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Wintersports in Chamonix

Discover the top Chamonix wintersports

Updated

Whatever you choose to do on your winter holiday you are sure to find a huge range of activities across the Chamonix area. From relaxing to full on adrenaline there is something for everyone, every ability and every age in Chamonix. Check out the selection of things to do below for some holiday inspiration!

The main draw for people coming to Chamonix in winter is, of course, the skiing and snowboarding. With 5 different parts of the valley to ski in, as well as a wealth of off-piste areas, the valley has something for every level of experience. There are around 150km of pistes accessed by a total of 65 ski lifts split between the main ski areas and the low mountain beginner zones. There are 6 green pistes, 30 blue pistes, 31 red pistes, 10 black pistes and two snowparks. The pisted ski terrain ranges in altitude from 950m to 3300m. The backcountry skiing offers much more in terms of altitude, vertical descent and of course, difficulty, including the world-famous Vallée Blanche descent, a 20km long route that takes you from the Aiguille du Midi down 2700m to the bottom of the valley.

Activities Guest Card
The Chamonix Guest Card ('carte d'hote') is valid throughout the year (for the duration of your stay) and entitles you to various discounts throughout the valley, such as reductions at all the sports and cultural facilities including the swimming pool, ice rink, museums and covered parking. If you do not receive one when you check into your accommodation, you can buy one from any of the tourist offices in the valley at a cost of €10 per person per week.

It also entitles you to free travel on the buses and trains between the valley's resorts from Vallorcine to Servoz (with the exception of the Chamo’nuit night bus). If you wish to take the train all the way through to Martigny in Switzerland or down to Le Fayet and St Gervais, you just need to pay the difference from Vallorcine or Servoz.

About Winter Activities in Morzine

Biathlon

Modern Winter Biathlon is the combination of cross country skiing and rifle shooting and tests not only fitness but also patience and control. In Chamonix you can try your hand at this Olympic Sport. If you like cross-country skiing but want to add another challenge then Biathlon is the perfect way to escape into the natural, quiet surrounding mountains and then shoot stuff, mainly with laser guns. Most of the biathlon lessons take place at Chamonix's cross-country skiing area by the Bois de Bouchet

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Canyoning

Watersports in Chamonix

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Climbing in Chamonix

Guides & Tours in Chamonix

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See our Climbing Guide

Cycling in Chamonix

Bike Hire in Chamonix

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See our Cycling Guide

Fitness and swimming in Chamonix

A public gym and fitness classes can be found at the main sports centre in Chamonix. Pop-up instructors and classes also take place in Les Houches (look out for Studio 128) and most places around the valley.

Sports & Fitness in Chamonix

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Golf in Chamonix

Golf Courses in Chamonix

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Heli-ski

Unfortunately, heli-skiing is not permitted in France. However, thanks to Chamonix's location just on the border with Switzerland and Italy, some of the ski schools, adventure companies, local flight companies and mountain guide companies offer a pick-up/drop-off heli-skiing service for you where you will be taken over the border and ski down (even back across into France again). It is expensive, but definitely a once in a lifetime experience!

Horse riding in Chamonix

Horse-riding in Chamonix

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Hydro-speeding

Watersports in Chamonix

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Paragliding / Parapenting

If you’ve never tried paragliding before then Chamonix is a great place to learn how to fly. Known as “parapenting” in France, there are a great number of clubs and organisations in the area whose sole purpose is to give you the experience of flying. From the heights of the Brevent and other mountain tops in the valley, you can glide down to the bottom of the valley on a tandem paraglider controlled by the instructor. He manoeuvres the parachute while the passenger enjoys the ride and fantastic views. The main landing place in Chamonix in the winter is behind the sports centre, by the Bois de Bouchet, so you'll find some companies offering paragliding there. Top tip: Wait until the spring and then go on a sunny, warm day when the thermals will keep your airborne for longer.

Flying in Chamonix

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See our Paragliding Guide

walking path winter

Winter walking

Walking Routes in Chamonix

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Watersports in Chamonix

Watersports in Chamonix

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See our Watersports Guide

Ski touring in Les Houches

Aiguillette des Houches Ski Tour

Living in Chamonix means that you become friends with the best kind of people - the kind that like to go on adventures. These adventures can be as big as summiting Mont Blanc or as small as top-roping your first climbing route; this weekend my adventure was ski touring a route that I’d never done before with a group of similarly novice “randonneurs”.

Come spring Skiing in Alpe d'Huez in 2018

Come spring skiing in Chamonix

Beautiful weather, super skiing and great après-ski - what's not to love?

Cross country skiing in Chamonix

Cross country skiing in Chamonix

Located in Chamonix

The long-awaited snow storm has arrived! This weekend has passed in a swirling blur of snowflakes, coating the mountains in a big thick white blanket. Until the skies clear up, weather conditions are ideal for a spot of cross country skiing.

Les Thermes Mont Blanc, Saint Gervais les Bains spa area

Ski time to me time in Chamonix

Ski holidays don’t have to be all about pushing yourself to conquer the steepest piste, or master the sharpest turns; they can also be an opportunity to treat yourself to a relaxing massage or bliss out in a bubbly jacuzzi.

a skier boot packing up the hill

Ski Touring at the Aiguille de la Gliere

Located in Chamonix

It's been a slow start to winter in Chamonix, but (finally...) things are starting to look a bit more like winter. After a couple of small but useful snowfalls on the 7th and 10th January the old existing, and pretty darn firm, snow layer has received a cover of 20 to 40cm of light fresh snow (depending on where in the mountains you are). 

Snowshoeing hiking in Les Houches, Chamonix

Snowshoeing in Les Houches

There's more to Chamonix than skiing and when the weather is as beautiful as this, snowshoeing is the perfect way to enjoy being in the mountains.

a woman stroking two husky dogs

Spring half term activities in Chamonix

Chamonix caters really well for everyone from little tots to energetic teenagers.

News

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Events

  • Cosmo Jazz Festival 2023, Chamonix
  • A woman sits at a table with a notebook with the letter u on it
  • Les Houches Market
  • Kleio quartet at CVC festival
  • Police Tribute Act
  • Vallot Refuge & Bivouac (4362m), Chamonix-Mont-Blanc