- 1The day before · rental shop For a morning lesson, visit the rental shop in advance or the day before, between 17:15 and 18:00, so the gear is ready at the start.
- 210 minutes early · Les Planards Meet at the Private Lessons sign in front of the ticket counter; the instructor wears red and may contact you by WhatsApp or SMS.
- 309:00 or 13:30 · on skis Ready to ski at the start: the instructor teaches the right movements, the technique and the confidence to glide.
- 4Three hours at your pace A private session for you alone, with a friend or as a couple, on the Les Planards area at the entrance of Chamonix.
- 5After the lesson On site: a bar and restaurant, ski lockers, an alpine coaster, a paid car park and shuttle bus stop n°14.
Les Planards, where the lesson happens
Les Planards is a small ski area at the entrance of Chamonix, at 350 Chemin du Pied du Grepon, about 10 minutes on foot from the town centre. The listing lists a bar and restaurant, a rental shop, ski lockers, an alpine coaster, a snooc, a paid car park and shuttle bus stop n°14 on site. Getting there is not included, so walk, drive or take the bus.
Before the first ski lesson
One parent writes that the school contacted them straight after booking to ask for the children’s measurements, so the clothing and accessories fitted on the day. For a morning lesson the listing asks you to visit the rental shop in advance or the day before, between 17:15 and 18:00. On the day, be at the Private Lessons sign in front of the ticket counter 10 minutes early; the instructor wears red and may contact you by WhatsApp or SMS.
Morning or afternoon lesson
Both starts give the same three hours. The difference is the gear: the rental-shop visit between 17:15 and 18:00 the day before applies only to morning bookings, so a 09:00 lesson means an errand the evening before, while a 13:30 lesson leaves the morning free. Either way the listing asks you to arrive ready to ski, dressed in the clothing provided.
You also need personal liability insurance valid for skiing without limits of place or altitude, including assistance, search, rescue and repatriation. The listing suggests Egloo protect, sold with the ski pass.
What reviewers mention
The five-star reviews describe patient, kind instructors who go at a first-timer’s pace; the parent above says children who had never skied finished the lesson confident and happy. The low scores have concrete causes.
In February 2026 one party booked for 13:30, waited more than an hour and a half with no instructor because of a booking mix-up, and lost the ski passes and insurance they had bought. In January 2026 another reviewer called the price expensive and felt the instructor could not give them enough of a chance.
The listing is written for complete beginners over 12: the instructor teaches the right movements, the technique and the confidence to glide, at your pace. It is not for children under 12, pregnant women or people with back problems, and smoking, alcohol and drugs are not allowed. If you can already ski, the Geneva ski day at €233 includes the pass and the rental gear but no instructor.