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Chamonix Ski Resort Guide (Alt 1000m) |
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Surrounded by the jagged and serrated peaks of the Massif de Mont Blanc, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc has one of the most dramatic settings of any ski resort in the world. A magnet for climbers, mountaineers, skiers and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds, Chamonix remains the undisputed capital of Alpinism and the most visited destination in the French Alps. Chamonix's history as an Alpine resort dates back to the mid 1700s, when British explorers William Windham and Richard Pocock publicized their remarkable journey to the valley's remote glaciers (Voyages aux Glaciers de Savoie). The resulting influx of tourists ultimately shaped the valley into what we see now - a development far removed from its early days as an isolated and weatherbeaten community of shepherds. Today, lively and cosmopolitan Chamonix welcomes some 160 000 thrill-seeking visitors annually, the majority of whom come to take advantage of the resort's extreme skiing, hair raising cable car rides and awe-inspiring scenery.
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The Chamonix ski area is divided up into a number of separate areas located both near Chamonix itself and its other nearby villages. Brevent and Flegere, the closest area to Chamonix centre, offers a mixture of intermediate and advanced terrain, with skiing up to 2525 metres. Les Grands Montets is accessible via the village of Argentiere - located at the end of the valley, Argentiere can be reached by bus from Chamonix. The Domaine de Balme, accessible from the villages of Le Tour and Vallorcine, offers the gentlest terrain of all the ski areas, with 22 easy and intermediate runs. Covered by a seperate ski pass, Les Houches, the lowest of the Chamonix Valley's areas is characterised by its wooded slopes and intermediate tree runs. |
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Located at the foot of the Massif de Mont Blanc, the quiet Alpine community of Les Houches is one of several villages dotted along the length of the Chamonix Valley. A calmer alternative to its closest neighbour Chamonix, Les Houches is an ideal base for anyone looking to ski the Chamonix Valley. Les Houches is an ideal base for anyone looking to ski the Chamonix Valley minus the Chamonix crowds. With a small, yet perfectly adequate selection of bars, shops and hotels, along with a number of easy green runs, it is also an ideal area of the Chamonix Valley for families and beginners to progress from. |
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Located at the head of the Chamonix Valley, Argentiere is most well known for its access to the challenging slopes and wide open powder fields of Les Grands Montets. Ascending to an impressive 3275 metres, Les Grands Montets cable car allows access to the largest single groomed ski area in the valley, plus numerous off-piste skiing opportunities on the Argentiere glacier. Argentiere village itself is a small and welcoming community, typically Savoyard in character and a calmer alternative to busy Chamonix. |
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Alp Line offer private ski transfers or shared ski shuttles to Chamonix, Les Houches and Argentiere. Book your Alp Line ski holiday transfer online now ... |
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