Resort Guide to Chamonix & The Chamonix Valley, France

The truly magnificent Chamonix valley sits at the foot of Europe's highest mountain; Mont Blanc (4808m) and encompasses the villages of Les Houches, Chamonix, Les Praz, Argentière & Le Tour. The valley runs northeast to southwest, and is watered by the Arve which rises in Le Tour. The traditional French town of Chamonix is a bustling centre with streets full of bars, shops and restaurants and is truly an all year round resort, with skiing and boarding being only one part of all the activities that take place here. The Italian resort of Courmayeur is half an hour away through the Mt Blanc tunnel.

 

Skiing & Boarding

The world famous Chamonix valley is split into 5 main ski areas, none of them linked together (other than by the resort bus that travels up and down the valley). Each area has it's own pros and cons but combined they provide some of the greatest and most challenging terrain for skiing and snowboarding in the world. Les Houches; Le Brévent & Le Flégère; Les Grand Montets; Le Tour or Aguille du Midi offer lots of choice for all levels.

 

In Chamonix, most skiers choose the challenges of Le Brévent at 2526m. The cable car rises from the town to Plan Praz, where the skiing really begins. The second section of the cable car takes experts and confident intermediates to the top of Le Brevent, and a chair lift carries the less advanced intermediates to the Les Vioz area.

 

The most talked-about adventure in the resort of Chamonix is the 13-mile-long glacier run from the Aiguille du Midi (3841m) back into Chamonix. The scenery of the Vallee Blanche and Mer de Glace is magnificent.

 

Beginners

Though experts rave about the resort of Chamonix, many people learn to ski here every year. But realise that this is not a walk-to-your-lesson resort. Beginners should stick to Le Tour and Les Houches, although Le Brevent and La Flegere offer some gentle slopes amongst the hardcore terrain if you’re going out in a group of mixed ability, and there are some nice kickers and hits can be had en route. One of the most attractive features of this ski area is that you can try your off piste skills whilst being in very close proximity to pisted areas.

 

Le Tour has its own ski area and is much quieter than the rest of the valley, and you can drop down into Switzerland form here. This area is perfect for beginners and intermediates and families.

 

Intermediates

Intermediates may prefer the midstation slopes at Plan Praz, especially the chair lifts that reach 2000m. Work your way to the right and take the chair up to the Col Cornu’s 2280m level for a good intermediate run and off-trail skiing.

 

The run from L’Index to Les Praz base will take half an hour and is great challenge. However, in high season you can wait as long as 45 minutes at the bottom to get back on the cable car. You’ll want to stay on the upper mountain unless you’re moving to another slope or making the last run of the day.

 

Les Grand Montets being above 2000m offers snow sure runs for confidents skiers and boarders. The runs around the Marmottons chairs and the Plan Joran Restaurant are the best place to start. For the more adventurous the Bochard bubble lift opens up a whole new world of skiing either off the front or down to Le Lavancher. The Combes red run from the top of the La Herse chair is also an excellent red.

 

Advanced

Le Brevent & Le Flegere offer varied and challenging skiing on the sunnier side of the resort. Try the black run from the back of Le Brevent and if after the first section you’re not confident, you can cut to the left and take an advanced intermediate trail.

 

You may also want to try the Aguille de Midi where you can reach the 22km vallee blanche, or take a further cable car across the glacier into Italy. Al Les Grands Montets in Argentière glacier la Pendant and Lognan regions will inspire creativity and push even the most radical thrill seekers to new levels.

 

Snowboarders

Les Grand Montets once again offers snow surety until May. One 3 man chair carriers to the Bossons glacier where you can ride some awesome tree lined reds and blues and drop into Les Bossons snowboard park which is a privately owned park and offers night riding from Wednesday to Friday. It comes at a small fee of £7 per day, and there is a pub at the bottom famous for its vin chaud.

 

Off Piste

A note of caution is of course required with all off piste; remember to check the weather and avalanche risk, and take the best equipment you can afford. It may well be worth hiring a guide to cover the off piste in Chamonix as it is such a huge place. There is of course the 13 mile Vallee Blanche.

