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Chamonix

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Chamonix, France

Chamonix is often referred to as the ‘Capital Of World Mountaineering’, and rightly so! It is a remarkable base camp for mountain activities whether you are alpine mountaineering in summer, off piste skiing in winter, mountain walking or simply enjoying the superb high mountain scenery.

Chamonix is located in the Haute Savoie department of South East France, near both the Italian and Swiss alpine borders. The Chamonix Valley is a spectacular divide between the high altitude glaciers and summits of the Mont Blanc Massif to the South and the Aiguilles Rouges mountain range to the north.

Getting To Chamonix

Chamonix Accommodation

Chamonix Mountain Information

Chamonix Weather & Avalanche Forecasts

Chamonix Restaurants & Cafés

Chamonix Valley – Other Activities

Chamonix Mountain Walking – Training & Acclimatisation

Chamonix Ski Touring & Off-Piste Warm-Up & Course Preparation 

Evening Alpenglow On The North Face Of Les Drus Towering Above The Chamonix Valley

Getting To Chamonix

Geneva Airport

Chamonix is about 100kms and a 1.5hr drive from Geneva Airport – less if there isn’t much traffic! There are many car hire options. Make sure your hire car has winter tyres if you are coming in winter.  Winter tyres and / or snow chains are now a legal requirement in Haute Savoie between the 1st Nov and 31st March.

Chamonix is very well served with regular transfer buses from a wide variety of companies offering both group and private taxis. Here are a recommended selection that we have found to be reliable and all offer slightly different formats and prices.

Guests who have booked any course or guiding with us can receive a special discount for a door to door transfer from Geneva airport to Chamonix accommodation with Mountain Drop Offs for just €35-45 during core hours of the high season.

Milano Airport

Milan Malpensa airport is nearly 300kms from Chamonix and around 4 hours drive. More if there is a lot of traffic waiting to use the Mont Blanc Tunnel. Thus Geneva airport is much closer, easier and cheaper but the access from Milan is via the beautiful Italian alpine Val d’Aosta, so this is a good route if you want to spend some time in the Italian Alps.

Rail

Chamonix is on the main train line between Le Fayet and Martigny across the Swiss border. Rail travel from Geneva airport is possible but slower and more expensive than using a private transfer company, see above, so these are much more popular.

Paris – Chamonix takes around 6-9 hours and it is possible to take an overnight sleeper train to Le Fayet / St. Gervais which then just provides a final short hop to Chamonix. Check with the French rail company SNCF.

Road

Road Access to Chamonix from France and the North is via the ‘Autoroute Blanche’ E25-A40 which links to the main European motorway network. Access from Switzerland is via Martigny, Col de la Forclaz and Col des Montets (occasionally closed in winter). Rapid access from Italy is via the Mont Blanc Tunnel at the head of the Valle d’Aosta (allow c.€55 for a return journey).

Welcome To Chamonix – Capital Of World Mountaineering!

Chamonix Accommodation

Please note that our courses usually meet in Chamonix town centre, often at a Hotel / bar / café near the train station. Thus easily accessed on foot from any of the town centre hotels but also with nearby parking for those arriving by car. Flexibility to arrange your own accommodation during your stay in Chamonix is a feature of our group courses. We prefer to let you choose your own budget & style of hotel, bunkhouse, self catering accommodation or camping. All of these are widely available in Chamonix.

For private guiding courses we offer door to door collection / drop off from anywhere in Chamonix and for group courses there is usually a pre-determined morning meeting point on the outskirts of the centre of town, eg near the train station or main market place.

Weather and conditions sometimes mean that a flexible approach is required regarding which nights are spent in mountain huts, and thus what nights are spent in the valley.  Some guests have found this flexibility is more easily managed when dealing direct with the Hotel / accommodation rather than having booked through booking.com for example.

Chamonix Hotels – In the Town

Refuge Des Aiglons – Smart & modern 4* Hotel with large reception & bar / restaurant / breakfast area, spa and outdoor swimming pool with Mont Blanc views.

Hotel Morgane – Another smart 4* Hotel with a town location near the Aiguille du Midi and some private parking and good restaurant.

Pointe Isabelle Hotel – Lively location in the heart of the bustling Chamonix apres-ski scene and close to the train station, mountain shops as well as the café-bakery, where many of our courses start.

Hotel La Folie Douce – For those that like to party!  A big lively new hotel right on the edge of the centre ville with a range of accommodation options, very lively bar and restaurants as well as a night club scene and lovely big gardens outside.

