Destination Guide : Les Houches & Servoz
Les Houches, Servoz and Vallorcine make up the Chamonix Valley, along with Chamonix Town/Argentiere. Together all four communes offer a wealth of activities, sightseeing and things to do, whether you’re mad for skiing and boarding, crazy about climbing and mountain biking, or just keen to take in the fresh air and views at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif.
Servoz is the gateway to the Chamonix Valley and sits in a sunny part of the Valley halfway up the road on stilts that whisks you from the valley floor to the mountains.
Tempting you with amazing panoramas of the Aiguilles, this laid back little village offers a traditional mountain holiday in an authentic style. The feel is very much residential and there are larger, well equipped chalets to rent here that are excellent value for money.
In summer, Servoz comes into its own with wonderful biking (road cycling in particular) and sport climbing, with a large surface of rock equipped for climbing at Le Lac end of the village. Being a little further down the Valley, your Mountain Drop Offs transfer time from Geneva airport is around 45 minutes.
Next stop is Les Houches. This family-orientated village is a ski resort in its own right and offers a satisfying combination of activities, amenities and tranquillity. 
On bad mountain weather days, dropping off the piste to ski through the pine trees in Les Houches can’t be beaten. Youngsters will love the sunny, gentle learner slopes and speed demons will be jumping in their ski boots at the thought of skiing the famous ‘Verte des Houches’ piste. Used for professional World Cup competitions such as the Kandahar and Junior World Championships, the piste is even included in the Annecy 2018 Winter Olympic bid.
Apres-ski is a laidback affair in Les Houches, with just enough bars and restaurants to keep you amused. There is also a outdoor ski rink in winter which is free to use, night skiing every Thursday during the school holidays on the Tourchet piste in the village centre, an indoor climbing wall and lots of snowshoeing and cross country ski routes on the Prarion plateau.
Les Houches really comes into its own in the summer as the start or finish point of the Tour Mont Blanc itinerary
, the walking tour which takes you around the Mont Blanc Massif, most popularly starting from Les Houches, passing through Italy and Switzerland before heading back into the Chamonix Valley. The Les Houches mountains offer some of the best walking in the valley, with alpine pastures, mountain farms and hamlets to explore.
Passing Chamonix and its communes of Les Praz and Argentiere, you can then take the road up and over the col des Montets into the last village in the Chamonix Valley, Vallorcine. Tucked into the mountains near the Swiss border, Vallorcine proudly retains the most laid back, natural Savoyard feel in the whole of the Chamonix Valley, with a flora and fauna that is a real delight to discover in winter and summer.
Servoz and Les Houches Top Tips
• Visit the ‘Maison de l’Alpage’ in Servoz village – a well put together exhibition on alpine life
• Visit the St Bernard dog breeding kennels just outside Servoz village
• Go night skiing in Les Houches and enjoy music, vin chaud and even flame descents by the ski school instructors – all for free (every Thurs during school hols)
• Ski the same lines as skiing legends Bode Miller and Alberto Tomba on the impressive ‘Verte des Houches’ black run in Les Houches that is used for World Cup skiing during the Kandahar race
• Head to Les Houches for the best mountain restaurants in the Chamonix Valley. Our number one choice is the Vieilles Luges hidden in the forest of the ski area
• Ski the Abbaye piste down to the Crozat chair in Les Houches - it's a flat start but one it gets going you'll have superb panoramic views of St Gervais, Megeve and the towns in the valley
• Every autumn Servoz hosts the Foire des Moutons with livestock, dancing, a big meal open to all and lots of stalls to wander around. Great for all the family
• Head to the Parc Merlet wild animal parc in lovely Le Coupeau, the hamlet in the hills behind the main Les Houches train station. The parc has stunning views across the valley and you can see Chamoix, Mouflons, Cerf, Marmots and much more. Opens once the snow melts.
Websites for Les Houches and Servoz areas
Servoz tourist information – find out more about the village at the gateway to the Chamonix Valley.
Les Houches official website – a complete online guide to what’s on and amenities in Les Houches.
Chamonix town and Valley guide – an up to date guide to visiting Chamonix in English.
Chamonix what’s on – news, what to do and where to be – all the goings on in the Chamonix Valley.
