Chalet Refuge de Lognan

La Cabane des Praz

Le Cap Horn

Le Restaurant de l'Hotel Mont-Blanc

Monkey

Chamonix Town

City

Editors' Picks

Chamonix's 70-plus miles of ski runs are spread throughout four separate areas, serviced by 42 ski lifts. Offering arguably the best advanced and extreme skiing in the Alps, Chamonix steep slopes are its best but there is varied terrain that will keep skiers of all levels happy and enthralled. The different ski areas are spread out around the Chamonix valley (<a href="/destinations/europe/france/chamonix/">read about Chamonix's lay of the land</a>), which means the ambitious can ski different regions each day and never repeat runs, and almost ensuring that at least one section will have good snow conditions. It also means that visitors need to be organized and think ahead about which areas they'd like to discover each day, as getting to lifts requires a bit more planning.

Following is a very abbreviated description of the area's best skiing during the season, which runs from mid-December through mid-May:
<ul>
<li>Les Houches is one ski area that is close to the center of Chamonix town and good for families and intermediate skiers. There are beautiful 360-degree views of the area including the nearby Mont Blanc.</li>
<li>Brévent and Flégère are two regions connected by a cable car that offer varied types of slopes and a good number of blue runs.</li>
<li>The Grands Montets consists of three regions including the famed Argentière glacier. The impressive area is famous in world of freeriders and snowboarding and boasts very steep pistes at high altitudes (10,800ft.)</li>
<li>Balme-Vallorcine region is reachable via the villages of Tour and Vallorcine and consists of beginner/intermediate runs that can be attempted at a more leisurely pace</li>
<li>Vallée Blanche is the 23 km (14.3 mile) glacier run accessible from Auguille du Midi</li>
</ul>
All guests in Chamonix, whether staying in a chalet or hotel, receive a pass for the buses and trains, which transport skiers to the different regions. Some hotels have private and most chalets come with staff who can drive guests to and pick them up from mountain bases.

The Chamonix area also boasts 53 kilometers (33 miles) of cross-country skiing trails in Les Bois and Argentière, which can provide a nice counter-balance to downhill skiing. Tickets and trail maps can be purchased at the Foyer de Ski de Fond de Chamonix. (Route du Bouchet; 33-450-531-115)

Downhill & Cross-Country Skiing

The dramatic and spindly Aiguille du Midi mountain looms over the Chamonix valley, in some ways even more impressive looking than the ominous Mont Blanc, which sits farther away. In 1955, a cable car was built to connect the center of Chamonix town with the mountain peak and the gondola journey continues to be hugely popular with both skiers and non-sportif visitors.

A platform at the summit includes a café, viewing points and Step Into the Void, a glass-floor nook that extends over the expanse. The experience—not for the feint of heart—is thrilling and there can be long lines. Skiers planning to conquer the 23 km (14.3 miles) Vallée Blanche begin just below the Aiguille du Midi peak. Mountain climbers aiming to summit Mont Blanc also begin at this point. The Step Into the Void is open until August 8, at which point it will close for some renovations.

Aiguille du Midi

Not many ski resorts boast their own airfields, and Megève takes advantage of its runway located just a few minutes’ drive outside of town. Though reliant upon near-perfect weather conditions, flights over and around Mont Blanc and the <a href="/destinations/europe/france/chamonix/">Chamonix</a> valley should not be missed—though those with fears of heights and flying in small planes might be happier to stay home. Indagare members can contact our <a href="/contact/">Bookings Team</a> to arrange a tour by small plane or helicopter.

Heli and Small Plane Touring

The 7km (4.3 mile) long glacier Mer de Glace was named as such (it translates to "sea of ice") by 18th-century explorers. The ice plane has been slowly shrinking over the past few centuries and is currently the lowest it has been since Medieval times. There are caves formed from the ice that can be explored but the best view is from the Montenvers outlook, reachable by train (a 20-minute journey from Chamonix center). Stay for lunch or a snack at <a title="Hotel Restaurant Montenvers" href="https://www.indagare.com/destinations/europe/france/chamonix/chamonix-town/restaurants/hotel-restaurant-montenvers/">Hotel Restaurant Montenvers</a>. During the ski season the Mer de Glace is skiable as part of Vallée Blanche.