 

Chamonix Town

The town itself is fascinating, steeped in history and feels alive with the passion of the people who come here to challenge themselves against the mountains.

 

The town is a centre for climbers, parapenters and mountaineers from around the world who come here throughout both the summer and winter seasons.

 

The Other Villages

The second largest village to Chamonix in the valley is Argentière. With it's own centre Argentière is a good base camp for skiing and boarding in the Grands Montets ski area and provides and active, if not slightly quieter Après ski and bar scene. Le Tour at the head of the valley again has it's own ski area and is mush quieter that Chamonix and Argentière.

 

Les Houches is at the opposite end of the valley from Le Tour and boasts a quiet town centre with good skiing in it's own ski area.

 

All the villages in the Chamonix valley are linked by a free (with your lift pass) bus service that provides a regular, though over crowded at peak times, way of getting from each of the ski areas.

High Altitude Skiing

Good Night life

Lots of Activities

Good Snow Record

 

Après Ski   There is a lively and extensive Après ski scene in Chamonix town.   The bars start to fill as soon as the slopes close, then quieten down during dinner and get going again early evening. Recommended are Jekyll and Hyde, Le Pub, Escape and for those wanting a late night, Blue Night stays open until 5am. Argentière though quieter than Chamonix still provides a good choice for Après ski.   Recommended are The Office and the Ice Rock Cafe.	Activities   There are more activities in the Chamonix valley than you could hope to do in a weeks (or years!) holiday.   Some of the most popular include; Ice skating, ice climbing, horse-drawn carriage rides and horse riding, walking on the extensive marked walking trails, snow shoeing and mountain biking, heli-skiing, paragliding and rock climbing. There are 75km of cross country skiing. Try the 18 hole golf course in Le Praz.   There is a well equipped sports centre in Chamonix with indoor tennis and squash courts, indoor heated pool with waterslides, a fitness centre, sun beds, a sauna and Turkish bath.   The town also houses a 3 screen cinema showing some English films and a bowling alley.   The Montenvers Railway or Chemin de fer du Montenvers is a cog railway from Chamonix to Montenvers, above the Mer de Glace.	Eating Out   There are over 100 restaurants in Chamonix offering everything from pizza and burgers 'n' chips to the classy "haute cuisine" of Le Hameau Albert 1er. Atmosphere is a jazz and blues orientated riverside café. There is also a wonderful tea room serving all kinds of teas and cakes.   Whatever your taste and budget you there is no doubt you will find something to satisfy your appetite.
Ski/Board Tuition   Adult 5 days x 2hrs: approx. €130   Child 5 days x 2 hrs: approx. €100   The E.S.F. have a strong presence in the valley with many English speaking instructors.   Highly recommended by British holiday makers is Ski Ecole International (33 (0) 450 908 441) and Evolution 2.   Summits are also highly recommended as a specialist boarding school.	Ski/Board Hire   There are almost an unlimited number of shops offering ski and board hire throughout the valley all at competitive prices.   We recommend asking your holiday rep/host for any recommendations and special offers and just have a browse when you get there to find the best deals.	Childcare   You can Download this list of Babysitters from the Tourist Office. For older children there are various clubs: La Maison pour Tous kindergarten on Place du Mont Blanc (450 53 12 24), is a weekly programme established and adapted to children's ages (usually 3yrs to 9yrs). Different themes are developed each week and include: arts, sciences, sports and nature activities.   The Chamonix Ski School (450 53 22 57) takes children 3–12 years into their Kid's Club.   The Panda Club (ages 3 to 12) (450 54 08 88 for the Bureau/Office) has kindergarten with ski instruction in both downtown Chamonix (450 55 86 12) and in Argentiere at the cable car station (450 54 04 76).   The MJC, Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture, (450 531 224) also has activities for children aged 3 to 12.   You may also want to try Baby Cham.com.