At the top of the Chamonix valley sits the tiny village of Le Tour and the ski area of Le Domaine de Balme. With a beginners area (La Vormaine) on the Le Tour side as well as 11 blues, 8 reds and 1 black run, Le Domaine de Balme is great for a group of mixed ability with something for boarders of all abilities. A new cable car runs from the village of Vallorcine back up the backside of the area opening up a swathe of terrain and making it practical to board down through the treelined Fôret Verte piste or literally navigate off piste through trees to the valley floor. There is a sweet little cafe in the train station at Vallorcine whose vin chaud I heartily recommend.

We found Le Tour to be more laid back than its neighbouring Grands Montets where the skiers seemed to take themselves just a little too seriously. There are very easily accessible fields of unpisted snow between pistes which just invite snowboarders to venture off the beaten path, especially if it has been snowing overnight. The beers are cheaper here too ;)