Set beneath the soaring peaks of the Mont Blanc massif, Chamonix is a legendary destination where alpine heritage meets a uniquely adventurous spirit. The resort's famous mountaineering legacy and exceptional freeride terrain make luxury ski holidays in Chamonix truly incomparable, attracting skiers from around the globe. Yet Chamonix is far from a purely extreme enclave: With dedicated nursery slopes to challenging terrain, Chamonix offers a wide variety of slopes to suit all levels. Fine dining, shopping, bustling cafés and a vibrant year round energy give the town an unmistakably international flair. Our portfolio of luxury chalets in Chamonix offer an indulgent retreat from the action, blending traditional materials with modern sophistication, spa facilities and breathtaking views of iconic glaciers. With dramatic landscapes, exhilarating skiing and a lively cultural scene, Chamonix is the ultimate destination for travellers seeking both alpine thrills and refined mountain living.
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Set beneath the soaring peaks of the Mont Blanc massif, Chamonix is a legendary destination where alpine heritage meets a uniquely adventurous spirit. The resort's famous mountaineering legacy and exceptional freeride terrain make luxury ski holidays in Chamonix truly incomparable, attracting skiers from around the globe. Yet Chamonix is far from a purely extreme enclave: With dedicated nursery slopes to challenging terrain, Chamonix offers a wide variety of slopes to suit all levels. Fine dining, shopping, bustling cafés and a vibrant year round energy give the town an unmistakably international flair. Our portfolio of luxury chalets in Chamonix offer an indulgent retreat from the action, blending traditional materials with modern sophistication, spa facilities and breathtaking views of iconic glaciers. With dramatic landscapes, exhilarating skiing and a lively cultural scene, Chamonix is the ultimate destination for travellers seeking both alpine thrills and refined mountain living.
The Chamonix Valley ski area benefits from having skiing on both the northern and southern sides of the valley as well as an area of skiing at each end of the valley. The valley is about 16km long and 2 km wide. The Mont Blanc ski pass encompasses the neighbouring resorts of Argentiere and Les Houches, as well as the world famous ski resorts of Megeve and Verbier in Switzerland.
Skiing in Chamonix is a great experience for novice and accomplished skiers alike. There is access to 5 different ski areas as well as options to ski the infamous back country route, the Vallee Blanche, and the amazing Italian resort of Courmayeur. Advanced skiing in Chamonix is world-renowned due to its easy accessibility to back-country terrain. However, there is a fantastic choice of pistes in Chamonix for intermediate and beginner skiers. Les Houches and Courmayeur have the best variety of terrain catering for skiers of all ability levels. For advanced skiers, Les Grands Montets above Argentiere and the Vallee Blanche areas are a must. Les Grands Montets is known as being one of the best off piste ski areas in the Alps. People travel from all over the globe to have the opportunity to ski this fantastic resort. Les Grands Montets offers more than 2,000m of vertical skiing terrain spread over three huge bowls, including the very picturesque Argentiere glacier.
The Vallee Blanche area, has the world's largest ski lift-served vertical descent at 2,807 metres. The back-country area, covering 22km features high mountain and glacial skiing. It is recommended to have a mountain guide when skiing in the Vallee Blanche.
For Intermediate and beginner skiers, Le Brevent and La Flegere are a great place to start. They offer great well-groomed pistes, southern exposure and some of the most incredible panoramic views of the Alps. At each end of the valley you have Les Houches and Le Tour. Les Houches is home to the Kandahar World Cup Skiing Event and is a very traditional Savoyarde ski resort with lots of charming mountain restaurants. Les Houches sits in the tree level making it perfect for bad weather days, whilst there is also a large plateau area at the top which provides gentle slopes for beginner skiers. Le Tour is also a beginner friendly ski area with large open pistes as well as tree lined runs. There is also intermediate skiing and some great off piste areas, recommended for the very advanced skier.
The final area is the Courmayeur ski area, just the other side of the Mont Blanc tunnel in Italy. The area is much slower paced than in Chamonix. You will find most deck chairs in the mountain restaurants will be occupied by people enjoying a bit of the Aosta valley sunshine. Courmayeur offers a good variety of pistes and can cater to all skiing abilities. All of this is included in your Mont Blanc Unlimited lift pass, offering you vast and varied areas to explore!
Chamonix is a popular resort for its shops, bars, restaurants and non-skiing activities. A busy town of 9,000 residents, it nevertheless retains a traditional charm, particularly in the pedestrianised town centre, with it's Victorian architecture and pretty river. The après ski in Chamonix starts around 5pm with many choosing to head to the Chambre Neuf bar. However, with a range of après-ski along the rue du Docteur Paccard you are not short for bars in Chamonix. From the laid back Elevation 1904, perfect for cocktails and an extensive beer selection, to the infamous Folie Douce, located by Brevant, you'll find somewhere that takes your fancy, whatever your mood.
