There are two things that are really special about Chamonix: the jaw-dropping scenery and the off-piste skiing. Why stay on the tame groomed runs with the crowd the whole time when you can spice things up with a real mountain adventure?

Use the lifts to get your elevation, then work out of ski area boundaries for fresh snow, long descents, beautiful views, challenging skiing/boarding and solitude.

Or better yet, use skins to climb up where there are no lifts. Or hire a helicopter or a ski-plane to drop you on a nearby peak.

Avalanches, crevasses and other high-mountain hazards mean you definitely want a guide to help you with this. Try www.markseaton.com/ for a great British guide who lives in Cham and knows the area ski options well.

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I have skied in Chamonix for over 10 years and watched a huge rise in visits from British lemmings. They are called lemmings because 95% of Brit skiers and boarders cannot handle the off-piste terrain. If you're not up to handling the world's most dangerous lift-served terrain then go somewhere easier.

Any ski brochure

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One of the world's most famous off piste runs needs no introduction. Take the hair-raising Aiguille du Midi liftright to the top (3,842m), then follow the itinerary all the way back downto the Montenvers train, which takes you back down to town (1,042m). There's plenty of time to take in the stunning scenery on this 22km trip, but it's glacier all the way so go with someone experienced or hire a guide.

L'Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix

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