Hotel Oustalet – Good location between the Aiguille du Midi and the train station and near mountain shops as well as the café-bakeries, where many of our courses start. Swimming pool, outdoor green space, nice breakfast, great gouter!

Hotel Albert Premier – A well know institution in Chamonix! A 5* Hotel with 2*Michelin Restaurante…and with a price tag to match!

The beautiful views of the Chamonix Valley and Mont Blanc from the Col de Balme en route to the Albert Premier Hut

Chamonix Hotels – Walk / Bus Or Train Ride From Town

Hotel Verte – Good location near the Les Gaillands lake and climbing cliff with lots of space and some parking. Informal atmosphere & good food. C. 15 min walk to town centre.

La Chaumiere Mountain Lodge – Mountain orientated & relaxed hotel between Chamonix and the Les Gailands lake & cliff. Spacious rooms with up to 4 beds as well as a bar, restaurant, garden, storage & drying room and plenty of parking make this a good Chamonix base camp. About 10 mins walk from central Chamonix & very handy for the local train & bus stop.

Ice & Orange– Chalet Tissiers ~ Catered chalet in the pleasant village of Les Bossons with large garden and great views of the mountains, a short bus / train ride from Chamonix. Flexible approach to nights away in huts etc.

Hotel Les Lanchers – Situated near the Flegere ski lift in the pretty village of Les Praz, this 3 star hotel offers single, twin/double & even quadruple rooms, all with ensuite bathrooms.  A decent walk in to Chamonix or bus / train ride.  Very handy for skiing at Flegere, climbing in the Aiguilles Rouges or accessing the many Chamonix walking paths.  Has it’s own cosy bistrot and bar, Le Refuge.

Chamonix Chalets

Ski Breezy Chalet – Breezy & Al are great hosts in this lovely chalet. We highly recommend Chalet D’Ile is a beautiful 10 bedded Chamonix chalet situated in a quiet residential area. It is within easy walking distance of Chamonix town centre and the Chamski bus stop & caters for small groups, couples & individuals.

Cru Chalets Chamonix – Cru Chalets provide 2 luxury catered and self-catered accommodation in Chamonix Mont-Blanc. Chalet Marithé, which sleeps 12 in 6 en-suite bedrooms, is an exceptional property close to the centre of Chamonix providing a wealth of space and luxury. Chalet Grand Cru, which sleeps 10, enjoys a unique central location and is perfect for family’s or groups alike.

Chalet Les Pelerins – A variety of accomodation options including B & B, self catering and a fully catered Chalet option. Smart chalet with great views 10 mins walk from the centre of Chamonix.

The fine exposed snow ridge on the return to the Aiguille du Midi. Chamonix nearly 3000m below!

Chamonix Gites – Bunkhouses – B & B – Self Catering

Chamonix Mountain Lodge – Chamonix Mountain Highs Chalets, offering a good value alpine Chalet experience for up to 20 people, 9 bedrooms, 5 of which are ensuite. The Chalet also has a large communal living room with wood burning stove, separate TV room, garden, sun deck, 8 person hot tub and large sauna.

Gite Chamoniard Volant – Large communal gite 10-15 mins walk to the east of the town en route towards Les Praz. Shared rooms of 4,6 or 8. Free parking, self catering kitchen.

Chamonix Alpenrose – Quirky but decent value Gite style accommodation. A 15 minute walk in to the centre of town.

Studio in Les Houches. Pleasant self catering studio, with parking, in a quiet part of Les Houches. Available for weekly or daily let.

Airbnb Chamonix. Many of our guests are increasingly using this online service to source good value self catering accommodation options. It seems to work well!

Chamois Blanc & Adventure Base – Good value self catering accomodation in Cham Sud & through out the Chamonix Valley summer & winter.

Collineige Chalets – Wide variety of both self catering and catered chalets sleeping from 2-12 all with great Savoyarde charm & atmosphere and Chamonix location. Summer and winter.

Chamonix Camping

Camping île des Barrats – Good three star campsite situated in ‘greenery’ but close to Chamonix town centre and the Aiguille du Midi.

