A well-established resort and a year-round tourist destination which stretches for miles along the valley in the shadow of Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, bustling Chamomix is packed with hotels, restaurants and shops selling everything from souvenirs to high-tech climbing and skiing gear.

There’s a cable car to the Aiguille du Midi, starting point of the famous Vallée Blanche glacier run, and a gondola lift to Le Brévent. The third high-altitude area nearby, La Flégère, is reached by cable car from the neighbouring village of Les Praz. There are three further major ski areas, more widely spread along the valley.

Chamonix is a great village for the whole family to visit, with a very friendly, easy-going atmosphere and the popular Panda Club ski school can take children from the age of three.

With some of France’s best runs for the advanced skier, there’s still plenty here to keep those who are less experienced occupied and happy. There are more than 50 intermediate runs, out of a total of 80, with 16 chair lifts and over a dozen gondolas.