit at opposite ends of the Chamonix valley and suit opposite kinds of skier, which makes this an unusually clear comparison. I have skied both with very different groups. Argentiere is the gateway to the formidable Grands Montets, a magnet for serious skiers; Les Houches is the gentle, wooded, family end where the valley calms down. Decide who is in your group and the answer follows.
The numbers side by side
| Argentiere | Les Houches | |
|---|---|---|
| Position in valley | Upper, high and north facing | Lower, sunny and sheltered |
| Home mountain | Grands Montets, steep and snow sure | Tree lined, gentle to intermediate |
| Terrain feel | Advanced, off piste, big and serious | Family friendly, wooded, forgiving |
| Bad weather | Exposed and high, can close | Trees give visibility and shelter |
| Best for | Experts, off piste, strong groups | Families, beginners, mixed groups |
| Shared pass | Chamonix valley pass covers both | |
The skiing
This is the heart of the split. Argentiere serves the Grands Montets, one of the great steep, snow sure, north facing mountains of the Alps, superb for advanced skiers and off piste but short on gentle terrain for beginners and children. Les Houches offers wide, tree lined pistes from gentle to good intermediate, including the famous Kandahar World Cup downhill, ideal for families and progression. Winner: Argentiere for experts, Les Houches for everyone else.
The village
Both are pleasant, low key valley villages rather than purpose built resorts, and neither is a manicured chocolate box. Argentiere is a small, atmospheric mountaineering village with a serious skiing soul. Les Houches is a spread out, sunny, family oriented village with a calm, residential feel. Winner: a tie, each fits its skiers.
Cost
Both are reasonable value by the standards of the famous Alps, helped by their valley village character, and most family or group weeks land in the $2,000 to $4,000 per person band, with the Chamonix valley generally undercutting the marquee French mega resorts. Les Houches has slightly more family friendly self catering and is the easier place to keep a family budget in check. Winner: Les Houches, narrowly, for families.
Families and beginners
Les Houches wins this category outright. Its sheltered, tree lined slopes are gentle, forgiving and reassuring for children and nervous beginners, the ski school terrain is well suited to learning, and the woods keep it skiable on poor visibility days. Argentiere is genuinely tough for young families, with steep terrain and limited easy options, and is best left to confident skiers. Winner: Les Houches, decisively.
Apres and evenings
Neither is a party base, and both are quiet in the evening, with the bulk of the valley's nightlife down in Chamonix town a short ride away. Argentiere has a couple of characterful skiers' bars, while Les Houches is the calmer, more residential of the two. For a livelier night, both groups would head into Chamonix. Winner: a tie, with Chamonix nearby for both.
Access
Access is a tie and easy for both. The Chamonix valley is one of the quickest transfers in the Alps, roughly an hour to an hour and a half from Geneva, and a valley bus and train link the villages along its length, including Chamonix town. Les Houches sits nearest the valley entrance, Argentiere furthest up. Winner: tie.
The verdict
Book Les Houches for a family or mixed ability group that wants sheltered, tree lined, gentle terrain, good ski schools, sensible value and runs that stay skiable in bad weather. Book Argentiere for a group of strong, advanced skiers who want the steep, snow sure Grands Montets and serious off piste, and do not need easy slopes.
Both sit on the Chamonix valley pass with the whole valley and Chamonix town a short bus or train ride away. Read our full Chamonix review, explore the Chamonix valley region guide, or see our pick of the best ski resorts in the Chamonix valley.
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Common questions
Which is better for families, Argentiere or Les Houches?
Les Houches, decisively. Its sheltered, tree lined slopes are gentle and forgiving for children and beginners, and stay skiable in poor weather. Argentiere is a steep experts' mountain and a poor fit for young families.
Which is better for advanced skiers?
Argentiere. It serves the Grands Montets, one of the great steep, snow sure, north facing mountains in the Alps, with superb off piste. Les Houches is gentler, tree lined terrain better suited to families and intermediates.
Do they share a lift pass?
Yes. Both sit on the Chamonix valley pass, which covers the linked areas along the valley, so either base can ski both and the rest of the Chamonix mountains.
Which is better in bad weather?
Les Houches, clearly. Its tree lined runs give visibility and shelter when cloud rolls in, while Argentiere's high, exposed Grands Montets terrain can close in poor conditions.
How far is Geneva airport?
The Chamonix valley is one of the quickest transfers in the Alps, roughly an hour to an hour and a half from Geneva. Les Houches sits nearest the valley entrance and Argentiere furthest up, linked by valley bus and train.
Which is better value?
Both are reasonable value for the famous Alps, with most weeks in the 2,000 to 4,000 dollar per person band. Les Houches edges it for families thanks to more self catering options.