The Chamonix Valley is a truly unique ski area in the Alps. Unlike many other resorts, Chamonix was not a purpose-built resort, constructed purely for ski holidays. This charming and traditional town was and remains a fully functioning town and is open year-round. It is famous for being the birthplace for mountaineering and alpine activities in Europe!
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 slops 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!
Apres Ski
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.
