CHAMONIX France
Welcome to Chamonix, France's best year round holiday destination.
Chamonix Background
Located in the French Alps, Chamonix offers a true French European mountain experience with versatile world class skiing and snowboarding, stunning hiking, old Savoyard culture, and of course unforgettable views. Towering above Chamonix, Mont-Blanc is the tallest mountain in Europe reaching 4810m, 15,781ft. The views will blow you away.
Chamonix Hotels & Vacation Rentals
Chamonix has a substantial responsibility keeping up with its reputation as the most famous mountain vacation resort in the world. Today, Chamonix, France boasts first-class accommodation options ranging from luxury Chamonix hotels, vacation rentals, self-catering apartments and ski in ski out Chamonix houses with direct access to the ski slopes. This year round destination nestled under the Mont Blanc offers a strategic location for all mountain sports addicts. Chamonix lodgings boast luxury amenities with a taste of the old European elegance. Most Chamonix hotels offer the warm atmosphere of a genuine mountain style chalet with welcoming staff for an unforgettable mountain vacation.
Winter in Chamonix
There is no limit to winter Chamonix activities, as this world renowned mountain vacation resort boasts several ski areas with breathtaking views and the back drop of Mont Blanc. There are four high altitude ski/snowboard fields to choose from in Chamonix, (Les Grands Montets, Le Brevent-La Flegere, Le Domaine de Balme, Les Houches) and four low valley ski areas (Les Planards, La Vormaine, Les Chosalets, Le Savoy).
Chamonix impresses avid skiers and snowboarders with one of the longest lift-served off-piste slopes in the world. Heli-Skiing near Chamonix is also a favourite winter activity for experienced skiers and boaders.
Winter in Chamonix also provides entertainment for the milder temperaments with snowshoeing, dog sledding, cross-country skiing and ice-skating. Even if you are not skiing or snowboarding you can ride the gondolas and cable cars to take in the views looking down on the Charming towns, narrow valleys, and awe inspiring glaciers.
For more information visit our Chamonix activities page.
Summer in Chamonix
Chamonix in summer definitely rivals the Chamonix winter for the wide range of activities it offers. This year round destination is just as sought out in summer as it is in winter and rightly so, as along with the magnificent summer landscape and majestic settings, summer in Chamonix is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and sports fanatics. Although many take advantage of the summer in Chamonix to climb Mont Blanc, there are many other rock climbing and mountaineering routes to try, after all one of Chamonix's favourite activities is mountain climbing. Other summer Chamonix activities for adventurous visitors are paragliding, white-water rafting and canyoning to name a few.
Those seeking a more tranquil mountain vacation can try the Chamonix Golf Club, bowling, tennis, swimming, and other family friendly activities. Many hiking trails lie within minutes of town. For some of the best mountain views in France, take the cable car up Mont-Blanc or the railway to the Mer de Glace Glacier. These images will stay with you forever. The gondolas and cable cars offer easy access to the mountains for mountain bikers, hikers, climbers, and para gliders.
For more information visit our Chamonix Activities pages.
Weather
CHAMONIX - Latest reading:
Condition: Clear, Temperature: -22°C, Humidity: 84%, Wind: NE at 8 mph
Four Day Forecast:
 |  | | |
| Sat Mostly Sunny Min: -20°C Max: -5°C | Sun Clear Min: -21°C Max: -2°C | Mon Clear Min: -21°C Max: -1°C | Tue Clear Min: -19°C Max: -11°C |
Chamonix Restaurants & Bars
Chamonix restaurants and bars provide an endless choice of more than one hundred dining and drinking options that range from simple local specialties, such as the Fondue Savoyard crepes to fine gourmet menus in five-star dining establishments. The choice is limitless with international menus including favourites such as Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Mexican and many more, catering for all tastes and dietary needs.
Catering services are available for those who wish to savour gourmet cuisine directly in their private Chamonix lodging. On mountain dining at altitude restaurants provides the ideal setting in which to savour Savoyard cuisine with spectacular views from the outside terraces unlike any others in the world.
Chamonix bars and après-ski options are plentiful with exclusive night clubs, bars and cafés, most boasting live music, offering some of the best entertainment in the Alps.
To plan your next night out visit our Chamonix Restaurants & Nightlife pages.
Shopping in Chamonix
Chamonix shopping is another unforgettable experience. The central shopping area is entirely pedestrian, which makes Chamonix shopping all the more agreeable. The many boutiques and outlets in this area offer a pleasurable stroll along the calm shop-lined streets where century-old establishments boast high quality fashion as well as delicatessen and shops specializing in chocolate and Savoyard cheeses. For a more typical Chamonix shopping experience, the market comes alive twice a week offering all kinds of traditional handicraftss and specialties such as the local Tomme and Reblochon cheeses.
To plan your next shopping spree in Chamonix visit our Chamonix Shopping pages.
Chamonix Spas & Wellness
Chamonix boasts several Spas and Wellness centres. Most of the Chamonix Spas are located within the mountain resort’s best hotels or luxury lodges and are also accessible to those staying in other Chamonix lodgings. Various wellness treatments and therapies are enjoyed in these Wellness paradises including beauty treatments, massages, and health programmes using traditional Chinese medicine.
Some Chamonix spas also offer relaxing bathing in warm thermal waters and saunas, Turkish baths, sensorial steam rooms, Japanese wooden baths, Hammam and Jacuzzis. There is no better place to unwind than in a Chamonix spa after a full day of winter or summer activities.
To book your next pamper day visit our Chamonix Spa & Wellness Pages.
A Brief History of Chamonix
In 1741 an English mountain expedition first discovered the Chamonix Valley and its majestic glaciers, which was until then, inhabited by the local mountain farmers who lived off poor harvest and animal products. The men on the expedition thoroughly explored the area of Mont Blanc and when their journals were finally published, people started to take a frenzied interest in this now popular year round destination. The first Chamonix hotel, which was actually a guest house opened in 1770 and started attracting celebrities to this newly established mountain vacation resort as well as an increasing crowd of winter and summer tourists.
In 1786 Mont Blanc was finally conquered with the first ascent by two local men, Paccard and Balmat, who paved the way for future Chamonix climbing activities. The renowned “Compagnie des Guides” was finally established in 1821 after a tragic accident on the Mont Blanc, and from then on mountain guides and mountain activities became Chamonix’s main economic attraction, along with the new railway line that linked the Chamonix valley to the rest of the world.
Chamonix in the French alps, France’s best mountain town. (video)