Ski Touring In The Vallee Blanche, Accessed From either the Aiguille du Miid above Chamonix or the Skyway Monte Bianco above Courmayeur

Chamonix Weather & Avalanche Forecasts

Chamonix Weather Forecast

Meteoblue – Chamonix

Meteo France – Chamonix

Pistehors Haute Savoie Avalanche Bulletin

Chamonix Snow Report

Chamonix 6 Day Snow Forecast

Avalanche Forecast For Surrounding Areas (Swiss Valais and Italian Valle d’Aosta)

Swiss National Avalanche Bulletin

Valle d’Aosta Snow and Avalanche Bulletin

Chamonix Mountain Information

High Mountain Guides Mountain News

Chamonix Office de Haute Montagne – With list of routes recently completed

Alpine Exposures – Jon Griffith’s Chamonix based blog

Rock climbing in the Aiguilles Rouges, high above the Chamonix Valley, with Mont Blanc beyond. Photo Gav Pike

Chamonix Mountain Guides

High Mountain Guides

Chamonix Compagnie des Guides

Chamonix Ski Instructors

Offpiste Performance Chamonix

BASS Chamonix

Chamonix Ski Hire

Sanglards in Chamonix, Argentiere or Vallorcine

Chamonix Restaurants & Cafés

L’Impossible – Chamonix Italian Vegetarian Restaurant

Le Monchu – Savoyard Restaurant

Casa Valerio Chamonix – Italian Restaurant

Chamonix Annapurna – Indian Restaurant

Green Soft Bar – Italian Café

Chamonix Valley – Other Activities!

Chamonix Tourist Office

Chamonix Bike Hire

Chamonix Parapenting

Chamonix Canyoning & Rafting

Chamonix With Kids

Les Paradis des Praz

Chamonix luge d’été & amusement park

Chamonix Mountain Walking, Acclimatisation & Training

Our article on mountain walking, acclimatisation & training below offers some excellent tips and ideas for walks and training prior to any summer alpine course.  Arriving a few days early is always a good plan to give you some time to acclimatise and enjoy the mountains.

Chamonix Mountain Walking, Acclimatisation & Training

Chamonix Ski Touring & Off Piste Warm-Up & Course Preparation

Take a read of our article about ski touring and off-piste warm-up skiing and course preparation from the link below.  If you plan to come out a few days early or even stay for some skiing after the course has finished you can use this article to help you plan some warm-up and additional skiing around the Mont Blanc region.

Chamonix Ski Touring & Off Piste Warm Up & Course Preparation

April 2023

Ski Vallée Blanche 🇫🇷 April 2023

April 4
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£175.00 Sold out

As the most famous off-piste ski run in the world, the Vallee Blanche has a lot to live up to...Happily the 18km journey with 2800m of vertical descent through some…

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Ski Haute Route Training Day 🇫🇷 April 2023

April 5
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£225.00 Sold out

Our Ski Haute Route training days are an excellent opportunity to brush up on the more technical elements of ski touring and ski mountaineering.   As part of an enjoyable…

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Chamonix Off Piste & Touring Skills 🇫🇷 April 2023

April 10 - April 14
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£725.00 Sold out

“A ski instruction course designed to improve your technical off-piste skiing, mountain safety awareness and skill, whilst doing lots of good skiing in the process”.
Course Aim
To develop competence and confidence skiing in variable off-piste terrain and to ensure it is something you look forward to rather than fear. To achieve this there are two skill sets that need to be developed; ski technique and safe travel skills. You will come away from this course feeling that you have developed both.

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Chamonix Off-Piste & Touring Skills – Progression 🇫🇷 April 2023

April 10 - April 13
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£850.00 Sold out

Our second & more advanced course has been designed specifically for those who want to develop their skills after the standard course, or those with a similar level of experience. The aims are to further improve both your technical off-piste skiing, technical ski touring skills & mountain safety awareness whilst visiting some different venues and interesting new terrain in the process.

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Spring Ski Summits 🇮🇹 🇨🇭 2023

April 23 - April 28
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£1,395.00 Sold out

This is a seriously inspiring and seriously physical 6 day guided ski mountaineering team programme offering the chance to do multiple demanding physical and moderately technical high altitude ski journeys…

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Spring Ski Summits & Mont Blanc 🇮🇹 🇨🇭 2023

April 23 - May 3
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£2,425.00 Sold out

This is a seriously inspiring and seriously physical 6 + 3 day guided ski mountaineering team programme offering the chance to do multiple demanding physical and moderately technical high altitude…

Booking »
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Ski Gran Paradiso 🇮🇹 & Mont Blanc 🇫🇷 Spring 2023

April 27 - May 3
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£1,945.00 4 places left

Mont Blanc. The highest mountain in Western Europe and a true challenge for the dedicated ski mountaineer. A magnificent objective for those with the skills to do it. Late spring…

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June 2023

Climb Mont Blanc 🇫🇷 & Gran Paradiso 🇮🇹 Early June 2023

June 1 - June 7
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£1,945.00 Sold out

An ascent of Western Europe’s highest mountain is a big challenge and superb mountaineering expedition.  When combined with an early summer season climb of the Gran Paradiso, at 4061m the…

