Chamonix Piste Map

Chamonix ski resort is the legendary home of Alpine skiing being the place where skiing first started and the location of the very first winter Olympics in 1924. Chamonix is an authentic and bustling town full of French character and charm. The town is nestled in the Chamonix valley at the foot of Mont Blanc, with an altitude of 4,807m making it the largest mountain in the Alps. Chamonix is the regions capital and is still small with approx. 10,000 permanent residents. This number swells when the snows fall as this is a modern destination for good skiers who want to be challenged as well as a fashionable ski resort that caters well for families. The centre of the town is pedestrianised and lined with Victorian buildings most of which host a bar restaurant or smart shop selling mountain equipment of one kind or another.

The ski lift and piste data is a tad misleading here as Chamonix has direct access to multiple ski regions and the Mont Blanc Lift Pass provides access to more pistes and ski regions than almost any other.

The altitude range here is immense as skiers can take the two, cable car ride to Aiguille du Midi at 3842m and then tackle the famous Vallee Blanche (NB: There is an easy route or a tres difficile route for experienced skiers only; preferably with a guide) Actually it doesn’t matter if you want to ski the Vallee Blanche or not, this trip on the cable car is impressive from both an engineering perspective or for those who want to soak up the amazing scenery on offer from gaining such a high altitude. The other side of the valley skiers gain direct access to the Brévent and Flégère ski areas. The Brévent and Flégère ski areas are inter-connected with a modern gondola, and both provide a good mix of blue and red runs which suit beginners or intermediate skiers very well on what is usually the sunnier side of the valley. Visitors to Chamonix should check our 'connected resorts' as although the connection is often via ski bus these areas are all available and should be visited to gain the most from a trip to Chamonix.

There are a range of separate ski areas accessible from Chamonix by shuttle bus all of which are available on the Mont Blanc pass, so you rarely need to ski the same piste twice within a week if you have the ability to ski the whole region including its numerous black runs.

Beginners should not be put off visiting by the fact that Chamonix is the worlds’ free-riding capital. The excellent skiing that is on offer, extends to some great nursery runs and some lovely rolling blue pistes that will keep the less experienced skiers entertained.

Accommodation in Chamonix is varied, the resort caters for everyone who wants to ski, whatever their budget. Chamonix has some fine spa hotels as well as well priced hostels. Budget does not matter in Chamonix, what matters is, that you love the snow.

Chamonix is very close to Geneva airport and is therefore also a popular destination for weekend skiers from all over Europe.