Why not ski Chamonix this year? With skiing and snowboarding in France of the highest quality, this French ski resort has earned a name as the capital of Alpine sport, sitting in the shadow of Mont Blanc.
Where
Dividing opinion, if you ski Chamonix you'll be nestling on the French side of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak. This French ski resort has awesome scenery, a beautiful town, and some of the toughest skiing and snowboarding to be found anywhere. It's just over an hour from Geneva airport, and if you ski Chamonix then you also get a great nightlife. But it can be crowded, expensive, and you'll need a car to get around the four key slope areas.
Essentials |
Suitable For |
Slopes |
RESORT ALTITUDE : |
1032m |
TOTAL PISTE : |
152 km |
LONGEST RUN : |
24 km |
START SEASON : |
November |
END SEASON : |
May |
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OVERALL |
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SKIING |
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BOARDING |
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APRÉS |
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FAMILIES |
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Beginners
15 / 22% |
Intermediates
28 / 41% |
Advanced
18 / 26% |
Experts
8 / 12% |
TOTAL RUNS : |
75 |
SNOW CANNONS : |
54 / ha |
SNOW PARKS : |
3 |
CROSS COUNTRY : |
43 km |
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On the slopes
You'll enjoy ski holidays in Chamonix if you're a good skier. There are glaciers and permanent snow fields, 2,000m ski runs, and the "Vallée Blanche", the most famous (and crowded) off-piste run in the world. Beginners, however, might struggle - it is not an ideal place to learn to ski (go to Le Tour or Argentiere about 6km away). In short, this is a place to go if you want to push your limits, and experience some of the best skiing and boarding around.
Ski area :
If you ski Chamonix you are also in the ski region of Chamonix Valley along with the following resorts; Argentière, Chamonix, Le Tour, Les Houches
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Off the slopes
The old town centre of the Chamonix ski resort is attractive, but much of the accommodation is in the villages which surround it - if you are on a budget, you'll have to look out of town. In town you'll find plenty of cafés, restaurants and bars at all price points, and a bustling atmosphere. There are plenty of other activities, including mountaineering, ice climbing, and cross country skiing, plus indoor and outdoor ice rinks, a bowling alley, a swimming pool and a casino.
RESORT GOOD POINTS
- A lot of very tough terrain, especially off-piste
- Stunning views of peaks and glaciers
- Town steeped in Alpine traditions
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RESORT BAD POINTS
- Several separate mountains: mixed ability groups are likely to have to split up, and the bus service gets mixed reviews
- Bad weather can shut the best runs
- Crowds and lots of road traffic
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Tourist Office
Worldwide cover from £60.48
or Single trip Europe cover from £22.98 - get covered before you arrive!
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