Planning A Ski Trip To Chamonix And The French Alps

Nestled below Mont Blanc, the Chamonix valley is legendary amongst snow seekers.  It’s the kind of place that most skiers and snowboarders have on their bucket list as a place to conquer because of it’s steep slopes and extreme weather conditions.  Beyond the epic snow, the town of Chamonix is full of Victorian chalet charm and its proximity to Switzerland and Italy make it ridiculous easy to mix things up for the ultimate winter vacation.

Chamonix Valley

While the area is synonymously known as Chamonix, the whole valley is actually composed of several areas.  There’s Chamonix proper of course where the main resort is but then to the northeast is Argentière and to the southwest is Les Houches.  

In between, there are probably a good half a dozen more smaller resorts.  The beauty of it all is that they all count as Chamonix as far as lift passes are concerned.  For those looking for a quieter and serene experience, I personally recommend staying out in Argentière and in one of those luxury chalets in Chamonix.

Hero Status Slopes

When you first get to Chamonix and look around you realize just how immense the Mont Blanc massif is.  What makes the skiing and snowboarding here so good is the fact that you get massive range and versatility.

The Chamonix Resort starts at 1035 meters and soars to a height of 3842 meters which is where the highest lift goes to.  You can imagine just how long the runs get and how varied it gets when going from high to low altitude.  

While a lot of Chamonix is geared towards advanced skiers, don’t be turned off if you’re a beginner.  There are still a ton of easy runs.  Just make sure you know the difference between a green circle and black diamond before you head up.

More Than Skiing

Beyond the carving of powder, there’s a ton more to do in the region.  For one, don’t miss your opportunity to go dogsledding with the cutest and fluffy dogs you’ve ever seen.  

If hiking is your thing, snowshoeing gives you an opportunity to be one with nature and connect with the kilometres of trail that will allow you to find all sorts of hidden gems along the way. 

Lastly, in the town of Chamonix itself, you’ll have the opportunity to check out the numerous shops, restaurants, and cafes which contribute to the liveliness of the streets.  

Beyond that, there is also an ice rink, a luge on rails which is open all year round, a swimming pool, an indoor climbing wall, and several museums to explore.

Magic Triangle

Without looking at the map, you probably won’t realize that Chamonix is wedged right at the convergence of the 3 countries of France, Switzerland, and Italy.  So what does that mean?  Well that means that there’s a heck of a lot of single or multi-day adventures that you can launch right from your cozy chalet in Chamonix.

Italy

Your alpine vacation can easily extend to the neighbouring Italy.  Accessible via the Mont-Blanc tunnel or through the Petit St. Bernard’s pass, you can decide to either do more skiing in Courmayeur (free for all holders of a Mont-Blank Unlimited lift pass) or head down to Pré St Didier, a cute little Italian village just past the border to relax in saunas and steam baths.

Switzerland

Absolutely take advantage of the fact that you’re so close to Switzerland.  To start, Geneva is the closest international airport so you’re almost guaranteed begin your adventures here.  The drive to Chamonix is only 1 hour 15 minutes drive.  Once here, you can easily hop on the Mont Blanc Express train and enjoy the stunning scenery as you descend through the grapevines and end up in Martigny, Switzerland.  Alternatively you could also rent a car and drive up to Saillon or Lavey for their thermal baths.

So you see, if you’re looking for a different kind of winter destination vacation and have been looking to the Alps for a long time, make sure you consider Chamonix as a place of choice.  

The French Alps and the Mont Blanc mountain range are a wonder to see in person.  

Hotels in Chamonix provide the perfect balance of an alpine retreat while giving guests access to adrenaline of the mountains.

Who’s been to the French Alps?  Would love to hear from you about your experiences.

What To Pack For Chamonix

These are a few of our basic packing recommendations for a ski trip, but make sure to check out our ultimate cold weather packing list before your trip!

• Base Layer: Hitting the slopes means you’ll most likely be covered in snow. You’re going to want to layer your outfits to keep warm. Start your base layer with merino tights, a wool long sleeve shirt and wool socks. Depending on how much you plan on hitting the slopes, you may want to pack a few pairs of each.
• Mid Layer: These items you could most likely get away with only packing one each. You’ll want a fleece top like the Arc’teryx Kyanite AR Hoody. It’s so comfortable, light, highly breathable, velvety soft, and very warm. Pair that with these thicker weight fleece pants and a down jacket. This will easily be one of your favorite pieces of clothing in the winter. I could wear this as a stand-alone piece all day long. In below freezing temperatures, this’ll provide a bulk of the warmth. A Polartec fleece like this Polar BUFF provides the warmth around your neck while the rest of the BUFF gives your face protection, which means you don’t need to travel with a neck gaiter.
• Outer Layer: Again, you’ll only need to pack one of each as you’ll be able to reuse. Not only great for skiing or snowboarding, but also a wonderful rain coat, this shell jacket is superb all-around. Pair it with these shell pants, you’ll be waterproof top to bottom!
• Hat and Gloves: A must-have, and while you’d think for really cold weather you might need something extra, but your standard toque (what we call a beanie in Canada), is totally enough. If your head gets really cold though you can always layer with this layering beanie. The layering continues with this nifty glove system that has roots in the military but really taken up by the photography community. This liner glove has a pocket for hand warmers and is touch screen compatible. Throw a pair of The Heat Company Shell Full Leather gloves on top, which open up to reveal the liner gloves so you have full access to your fingers, making operating your smartphone possible.
• Shoes: Skiing or not, you’ll definitely be in the snow. So snow boots are a must. The Sorel Glacier XT or Caribou Wool Boot are both good options as they are both waterproof and rated for -32°C (-25.6°F). Crampons are a must when hiking the icy slopes of the mountain. Don’t forget our favorite sandals out there for lounging around the hotel!
• Sun Protection: These are things you don’t want to forget on this trip. When the sun reflects off that white snow it gets BRIGHT. Don’t be without your favorite pair of ski googles. And although you may be layered, you’ll want some sunscreen for any skin that is exposed, like your face!

Featured image by Flickr eguidetravel