Location: Chamonix
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The 10 Best Ski & Snowboard Areas in Chamonix, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes
As host of the first Winter Olympics in 1924, Chamonix will always have a place in the history books. Its main attractions are Mont-Blanc (Western Europe's tallest mountain) and the many ski areas that face the Chamonix Valley. Steep slopes and extreme weather conditions suit advanced skiers best, but there are also runs for beginners. Just make sure everyone in your party knows a green circle from a black diamond. Oh, and another note for the history books—Pierce Brosnan was here (filming a James Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough).
Restaurants in Chamonix
1. Blue Mile Snowsports
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Snowboard coaching with a psychological and philosophical approach. Including video review, and regular instruction, for all levels, beginner to pro. Group or private sessions. Half day, full, day, or per hour.
2. Chamride.fr - Ski & snowboard instructor
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Explore644225
Myself and a friend asked Damien at Chamride to provide two half days of lessons in and around the Chamonix area. Damien did an excellent job of improving our skiing during variable conditions and made the few days we had there really great fun. Highly recommended.
3. Aiguille du Midi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,182 reviews
From Chamonix (1035m), fly over the forest to reach le Plan de l’Aiguille in 10 minutes (2317m). On your right, the Glacier des Bossons, in front of you the Mont-Blanc (4810m), on your left the Aiguille Verte, the Drus and the Aiguilles de Chamonix. Then take a second cable car which, in just 10 minutes takes you up to 3777m, over the seracs, the glacier des Pelerins and the hanging glaciers on the north face of the Aiguille du Midi. . From the top, a sightseeing panorama unique in the world. Experience a very high altitude.
Reviewed By Saif-UK - Worcester Park, United Kingdom
Amazing views ( must visit ) Lots of areas to visit Stepping in the glass box are amazing Staff are nice and friendly
4. Vallee Blanche
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 524 reviews
A beautiful ski area in the Chamonix Valley.
Reviewed By shuffleboy
If you ski this, you need to hire a guide and be an expert skier in very good physical condition. Its a physically demanding adventure.
5. Les Grands Montets
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 506 reviews
ENJOY THE GLACIERS ! Two altitudes with two environments: the Lognan pastures at 1 970 m and the Argentière glacier’s seracs at the 3 275 m summit. A whole universe to discover…
Reviewed By noela232 - Leeds, United Kingdom
The Grands Montets ski area in Chamonix has acess to some of the best off-piste terrain in the Alps, as well as some challenging, high pistes. The cable car is currently being repaired, preventing lift access to the highest pistes and off-piste glacier itineraries, but the Bochard and Herse lifts get you to 2800 and 2600m respectively. New (this year?) is the upgraded Tabe lift, now a fast 6-person chairlift, with improved access from two directions, effectively replacing two old slow lifts. Almost more welcome is a brand new kiosk serving good, cheap coffee, tea and snacks near the base of the Tabe lift, because the prices elsewhere on the mountain are increasingly eye-watering!
