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Chamonix,
France |
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Les Houches
This is a self-contained resort with the largest single ski area in the valley.
Pistes are much more gentle here, and the wooded slopes make it a good bad weather option. The village has a friendly French atmosphere and it's the best base for families and those with a car wishing to explore all the resorts of the Mont Blanc region.
Chamonix
A beautiful bustling town packed with traditional French ambiance complemented by a cosmopolitan style and a wide range of activities. The Aiguilles du Midi dominates the town, the only ski-ing up here is one of the best-known itinerary runs, the Vallee Blanche, which can easily be tackled by intermediates although everyone should take a guide.
The linked Brevant and Flegere areas can be accessed directly and both have
a good mixture of pistes and plenty of testing off-piste. Be prepared, nighttime in Chamonix can be as challenging as the legendary steeps!
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Argentiere
A picturesque 14 th century village with an informal atmosphere and home of the Grand Montets, widely regarded as the most challenging of all the areas. There is little in the way of pistes here and most are fairly steep, even the blues! The serious stuff is the powder and off piste accessed from the top of the cable car at over 3000m. The snow is usually in good condition until late April and should keep a smile on the face of most experts. For the less experienced (or brave) nearby Le Tour provides a more gentle experience.
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| VITAL STATISTICS
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Resort Height |
Top Lift |
| Chamonix
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1035m |
3800m Aiguille du Midi Glacier |
| Argentiere
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1240m |
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| Les Houches
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1010m |
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| PISTES |
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| km |
152 |
| Lifts |
49 |
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Green |
14 |
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Blue |
21 |
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Red |
23 |
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Black |
9 |
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| Off piste
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Extensive |
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| Artificial Snow
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9km | |
| RATING |
| Beginner |
* |
| Intermediate |
*** |
| Advanced |
***** |
| Snowboarding |
**** | |
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| CHILDREN |
| Creche and Childrens Ski School Maison pour
Tous (04 50 53 36 68) 18 month – 6 years Panda
Club 10 months - 12 years (04 50 55 86 12
Chamonix Centre, 04 50 54 04 76 Argentiere)
Older children ski in Argentiere. Children's Ski
School 8.30am - 5pm Jardin des Neiges 4 - 6
years or on slope instruction 6 - 12 years
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Chamonix valley lift pass
includes all Chamonix areas except Les Houches which is
separate. A Mont Blance covers 13 resorts in the region
including Courmayeur, Megeve and Les Contamines.
| APRES SKI
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Extensive choice of bars, restaurants, shops,
nightclubs, discos, 2 cinemas with occasional
English films, swimming pool, museums and ice
driving |
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| OTHER ACTIVITIES
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Snow shoe trips, mountain biking, hang
gliding, paragliding, heli-skiing, flying
excursions, ice skating |
| TRANSFER |
Air-Geneva |
Train-Albertville |
SKI BUS
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| TIME |
1 hour 15 mins |
1 hour 45 mins
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Free with lift pass
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For more information
www.skifrance.co.uk
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