Chamonix

Resort description:In the shadows of the awesome highest mountain in Europe, Mont Blanc, with its summit at 16,000ft,lies one of the best known ski and climbing resorts.....Chamonix.

The skiing here is impressive, offering great skiing for all levels as well as showing off some of the most challenging terrain in the Alps.And if thats not enough to tempt you,Verbier and Courmayeur are both on the Mont Blanc ski pass, so you now have 3 world class ski resorts on the one pass, rivalling the 3 Valleys.Dont also forget Argentiere which is also on the pass, some 8km away,which offers the slopes of Grand Montets as well as some exciting runs on the glacier. Intermediates and better novices would enjoy the tamer runs in Les Chosalets.Then when you have finished your adventures on the slopes, you have over 200 shops, numerous bars and restaurants, four nightclubs and an international casino, as well as activities such as skating, curling, indoor tennis, squash, swimming, bowling, fitness centre, saunas, snowshoeing, ice climbing, paragliding and 17km of Alpine walks.

 

The Mont Blanc lift pass covers eight ski areas within the Chamonix valley, from the gentle tree-lined slopes of Les Houches to the glaciers of Grand Montets above Argentière, and boasts over 700km of terrain. The price to pay for this wealth of choice is the fragmented layout. Nearest to town is Le Brévent, its mainly reds and blues accessed by six-person gondola. La Flégère is also mainly intermediate and there’s a lift now linking it with Brévent. The views across the valley to Mont Blanc are jaw-dropping and not to be missed. Le Tour and Les Houches are at opposite ends of the valley and excellent for beginners and intermediates, while Grands Montets in the middle is where the experts head. Snow cover on the north-facing higher slopes is good while lower, south-facing areas such as Brévent and Flégère suffer in warmer weather.

Chamonix is not perhaps the best place to choose if you are a beginner, as in a mixed group you will be learning in a completely separate area.There is more here for non-skiers than in most French resorts, especially if you have a car. The beautiful town of Annecy close by, but in town there is great shopping. There is also a museum, cinema, bowling ally and sports centre, and for an eyeful of stunning Alpine scenery, a ride in the cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi, is a must. You can always try your hand at ice-climbing or mountaineering as the area is THE place in Europe to learn these extreme sports.

After skiing the Chambre Neuf in Hotel Gustavia heaves with après-skiers until 8pm and Driver and Choucas usually packed until the sun goes down. Wild Wallabies is rough and ready and has live music most nights. They do a nice Sunday lunch too. The Bumble Bee is a tiny bar with wicked food – a cool place to go for a drink, if you can squeeze in. The British-run Pub is where the resort reps relax and is a good meeting place, whilst The Jekyll is an Irish bar and restaurant with great atmosphere and the most amazing chips. Late-nighters can head to Choucas or the legendary Dicks Tea Bar. Up in Argentière, the Office Bar is the place to go for après-ski or all-night revelry

Resort Information

Season 	            Dec-May
Nearest Airport     Geneva (60mins)
Ski Area 	    500km
Ski Lifts 	    41
Ski Runs 	    70
Longest Run 	    26km
Resort Height 	    1035

Snowball Ratings

Beginners 	    2 / 5
Intermediates 	    4 / 5
Experts 	    4.5 / 5
Families 	    3.5 / 5
Nightlife 	    4 / 5
Affordability 	    3.5 / 5
Non Ski Activities  4 / 5