IN the nick of time, the snow finally arrived in the Alps this week, enabling skiers and tour operators to breathe a sigh of relief. As winter descended upon the French Alps at last, EMMA WALL took a trip to the adrenaline-junkies' favourite alpine destination… FOR 24-hour piste and party people, the chic French resort of Chamonix provides the perfect playground.

The pretty mountain resort, which has attracted the likes of Kylie Minogue, Orlando Bloom and Will Young, is packed with nail-biting runs as well as buzzing nightlife.

After a two-hour flight to Geneva, followed by a 60-minute transfer, the excitement builds as you approach the resort to face the towering Mont Blanc, the Alps' highest mountain, and its perennial ice.

Its glacial wall hangs menacingly close to the road, making the heart thump with anticipation.

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You find yourself craning your neck to see the sky - and feeling very insignificant at the same time. One thing's for sure, this place is not for the fainthearted.

The hardcore nature of the resort is emphasised by the shops in town.

Every other store is packed to the rafters with ropes and carabiners to help adrenaline freaks reach that all-important virgin snow high on the mountainside for the ultimate offpiste thrill.

Exciting to even the most hardened pros, the famous Vall©e Blanche offers masses of off-piste routes.

Instructors will pick the right way down to suit a group's skill level but all promise a unique, unforgettable experience.

You need your wits about you before you even start.

The walk to the start of the run from the top of the Aguille Du Midi cable car - once the highest in the world at 3,842 metres - is on an exposed, narrow path. Not recomended for anyone with a fear of heights.

But if you want to live life on the edge, the experience of zooming down the unspoilt slope is certainly a oncein-a-lifetime thrill.

Explore Chamonix also has a fast and furious selection of marked slopes to explore.

But even experienced skiers may want to hire a guide to steer them down from this great height.

If you'd rather play it safer there are still plenty of slopes to get your blood pumping further down the mountain.

Well-groomed runs cascade down from the two other major lifts up from the town.

A Chamonix Le Pass lets you use every lift you need to explore them all, and it's cheaper than the full Mont Blanc Unlimited lift pass.

But daredevils be warned - the cheaper pass will not get you up the Aiguille du Midi.

And if you do decide to go the whole hog, the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass also opens up a cluster of resorts a short bus ride way.

Both options let you use the ski bus that links up Chamonix's two main ski areas.

From the town itself, two linked lifts will take you to the awe-inspiring view from the 2,525-metre Brevent peak.

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A restaurant at the top is worth a visit to check out the panoramic view of all 4,810 metres of Mont Blanc from its glass-fronted terrace.

The snowbunnies of Chamonix like to hit the bars as soon as the day's skiing is over, making it a lively party resort.

For a small-ish town, it has plenty of late night options. No Escape is a posh venue with DJs and designer drinks, plus there is Le Choucas and Le Garage.

The Cantina Club is a Chamonix favourite, featuring live bands and DJs.

Or check out the live acts and club nights at Le Jekyll, Le Vert and Monkey Bar. Plus there is live music at Chambre Neuf, which has a great happy hour.

The Canadian-owned Micro Brasserie De Chamonix (MBC) is another lively apres-ski stop.

For cocktails try The Clubhouse. Plus there is the Chamonix Casino and Cinema Vox.

Les Praz is a peaceful spot to stay to recharge your batteries from skiing and the nightlife in town.

English-run Hotel Les Lanchers offers a home from home just a twominute stroll from the cable car.

The comfortable rooms will help you wind down from the day's adrenaline high and they are in tip-top condition after a recent £1.4million refit.

If you're wiped out from the slopes, going half-board means you can get a slap-up three-course meal every night without having to venture out.

There's even a piece of cake and a much-needed drink waiting in the relaxed bar area when you get back to keep you going until dinner time.

But be careful not to eat too much - you may well find yourself facing a mountain of cheese later!

Tasty fondue and tartiflette dishes area highlight of the local-foodinspired Rendezvous Restaurant.

Although you might eat your own body weight in fromage, there's nothing cheesy about this chic resort.

FACT BOX

EASYJET flies to Geneva from various UK airports.

Prices start from £27.99 one-way and include taxes. Visit easyJet.com to book.

Prices for a three-night break at the three-star Hotel Les Lanchers start from £166 per person (based on two sharing) in mid-December 2011.

The price includes breakfast, apres-ski tea and a three-course dinner.

Visit hotel-lanchers-chamonix.com.

For ski hire see prazsports.com.

For airport transfers see mychamonixshuttles.com.