Mer de Glace

The skiing in Megève has not been historically celebrated to much extent. Perhaps it is because the resort sits near such ski meccas as <a href="/destinations/europe/france/chamonix/">Chamonix</a> and Italy’s Courmayeur, or because most of its slopes tend to be rolling and wide rather than steep and daring. It could also be that the town of Megève is so charming, many find themselves preferring to luxuriate off the slopes, in the village cafés, cobblestone streets and world-class spas rather than race to the lifts at 8am. This, however, would be a mistake, as the skiing in Megève is excellent, and with over 200 runs covering 300 km (186 miles) of slopes, it is also sprawling—and less crowded than some of the other resorts that attract die-hard ski enthusiasts.

Comprised of three main areas (Rochebrune Côte 2000, Jaillet and Mont d’Arbois), the mountains are serviced by 80 lifts, including one that leaves directly from the village center. Megève sits at a lower altitude than many other resorts (2,300 meters or 7,500 ft.), and so has slightly warmer temperatures and receives less snow. On the other hand, the pistes consist of grassy, rock-free pastureland rather than glaciers or rock faces, and so require less snow to create excellent ski conditions. The area is also home to about 40 kilometers (25 miles) of cross-country skiing paths, most of which do not require passes.

Indagare members can contact our <a href="/contact/">Bookings Team</a> for assistance arranging private ski lessons, spots in ski schools and heli-skiing expeditions.

For those looking for a bit more of a challenge, or a break from Megève, the world-renowned ski mountains of Chamonix are also a 20-30–minute drive away.

Skiing

See & Do

There have been five generations of owners of Hameau Albert 1er, and each has left its mark on the historic and very special property. The initial proprietors, who in the early 1900s transformed a guest house for railroad workers into a Belle Epoque mansion, named the hotel for the Belgian king who frequently visited the region to indulge his mountain climbing hobby. Half a century later, Pierre Carrier, great-grandson of the founder, was passionate about buying up and transporting old chalets to the grounds and renovating them to house more modern and stylish guest rooms, the spa and a second restaurant, <a title="La Maison Carrier" href="https://www.indagare.com/destinations/europe/france/chamonix/chamonix-town/restaurants/la-maison-carrier/">Maison Carrier</a>.

Today, the 36-room hotel is run by Pierre Carrier's lovely and soft-spoken daughter, Perrine Maillet and her husband, Pierre Maillet, a Michelin-starred chef who heads the <a title="Hameau Albert 1er" href="https://www.indagare.com/destinations/europe/france/chamonix/chamonix-town/restaurants/hameau-albert-1er/">acclaimed restaurant</a>. Guest rooms, which are divided between the upper floors of the main building and the adjacent La Ferme, all feature the same comingling of traditional alpine style (pine furniture, nature botanical prints) with a mid-century modern aesthetic (low, orange felt chairs and shag rugs). The result is cozy, special and very French. Many rooms have beautiful terraces and views of the enchanting valley and surrounding peaks. Additionally, there is an apartment and two chalets, including the beautiful, all-white Chalet Grépon, which sleeps four people and is ideal for a family with small children.

The property is set on the edge of town, and getting to the village center requires a three-minute walk along a relatively busy road. The hotel benefits from having space in which to spread out, however, and staying there feels like being in the countryside, helped in part by the sprawling nature of the layout. The spa and indoor/outdoor pool takes prime space on the ground floor of Le Ferme and features excellent treatments, a relaxing pool area and a small poolside dining area.

The culinary offerings at Hameau Albert 1er are of top caliber (read Indagare's reviews of <a title="La Maison Carrier" href="https://www.indagare.com/destinations/europe/france/chamonix/chamonix-town/restaurants/la-maison-carrier/">Maison Carrier</a> and <a title="Hameau Albert 1er" href="https://www.indagare.com/destinations/europe/france/chamonix/chamonix-town/restaurants/hameau-albert-1er/">Hameau Albert 1er</a>)and breakfast, too, is a stunning affair. In a sunlit room with views of a babbling (no doubt freezing) stream, guests begin their day with an impressive array of freshly baked breads and croissant, housemade jams and locally sourced charcuterie and cheese. There could be no better way to prepare for a morning on the slopes—or in the spa.

