Les Houches sits at the western entrance to the Chamonix valley, about 6 kilometres from the town centre and 200 metres lower in altitude. It is a proper village rather than a resort, with its own church, bakery, and year-round community — and it tends to attract visitors who prefer a quieter, less commercial base than central Chamonix.
The ski area above Les Houches is smaller than the other Chamonix sectors but has its own character: broad forested runs with reliable snow cover (the trees protect the snow), good for beginners and families, and also the location of the famous Kandahar World Cup downhill course. In summer, Les Houches is the starting point for the Tour du Mont Blanc trail and has some of the best walking at mid-altitude in the valley, through meadows and mixed forest rather than the high rocky terrain above Chamonix town.