Whether you already have a holiday booked to Chamonix or are considering it for your next ski getaway, you will undoubtedly be looking for key information so that you can be prepared before you get to the slopes. In this blog, we’ll be revealing everything you need to know as we take a look inside a Chamonix ski resort.
Where is Chamonix?
Chamonix is situated amongst the highest mountains in the northern French Alps, sitting at the foot of Mont Blanc. In the department of Haute-Savoie, it’s just a one-hour drive from Geneva. The height of the resort is 1035m.
Chamonix – the town
Chamonix is a large, picturesque town that is popular with tourists. It has ample facilities and services that will keep even non-skiers happy. It’s lively yet traffic-free, making it quieter than your typical tourist destination. There are plenty of mountain restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment faculties.
Chamonix – the ski area
The ski area of this popular resort is split into five sectors. Two of these can be directly accessed from the town and the others are just a short drive away. There is a resort centre for all informational needs. Here, you will also find the start of the world-famous Vallée Blanche route, an off-piste ski run.
The other major ski area that is accessible from the town is Le Brévent, by foot or a short drive. Both offer many open slopes with breath-taking views. Les Grand Montets is perhaps the most famous ski mountain in the Chamonix area. It is 9km up the valley and offers the most challenging slopes for seasoned skiers, open until early May.
For beginners and mixed ability groups, you may be better suited to the Le Tour or Les Houches sections of Chamonix. Les Houches is particularly recommended in poor weather conditions due to high sheltering from trees. Six nursery slopes can be found at Chamonix including at Le Savoy, at the bottom of the Brévent lift, and other places around the valley, and there are six green pistes and 30 blue pistes. However, with 31 red pistes and 10 black pistes, as well as a focus on non-piste skiing, Chamonix is better suited for expert to intermediate skiers.
Chamonix snow
Snow coverage can be patchy in some areas of Chamonix, especially early and late in the season and varying conditions sometimes mean you will need a lift back down into the valley. The best snow in the area can be found in the snow pocket of Les Grant Montets, which is mostly reliable. We recommend visiting a website like Piste Pro before you go to check snow forecasts for the best experience of Chamonix. Piste Pro has snow forecasts for all major resorts.
Comments are closed.