Hameau Albert 1er

Famed designer Sybille de Margerie (the talent behind the <a title="Mandarin Oriental Paris" href="https://www.indagare.com/destinations/europe/france/paris/right-bank-1st-and-2nd-arrondissements/hotels/mandarin-oriental-paris/">Mandarin Oriental</a> in Paris and <a title="Cheval Blanc Courchevel" href="https://www.indagare.com/destinations/europe/france/courchevel/courchevel-town/hotels/cheval-blanc-courchevel/">Cheval Blanc</a> in Courchevel) is responsible for the uber-stylish look of the Hotel Mont-Blanc in Chamonix, opened in 2013. A black-and-white marble lobby sets the scene for the property, which marries an early 20th-century elegance with contemporary comfort.

The owners, the Taittinger family (of the famous Champagne house) are very hands-on, as they have long been devoted visitors and home-owners in Chamonix. The youngest generation doubles as owners and managers and are onsite everyday, adding a family-owned hominess to the chic property.

The 100-year-old hotel was initially built to house the servants of the aristocrats who stayed farther up the hill at the Majestic Hotel (which is today a building of apartments). Many original details remain, like the Belle Epoque lobby fireplace and wrought iron staircase balustrades. Much of the property's furniture was custom-made and the textiles were all hand-selected by the owners. Highlights include carved wooden headboards with alhambra details in all bedrooms and plush, teal velveteen curtains on the ground floor lounge.

Hotel Mont-Blanc's 42 rooms and suites are colorful, comfortable and boast views of the mountains, but are not very spacious, so we recommend booking a junior suite or higher category room. A design aesthetic that can be bothersome is the frosted, patterned glass wall separating the bathroom from bedroom. There is little privacy and the glass design, meant to evoke an ice cube, feels dated and not in keeping with the otherwise stylish look.

The property boasts an excellent spa, outdoor pool that is fully heated in the winter and the very good <a title="Le Restaurant de l’Hotel Mont-Blanc" href="https://www.indagare.com/destinations/europe/france/chamonix/chamonix-town/restaurants/le-restaurant-de-lhotel-mont-blanc/">Le Restaurant de l'Hotel Mont-Blanc</a>.

Hotel Mont-Blanc

Stay

Good for Group

Relaxed but Refined

Family-Friendly

First Time Musts

Local Treasures

Shop

The Swiss do everything with precision, and they certainly did not skip over Geneva. This international city is perfectly situated at the base of Lake Geneva and the foot of the Alps, offering a perfect stopping point before or after an adventure-filled itinerary in Switzerland or France.

Geneva Jet

Geneva

The notion that Paris is always a good idea may feel exaggerated, but the fact is that a trip to the City of Light never disappoints. Perhaps that's because it has all the elements of cosmopolitan capital—Michelin-starred restaurants, legendary palace hotels and some of the chicest concept shops you'll find anywhere in the world. No other does it with quite the same attitude and conviction as Paris. As in Rome or London, when walking its cobblestoned streets for hours (no matter the arrondissement), it's hard not to be dazzled by the architecture, the views along the seine and the history all around you. Just like a Chanel suit, Paris is forever iconic.

Paris Overview (possible hero image)

Paris

The charming French village in the Haute-Savoie region is considered one of the world’s most beautiful countryside destinations. The ski resort was founded in the 1920s, but the town has medieval roots—and evidence remains, including the narrow, winding, cobblestoned lanes.

LP-Megeve-Megeve-Tourism

Megève

Great Combinations

LP-Chamonix-hero

Chris Leach, member since 2011

Read about Indagare's curated set of restaurants in Chamonix, exploring a range of cuisines and local flavors.

Chamonix

Filters

Enjoy 30 Days On Us!

Welcome back,
log in to Indagare

Forgot Password