Chamonix ski holidays

Chamonix is a valley of separate mountains rather than one linked resort. Five ski areas line it, Les Houches, Brévent, Flégère, Grands Montets and Balme, with six beginner areas on the valley floor (Chamonix). Each day starts with a choice of mountain, and a short ride to reach it.

Between them, the Mont Blanc Express train runs up the valley through Les Houches, Les Praz, Argentière and Vallorcine, and the line from Servoz to Vallorcine is free with the Guest Card your lodging provides (Chamonix). The Mont Blanc Unlimited pass goes further: ten ski areas and four excursion sites, skiing in three countries (Chamonix).

On a trip we plan, a driver and the right pass take that choice off your hands: we pick the mountain each morning from the snow, the weather and who is skiing.

A new ten seat gondola from Argentière to Lognan is expected to open at Christmas 2026, and a new cable car to the summit is planned for winter 2027/28 (Chamonix). Until then the old Lognan and summit cable cars stay closed, and this winter the area skis between 1,235 m and 2,800 m.

Grands Montets is scheduled to open on November 28, 2026, reached through Plan Joran before the new gondola runs, and to stay open until May 2, 2027 (Chamonix). For strong skiers that means the upper glacier terrain is not lift served this season, so we build their mountain days around what is open, with a guide where it makes sense.

Yes, in the right places. The valley has six beginner areas, Le Tourchet, Le Savoy, Les Planards, Les Chosalets, La Vormaine and La Poya (Chamonix), so a first timer learns close to town while the rest of the group skis higher.

At the other end is the Vallée Blanche: more than 20 km and 2,800 m of vertical from the Aiguille du Midi at 3,842 m down the glaciers to the Mer de Glace, off piste. The tourist office asks for a guide, red run level and good fitness, and descents are generally possible from January to April (Chamonix).

For a mixed group we book private instruction by level and a mountain guide for the off piste days. Our guide to family ski lessons explains how the split works.

January to March for the full valley, and April for the Vallée Blanche and Grands Montets. Brévent and Flégère are scheduled from December 12, 2026 to April 11, 2027 (Chamonix), and Grands Montets until May 2, 2027 (Chamonix).

The French February school holidays run in three zones from February 6 to March 8, 2027 (Service Public). Those weeks, Christmas and New Year fill first, so for those dates we book instructors and guides before anything else. Our guide on when to book a ski trip covers the timing.

Fly into Geneva, 88 km from Chamonix (Chamonix); the shuttle takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, traffic permitting (Chamonix). Annecy airport is 90 km away and Lyon 220 km.

By rail, the Léman Express links Geneva airport with Saint Gervais Le Fayet, where the Mont Blanc Express climbs to Chamonix, and Italy is 15 km away through the Mont Blanc tunnel (Chamonix). We arrange the transfer from whichever airport your flights land at, and private charter when the schedule calls for it.

Chamonix town puts you under Brévent, with the evenings and the Aiguille du Midi on the doorstep; Argentière, where the new Grands Montets gondola starts, suits a group that will ski there most days. Around that we arrange everything between the flight and the last run: a private instructor or guide for each level, lift passes, transfers, equipment and a concierge on the ground.

Patagonia Living is a ski travel agency based in Patagonia and operated worldwide, and skiing is all it plans. We do not sell from a fixed list of chalets or hotels; one point of contact handles the trip from the first message to the flight home. The full list is in what a private ski trip includes. When you are ready, plan your next trip with us.