The Ski Resort
Chamonix Mont Blanc is widely regarded as the mountain capital of the world, and in many skiers eyes, the extreme ski capital of the world too.
Situated under Western Europe highest mountain, the Mont Blanc, Chamonix offers one of the best snow sure records in the Alps with unlimited off-piste skiing.
But Chamonix is much more than just an expert off-piste ski resort. Yes it is well suited for advanced skiers, but it has so much more to offer. La Tour and Les Houches are case in points as they have great ski areas for beginners, intermediates and family chalet ski holidays. Les Houches has dedicated beginners area with a travelator and beginners chair lift (see Worth knowing below) and is an extremely friendly family ski resort.
Chamonix town itself has great amenities, bars, restaurants and boutique shops so there is a great deal to do for all too on your chalet ski holiday.
Worth Knowing
Chamonix offers the second highest lift station in Europe at 3,842m so it really is a high altitude resort. The Vallee Blanche is one of the most famous off-piste routes anywhere in the world and is must (with a Mountain Guide) for any intermediate and advanced skier as it offers 17km of spectacular scenery, with stunning peaks, glacier terrain, and seracs, and a descent of 2,800m.
Family ski groups are best advised to head for La Tour or Les Houches, the latter is a great family ski resort with a travelator (magic carpet) and a dedicated chair lift for children with a modified safety bar and great green and blue slopes.
The Vallee Blanche is one of the most famous off-pite routes anywhere in the world and is must (with a guide) for any intermediate and advanced skier as it offers 17km of spectacular scenery, with stunning peaks, glacier terrain, and seracs, and a descent of 2,800m.
Family ski groups are best advised to head for La Tour or Les Houches, the latter is a great family ski resort with a travelator (magic carpet) and a dedicated chair lift for children with a modified safety bar.
Off Piste Skiing
Chamonix off-piste is quite simply the best in the world in our view. The Vallee Blanche is quite rightly famous for its 2,800m - 17km descent for not only the great off-piste, but its scenery. Seracs, glacier terrain and some of the most stunning peaks lining the route.
But Chamonix is much more than just the Valley Blanche and it is for this reason it attracts probably more pro-skiers and snowboarders to its town, than any other resort worldwide. On the Brevent, check out the couloirs below the Plan Praz cable-car on the way up which surprisingly do get skied and frequented by snowboarders, or for something less extreme, pop over to Combe Lachenal which in the right conditions are picture perfect and relatively gentle in comparison. The back bowls of La Tour are frequented by the locals on most powder days, dropping into Vallorcine, or there is the Grands Montets where the options are virtually limitless.
Ski School
The main school in the Chamonix Valley is ESF and offer very good tuition. ESF in Les Houches is particularly good for family ski groups.
Other Ski Schools include Evolution 2 and BASS.
Snow Boarding
Being probably the best off-piste destination, certainly in Europe, if not the world, Chamonix is the mecca for back-country snowboarding.
The Grands Montets (Argentiere) and Les Houches (Area 43) both have snowparks for those who enjoy free-style boarding.
Other activities include ice climbing, indoor climbing, sleigh rides, huski sleigh rides and much more.
View Chamonix Ski Resort Guide - Chalet Ski in a larger map
Pros
Fantastic off-piste skiing
Pretty, historic old town
Lots of non ski activities
Great restaurants
Cons
Traveling between ski resorts
Some areas not suitable for beginners
Ski Resort Map
Ski Piste Map
Getting Around the Ski Resort
Many of the Chalet Ski holidays include in resort transfers which we consider essential to get the most out of the various Chamonix ski resorts.
The Chamonix Valley does have a very good bus service and train service throughout the valley.
There is a local train service linking ski villages and ski areas, as well as a regular ski bus service throughout the valley (free with the lift pass).
Activities Outdoor
There is lots to do in Chamonix as this is an all year round town with a real heartbeat. There are numerous shops ranging from hardy mountaineering outlets through to boutique luxury. The Chamonix Valley has indoor and outdoor ice rinks, a large sports centre, which includes an indoor swimming pool, sports arena, weights room, etc.