The wordwide capital of mountaineering,
Chamonix is a year round destination and world famous ski resort. Home
to the Mont Blanc and the 22km Valley Blanche off-piste glacier
descent, the Chamonix Valley is crammed with so many mountains and
skiable terrain, you will never ever get enough.
Whether you
just want to take Europe's highest cable car to the top and gawk at the
awe-inspiring peaks whose names evoke the most challenging historical
ascensions, or you actually want to climb and ski them, Chamonix is the
place to take whatever mountain activity you enjoy to the next step.
Skiing,
Snowboarding, Ski Mountaineering, Mountaineering, Rockclimbing,
Paragliding, Mountainbiking, Hiking and looking at the pretty alpine
flowers - your days are covered - and at night you won't be
disappointed with the ambiance of this boisterous ski town.
The Chamonix Valley as a Ski Resort
A
little more than an hour's drive (88km) from Geneva airport, the
Chamonix Valley has an enviable position on the French, Swiss, and
Italian borders.
Working up the valley, the main towns include
Les Houches, Les Bossons, Chamonix, Les Praz, Argentiere, Le Tour and
Vallorcine.
Les Houches has its own ski resort and is most suitable for
beginners and intermediates. Both the Brevent and Aiguille du Midi
(off-piste only) lifts are accessible from Chamonix town. The Brevent
lift system is interconnected with Flégère which is also accessed from
Les Praz. Argentière is home to the Grands Montets lift system which
caters mainly for advanced skiers and snowboarders. Further up the
valley the Le Tour / Vallorcine lift systems are interconnected and
offer intermediate skiing. You'll find amazing off-piste skiing
everywhere, but no stay in Chamonix would be complete for experienced
skiers without a descent off the Aiguille du Midi (you should take a
guide).
