Chamonix

Chamonix ski area

The Chamonix Valley itself has many separate ski areas (90% over 2000m altitude) – the exhilarating Grand Montets, 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 (2525m) face the Mont Blanc range with a sunny exposition, this ski area offers incredible panoramic views and a variety of slopes suitable for all types of skier and levels of expertise.

Down the road, Balme-Le Tour (2270m) is an excellent all-around intermediate area with spectacular views down the valley: just right for a day’s family skiing. Wide and gentle sunny slopes
offer exceptional views of the Mont-Blanc Massif and on the Vallorcine side, tree-lined descents with many variants appeal to all levels of skier. Since December 2022, the new Charamillon Gondola (departing from Le Tour) is able to transport 2,200 people per hour, compared to 1,004 with the old equipment.

Partially located on a glacier, Les Grands Montets (2765m) covers three mountainsides (the Argentière glacier, Lognan and the Pendant) and offers a vast range of on and off-piste skiing with tremendous vertical drop. It is a popular departure point for ski touring.

The famous Vallée Blanche descent should only be skied with a guide (bookable locally) and provides 22km of unforgettable skiing in stunning scenery. The usual “classic” route is not that difficult but a guide will be alert to any crevasse dangers!

Additional ski fact info, main ski info in resort facts box at top of page (24/25):

You can choose to use the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass which covers a huge area across Chamonix Valley, Les Houches, Megève-Evasion Mont-Blanc, Courmayeur & Verbier. The ski areas and sites are not lift-linked, except for Brévent - Flégère areas in Chamonix, so you need to take the valley shuttle buses or take a car if you have one. It also includes 3 excursion sites: Aiguille du Midi, Montenvers - Mer de Glace & Tramway du Mont-Blanc.

For information, here are the details for Chamonix' Brévent - Flégère area:

Brevent

Green slopes: 4
Blue slopes: 7
Red slopes: 4
Black slopes: 4

Flegere

Green slopes: 2
Blue slopes: 3
Red slopes: 7
Black slopes: 3

Chamonix skiing info

Beginners
There are a number of ski areas in Chamonix which provide easy slopes for quick progression to intermediate and more advanced terrain.

There are six different beginner ski areas in Chamonix, as well as a further six green pistes and 30 blues pistes for those who are looking to progress on the mountain.

Chamonix centre has two low-altitude beginner ski areas which are easily accessible on foot or by bus, with bus stops right outside each one.

• The 'Savoy' slope offers complete beginners a free magic carpet and two drag lifts (ski pass needed for drag lifts) and benefits from gentle, wide pistes to build confidence. There is a cafe here as well. For mixed group abilities, the Brevent gondola takes more confident skiers up the mountain where the home run from Brevent leads into the top of the Savoy beginners area (for easy meet-ups),
• The 'Planards' slope has several drag lifts and a chairlift (ski pass needed) and is bigger than Savoy with runs of different difficulties to progress on. The restaurant has a large terrace and non-skiers can join.

Chamonix also has two larger mountain areas - Brevent and Flegere, merged by a liaison cable car. Brevent benefits from 2 green and 8 blue pistes and Flegere has 2 green and 3 blue pistes.

• Brevent has a mini-funicular (Funi 2000) which is perfect for beginner skiers as it allows easy access to the green pistes from the main gondola. The Verte 2000 is the highest-altitude green run in Chamonix and is served by its own drag lift. From here you have various blue to progress on,
• Flegere has a chairlift taking you to a few longer gentle green runs from the top of the gondola. They also have impressive views from them! Again, like Brevent, there are various blues to progress on.

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.

Advanced, off-piste & ski touring
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. (note, the services of a local guide are essential, and bookable locally). There is also the famous Vallée Blanche for confident, energetic skiers. The Grands Montets pistes 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.

Over the past few years in the Chamonix Valley, ski touring has become more and more popular. In order to facilitate training and practice, there are now 4 marked routes of different lengths and difficulty. After the effort, the reward is a gentle ski down the slopes!

Four marked itineraries (not patrolled) for different levels of ski tourers include (sescent via the ski slopes):

• Les Houches - Prarion - elevation 841m,
• Argentiere - Lognan via La Trapette - elevation 730m (not recommended for beginners),
• Argentiere - Refuge de Lognan - elevation 800m,
• Le Tour - Charamillon - elevation 358m.

Snowboarders
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.

