Home / Cross-country skiing / Practical info
The cross-country ski trails in Chamonix and the Chamonix valley: the trail map, the opening of the 2026-2027 season, the Nordic pass, ski hire and advice from Richard Etellin, a French state-qualified instructor, to prepare your outing.
5.0
84 Google reviews · state-qualified instructor
“Chamonix has a Large area perfect for beginners- ski hire right next to the ski du fond area.”
Rosie L., Google review · Hire on site
State-qualified
Trained at ENSA in Chamonix
5.0 on Google
84 reviews
27 years
teaching skiing, since 1999
English, French
lessons in both languages
The trails
Official trail map, a Chamonix piste map with runs for cross-country skiing: on 15 October 2026, the tourist office still publishes the map for the 2025-2026 season. The valley trails run from Les Houches to Argentière and Vallorcine, between 1,000 and 1,300 m altitude: about fifty kilometres in all (Haute-Savoie Nordic).
The Bois du Bouchet area is home to the cross-country ski trails in Chamonix itself, starting from the Maison nordique (the Nordic centre), where you buy your pass. The beginner trail can be reached on foot or by car from the town centre. This is where the cross-country ski lesson for beginners starts. The partner shop is opposite the trails. Three trails are groomed there for classic and skating: the green trail of the Bois du Bouchet (3 km), the Orthaz blue trail (6.3 km) and the Bois red trail (11.7 km), according to the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc tourist office.
Les Houches cross-country skiing takes place on the area at the lower end of the valley, for a change of trail during your stay. Skis can be hired there, at Battendier Sport.
Argentière cross-country skiing takes place on the area at the upper end of the valley. The Chamonix Nordic pass gives access to it, and to Vallorcine.
For cross-country skiing near Chamonix on the Italian side, Richard offers discovery days in Courmayeur and the Val Ferret. In Val Ferret, the Mont Blanc Tunnel return ticket (Richard has preferential rates), the cross-country trail pass and the restaurant are at your own expense. Lessons are also possible in Megève.
Richard is a cross-country ski instructor in Chamonix, where he is based; his lessons take place on the cross-country ski trails of the Chamonix valley. As a rule, when there is good snow, lessons start from the Maison nordique in Chamonix.
2026-2027 season
For cross-country skiing, the Chamonix ski opening dates depend on the snow. The date for the 2026-2027 season will be added here once it is officially announced. During the school holidays, night cross-country skiing sessions run on Thursdays from 6 to 8 pm, with free access, led by the ESF (tourist office).
Opening. Richard starts his season when the cross-country ski trails in Chamonix open, in December.
End of the season. Lessons run until the end of March or early April. When the Chamonix trails had closed, Richard once took his students skiing in Courmayeur.
School holidays. Christmas, February and March are the high season. Book your lessons in advance.
“Even though we were late in the season so the trails were closed in Chamonix, Richard drove us to Courmayeur and so we were able to have a great time in beautiful scenery!”
Phoebe W., Google review · visited in April 2022
The ski pass
Can you cross-country ski in Chamonix without an instructor? Yes, but a pass is required to ski on the cross-country trails: here, the ski pass is the Nordic pass for these trails. For a cross-country ski or biathlon lesson with Richard, each participant buys their trail pass at the Maison nordique, the Nordic centre at the start of the Chamonix trails, opposite the Intersport Chamonix Nord shop (Nordic centre prices). It comes in an adult rate and a child rate (ages 5 to 15), by the day, the week or the season; it is free for a child under 5. The tourist office publishes the price list.
Areas included: Chamonix, Argentière and Vallorcine.
The price of cross-country ski lessons includes neither the pass nor insurance. Richard’s terms of sale recommend taking the “Carré Neige” insurance with your pass, and checking what it covers.
Equipment
No need to buy equipment for your stay: cross-country ski hire in Chamonix is opposite the trails. For a beginner, the starting point is classic cross-country skiing equipment, for the technique Richard recommends for the first lesson.
Two types. A classic ski is soft and long, with fish scales under the binding or a grip zone for wax. A skate ski is shorter and more responsive, with a smooth base from tail to tip.
The classic boot is low and flexible. The skating boot is higher and stiffer, to hold the ankle in the sideways movement.