If you are not staying in a luxury catered ski chalet in Chamonix then you can always head out to one of the many restaurants in Chamonix. The best restaurants in the town include L'Eden for traditional French cuisine, the superb Restaurant Atmosphère next to the post office, and L'Impossible, just to name a few.
| Region | Mont Blanc Region |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Altitude | 1035m |
| Highest Peak | Aiguille du Midi 3,842m |
| Highest Lift | 3842m |
| Runs |
Green: 8 Blue: 28 Red: 20 Black: 10 |
| Lifts | 49 |
| KM Piste | 160km |
| Longest Run | 19km |
| Cross Country | 40km |
| Snow Parks | 2 |
| Airport Transfer Time | Geneva 1 hour |
| Distance Calais | 900km |
For a more sustainable ski holiday, it's possible to travel to Chamonix by train. The local Mont Blanc Express service connects to the SNCF at the nearby ski resort of St Gervais les Bains. From here there are direct trains to Geneva and then beyond to the Gare de Lyon in Paris.
Chamonix is also one of the most accessible resorts for a self-drive ski vacation. Nestled in the valley visitors won't need to navigate mountain roads into the hills. In fact you'll likely find that much of the route is dual carriageway - perhaps less picturesque but it certainly makes it easier to drive to Chamonix! It's worth booking a ski chalet with parking however since it can be limited in town.
| Airport | Distance (km) | Approx. Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva (GVA) | 88 | 1h 15m |
| Chambéry (CMF) | 147 | 1h 30m |
| Lyon (LYS) | 220 | 2h 45m |
| Station | Distance (km) | Approx. Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chamonix | 0 | 5m |
| St Gervais les Bains | 20 | 25m |
| Geneva | 84 | 1h 30m |
| City | Distance (km) | Approx. Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva | 84 | 1h 30m |
| Annecy | 102 | 1h 30m |
| Lyon | 225 | 2h 45m |
When is the best time to visit Chamonix?
Chamonix is truly a year round destination, with world-class skiing and snowboarding throughout the winter, and hiking, mountaineering and rock-climbing in the summer months. For winter visitors, the season typically runs from mid-December through until April. The most reliable snow conditions are generally in late January, February, and early March. Christmas and New Year ski holidays are very popular in Chamonix however and are often amongst the busiest weeks for visitors. For quieter pistes January is a good time to travel to avoid the crowds. Families tend to ski in Chamonix over the festive holidays, February half term and the Easter break.
Is Chamonix better for advanced skiers?
Chamonix is renowned as an excellent ski resort for advanced skiers. Much of the terrain is steep and technical, a true challenge for experienced skiers to tackle. There are also a wide array of off-piste skiing opportunities in Chamonix. The Vallee Blanche is legendary and should be on every backcountry skiers bucket list. almost uniquely in the Alps, there are runs in Chamonix that allow for 2,000m of vertical descent. Key pistes include the Kandahar black run down the valley in Les Houches; used on the World cup circuit it's also a famously beautiful descent. The Charles Bozen run in the Brévent sector is also unmissable for advanced skiers in Chamonix.
Is Chamonix a good resort for non-skiers?
Chamonix is one of the best resorts for non-skiers in Europe! There is so much to do even if you're not a skier or boarder, both in town and up in the mountains. The town itself is picture perfect and offers plenty to see and enjoy, from shopping to cafes and restaurants. Unmissable experiences in Chamonix include the famous Montenvers train to the Mer du Glace, and 'Step into the Void' experience at the top of the Aiguille du Midi. For a relaxing day of self-care, try the QC Terme spa, with spell-binding views of Mont Blanc, healing waters and a full menu of treatments.
Is Chamonix a good resort for a family ski holiday?
There is much to recommend Chamonix for a family ski holiday. While the skiing is well suited to advanced skiers, there are plenty of opportunities for children to learn to ski and gain confidence. An established and large resort, there are multiple highly-regarded ski school options so children can learn from the best. The pistes at Les Houches are considered to be the most friendly for beginners and have the advantage of being largely tree-lined; ideal for protection for the elements. For complete beginners, there are two nursery slopes in Chamonix itself, as well as a couple of green and blue pistes to progress onto. Beyond the skiing, Chamonix is a beautiful resort with a family friendly atmosphere. An array of non-ski activities allow for a fully rounded family vacation in the mountains, and there a numerous ski chalets in Chamonix well-suited to families.
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