Chamonix mountain fun zones

You can travel to nearby Le Tour (Vallorcine) to find a great snow park. The 'Summit Park' at Le Tour is billed as one of the biggest snowparks in Europe and is much bigger than the one at Grands Montets (Argentiere). Situated at 2,000m, it benefits from great snow conditions and has routes graded from blue through to black with the most advanced routes meeting FIS competition standard.

Chamonix nordic skiing

There are also 50km of marked trails for cross-country skiing, both classic and skating pistes – in the resorts of Les Houches, Chamonix, Argentière and Vallorcine. A detailed map of cross-country
skiing trails can be found at tourist offices or cross-country ski centres throughout the valley.

During the French holidays, the green track of the Bois du Bouchet, Chamonix, is free for evening sessions from 18:30 to 20:30.

Chamonix ski hire & lift passes (pre-bookable)

Pre-book your 6 day+ Chamonix ski hire and/or Chamonix lift pass with Peak Retreats.

To download the ski extras form see 'Helpful links' further down the page. Please note that prices are for indication only. They will fluctuate based on Euro/£ exchange rate. Please call us for the latest prices.

Other lift passes are available to buy in the resort such as half or full-day passes (for those who only wish to ski the odd day) or one-use lift passes for pedestrians. Some resorts also offer specific beginner area passes and cross country passes.

Chamonix group ski school (pre-bookable)

Ski school for children is available to book from 3 years to 12 years in Chamonix (including some childcare in the nursery alongside ski lessons with meals) with Peak Retreats. Children can learn to snowboard from 7 years+. We can also book private lessons.

To download the ski extras form see 'Helpful links' further down the page. Please note that prices are for indication only. They will fluctuate based on Euro/£ exchange rate. Please call us for the latest prices.

Chamonix private lessons (not pre-bookable)

Private lessons with an instructor can only be arranged directly with the ESF ski school. Peak Retreats cannot pre-book these. Private lessons are usually around €40-60 per hour (depending on resort, time of day and period) and becomes cheaper the more hours you take and the more people you have to share the hours with i.e with family members or friends. Some resorts insist on a minimum of 3 sessions to be booked at once.

Contact ESF Chamonix for private lessons - 0033 4 50 53 22 57

Chamonix childcare (not pre-bookable)

Chamonix resort does not have a creche for childcare. The only option is by taking ski lessons with the ESF ski kindergarten. This is pre-bookable with Peak Retreats. There is no option for childcare without skiing at any age.

Babysitters (not pre-bookable)

A list of babysitters is available from the tourist office.

Top snow activities to experience in Chamonix

Please note Peak Retreats do not book any activities and most activities are payable therefore the below is just for information. More detailed information and how to book can be found on the tourist office website

Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix Mont Blanc
From winter mountaineering to snowshoeing at medium altitudes, including paragliding and the Vallée Blanche (an absolute “must” for experts), over 200 guides welcome you every day in the “Maison de la Montagne”.

Free nature outings
Organized as part of the activities within the natural reserves of the Aiguilles Rouges Massif and Natura 2000, free nature outings are offered during winter on Wednesday afternoons, focusing on the sensitivity of wildlife during the winter season. Alex, a nature guide employed by the Community of Communes of the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Valley, leads a family-oriented audience (children aged 10 and above) in understanding signs of wildlife presence. He provides valuable insights into how animals adapt to winter conditions.

Wildlife snowshoe outing
With the Chamonix Mountain Guides Company, on Thursday afternoons head to the Col des Montets,
in the upper Chamonix Valley, to observe the usually elusive chamois and ibex.

Custom backcountry skiing courses
Chloé Lantier, the director of the Chamonix Mountain Endurance academy, is offering backcountry skiing courses this winter to help you progress in the mountains, on glaciers, and in technical terrain. She leads a team of mountain enthusiasts, athletes, certified coaches, and IFMGA High Mountain Guides.

The Chamoniarde
It is a mountain rescue and prevention association that organizes courses for adults to raise mountain safety awareness. Weekend ski touring courses enable customers to acquire a better knowledge of the mountains in order to gain autonomy and better awareness of potential risks.

Vallee Blanche at night
Skiing down the Vallée Blanche by the light of the full moon is an extraordinary experience. Over more than 20km and 2,000m of altitude difference, guided by the high mountain guides of the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix, you’ll follow an exceptional route on a glacier, amidst seracs and crevasses, at the foot of the iconic peaks and needles of the Mont-Blanc Massif. After enjoying the last lights of the day, dine at the cozy Requin refuge before setting off again. 

