thirtieth January 2026 | Jane Peel, St Gervais, French Alps
Consider it because the attention-grabbing however much less well-known cousin of Chamonix. As a winter resort, St-Gervais-Mont-Blanc, to present its most popular title, is commonly missed in favour of its world-famous neighbour. However for a lot of skiers, it’s a much better possibility. NEW
Why?
There are lots of causes.
However a giant one is that it’s a part of the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski space with 400km of runs.
In contrast to Chamonix, a big a part of the terrain is linked by raise.
What you’ll be able to’t get to on skis is reached simply by shuttle bus.
Domaine Evasion Mont-Blanc.
The Evasion Mont-Blanc raise go covers:
St-Gervais-Mont-BlancSt Nicolas de VéroceMegèveComblouxLes ContaminesHauteluceLa Giettaz
The highest three are all accessible by raise from St Gervais, and are the place I spent my first day on the slopes.
SKI DAY ONE – St Gervais, St Nicolas, Megève
St-Gervais-Mont-Blanc. Picture © PlanetSKI
Sadly, it was overcast, however the cloud was excessive and the views had been, nonetheless, spectacular.
If solely the solar had shone and the sky had been blue…
St-Gervais-Mont-Blanc. Picture © PlanetSKI
From the very best level of the resort, Mont Joly at 2,300m, I may see the cloud-covered Mont Blanc peak, the Aiguille du Midi and, down within the valley, Chamonix.
There are few difficult on-piste runs for specialists on this a part of the area, however there are some traditional freeride routes for when the circumstances are proper.
St-Gervais-Mont-Blanc. Picture © PlanetSKI
And there are many fabulous blues and reds, together with the Grande Epaule with a 1km vertical drop that’s an actual thigh-burner in case you go prime to backside.
In my view, each timid and adventurous intermediates could be much better off coming right here than Chamonix.
Particularly within the comparatively quiet month of January.
St Nicolas. Picture © PlanetSKI
There’s additionally an in depth circuit of greens so novices can get an actual sense of travelling across the mountain relatively than being caught on only one or two low-altitude nursery slopes.
As you’d anticipate with a lot of the snowboarding beneath 1,800m, there are many tree-lined pistes in addition to some ‘secure’ off-piste tree runs.
A very good possibility for when the sunshine is low.
Megève. Picture © PlanetSKI
Though there’d been no recent snow for round 10 days on my go to, I used to be pleasantly shocked on the circumstances.
There was no scarcity of the white stuff and sufficient protection to ski all the best way right down to 1,000 metres.
St-Gervais-Mont-Blanc. Picture © PlanetSKI
SKI DAY TWO – Les Houches-St Gervais
Nicely, who knew?
Les Houches is NOT Chamonix.
It’s a typical false impression and one I come clean with.
Whereas Les Houches is within the Chamonix valley, the ski space shouldn’t be a part of Chamonix.
It’s Les Houches-St Gervais.
It’s hardly stunning that so many people make the error.
The traditional downhill and slalom races that happen on the Kandahar black run listed below are often described because the ‘Chamonix World Cup’.
Locals sigh as they clarify it’s all a advertising and marketing ploy.
One other signal that St Gervais, or on this case, Les Houches-St Gervais, is caught firmly within the shadow of its extra well-known neighbour.
I’m eager to see this place that’s ‘not Chamonix’.
Even keener once I wake to some centimetres of recent snow.
St-Gervais-Mont-Blanc. Picture © PlanetSKI
And keener nonetheless because the path to the slopes is through the Mont-Blanc tramway, which is simply over the highway from my lodge in St Gervais city.
Mont-Blanc Tramway station, St-Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
Mont-Blanc Tramway, St-Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
It’s the very best railway in France and dates from 1909, although the trains are new.
All aboard the Mont-Blanc Tramway. Picture © PlanetSKI
The unique plan was for it to go all the best way to the summit of Mont Blanc however the challenge was by no means accomplished.
In winter, it terminates on the Bellevue plateau at 1,800m, giving direct entry to the slopes.
Mont-Blanc Tramway. Picture © PlanetSKI
The Les Houches-St Gervais ski space and the Mont-Blanc Tramway usually are not included within the Evasion Mont-Blanc raise go.
An grownup day go will set you again round €35 to €59, relying on demand and the way early you ebook.
It’s virtually price it for the roughly 40-minute prepare experience to the highest (and again down once more, since you’ll be able to’t ski down).
After which there’s the snowboarding.
There are 50km of runs, most beneath the treeline, which was very welcome on one other cloudy, low-light day.
Les Houches-St Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
The few centimetres of recent snow made for some nice cruising on virtually empty pistes.
The aforementioned Kandahar run, which has a vertical drop of 900m all the best way right down to Les Houches village, is a should in case you’re completely satisfied on blacks.
It’s not truly that tough a run – except you’re going at downhill racing pace, that’s.
Les Houches. Picture © PlanetSKI
Kandahar apart, it’s a delicate, family-friendly space.
A phrase of warning for snowboarders – there are numerous flat sections to barter.
Deliver ski poles!
Les Houches-St Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
ST GERVAIS – THE TOWN
My foremost focus when visiting a brand new space is all the time on the snowboarding.
However it might be an oversight to disregard the architectural and cultural charms of St Gervais itself.
It’s a engaging city with some 5,800 everlasting inhabitants.
St Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
St Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
St Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
St Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
There are three museums.
My favorite was the Maison Forte de Hautetour.
Maison Forte de Hautetour, St Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
This winter and till thirtieth April, it has a short lived exhibition of the historical past of mountain rescue.
On show is tools from the very outdated….
Exhibition of the historical past of mountain rescue, St Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
…to the extra trendy…
Exhibition of the historical past of mountain rescue, St Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
St Gervais developed as a city to accommodate not mountaineers or skiers however these visiting its thermal baths, which opened in 1806.
Therefore the unique title by which this place is understood, St-Gervais-Les-Bains.
In these days the spa, which is fed by historic waters from Mont Blanc, was frequented by European aristocrats passing by on their method to Chamonix.
It was rebuilt after it was destroyed in 1892 when the Tête-Rousse glacier collapsed, killing 200 individuals within the city.
Thermal spa, St-Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
A go to to the Thermes St-Gervais-Mont-Blanc is a well-liked means for skiers to spend a couple of hours, luxuriating within the many saunas, steam rooms and scorching whirlpools, particularly when the climate’s gray.
A go to prices €49 through the week and €59 on the weekend.
There are additionally offers for households.
The spa is open 12 months spherical and the PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, indulged when he was in St Gervais in September.
His report has extra particulars concerning the spa and what else the city has to supply exterior the primary winter and summer time vacationer seasons.
Mine has been a brief however candy keep.
Subsequent time, hopefully the solar will shine once I’m snowboarding.
Similar to it did the day I arrived.
And the day I left.
St Gervais. Picture © PlanetSKI
MORE INFORMATION
The St-Gervais Mont-Blanc ski space is open till sixth April 2026.
The city is round 1hr from Geneva airport by highway.
You too can journey by prepare from Geneva to the station at Le Fayet from the place it’s a 5-minute gondola experience as much as the primary city of St Gervais.
Rail travellers get a ten% low cost on raise passes.
Discover out extra about snowboarding in St Gervais, together with raise go costs for the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski space right here.
The Les Houches-St Gervais/Tramway du Mont Blanc costs will be discovered right here.
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