Shorter for classic, longer for skating: their length depends on the technique you choose.
Ski-type clothing that breathes. Gloves, a hat and sunglasses are strongly recommended.
Ski hire
Richard does not rent out equipment. For Nordic ski rental in Chamonix, and for snowshoe hire in Chamonix too, go to his partner shop, opposite the start of the trails, for a half day or a full day. For skate skiing, tell the shop you want skating equipment: the skis, boots and poles are not the same as for classic.
Intersport Chamonix Nord, opposite the start of the cross-country ski trails in Chamonix. Richard may suggest meeting there before the lesson, when you rent cross-country skis in Chamonix, to choose together the right equipment for the snow and the weather. In Les Houches, cross-country skis can be hired at Battendier Sport.
“He drove us to the ski shop where we could rent the ski’s we needed and gave us advice on the equipment.”
Michael L., Google review · visited in March 2024
For cross-country ski rental in Chamonix, the shop rents equipment, classic or skating, for a half day or a full day. Snowshoe rental in Chamonix works the same way, for a guided snowshoe outing with Richard. The prices below come from Richard’s current website: the price in force is shown in the shop.
| Hire | Half day | Full day |
|---|---|---|
| Classic, adult | €12 | €20 |
| Skating, adult | €14 | €25 |
| Snowshoes | €10 | €20 |
Live
No one can say in advance whether Chamonix snow is sure: before you go out on the cross-country ski trails in Chamonix, the webcam and the weather forecast show you the day’s snow. The webcam loads when you click, to keep the page light and fast on a phone.
The live webcam of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc town centre (1,050 m).
Before you go
Cross-country skiing takes place on marked trails, but it is still a mountain outing. Three things to check before you put on your skis.
The outing depends on the weather and the snow cover: Richard judges them on the day. Wear breathable layers, with gloves, a hat and sunglasses.
Cross-country skiing is an endurance sport. Bring water, even in cold weather, and a snack for a full day.
“Nordic hut a great place for picnic and WC.”
Rosie L., Google review · visited in February 2026
Check the opening hours of the area on the official website. Richard’s private cross-country ski lessons take place every day, on booking: 1.5-hour lesson from 9:00 to 10:30, from 10:40 to 12:10, from 12:30 to 14:00 or from 14:10 to 15:40; half day from 9:00 to 12:00 or from 13:30 to 16:30; full day from 9:00 to 16:30.
To try biathlon in Chamonix, sessions last 2 hours, mostly in the afternoon: from 12:30 to 14:30 or from 14:30 to 16:30. Richard opens his biathlon schedule each week.
Practical
Getting around and getting equipped for the cross-country ski trails in Chamonix during your stay.
With the guest card (carte d’hôte), given by your accommodation when you arrive, the Mont-Blanc Express train is free between Servoz and Vallorcine.
Richard’s partner shop, opposite the start of the cross-country ski trails: Chamonix ski hire at Intersport Chamonix Nord, and snowshoe rental in Chamonix too, for a half day or a full day.
The official Chamonix cross-country skiing map of the valley’s Nordic areas, on the Chamonix website.
Today’s snow at the start of the trails, to check before you set off.
Questions
Yes, there is cross-country skiing in Chamonix, and in the rest of the valley. Cross-country skiing, “ski de fond” in French, also called Nordic skiing, has several areas in the Chamonix valley. In Chamonix itself, the Bois du Bouchet area starts from the Maison nordique, where you buy the pass, and its beginner trail can be reached on foot or by car from the town centre.
For cross-country skiing near Chamonix, there are also trails at Les Houches, at the lower end of the valley, and at Argentière and Vallorcine, at the upper end. The Chamonix Nordic pass covers Chamonix, Argentière and Vallorcine. Richard is based in Chamonix and teaches on the trails of the valley: see his cross-country ski lessons.
Yes. With or without an instructor, you need the Nordic pass to ski on the cross-country ski trails in Chamonix. You buy it at the Maison nordique, at the start of the trails. You can rent cross-country skis in Chamonix at Intersport Chamonix Nord, opposite the trails, for classic or skating. The trails are marked, but it is still a mountain outing: check the weather and the snow before you go. A lesson gives you the right technique and good routes for the rest of your stay; Richard’s lessons take place every day, on booking. The ski pass section gives the official links.
