Chamonix
Why Chamonix Ski Resort?
- Excellent for challenging skiing
- High-altitude skiing with a very good snow record
- Lively après ski
- Traditional village ambience in the town
Chamonix Mont Blanc Resort Information
The Chamonix Valley stretches from Servoz to Barberine on the Swiss border. The main towns within the Chamonix Valley include Les Houches, Les Bossons, Chamonix, Les Praz, Argentiere, Montroc / Le Tour and Vallorcine. Les Houches, Argentiere and Vallorcine can be booked with our sister company Peak Retreats.
Chamonix became the world capital of mountaineering and developed into a world-renowned ski resort after. It is actually formed of 5 ski resorts and one large famous off-piste area (Vallee Blanche) with lift access via the Aiguille du Midi.
The main ski lift areas (working up the Valley) are:
- In Les Houches - Les Houches,
- In Chamonix - Le Brevent and the Aiguille du Midi (off-piste only, the Vallee Blanche)
- In Les Praz - La Flégère
- In Argentiere - Les Grands Montets
- In Le Tour/Vallorcine - Le Tour/Balme
Flégère is interconnected with Brévent. There are other smaller beginner lift areas including Les Planards in Chamonix.
Chamonix and its valley are dominated by the Mont Blanc chain to the south and the Aiguilles Rouges (red peaks) to the north. Even if you’ve never been to Chamonix you’re bound to have heard of it - and seen photographs of the magnificent mountain it’s irrevocably linked with: the mighty massif of Mont Blanc – the highest peak in the Alps!
For strong skiers, Chamonix Mont Blanc is the undisputed off-piste capital of Europe with some quite extraordinary experiences awaiting you on the Mont Blanc Massif.
Chamonix is in the north-westerly part of the Alps, just 15 km from the Swiss border via the Col des Montets and 15km from Italy via the Mont-Blanc tunnel. The town centre is situated at an altitude of 1035m. The picturesque year-round town of Chamonix enjoys a wide range of attractions, shops, bars and restaurants as well as a large sports complex offering a variety of sporting activities, a swimming pool, and an ice rink.
CHAMONIX SKI AREA
The Chamonix Valley itself has many separate ski areas – the exhilarating Grand Montets (Argentière), the Domaine de Balme (Vallorcine), Les Houches and then Le Brévent and La Flégère (Flegere is 3km from the centre) in Chamonix itself. Generally, the Chamonix Valley is a Mecca for experts and off-piste enthusiasts but there are some great areas for intermediates and beginners too.
Skiing in Chamonix is easy as all five areas are linked by an efficient bus service (free with your lift pass).
Even if you have no plans to ski the celebrated Vallée Blanche run, try to experience the famous Aiguille du Midi cable car ride up to 3842m in Chamonix, visit ice caves, and enjoy scenic mountain train rides.
On either side of Chamonix, you’ll find the base stations of the Aiguille du Midi – the starting point for the Vallée Blanche - and the gondola to Le Brévent. La Flégère is reached by cable car from the nearby village of Les Praz (3km from Chamonix). The other ski areas are widely spread across the valley. In Chamonix itself, Le Brévent and La Flégère are the two south-facing main ski areas. Down the road, Le Tour is an excellent all-around intermediate area with spectacular views down the valley: just right for a day’s family skiing.
The ‘Vallée Blanche’ descent should only be skied with a guide (bookable locally) and provides 22kms of unforgettable skiing in stunning scenery. The usual “classic” route is not that difficult but a guide will be alert to any crevasse dangers!
CHAMONIX SKIING
CHAMONIX BEGINNERS
The biggest secret in Chamonix's vast expanse of skiing is that it has great learner areas. There are a number of ski areas in Chamonix which provides easy slopes for quick progression to intermediate and more advanced terrain.
In the ski areas of Les Planards and Chamonix/Brevent there are beginner slopes for all ages. Les Planards is suitable for children/beginners/intermediates and only 5 mins from Chamonix with snack bar, restaurant and parking. 41 snow cannons guarantee conditions all winter long. Facilities include a conveyor belt and kindergarten drag lift (Chamonix ESF Ski School), two easy drag lifts servicing two green runs and a four-man chairlift up to 1249m which services a long blue and red run. Also discover the incredible non-skier ride: the Chamonix Alpine Coaster Luge - a real mountain coaster!
The Teleski de Savoy is an ideal learning area for children at foot of the Brevent with 2 ski lifts and travelator plus snack bar. It is also practically in the centre of Chamonix on the way up to the Brévent cable car.
There are two other ski areas for children, beginners and skiers who like an easy ride in Chamonix Valley:
- La Vormaine, Le Tour. 4 lifts, 2 green slopes, 1 blue slope, snack bar and parking.
- Les Chosalets, Argentiere. Situated near the Grands Montets Ski Resort with 2 drag lifts. Snack bar. Excellent for complete beginners.
CHAMONIX INTERMEDIATES
The Brévent-Flégère skiing area is excellent for intermediates. Le Brévent offers some steep skiing from the top of the area and is perhaps a little tougher than Flégère’s terrain. Down the backside towards Flégère, the runs are steep, as is the off-piste.
La Flégère is known to the locals as 'rider’s paradise', with lots of fun runs, mostly fairly easy and big open off-piste sections. The Lachenal piste is a red run that’s almost black, giving good intermediates a technical challenge with its physically demanding, consistently steep upper section. The Lachenal bowl offers exceptional off piste after fresh snowfall.
The Chavannes chairlift gives access to some easier blues runs and some gentler off-piste for those trying it out for the first time.
CHAMONIX EXPERTS
Advanced to expert skiers will love the incomparable slopes and challenging range of skiing. Chamonix is the undisputed off-piste capital of Europe with some quite extraordinary experiences awaiting you on the Mont Blanc Massif. (N.B. the services of a local guide are essential, bookable locally). There is also the Vallée Blanche for confident, energetic skiers. The Grands Montets pistes above Argentière give access to exhilarating glacier runs. The large lift pass also covers the sunny neighbouring resort of Courmayeur. To get the best out of the area you really need a local guide.
CHAMONIX SNOWBOARDING
Chamonix ski resort has long been known as the extreme free-riding capital of Europe. There are vast areas of accessible off-piste and natural half pipes, gullies galore, and plenty of varied terrain to suit any rider.