Top activities to experience in Chamonix

Please note Peak Retreats do not book any activities and most activities are payable therefore the below is just for information. More detailed information and how to book can be found on the tourist office website

Aiguille du Midi
The Aiguille du Midi is a 3842m peak in the Mont Blanc massif of the French Alps. This is the closest you can get to the summit of Mont-Blanc without hiking or climbing and is served by an aerial lift system. The Aiguille du Midi cable car leaves from the centre of Chamonix Town (1035m) up to the summit of the Aiguile du Midi (3842m). Not recommended for under 5's. Under 3's forbiddon.

Step into the Void ('Pas dans le vide')
The Chamonix Skywalk is open to the public at 3,842m. The Chamonix Skywalk is a glazed structure perched on the Aiguille du Midi, with a 1000m drop below, allowing visitors to truly step into the void. The structure is made entirely of glass to allow for maximum transparency, three glass plates of 12mm each are binded with a transparent film of the five faces, all held together by mechanical fasteners. The unit is then fixed to a vertical support structure over the void. The bespoke design has taken years of planning, development and testing by French engineers and German laboratories. 

Chamonix Montenvers & Mer de Glace train
Discover the famous Mer de Glace in a winter setting. Above all, on arrival at the railway station, do not forget to visit the gallery of crystals, the exhibition on Alpine wildlife and the ice cave.

Rack-and-pinion railways operate on slopes of above 9% and there are only five of them in France. The Montenvers train is therefore a pretty unique experience. The 5.1km trip between Chamonix-Mont-Blanc and the Montenvers tourist site takes you up the mountainside. After a 20-minute climb, you’ll arrive at the terminal at 1,913m high. The views are incredible.

In order to preserve and enhance the memory of this emblematic site an investment programme of over 53 million euros is underway.

As part of the reconfiguration of the site, a new gondola lift will be opening in December 2023 in order to transport visitors to the ice cave, or skiers arriving from the Vallée Blanche. The gondola will depart from the end platform of the Montenvers site and will arrive 600m up the glacier. The existing 500 steps to
access the glacier will no longer exist.

Chamonix Mont-Blanc Helicopters
Take a scenic helicopter ride.

Centre Sportif Richard Bozon indoor pool
25m swimming pool, amusement pool with waterfall, river rapids, water jets and massages, 130m covered toboggan, solarium, solarium, hot tub, hamman and a sauna.

Ice skating rinks
Outside skating rink depending on weather conditions.
Covered Olympic rink - 60 x 30 m. Outside rink - 26 x 56 m. 

Chamonix Climbing wall
At Centre Sportif Richard Bozon  
10-14yr olds must be accompanied by someone over 18 who is also climbing. Under 10’s must be accompanied by a guide. Bring climbing shoes.

Chamonix Market
Place du Mont-Blanc area on Saturday Mornings.              

Chamonix Casino
Place de Saussure.

Chamonix Luge
A roller coaster in the mountains! Rail track 1300m long with jumps, turns, spins at 540°. Placed in the centre of Chamonix (800 parking spaces in the summer, 200 in the winter), this activity is open all year. Additional activity is ideal for skiing in winter, this track is fully lit at night to take advantage of early winter evenings! Chamonix Luge is located on the Les Planards ski area. From 3 years old.

Chamonix tourist train
This is a guided tour of Chamonix powered by an electric little train. You can take the classic tour of the city centre available in 10 languages. 

Chamonix news

What's new for the 24/25 season:

• This winter, the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix is offering a new sporting adventure with snowshoeing, followed by a friendly dinner aperitif at the farm. Participants will be able to enjoy a selection of regional products, including cured meats and cheeses from the valley, accompanied by a good glass of wine,
• The Alpine Museum in Chamonix is currently undergoing a major renovation aimed at expanding its reserve and exhibition spaces, with an 1800m² extension to the current site. It will be called The Mont Blanc Museum when completed in December 2025.

