Chamonix Valley - The Vallée Blanche

One of the most beautiful off-piste trails in Savoie Mont Blanc and renowned throughout the world. Starting from the 3,842m-high Aiguille du Midi, the Vallée Blanche offers 22km of descent for a vertical drop of 2,700m. Needless to say, the views of Mont Blanc and its neighbouring summits are simply breathtaking. The Requin hut is an ideal spot to take a break and to soak up the atmosphere of the Envers des Aiguilles. When snow conditions allow, it is possible to ski all the way down to Chamonix; if not, the Montenvers railway will whisk you back to town.

A nice idea: Hire a guide to take you to the Cosmiques hut as the sun is setting. After a night in the hut, an early start will allow you to get a head start for your descent of the Vallée Blanche (Chamonix Guides Office 04 50 53 00 88).

Tourist office to contact: http://www.chamonix.com/

Paradiski - Les Arcs - The Grand Col 

This descent through the heart of the Vanoise National Park provides a perfect introduction to off-piste skiing in high mountain terrain.

Tourist office to contact: http://www.lesarcs.com/

The Three Valleys - Les Menuires

The Lou off-piste trail

The views from the top are extremely impressive! Although not too difficult, the Lou trail takes you through some fabulous mountain scenery, with coombs, plateaux and glacial lakes... ...and the snow is generally superb.

Tourist office to contact: http://www.lesmenuires.com/

The Roc d'Enfer - Saint-Jean d'Aulps - Bellevaux

A truly remote run along ridges and through wooded valleys. The backwoods atmosphere is enhanced by a number of traditional chalets: little havens of warmth in which to enjoy a drink or a snack.

Tourist office to contact: http://www.saintjeandaulps.com/

Espace Killy - Val d'Isère - The Col Pers

From the top of the Pissaillas Glacier go over the Col Pers and into an off-piste paradise of wide valleys, open slopes and narrow gorges only a stone's throw from the resort.

Tourist office to contact: http://www.valdisere.com/

The Grand Massif - Flaine - The Combe de Gers

A long, magnificent and utterly classic off-piste descent that starts at the top of the lifts at Flaine and goes down the Combe de Gers to the little village of Salvagny at the foot of the Fer-à-Cheval Cirque - limitless off-piste skiing in one of the most beautiful corners of Haute-Savoie.

Tourist office to contact: http://www.flaine.com/

The Portes du Soleil/Avoriaz - Col du Formet

An exceptional descent through a wild and completely unspoilt valley that ends at the superb Lac des Mines d'Or.

Tourist office to contact: http://www.avoriaz.com/