Thinking of a Skiing Holiday in the French Alps

Best and Worst of Chamonix Mont Blanc for a European Ski Vacation

Oct 1, 2009

Chamonix is the most famous ski resort in the European Alps. One of the biggest attractions is the Aiguille du Midi. Given the popularity and crowds is Chamonix worth it?

GorpAway.com rates Chamonix number three in its 'Top Ten Ski Resorts in Europe'. According to the UK’s AskMen.com it ranks Chamonix 6th in the world. Travelers Digest also puts Chamonix in the top six ski resorts worldwide. So what’s Chamonix all about?

History of Chamonix Mont Blanc

Chamonix is known as an extreme sports Mecca, put on the map when Mont Blanc, Western Europe's Highest peak was first conquered in 1786. By the late 1700s more than 1,200 visitors per year stayed in Chamonix and the town has continued to evolve as a major tourist center.

The locals are understandably proud of Chamonix’s illustrious mountain heritage. In the 1880s, accustomed to strapping wooden planks to his feet to explore neighboring hamlets; Dr Michel Payot organized the first winter tourist excursions on the slopes around Chamonix. He thereby introduced and promoted, for the first time in France, the sport of skiing already practiced for centuries in Nordic countries. In 1924 Chamonix was home to the first winter Olympics, though ironically alpine skiing at that time was not included as an Olympic sport.

Best of Chamonix Mont Blanc

One of the major attractions to Chamonix is the Aiguille du Midi. Its hypodermic spire (a metal mast that serves as a television relay station) stands out within a wraparound skyline bristling with rocky gendarmes, granite spires and stiletto pillars. Thousands of people travel to the top of the Aiguille du Midi, all year round simply to enjoy spectacular panoramic views.

The Aiguille du Midi cable car has the capacity to transport about 650 mountain-bound souls per hour. It is a ski lift with a difference since the only slopes accessible from the 8342-meter summit pinnacle are unmarked, unpatrolled, high mountain itineraries on glaciated terrain. Hiring a guide is strongly advised.

One such high mountain itinerary known as the Vallee Blanche is the most famous lift-accessed ski run in the world.

Chamonix is not actually a ski resort but a large alpine town at the heart of a valley that is home to a half-dozen ski fields stretching 25 km between Les Houches and Vallorcine. Skiing in the Chamonix valley is especially renowned for off-piste (backcountry) enthusiasts with some of the most challenging terrain in the world, most notably at the Grands Montets ski field. Some lift accessed areas are on glaciated terrain.

Lift-accessed ski touring (randonnée) i.e. traveling uphill under one’s own steam, is very popular for Chamonix visitors (and locals alike) suited for fit, confident skiers accustomed to skiing varied snow conditions beyond the groomed trails.

Public transport is free within the Chamonix valley in winter with a hotel discount card or ski pass.

Numerous airport to chalet-door shuttle services taking just over an hour from Geneva's international airport make Chamonix a convenient ski destination.

Worst of Chamonix Mont Blanc

Due largely to its high profile extreme image Chamonix attracts the crowds. These become especially onerous during peak season in the lift lines, on the slopes, and getting around.

For powder hounds in Chamonix 'the early bird' as they say, 'catches the worm'. On powder days, most popular off-piste areas get tracked out very quickly.

Apart from a handful of chalets and hotels located near the slopes, Chamonix is not set up for a holiday with ski-in access. Each of the ski fields has parking, some charge a fee. Budget travelers are best off using public transport which is reasonably efficient – a mix of shuttle buses and trains. The latter being more pleasant to travel with and the former more frequent and convenient.

There is a public perception that Chamonix Mont Blanc is dangerous due to the high number of accidents. For those keen to venture beyond the marked trails, it is strongly advised to hire a guide.

Value for Money Chamonix Ski Passes

A 6-day Mont Blanc Unlimited Ski Pass for €235 at 2009 / 2010 prices provides some of the best value skiing for terrain available arguably anywhere in the world.

Chamonix has a weather system often distinctively different to neighboring ski areas. It is not unusual for it to be raining or snowing in Chamonix, and to arrive at the other side of the 11km Mont Blanc tunnel to blue skies and sunshine in Courmayeur, Italy or, vice versa. This means a short drive can lead away from bad weather.

This is where the Mont Blanc Unlimited Ski Pass comes into its own. The pass includes skiing not only at the lift systems dotted along the Chamonix valley but also in Switzerland and Italy, all within an hour’s drive.

Included in the Mont Blanc Unlimited Ski Pass is access to Courmayeur and Funivie Mont Blanc in Italy and a new inclusion for 2010 is the Verbier-4 Vallee ski area.

Clearly the best thing about Chamonix is the abundance of exciting skiing options, proximity to and reciprocity with nearby ski destinations and the multi-cultural experience this affords. Keen adventure-skiers need to visit Chamonix at least once in their lives.

The copyright of the article Thinking of a Skiing Holiday in the French Alps in Skiing is owned by Lisa Auer. Permission to republish Thinking of a Skiing Holiday in the French Alps in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.