Skip to main content

Domaine de Balme Ski Lifts, Le Tour & Vallorcine

Connected ski areas & details of the lift system

The Domaine de Balme area is situated at the top end of the Chamonix Valley; accessed by either of two gondolas, one based in the village of Le Tour and another from Vallorcine on the French/Swiss border.

The Charamillon Ski Area on the Le Tour side of the mountain consists of rich alpine meadows in the summer and wide and varied ski slopes in the winter, great for beginner/intermediates with some steeper slopes and wonderful off-piste in the tree-lined Tete de Balme area on the Vallorcine side. Le Tour has a higher proportion of drag lifts than the other areas in the valley, but these can mostly be avoided by taking the Autannes or the Tete de Balme chairlifts.

As well as the two gondolas, the Autannes chairlift also runs in the summer, taking hikers and mountain bikers up above 2,000m, just a short distance from the border with Switzerland. In winter it can sometimes be quicker to access this area by driving or taking the train to Vallorcine, as the majority of skiers head to Le Tour.

Jump to

  1. Directions
  2. When to come
  3. How to get passes
  4. Hotels nearby
  5. Things to do nearby
  6. Restaurants nearby
  7. Nightlife nearby
  8. Sights nearby

Directions

Le Tour & La Vormaine can be reached best by car, as the train only takes you as far as Montroc. It takes around 25 minutes to drive here from the centre of Chamonix, or alternatively you can take one of the local buses which will also take around 30 minutes from the town centre. You can travel to Vallorcine separately on the train and catch the gondola up from there to the main ski area which is a good idea if the car park at Le Tour is full.

When to come

Take a look at all the winter lift opening dates and timetables.

How to get passes

You can buy lift passes at the ticket office once you arrive, or buy a pass in advance on line. See all the Winter Lift Prices.

Hotels nearby

Hotels in Chamonix

See all Hotels in Chamonix

Things to do nearby

Things To Do in Chamonix

See all Things To Do in Chamonix

Restaurants nearby

Restaurants in Chamonix

See all Restaurants in Chamonix

Nightlife nearby

Bars & Clubs in Chamonix

See all Bars & Clubs in Chamonix

Sights nearby

Sights in Chamonix

See all Sights in Chamonix

Latest News & Reviews

Find out all about what is happening in the Chamonix valley and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in the valley. Plus, during the winter season, our famous snow reports and dump alerts all in the same place.

See allLatest News & Reviews
Cooling down in Chamonix this summer 2019
Marathon du Mont Blanc 2017
the French entrance to the mont blanc tunnel
Latest gear - best new clothing for spring 2019
Latest gear - Mountain running equipment for 2019
Latest gear - Camping equipment for summer 2019

Upcoming Events

Chamonix hosts a wide range of sporting events throughout the year. The biggest ones include the Mont Blanc Marathon in June and the UTMB trail running race in August. In March, the Unlimited Festival brings ravers to the mountains while Musilac Mont Blanc takes place a month later. At the end of July, the Cosmo Jazz Festival hosts concerts all around the valley.

See allUpcoming Events
Les Houches Market
What's on for Halloween 2018 in Chamonix
an image of a person with red gloves holding a snow heart