Chamonix Chamonix Mont Blanc, France

Chamonix Valley Skiing

Chamonix is one of the world's most famous mountain resorts, and quite rightly so. Bustling both in summer and winter, Chamonix has been a magnet for mountain lovers since the very dawn of alpine Tourism. It claims to be France's oldest ski resort and it held the very first winter olympics back in 1924.

The skiing in Chamonix. is world-famous. It is both one of Europe's most historical ski resorts, and one of its best. The terrain in Chamonix is quite unique, there is little to match it across the Alps and for some it is the mecca of skiing in the Alps.

High altitude and great vertical range

You can be sure of great snow all season long, as long as you are happy to take a lift up to the higher altitudes. Chamonix boasts skiing as high as 3800 m, just 1000 m short the peak of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain. In fact there is a huge vertical range of skiing in Chamonix, with the valley floor being relatively low down around 1000 m. So when it's cold in January or the visibility is low this plenty of lower altitude skiing to enjoy, and when it comes to April skiing and Bluebird days you can just keep going up to incredible high altitude skiing.

Challenges for even the best skier

Chamonix Valley is naturally quite a steep sided valley. There is plenty of steep skiing, both on piste and off-piste, that will provide a challenge for even the best skier. If you feel you've your skiing accomplished and would quite like to step up another level, finding you challenge yourself, then Chamonix is definitely a resort put on your to ski list.

Incredible off-piste adventures

One of the big draws for the Chamonix followers is the incredible range of challenging offpiste. With the high altitude lift access, there is a whole range of off-piste itineraries, none more famous then the Vallee Blanche. Chamonix is a resort to be incredibly cautious in though. Myself I would not put a ski the wrong side of the piste marking poles without being with a qualified local mountain guide. The steep sided valleys and glaciers create some of the least forgiving terrain in the Alps; this is not a resort for DIY exploring!

Mind blowing scenery

We have never discovered any mountain area that can quite match the Chamonix Valley for its dramatic beauty. The valley floor down at 1000 m, with 2 incredibly steep sides soaring straight up to the sky including Mont blanc itself. Glaciers tumbling down the mountain sides displaying their deep blue core at the bottom. The scenery you are immersed in whilst skiing the Chamonix area is some of the most spectacular your find in any ski resort.

About Chamonix Skiing

Chamonix's skiing is world famous, attraction the most advanced and adventurous skiers. This steep sided valley natural produces some of the most extreme terrain, and combined with the very high altitude of the top lifts, you've some of the worlds best off-piste conditions.

Don't be put off though, there's skiing for beginners and intermediates too, though to be fair this resort really appeals to the advanced skier. This resort works where you've a group with everything from top advanced to complete beginner. That said though if your group is all beginners, young families, then you might want to opt for a more gentle resort.

The ski area is divided into many separate smaller areas, and you'll need transport to get between them. There are ski buses connecting the different ski areas & many holiday companies do provide this transport as well.

Situated just one hour from Geneva, Chamonix is very easily accessible, making it especially popular for ski weekends and short breaks.

Chamonix Town

Chamonix sits at the foot of Mont Blanc - the highest mountain in Western Europe. With the resort down at 1035m, the mountains either side tower above to the high of 4800m at Mont Blanc's summit, with glaciers tumbling down the sides of the valley. It's one of the most dramatic and stunning valleys in the Alps, and well worth a visit for the scenery alone.

The village itself is quite charming, being a historic mountain town that's busy year round. There are though many different villages dotted along the Chamonix valley floor, with varying charactors.

Getting to Chamonix

If you are flying to Chamonix then we would recommend you fly into Geneva (GVA) airport. Geneva airport is 90 kilometres from Chamonix and has a transfer time of about one hour fifteen minutes. Most of this is on motorway. This is the route almost everyone who flies in takes.

Chambery (CMF) airport is 135 kilometres from Chamonix but It is usually better to avoid Chambery if possible as there are far fewer transfer options available.

Please let us know when you have booked your flights and we can arrange to have your transfers all ready and waiting for you when you land. We do not charge extra for organising this for you.