Nobody can promise snow, in Chamonix or anywhere else. The opening of the Nordic area depends on the snow, and each outing depends on the weather and the snow cover on the day. Richard starts his season when the trails open, in December, and teaches until the end of March or early April. Late in one season, when the Chamonix trails had closed, he drove his students to Courmayeur, on the Italian side, so they could still ski: Phoebe W. tells this in her Google review of April 2022. To see whether there is snow in Chamonix before you come, check the live webcam and weather and the official Nordic area page.
Live images give the best answer. The Chamonix tourist office publishes webcams of the valley and a weather forecast; this page gathers them in the webcam section. When does Chamonix open for skiing on the cross-country trails? It depends on the snow: the Chamonix ski opening dates for the 2026-2027 season will be added here once they are officially announced. On the day of your lesson, Richard judges the weather and the snow cover, and he can change the programme if conditions require it. If you are not sure, write to him before you book.
Yes. A Nordic pass is required to ski on the cross-country trails, with or without an instructor. It is not included in the price of Richard’s ski lessons. You buy it at the Maison nordique, at the start of the Chamonix trails, opposite Intersport Chamonix Nord. This Nordic pass opens three cross-country areas in the Chamonix valley: Chamonix, Argentière and Vallorcine. So the same pass is enough for Argentière cross-country skiing. Richard’s terms of sale recommend adding the “Carré Neige” insurance. The current pass prices are on the official website: Nordic centre prices.
No. Richard does not provide equipment, but he advises you before the lesson. You hire it at his partner shop, Intersport Chamonix Nord, opposite the start of the trails: cross-country skis for classic or skating, and snowshoes for guided snowshoeing in Chamonix. Cross-country ski hire and snowshoe hire in Chamonix are for a half day or a full day, and the price is shown in the shop. For Les Houches cross-country skiing, Battendier Sport also rents skis. Bring breathable clothing, gloves, a hat and sunglasses.
Among the beginner trails near Mont Blanc, the Bois du Bouchet trail in Chamonix can be reached on foot or by car from the town centre. It is one of the cross-country ski trails in Chamonix, starting from the Maison nordique. One student describes Chamonix as a large area perfect for beginners, with ski hire right next to it. Richard’s lessons start on a learning area, then on an easy green trail. The first lesson is described step by step on the learn cross-country skiing page.
For cross-country skiing in Chamonix, the map of the trails is published by the tourist office, on the downloads page of chamonix.com. On 15 October 2026, the Chamonix piste map PDF was still the map for the 2025-2026 season. It covers the cross-country ski trails of the Chamonix valley. If you are looking for a Chamonix piste map with runs for cross-country skiing, this is the official source. The map for the 2026-2027 season will be added here once it is published. During a lesson, Richard also shows you good routes for the rest of your stay, on the Nordic skiing sites around Chamonix.
There is a paid car park next to the Maison nordique, with a drop-off area; at Intersport, you can park while you get your equipment. The Bois du Bouchet beginner trail can be reached on foot or by car from Chamonix town centre. For a cross-country ski lesson, Nordic ski rental in Chamonix is at Intersport Chamonix Nord, opposite the trails, and you agree on the meeting point with Richard when you book. You meet him at the start of the trails, making your own way there. For cross-country skiing in Argentière or Les Houches, agree on the meeting point when you contact the cross-country ski instructor in Chamonix.
Book
A lesson with Richard, at Chamonix Cross Country Skiing, gives you the right technique and good routes for the rest of your stay. Choose the length and the date, then pay the 50% deposit.
Online booking
Choose the formula, then the line for your group size: the price is shown. The “Book” button opens Richard’s calendar in a new tab, to choose the day and time; you then enter your details on the secure booking page (in French).
Up to 4 people
€580
6 hours, from 9:00 to 16:30. More than 4 people: contact Richard.
Race and marathon · 1 to 2 people
€150
Skating · 1 to 2 people
€150
Cardio, triathlon or marathon · 1 to 2 people
€150
1.5-hour session, from age 12. Several dates or more than 2 people: contact Richard.
