The resort
Chamonix is a busy, year-round town at 1,035 m beneath Mont Blanc. The valley’s five village resorts extend for 17 km from Servoz to Vallorcine. Ski areas are spread along it, so allow for travel from your accommodation.
The skiing
The valley's areas are separate mountains: only Brévent and Flégère are linked, by a cable car between the two. Grands Montets above Argentière is north-facing, 1,235-2,800 m with extensive off-piste terrain. A new Argentière-Lognan gondola is scheduled to open for Christmas 2026; the new 3S lift from Lognan toward the summit is planned for winter 2027-28.
Brévent–Flégère faces south above the town itself, reached by the Planpraz gondola from the center and the Flégère lift from Les Praz, with views of Mont Blanc. Balme, above Le Tour and Vallorcine at the head of the valley, has gentler terrain for families, and Les Houches runs its own tree-lined area down-valley. Half a dozen small beginner areas (Les Planards, Le Savoy and others) sit near the town.
None of this is a circuit: you pick a mountain each morning and take the bus or train to it. Allow for that journey when booking lessons or meeting friends.
Snow & weather
The town is low at 1,035 m, the skiing mostly high and often north-facing: snow can remain cold at Grands Montets while the valley is thawing. The month-by-month picture, in °C and °F, is on the Chamonix snow & weather page.
Lessons & ski schools
Choose lessons in the ski area you intend to use, rather than assuming every Chamonix course starts in the same place. For off-piste or glacier outings, arrange qualified guidance for the specific route and activity.
Passes
Chamonix Le Pass covers specified valley ski areas. Mont Blanc Unlimited adds further skiing and sightseeing options, with inclusions depending on duration and the season’s agreements. Compare the exact coverage in the lift company’s shop at shop.montblancnaturalresort.com, especially if you plan to visit Les Houches, Courmayeur, Swiss partner resorts or the major sightseeing lifts.
Where to stay
Stay in Chamonix for restaurants, shops and access to Brévent, or Argentière for Grands Montets. Les Houches has its own tree-lined ski area; Vallorcine is a quieter village at the head of the valley.
Les Praz, 3 km from Chamonix, is beside the Flégère lift. Le Tour, 11 km away, is below Balme. The valley train connects the villages; check the onward walk or bus ride to your lift.
Getting there
Geneva is the airport, 88 km away on the A40 Autoroute Blanche; Lyon (220 km) is the alternative. By rail, take the Léman Express from Geneva to the valley line, then the Mont Blanc Express, which stops in every village: about 2h40 from Geneva Cornavin to Chamonix, with no mountain driving. Italy sits 15 km away through the Mont Blanc tunnel. French mountain law (winter tires or chains carried, November 1 to March 31) applies.
Beyond the pistes
The Aiguille du Midi cable car climbs to 3,842 m, with the glass-box Step into the Void at the top. The red Montenvers train takes about 20 minutes to the Mer de Glace and its ice cave. Plan these as separate sightseeing outings and check operating conditions before setting off. The Grand Balcon Nord between them is a summer hiking route, not a winter walking connection. See the tourist office’s route information.
Who it suits
Chamonix offers separate mountains for different ski days and sightseeing options for non-skiers. It asks more transport planning than a compact, lift-linked resort.
Quick answers
Is Chamonix one linked ski area? No. The valley's areas (Grands Montets above Argentière, Brévent–Flégère above the town, Balme at Le Tour–Vallorcine, Les Houches) are separate mountains connected by valley transport, not lifts; only Brévent and Flégère are linked. Check the pass coverage for the areas you intend to visit.
Can you ski from the Aiguille du Midi? The Aiguille du Midi cable car (3,842 m) is high-mountain access and sightseeing, not piste skiing: there are no marked runs from it. Marked skiing at Grands Montets currently tops out below the summit while the upper lift is rebuilt; the new summit section is planned for winter 2027-28.
How do you get to Chamonix? Geneva is 88 km away on the A40 Autoroute Blanche. By rail, the Léman Express connects Geneva to the Mont Blanc Express line, which serves every village in the valley: about 2h40 from Geneva Cornavin to Chamonix. Italy is 15 km away through the Mont Blanc tunnel.