Winter or Summer - plenty of activities in Chamonix

Whether you prefer Winter or Summer there are plenty of activities and breathtaking scenery to explore in Chamonix.

WINTER

Ski/Snowboard

Skiing and snowboarding Chamonix is one of the world's most famous ski areas, having hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924. Skiers and snowboarders of all levels are well-served in a variety of differing areas around Chamonix, including Brevent, Flegere, the famous Grands Montets and Domaine du Balme.

The Mont Blanc ski pass covers nearby areas including Les Houches, St Gervais, Megeve, Courmayeur and Les Contamines, all within an easy drive. Slightly further afield, but within an hour's drive are Verbier, La Thuile, Flaine and Les Carroz. Despite its reputation as an area for experts only, there are plenty of green, blue and red runs to satisfy beginners and intermediates alike.

For the more experienced, Chamonix has miles and miles of adventurous off-piste, including the famous Vallee Blanche, an 22km experience from the Aiguille du Midi down to the town. All ski areas are accessible by car, train or the shuttle bus, which is free with your Cham'Ski or Mont Blanc ski pass.

There are 4 main ski areas in the Valley - Les Houches, Brévent/Flégère, Les Grand Montets and Le Tour. Further information can be found at the Chamonix Mount Blanc site

Les Houches

Offering one of the most varied ski areas in the Chamonix Valley, Les Houches is suitable for all levels, whether beginner, intermediate or advanced. Les Houches is the location for regular international Ski World Cup events and serves as the training ground of the French National Ski Team and L'Ecole du Ski Francais (ESF). The varied choice of pistes offers downhill, cross-county, snowboarding, telemark and ski jumping, as well as off-piste for the more adventurous. The resort has 18 lifts and 86 snow cannons. Skiing in Les Houches combines long descents through pine forests with spectacular views of the Mont Blanc ranges. The tree-lined pistes mean that you can ski even when the weather closes in. There are plans to link Les Houches to St Gervais for 2007 and when that happens it will open up a huge new area on the doorstep.

Le Brévent & La Flégère

Linked by cable car, these 2 ski areas are situated on the sunny side of the valley and are more suited to those of an intermediate level and above. There is great off-piste here for experienced skiers. There is a great mountain restaurant at Brevent with a sun-deck where you can view the whole of the Mt Blanc range. Flegere has some great stuff through the trees for boarders.

Les Grand Montets

Perhaps Chamonix's most famous skiing mountain, offering excellent snow and skiing above 2000m. Mostly for good skiers and boarders, with many testing and varied pistes and plenty of easily accessible off-piste terrain rated as some of the best in the world.

Le Tour

At the upper end of the valley, with great views and plenty of sun, Le Tour's gentle slopes are ideal for beginners and intermediates, although we have found some great places for boarders to build jumps. From Le Tour you can drop down into Switzerland at Vallorcine, where a new express gondola brings you back up. There is a train station at Vallorcine that serves all the stations in the Valley.

Aguille Du Midi

One of the highest cable cars in Europe, taking you from the centre of Chamonix up to a spectacular view of The Alps and a close up of Mont Blanc, you can also take a further cable car across the glacier into Italy. From the Midi station, you can ski the world's most famous off-piste run, the 22km Vallee Blanche, suitable for those of an intermediate level and above. The journey up to the top is worth it just for the views, and in the summer you can walk along to the Mer De Glace and catch the Montenvers rack and pinion train back down into Chamonix. Its recommended that you take a guide unles you have the appropriate experience and equipment.

Other Areas

You will never be short of terrain to explore in and around the Chamonix Valley.

The Italian resort of Courmayeur is half an hour away through the Mt Blanc tunnel. If the weather isnt great in France its normally fine in Courmayeur. Courmayeur is great for all abilities, has great food and good off-piste. You can get to Turin to see Juventus in another hour. For a standard car, expect to pay around €40 return to go through the Tunnel.
Verbier in Switzerland is 60 minutes drive away on one of the great driving roads in Europe. It has a massive ski area, gourmet restaurants and exclusive bars. Verbier's apres-ski is world famous.
St Gervais and Megeve are 20 minutes away by car and offer great skiing and boarding for families, intermediates and off piste. Megeve has 8 of the top ten ski restaurants in the world.
The resort of Les Contamines is close by, it has spectacular views of Mt Blanc and amazing off-piste. It is slightly off the beaten track so fresh powder can be found almost all the time.
Flaine is 45 minutes away and offers some spectacular high altitude skiing, and slightly further afield, the Portes Du Soleil region (Morzine/Avoriaz) is a massive area on the France/Switzerland border.

Something different

Snow shoeing

Most of the sports shops hire out snow shoes .

Cross Country skiing

You have your pick of 75 kms of ski runs on four circuits. You buy your ticket and ski maps from the start of the main circuit 1km on the Argentiere road.

Mountain walks

Walking paths are cut into the slopes by the lift pass company. Contact the Tourist Office for more information.

Ice skating, Swimming, Sauna, Tennis, Squash, Gymnasium, and climbing wall all at the Richard Bozon Sports Centre, opposite L’Avenue de la Plage

SUMMER

With the draw of Europe's premier natural attraction, Mont Blanc, Chamonix never sleeps. Whether it's simply to soak up the stunning scenery or get the adrenaline pumping, there is plenty for everybody to do all year round.

There are a wide variety of marked trails for hiking and trekking; well-maintained bolted routes for rock-climbing; limitless mountaineering opportunities including Mont Blanc itself; an ever-expanding network of mountain bike trails; some of the most consistent thermals for superb para gliding; raging white water rapids for rafting and hydro speeding; canyoning and abseiling down the spectacular valley gorges; golf at the 18 hole course in Chamonix, as well as many other top quality courses nearby; the sports centre has an indoor and outdoor 50m swimming pool and a large grassed sunbathing area, water slides, numerous tennis courts, gym, spa, Jacuzzis, the list goes on!

Golf

An 18 hole course is located in Les Praz. A great course designed by Trent Jones Sr and in the top 1000 in Europe - in fact considered by many to be in the top 5 best Alpine courses - theres only one way to find out. Great practice facilities and restaurant by the course.

Paragliding

You can choose a tandem discovery flight with a professionally qualified flight instructor if you wish to sample this experience.

Horse Riding

Horses or ponies can be hired at two stables in the area

Summer Sledging - Rafting

In the early Summer when the melt water is high take a rapid ride down the valley on the river Arve which flows right through the centre of Chamonix. Make sure your wearing a wet/dry suit else you might find the glacier melt water a little on the cold side.

Swimming and Windsurfing

Swim at the Richard Bozon Sports Centre or one of the local lakes where there is also windsurfing.

Bowling Alley

8 international standard lanes with auto score screens or if you prefer an indoor 9 hole crazy golf course.

Mountain Biking

If you couldn't squeeze your own bike into your luggage they are available to hire. Chamonix offers some amazing long descents & ascents for those that way inclined - again the options are open from those that want to enjoy a leasurly day out on the bike to those who crave great down/uphills - Chamonix Valley offers you the choice either way. Les Houches offers downhill specialists interesting runs special built for mountain bikers.

Mountaineering

Extreme or novice there are routes for everyone even up to the ascent of Mont Blanc. Visit the Tourist Office for details on hiring a guide, details on routes etc. Again we can put you in touch with guides if require assistance.