Argentiere ski resort guide Skiing, apres-ski, things to see & do in Argentiere
Overview
Welcome to our Argentière guide - a wonderful authentic resort sitting at the top end of the Chamonix Valley approximately 7 km from Chamonix. It is a compact village with all amenities within walking distance including the main ski lifts.
Spa & wellbeing
For some pampering, head to the spa resort hotel of Granges d'en Haut at the top of Les Houches with it's luxurious treatments, sauna and indoor swimming pool.
Argentiere ski area guide
Being based in Argentiere gives you access not only to the Grand Montets but all the areas in the Chamonix Valley - each one offering something different. Whilst the villages are are not linked by lift, (except for Flegere and Brevent) the fact that you can ski in so many different areas means you won't get bored doing the same run every day.
Skiing or boarding on the pistes is only half the story, as the true magic of Argentiere and the whole Chamonix Valley for that matter, is in her off piste prowess. If you find yourself off piste in one of the endless bowls at Les Grands Montets on a bluebird powder day, it will probably be the best day's skiing of your life.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 1252m |
| Top lift | 3842m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 550 |
| Longest run | 24 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 37 km |
| Season | Dec - April |
| Snowboard parks | 2 |
| Heli Skiing | ✔ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✔ |
| Babysitting | ✔ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Relaxed and fun |
Beginners
We heartily recommend La Vormaine next to the Domaine de Balme ski area at the end of the Chamonix Valley (a few minutes from the centre of Argentiere) for beginners.
Brevent above Chamonix offers pistes for all abilities, so all levels can have fun at the same ski area. From Brevent you can also take the cable car across to La Flegere which also has excellent beginner slopes.
Intermediate
Argentiere and the other ski areas in the Chamonix Valley are not ideal for intermediates unless you relish steep challenging slopes and off-piste. If what you want is mile after mile of lift-linked cruisy pistes, we would suggest somewhere like Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil system or Corvara in the Dolomites (1200km of linked runs!!). Having said that, there are some excellent intermediate slopes at Flegere / Brevent and at Le Tour / Vallorcine.
Advanced
Les Grands Montets, the ski area in Argentiere, is the real deal for advanced and extreme skiers. North facing - what the area lacks in sunshine during the first half of the ski season it makes up for in steepness and long-lasting snow. If we're honest the pistes here are long and challenging, but they're not the centre of attention. It's all about the off piste.
For a first taste of big mountain skiing, you can head to the top of the Grands Montets where there are two black pistes on the glacier. hen there is the Pas de Chevre - this route takes you from the top of the Grand Montets into the Mer de Glace at the end of the Valley Blanche tour - a mega trail for those wanting that extra bit of adrenaline!!
Cross-country
There are around 37km of prepared trails around the Chamonix Valley split in to two main areas. The first area is made up of gentle trails that weave through the forest linking Chamonix with the village of Les Bois. The second is further up the valley in Argentière with skiing through pine forests. Snow conditions permitting, these 2 areas are linked via the village of Le Lavancher.
Ski touring
The Haute Route - since 1911 when the tour was first completed, it has become the most famous and coveted ski tour in the world. Staying overnight in mountain huts and then skiing in virgin snow the next day is a dream - from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn at Zermatt covering about 180km!! The whole tour takes around 6 days and you need to be fit as about half the people who try it dont make the distance!!
Other ski holiday activities
- Ice skating
- Winter walking and snowshoeing trails
- Tobogganing
- Ten-pin bowling
- Parapenting
Après-ski
There is a good choice of bars and restaurants throughout the resort offering local cuisine from the Haute-Savoie. The Office Bar is the most famous place to drink in Argentière and has live music, good beer and is where a lot of the resort staff hang out either after skiing or later in the evening. Chamonix, which is just down the road, has a bigger selection of bars and nightclubs.
Our view on Argentiere resort
Skiing in Argentiere ticks all the boxes - superb variety of skiing throughout the Chamonix Valley, good local apres-ski and the world famous resort of Chamonix a short drive away. A few suggestions...
Have lunch at L'Alpage at Domaine de Balme in the old mountain farmhouse tucked next to the Aiguillette des Posettes drag lift - a bit out of the way to get to, but very much worth it as it isnt your usual Chamonix mountain restaurant fare
Head up the Aiguille du Midi - it might sound obvious, but for those who don't want to ski the famous Vallee Blanche off piste itinerary, it is still worth going up the two cable cars to take in the amazing views at 3842m
If you like Argentiere, you may also want to look at resort guides on Mayrhofen in the Ziller Valley and Canazei in the Italian Dolomites.