Booking »
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Mont Blanc Training Course Chamonix 🇫🇷 Early June 2023

June 10 - June 11
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£445.00 4 places left

This early summer 2 day course in the Chamonix Valley makes an inspiring complement & fine progression from our UK based Mt Blanc Training Weekends.  It also acts as a…

Booking »
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Climb Mont Blanc 🇫🇷 & Gran Paradiso 🇮🇹 Mid June 2023

June 14 - June 20
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map

An ascent of Western Europe’s highest mountain is a big challenge and superb mountaineering expedition.  When combined with an early summer season climb of the Gran Paradiso, at 4061m the…

Booking »
Click here for full course details »

Mont Blanc Training Course Chamonix 🇫🇷 June 2023

June 27 - June 28
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£445.00 3 places left

This early summer 2 day course in the Chamonix Valley makes an inspiring complement & fine progression from our UK based Mt Blanc Training Weekends.  It also acts as a…

Booking »
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July 2023

Becoming An Alpinist 🇫🇷 July 2023

July 3 - July 7
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£1,295.00 2 places left

On this progressive alpine training course we aim to tackle some of Chamonix's classic easy alpine routes in a style that will offer you high quality mountaineering training along the…

Booking »
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August 2023

Becoming An Alpinist 🇫🇷 August 2023

August 14 - August 18
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£1,295.00 Sold out

On this progressive alpine training course we aim to tackle some of Chamonix's classic easy alpine routes in a style that will offer you high quality mountaineering training along the…

Booking »
Click here for full course details »

September 2023

Mont Blanc Training Course Chamonix 🇫🇷 September 2023

September 5 - September 6
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£445.00 4 places left

This late summer 2 day course in the Chamonix Valley makes an inspiring complement & fine progression from our UK based Mt Blanc Training Weekends.  It also acts as a…

Booking »
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Climb Mont Blanc 🇫🇷 & Gran Paradiso 🇮🇹 Mid Sept 2023

September 7 - September 13
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£1,945.00 2 places left

An ascent of Western Europe’s highest mountain is a big challenge and superb mountaineering expedition.  When combined with a late summer season climb of the Gran Paradiso, at 4061m the…

Booking »
Click here for full course details »

Becoming An Alpinist 🇫🇷 Sept 2023

September 18 - September 22
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£1,295.00 3 places left

On this progressive alpine training course we aim to tackle some of Chamonix's classic easy alpine routes in a style that will offer you high quality mountaineering training along the…

Booking »
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Climb Mont Blanc 🇫🇷 & Monte Viso 🇮🇹 Late Sept 2023

September 20 - September 26
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£2,095.00 4 places left

An ascent of Western Europe’s highest mountain is a big challenge and superb mountaineering expedition.  When combined with a late summer season climb of Monte Viso, ‘The Stone King‘ a…

Booking »
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Climb Mont Blanc 🇫🇷 & Gran Paradiso 🇮🇹 Early October 2023

September 28 - October 4
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£1,945.00 4 places left

 An ascent of Western Europe’s highest mountain is always a big challenge and superb mountaineering expedition...Climbing in early autumn adds another level of challenge in that the weather is cooler,…

Booking »
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October 2023

Climb Mont Blanc 🇫🇷 & Gran Paradiso 🇮🇹 Mid October 2023

October 8 - October 14
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£1,945.00 3 places left

 An ascent of Western Europe’s highest mountain is always a big challenge and superb mountaineering expedition...Climbing in early autumn adds another level of challenge in that the weather is cooler,…

Booking »
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January 2024

Chamonix Intro Ski Touring Weekend 🇫🇷 January 2024

January 13, 2024 - January 14, 2024
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£295.00 5 places left

This is a dynamic weekend designed to give you a fun and informative insight into the magical world of ski touring. It packs the essential elements of our 5 day…

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March 2024

Ski Haute Route Training Day 🇫🇷 March 2024

March 13, 2024
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£225.00 4 places left

Our Ski Haute Route training days are an excellent opportunity to brush up on the more technical elements of ski touring and ski mountaineering.   As part of an enjoyable…

Booking »
Click here for full course details »

April 2024

Spring Ski Summits & Mont Blanc 🇮🇹 🇨🇭2024

April 21, 2024 - May 1, 2024
Chamonix Chamonix, France + Google Map
£2,445.00 4 places left

This is a seriously inspiring and seriously physical 6 + 3 day guided ski mountaineering team programme offering the chance to do multiple demanding physical and moderately technical high altitude…

Booking »
Click here for full course details »
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