  Airport
About ChamonixChamonix is a vibrant alpine ski town with a big reputation for great skiing holidays. Located at the foot of Mont-Blanc (Europe's highest summit at 4810 m), it is the birthplace of mountaineering and is the sophisticated grandfather of ski resorts. Mont-Blanc soars to dizzying heights above you, ice falls and glaciers dot the slopes, and you can Europe's highest cable car or the red cog-wheel train to take it all in. Chamonix has a lot of history and you can see it in the architecture - alpine farms, baroque churches, art deco buildings make the resort enchanting. The skiing does not disappoint either. There is 152 km of piste around Chamonix itself, but it is also linked to the large Mont-Blanc ski area, which holds numerous ski resorts, with 12 in the Chamonix Valley alone. The terrain at Chamonix is divided into three areas, which are linked together by an efficient shuttle bus and a panoramic train. There are plentiful pistes to suit skiers of every level, making this a good choice for mixed-level groups. Beginners can cruise on 49 percent of the trails, and for the very first timers, the nursery slopes at La Vormaine, Les Chosalets, Les Planards and Le Savoy are perfect. For intermediates, Chamonix is a paradise providing a wide variety of excellent range high altitude blue and red runs. Expert skiers won't know where to start, as this is the home of some of the most impressive challenges to be found for advanced. For those who like to sneak a little shopping in, or love the après-ski as much as the actual skiing, Chamonix is fabulous. There's a wide selection of great shops and boutiques and many bars and clubs to celebrate the days successes in. For beginners
It's fun to learn to ski or board at Chamonix, because there are so many easy, fun slopes. Forty-nine percent of the runs are graded for learners. For those trying it for the first time, try the nursery slopes at La Vormaine, Les Chosalets, Les Planards and Le Savoy. Le Tour, at the top end of the valley, is good when you're learning with long blue and green runs. The Choalets at Argentière are easy, and The Brevent has good easy runs with good snow.
For intermediates
Chamonix is a bit of a paradise for intermediate skiers, with every kind of mid-level slope you could think of. If you get the full Mont-Blanc lift pass, 500 kilometres of pistes studded with high altitude blue and red runs are at your disposal. Les Houches and Le Tour have some easier blues and reds. If you're more confident, try Les Grands-Montets, Le Brevent and La Flégère. For the advanced
Good skiers will push themselves to the limit at Chamonix. This really is perfect place for the experienced skiers, especially if you love off piste! Les Grands-Montets has a great mix of challenges, from the moguls at La Herse or the rock cliffs and powder La Pendant. The off-piste is awesome, especially Pas de Chevre which leads to the Mer de Glace. You'll never get bored in Vallée-Blanche, there are so many ways to ski it. Three quarters of it is on a glacier though, so be careful of crevasses.
Ski school
There are 10 principal guide companies and ski schools in Chamonix, offering every type of course and activity you can imagine. Many of whom were born and raised under the shadow of the Mont Blanc. They'll know how, when, and where to go, which mountain restaurants are worthy, and where the chamois are hidden. The two main ski schools are the ESF (École du Ski Français) and Ski Sensations (especially for English language natives). Private courses are available for one to five people for one or two hours for novices at any hour of the day, half or full day, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There are also adult and junior group courses (13 years or older) for skiing and snowboarding for four hours a day (at about €130/$121 per week), adapted to every level. Additional classes are available during mid-term French school holidays (February through early March) because of the crowd during this period. Argentiere Ski School Après Ski
Après-ski is an art form in Chamonix. There are great restaurants, cafés, pubs, bars, and even a casino to while away the times when you haven't got skis or a board strapped to your feet. Restaurants range from the Chalet le Cerro, a quaint wooden chalet serving traditional local delights to L'Eden which serves classic French food with a modern twist. Le Stone Bar, an Italian-style bar serves up fine food and wines as well as live music, as do many others. Chill out with a chilled wine, or party all through the night. Off the Mountain
Chamonix has activities off the slopes to match the awesome skiing. A large sports complex will keep you fit for the pistes with a sports hall, indoor and outdoor ice rink, speed skating rink, 19 tennis courts (quick and clay) including 4 indoor courts, squash courts, a swimming-pool complex with water-slide & fitness centre (saunas, Turkish baths, solarium). The Alpine Museum and a range of exhibitions with varied themes are offered throughout the season, and there are many runways are available for hang and paragliders. The Chamonix tourist office offers weekly heritage visits retracing the rich history and architecture of the town, where you can discover the significance of the Balmat statue, the pont de la Cour, the Priory, the temple and many more sights. Fabulous shops will keep those in need of a little retail therapy happy. Other options: snowshoeing, dog-sledding, cross country skiing, ski touring, speed riding, cinema, library, museum, a casino and two spas. Getting there
By air
One of the reasons for Chamonix Mont Blanc's popularity as a year round holiday resort, particularly for those booking short breaks, is its accessibility to Geneva Airport (88 km). Well-renowned operators like Easyjet and British Airways fly from a large choice of UK airports to Geneva, and once you arrive it is only an hour's drive up the motorway to the heart of the resort. It is also close to Lyon-St-Exupery International airport (220km) and Turin-Caselle International airport (171 km). Airport transfers
The SAT bus company will transfer you from the Geneva airport. SAT 40, place de la gare, 74400 Chamonix Mont-Blanc By train
Chamonix has its own train station (Chamonix Mont-Blanc) with connections to the SNCF lines from St Gervais/Le Fayette and Vallorcine. There are also links to the TGV service at Annecy. Check out www.sncf.com for timetables and booking details. By car
Direct access via the Autoroute Blanche E25-A40 linked with the European motorway network. Chamonix is 16 km from Switzerland via the Col des Montets, and 15 km from Italy via the Mont-Blanc Tunnel.
Resort rating and reviews
30 November 2008
Traveller rating:
  Chamonix lives up to it's aname as a very special ski resort. It's def...
View full review 
Resort ratings out of 10
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Skiing Holidays in ChamonixPhoto
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