Chamonix
The birthplace of extreme skiiing, Chamonix offers the biggest and the most when it comes to skiing. Every inch of the mountain and the village has a sense of history and this is the place to visit if you are interested in steep hill skiing. Many legends have chosen to reside under Mont Blanc - the tallest mountain in the Alps.
Unfortunately, many have also lost their lives on the mountain's extreme slopes.
The resort consists of four ski systems: Grands Montets, Les Houches, Le Tour/Balme, La Flegere-Le Brevent.
In 2010, the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc county had 9 054 residents, but many more people visit the area daily. Chamonix has more visitors in the summer than in the winter with around 100 000 per day during summer and 60 000 per day in the winter time.
The first Winter Olympic Games took place here in 1924.
Chamonix is located in the Southeast of France, only a 20 minute car ride from Italy going through the Month Blanc Tunnel. You are close to both Geneva and Milan and the travel time to the Geneva airport is an hour as it is located approximately 50 miles away.
The resort consists of four ski systems: Grands Montets, Les Houches, Le Tour/Balme, La Flegere-Le Brevent.
In 2010, the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc county had 9 054 residents, but many more people visit the area daily. Chamonix has more visitors in the summer than in the winter with around 100 000 per day during summer and 60 000 per day in the winter time.
The first Winter Olympic Games took place here in 1924.
Chamonix is located in the Southeast of France, only a 20 minute car ride from Italy going through the Month Blanc Tunnel. You are close to both Geneva and Milan and the travel time to the Geneva airport is an hour as it is located approximately 50 miles away.
Book accommodation
Chamonix includes the ski resorts Argentière – Les Grands Montets, Le Tour-Vallorcine, Les Houches
Chamonix Snow forecast
-
Tuesday2 cm snow
0.5°
0.8 m/s -
Wednesday3 cm snow
-0.9°
0.9 m/s -
Thursday1 cm snow
0.8°
0.3 m/s
Provided by
Best Off-Piste:Not a very easy question to answer, I’m afraid. There is just soooo much to do. Definitely take a guide and try Grand Montets if there’s any hope of powder. You’ll not be disappointed.
Best Black Run:
Charles Bozon at Brevent Flegere. Stunning views, accessed by a cable car only so not often crowded ... especially when you see the off-piste just past the sharp right hander on the left.
Best Red Run:
Belle Place at Tete de Balme in Le Tour. Fantastic red I never get bored of, leading onto the wonderful blue run, Les Esserts, for powder tree-skiing extraordinaire.
Best Blue/Green:
The super long Index run in Flegere that has enough challenge to keep the good skiers happy and is exciting for the not-so experienced too. A lovely run.
By: Candice Gilg former World Champion Moguls Skier, Olympian and stunt double in the James Bond film, 'The World is not Enough'
Facts about Chamonix
| Number of slopes: | 69 |
 Green slopes: | 16 |
 Blue slopes: | 18 |
 Red slopes: | 27 |
 Black slopes: | 8 |
| Longest slope: | 22000 m |
| Total length of pistes: | 150 km |
Lifts (Total: 49)
| Lift capacity: | 51200 persons/hour |
Vertical drop
 |
Highest Point: 3842 m |
| Vertical drop: 2807 m | |
| Base Point: 1035 m |
Season
| Start: | 12 January |
| End: | 8 May |
Cross country skiing
| Tracks: | 45 km |
| Lit tracks: | 0 km |
| Artificial snow: | 0 km |
Areas
| Snowparks: | 1 |
| Childrens area: | 1 |
Rhône-Alpes
Reviews for Chamonix
What do you think about Chamonix?5
4
3
2
1
Nice place. Nice village. Good skiing. But the buses to and from the systems are a big minus. Add to that the sign on the buses is poor and that the b... Read more (82 words)
I was in charge of booking our anual ski trip this year and Chamonix was a hot favourite for the group with plenty of high skiing and lots of differen... Read more (345 words)
I have to disagree with the comments made about Le Touring hotel. I've stayed there a numer of times and have found it to be quite sufficient. I't not... Read more (100 words)
As first experience in the Alps, the last week has been great (and not wonderfull only due to the bad weather conditions). Main reason of this comment... Read more (494 words)
Was in Chamonix 1 week in January.
+
- 1 h from Geneva airport,
- a large village with a wide range of restaurants, shops etc.
-
- spread... Read more (144 words)
If you like skiing, you should at least visit Chamonix once! Here you will find all the skiing you want, as well as Frenchmen in jeans or overalls who... Read more (80 words)
High mountains, steep, exposed, varied and fabulously beautiful.
Meow, meow. That's the answer I give when I'm asked what I think of Chamonix. When it's good, it's very good. But it has never been quite that magical... Read more (434 words)
Is riding the bus your favorite activity? Go to Chamonix! That was the joke after our first day. But honestly, as long as you love skiing more than ri... Read more (162 words)
A village with a pleasant atmosphere.
Skiing that suits everyone, divided into 5 different systems
Plus nature experiences Valle Blanche starting fr... Read more (34 words)
Most popular photo
Trail map
Lift ticket prices
| 1 day: | 72 $ (71 €) |
| 6 days: | 352 $ (345 €) |
| Season pass: | 1608 $ (1576 €) |
Nearby ski resorts
| Les Houches | 7 km |
| Argentière – Les Grands Montets | 8 km |
| Saint Gervais Mont-blanc | 12 km |
| Le Tour-Vallorcine | 13 km |
| Sixt | 16 km |
| Flaine | 16 km |
| Les Contamines | 17 km |
| Courmayeur | 17 km |
Airports near Chamonix
|
Genève Aéroport Driving time: 1 hour, 11 minutes (104 km) Distance: 68 km |
|
Chambery Airport Driving time: 1 hour, 30 minutes (145 km) Distance: 82 km |
|
Torino Airport Driving time: 2 hours, 3 minutes (173 km) Distance: 101 km |
|
Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport Driving time: 2 hours, 9 minutes (222 km) Distance: 139 km |
|
Grenoble Alpes-Isère Airport Driving time: 2 hours, 13 minutes (224 km) Distance: 135 km |
|
Milano-Malpensa Airport Driving time: 2 hours, 49 minutes (236 km) Distance: 148 km |
More »
New snow in next 3 days
- Eldora Mountain Resort 47 cm
- Echo Mountain 37 cm
- Loveland 35 cm
- Winter Park 34 cm
- Arapahoe Basin Ski Area 30 cm