Historic news 23/24:

• 100th anniversary since the 1st Winter Olympic Games 
• Mer de la Glace improvements

Chamonix Valley events

Events taking place in the 2024/25 season:

• Christmas Magic 18th December 2024 - 3rd January 2025: during the Christmas holidays, enchanting decorations and magical parades will bring the streets of Chamonix town centre to life, where a Christmas village will be set up. Children’s performances will also be offered in Les Houches, Servoz, and Vallorcine,
• Downhill Slalom 4th-5th + 11th-12th January 2025: the best male and female skiers are meeting on the Planards stadium for night slalom competitions,
• Kandahar Junior 10th-12th January 2025: International Downhill Ski competition – U14 organized by Les Houches,
• La Trace des Grands 8th-9th March 2025: ski mountaineering race taking place on the Grands-Montets site. A choice of three races allows the expression of all forms of ski touring,
• Chamonix Unlimited Festival 26th-30th March 2025: skiing and music on mountain tops! The event’s DNA: an impressive electro scene program set in intimate, open-air venues at the most beautiful sites in the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Valley.

Chamonix après-ski, bars & restaurants

Chamonix hosts a wide selection of typical cafes and tempting pastry shops along with many bars, over 100 restaurants, 100 shops and half a dozen nightclubs (some open until 7am). The world-class casino in the centre of town will tempt the gambler in you with blackjack, roulette and slot machines of the purest tradition. The Vox cinema delights moviegoers with all the latest films. A free guide to the restaurants in the Chamonix Valley is available from the Chamonix Tourist Office.

Why not try:

• The Michelin-starred restaurant at the 'Hameau Albert 1er' now welcomes its guests only in the evening, offering a peak culinary journey through two menus: L’Appel des Cimes (with 9 courses)
  and Reflets Alpins (with 7 courses),
• 'Le Jungle', new bar-restaurant for 2024 in the centre of Chamonix with vies of the Aiguilles Mont Blanc range from its terrace,
• Situated at 3,842m at the summit of Aiguille du Midi, the restaurant '3842' reveals a new look this winter 2024 after renovation work.

Why not also try the famous Folie Douce in Chamonix for a different kind of dance scene. This branch of the Folie Douce opened in 2018, introducing the chain’s trademark Austrian-style afternoon party scene. You will find 7 other Folie Douce in the French Alps - Val d'Isere opened in 1976, Val Thorens in 2009, Meribel in 2012, Alpe d'Huez in 2013, St Gervais/Megeve in 2014, Avoriaz in 2018, Les Arcs in 2019. This FD is located within the Folie Douce hotel in Chamonix town.

Chamonix amenities

Chamonix is served by a wide range of amenities including banks, an Alpine museum, a good range of shops including food shops, sports shops, gift shops etc plus butchers, bakeries etc.

'Pin Pin' - a new organic micro-bakery in Chamonix for 2023 - natural sourdough and 100% organic products. Operating exclusively online without a physical store, the future micro-bakery offers bicycle-cargo delivery.

Chamonix and the Valley Access

By road:
Driving distance from Calais to Chamonix 518 miles (7hrs 45). From Calais, take A26 Motorway towards Reims and Troyes, then Dijon, Mâcon then ‘Autoroute Blanche’ Motorway (A40 Mâcon – Cluses) exit Chamonix.

By rail:
Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras (or Ashford, Kent). See our train services page for more information. The nearest train station is in the resort of Chamonix itself.

By air:
4 international airports nearby. See our flying page for information on airlines (however we don't book flights).

Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc Airport to Chaomix is roughly 132km, approximately 1hr 30 mins
Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport to Chamonix is roughly 220km, approximately 2hr 30 mins
Geneva Airport to Chamonix is roughly 82km, approximately 1hr
Grenoble Alpes Isere Airport to Chamonix is roughly 219km, approximately 2hrs

Private taxi transfers:
Private taxi transfers from airports and train stations are pre-bookable with Peak Retreats. See our airport & station transfers page for more information.

Bus transfers:
Altibus/Bens Bus/Snow bus (and the likes of) offer shared bus lines from French/Swiss airports and some SNCF train stations to ski resorts. We don't book these (or have any affiliation with), we invite you to do your own research.

Getting around the valley:
There is a Chamonix town shuttle bus to get you around. There are also Chamonix Valley buses that take you to the other resorts in the valley including night buses. There are also rail links too. The SNCF line serves all the villages from St Gervais/Le Fayet to Martigny (Switzerland), passing through Chamonix and Vallorcine. Roughly one train every hour (see www.sncf.com). The Mont Blanc Express train also provides access between the Chamonix Valley resorts. 

Since winter 2023, there is a new direct Skibus routes to the ski lifts. Bus Ski15 is running until early May. There are also new Proxibus routes to the valley hamlets. The bus services are now starting earlier in the morning and ending later at night.