Les Houches
Les Houches is a typical mountain village with a lovely church and old wooden Savoyard farmhouses around. There are a number of local bars and good restaurants for quiet evenings out and buses run in and out of Chamonix all day.
Les Houches’ friendly relaxed atmosphere provides a great base for families. Les Houches is also ideal for those wishing to explore the rest of the legendary valley. World-renowned sites such as the stunning Aiguille du Midi, Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) can be easily accessed from Chamonix and its many cable cars, the scenic Montenvers train or the picturesque Mont-Blanc tramway.
Whether you are a beginner, an experienced hiker or somewhere in between, the Valley offers 430km of well-maintained and equipped hiking trails to suit all abilities.
About its location
The Chamonix valley is situated in the north-westerly part of the Alps, just 15 km from the Swiss border via the Col des Montets and 15 m from Italy via the famous Mont-Blanc tunnel. This valley, comprising Servoz, Les Houches, Chamonix and Vallorcine, also contains Mont Blanc, Western Europe’s highest peak at 4,810.45m.
Some recommendations for visits in the Chamonix Valley this summer
- Chamonix: The world capital of mountaineering is only a few miles from Les Houches. Very cosmopolitan it boasts first-rate leisure facilities and a huge range of shops and restaurants
- L’Aiguille du Midi is reached by cable car from Chamonix. The views from Europe’s highest cable car station (3842m) are literally breathtaking. From there you can walk back to the famous ‘Mer de Glace’ with ease and catch Montenvers train back to town
