ActivityBreaks - Guides

Chamonix is a long established town that over the years has spread for miles along its valley in the shadow of Mont Blanc.  The bustling town is car-free, full of atmosphere, with cobbled streets and squares, beautiful old buildings and pavement cafes. 

Chamonix offers a good variety of slopes for all levels and extends to over 3 main areas.  The Chamonix Le Pass gives you unlimited access to Brevent-Flegere area, Domaine de Balme, Les Grands Montets area (cable car from Loganan to Grands-Montets not included) and Les Planards, Le Savoy, Les Chosalets and La Vormaine.

Access to the Grands-Monets cable car costs approx €10.

Ski Areas:

The Grands Montets (1235m - 3300m)

Wide open spaces.  The pistes are spread over 3 mountainsides (The Argentiere glacier, Lognan and the Pendant) and offer tremendous on and off-piste possibilities.  

Brevent/Flegere (1030m – 2525m) - The ski area offers one of the most outstanding panoramic views of the Alps.  With south-facing slopes offering a wide variety of pistes and views over the Mont-Blanc Massif ideal for intermediate and experienced skiers.

Le Domaine de Balme (1453m – 2270m) - ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers.

Low valley ski areas

Les Planards (1062m – 1242) just 2 minutes from the centre of town, large ski area for beginners and intermediate skiers with 4 runs (1 red, 1 blue and 2 greens) 

Le Savoy (1049m) is in the heart of Chamonix and ideal for beginners.  You will find 2 drag lifts and a rolling carpet welcome beginners and children for their first turns. Artificial snow and ski kindergarten.

La Vormaine (1480m) Located at the foot of Charamillon on the Balme ski area, these sunny slopes are ideal apprentice skiers and snowboards, as for little ones (ski kindergarten run by ski school)

Les Chosalets (1230m) situated at the entrance of Argentiere, just 500m from the Logan/Grands Montets cable car, idea for beginners and great fun for children.

There are a number of good ski schools in the area. Children ski clubs are available from 3 - 12 year olds.

Chamonix Ski Facts:

12 Green Runs (5km)
29 Blue Runs (46km)
25 Red Runs (70km)
14 Black Runs (34km)
152 km Downhill Pistes
43km Cross Country Trails
49 Ski Lifts
96 Snow Cannons 

Chamonix is located in the North-westerly part of the Alps.  It is 15km from the Swiss boarder via the Col des Montets and 15km from Italy via the Mont-Blanc tunnel.   

Chamonix and its valley are dominated by the Mont Blanc chain to the south and Aiguilles Rouges to the North.  

The town centre is at an altitude of 1035 metres.

The nearest international airports are located at Geneva Airport (88km), Lyon (220km) and Haute-Savoie Mont Blanc Airport (90km).

Chamonix is well known for it nightlife.  There are over 30 bars in the town with a good choice of nightclubs as well. Try Jekyll, MBC, Bard Up, Chambre Neuf or The Pub.

There is more off-slope activity here than in most resorts.  There is snowshoeing, winter pedestrian trails, dog sledding, ice rink, speed-riding, ski taxi, paragliding, alpine flights, cinema and casino.

The Sports centre has a 25m swimming pool, amusement pool with waterfall, river rapids, water jets and massages, 130m covered toboggan, solarium, Jacuzzi, Hamman and Sauna.

There is a approximately over 100 restaurants in Chamonix to suits all tastes and budgets.  Pizzas from €15.00 or 3 course meal from €45.00

The Alpine Museum is also very interesting.