Chamonix Slope Height 1035-3840 m

- FRANCE
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SKI HOTELSChamonix

WEsay A resort best for good intermediates and experts looking for a challenge. This is a strikingly beautiful location with glacial scenery and rugged off-piste.
Ski Chalets in Chamonix - Image Credit:Shutterstock
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Ski Chalets in Chamonix

Book hotels and ski chalets in Chamonix and take advantage of our low prices and expertise for your next ski holiday in France.  We have a fantastic selection of ski accommodation in Chamonix with options to suit a variety of tastes.

Chamonix is set at the foot of Europe's highest mountain, the Mont Blanc, which stretches an awesome 16,000 ft into the air.  This resort is part of the Mont Blanc region that covers 13 resorts with five main ski areas. One of these resorts, Argentiere, lies just 8kms further up the valley from Chamonix and is linked by an efficient bus service that is free with your lift pass.  The key feature of this area is the 24km Vallee Blanche run, which starts at 3842m and delivers you all the way back down to the resort.  Access to the top of the slope is somewhat treacherous; therefore it is essential that you take a guide with you.  This being said, the Vallee Blanche is not famous for its difficulty, it is well within the capabilities of any competent intermediate.  Its popularity is due to its being the most accessible ice wilderness in the whole of the Alps.  For more exciting variants on a theme try l’Envers du Plan and la Vraie Vallee Blanche. 

The main skiing is on the other side of the valley.  Plan Praz and la Flegere are great for beginners who want to progress beyond the nursery slopes which are based at le Savoy in the centre of the town.  Some good red runs are found just further up the mountain from le Savoy whilst several blacks descend steeply immediately below and as a result beginners would do well not to stray too far from their patch.  As the whole mountain is basically a snow park, boarders do not really need a man-made one, but someone built one anyway and it features a half-pipe and a variety of jumps.

The resort is a couple of hundred years old and its history is chronicled at the local museum.  Heritage tours of the local area are also available.  Less cerebral activities can be found at the sports centre which has a pool, gym and fitness suite.  Or for something a bit different head to Huskydalen and learn how to run a dog team.  The nightlife is one of the busiest in France and caters admirably to a range of punters, although the emphasis as ever is on the more hardened revellers.

CLICK HERE FOR  > What's new in Chamonix 2018/19 

 

 

 

RESORT highlights

New for 2017/18

The wonderful Grand Hotel du Montenvers at the terminus of the cog railway up Mont Blanc will open in winter for the first time, following restoration by the Sibouet family, who already run very attractive hotels in Megève, Val Thorens and the south of France. Built in 1882 it is positioned at over 1900m looking out over the Mer de Glace and Vallée Blanche. The Montveners railway station and Panoramic restaurant have also been restored.

New for 2016/17

The slow Parsa quad chair, which serves easy blue and green runs at mid-mountain on Le Brevent, is being taken place by a fast six-pack. This will have a capacity of nearly 3,000 people per hour in comparison with the 1,800 an hour of the old lift. The two drag lifts serving the same area will be replaced by one modern draglift.

best FOR

  • A lot of vigorous terrain, more specifically when going off-piste
  • Excellent cable car to the Aiguille du Midi, for the well renowned Vallee Blanche
  • Many other resorts are covered on the extended lift pass, such as sunny Courmayeur
  • Immerse yourself in Alpine tradition
  • Plenty of reasonably priced hotels

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