6. Brevent Cable Car
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 994 reviews
ENJOY THE MOUNTAINS ! With its southern exposure, overlooking the Mont-Blanc Range, the Brévent is the ideal departure point for classic hikings and easy rambles to various mountain lakes (Lac du Brévent, Lac Cornu…)
Reviewed By Heslomonick - Birmingham, United Kingdom
We decided to go up the Brevent Cable car as it was another beautifully sunny day and we had a multi pass. We parked at the St Michael car park in Chamonix but then we had to hike up a very steep street in the blazing midday sun to get to the cable car station. And when we got there we found a perfectly good car park we could have used instead! Although I don’t know for sure whether there were any spaces when we arrived at 12pm. There were toilets at the cable car station, and some people were filling their water bottles from a tap. There was a little vendor selling coffee etc. There was also a cafe nearby. There were booths selling tickets (ie multi passes/single day passes et ) but the queues weren’t bad at all compared with Aguillie de midi. Probably about 10 minutes’ wait. The cable car went up the mountain very steeply and the boys (aged 5 and 7) loved it. There was virtually no queue despite it being such glorious weather (it was a Friday in August so maybe it is more busy on the weekends). It was hot inside the cable car though as it was such a warm day. There was just our family in the cable car although you could fit a few more people in if needed when it’s busy. When we got to the top the views, as usual when we go up cable cars in Chamonix, were spectacular and breathtaking. It was a good place to see paragliders as the paragliders jump off this part of the mountain and you can usually just see them as dots floating in the sky above Chamonix but up here on the mountain they were proper sized people zooming around in the air. It was great to watch. It was a bit cooler up the mountain but still roasting hot. We were just wearing shorts and t shirts with walking boots - other people seemed to have dressed for winter but had to peel all their layers off. We had a strange meal at the Comptoir snack bar where the children’s meals came with ice cream plus a ‘surprise’ according to the menu. But when I asked what the surprise was I was told that the ice cream was the surprise. This was indeed surprising as I had assumed from the menu that the ice cream was included for children anyway and they’d get a surprise as well. Fortunately my boys accepted the fact that the surprise was the ice cream they were already expecting. The whole menu was a bit confusing to be honest but I muddled through with the order somehow - you go inside to order and pay (they accepted credit cards) and then you get something which buzzed when your cooked food is ready so you go in to collect it from the serving counter. Then we had to go back later for the ice creams for the children - I showed my receipt to the man at the serving counter and he told me which ice creams I could pick out of the ice cream freezer. There were toilets at the cafe. Upstairs was a restaurant as opposed to a cafe. And nearby there was a bar which mostly sold drinks and sweet things. There’s also an odd looking diagonal lift which takes you a bit further up the mountain. I thought it was just for people wanting to go up to the restaurant there but in fact it just helps you get up a part of the hill and there’s another viewing platform and good places to see the paragliders jump off the mountain. Then we went up a different bigger cable car which takes up to 60 people in it and is manned. We had to show our multi pass again here. It was sort of more like going across from one mountain peak to another which was higher up rather than going straight up a mountainside. It was very hot in the cable car and standing room only. Again, there were amazing views but not that many railings and barriers so I had hard work trying to keep my 5 year old from peering over the edges whilst my husband took all his photos. Not my favourite bit of the day but it was very spectacular if you don’t mind precipitous edges. I think there may have been a bar/cafe here as well as the little outside vendor selling snacks - the tables and chairs were reserved for those customers. I didn’t see any toilets up at this point but there may have been some I didn’t see. Lots of people had climbing gear and when we went down in the cable car we could see them all climbing up and down the mountainside. Not my cup of tea but fun to see them. There was no queue at all for the cable car either at the top or the bottom. I think my husband wanted to hike down the mountain back to the car in Chamonix which would have been about 2 hours according to the sign, but I wasn’t sure how steep it would be for the children so I persuaded him we should get the cable car down so we could go swimming instead and cool down rather than hike in the blazing heat.
7. Ecorider Ski School
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Ecorider is the first ski and snowboard school to target global warming, based in Chamonix Mont-Blanc and throughout the French Alps. Staffed by passionate instructors, discover the Chamonix valley with your family or with friends, choose one of our services tailored to your needs for rapid progress.
Reviewed By Joscotch - Hong Kong, China
My family booked group ski lessons together over 3 consecutive days and had a fantastic time. We were all different abilities and our ages ranged from 7 to 67! Our instructor Gabriel was extremely patient, accommodating and gave lots of much needed guidance and encouragement along the way - thank you! In addition, communication and organisation of lessons were excellent and safety was always a priority. I would highly recommend Ecorider and would not hesitate to book with them again.
8. Sport 2000 Cham'Sport Aiguille du Midi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By Jay3ee
Alain and Max are fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble for these guys. Super friendly, really helpful and nothing was too much trouble for them. Great service from start to finish. Thank you and see you next year!
9. Les Houches
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By BigRustyJoe - Cambridge, United Kingdom
Lovely place, first time skiing for me and I’ll definitely be going back! Great slopes and great views!
10. Telecabine Le Tour Col de Balme
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 113 reviews
ENJOY THE PASTURES! Bordering Switzerland, this alpine domain takes advantage of vast high mountain pastures, among the last ones in the valley still being exploited. It is also the ideal domain for mountain biking.
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