Chamonix

The Chamonix Valley is home to the villages of Les Houches, Argentiere, Chamonix town and Le Tour, and together they offer some of the very finest advanced-level skiing and back-country potential in the whole of France. The resorts all sit within about an hour’s drive of Geneva airport so getting there is easy, and for skiers on a budget the choice is vast.

Chamonix Valley, France by Phil Hawksworth

There’s a whole host of one, two and three star hotels and guesthouses in and around Chamonix to choose from, offering catering on a bed and breakfast or half-board basis. Booking rooms in a youth hostel is also a great way to stay in this stunning region on a budget and there are lots of options to consider, often with surprisingly good facilities.

Some visitors to the Chamonix Valley organise their travel independently and if you’re looking for a package with flights and airports transfers included, Chamonix’s options are limited. That said, skiers on a budget looking to get onto the slopes without hassle can look at properties like the Hotel Sapiniere or Club Med Chamonix, which both offer packages that include flights and transfers. The latter may appear expensive but if you consider that aside from travel, they also include food, accommodation, lift passes and tuition, the value for money is great.

The best runs for advanced skiers in Chamonix are spread out across the entire valley! Les Houches offers amazing off-piste skiing, and heading down through the pines to village level is fantastic after fresh snowfall. Argentiere offers a good selection of black runs, and the areas of Brevent and Flegere have lovely long red pistes to enjoy, where you can really get a good pace up. Serious back country skiers can hire a guide and head up the Aiguille du Midi cable car for the infamous Vallee Blanche run, or take a trip along the valley to the quieter Le Tour area, where intrepid skiers can lay fresh tracks through deep snow days after the last snowfall.

St Anton am Arlberg

St Anton sits near Innsbruck in the Tyrol region of Western Austria, and is one of the most popular Austrian resorts amongst European skiers with a pedigree stretching back decades. Rapid and modern lifts line the flank of the resort, from the Galzig in the west to the Nasserein in the east, offering swift and hassle-free access into the valley. The lift-served off-piste here is spectacular and you can spot open powder fields from nearly all of the chairlifts in the area.

Crosscountry trail, St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria by Dezso Papp

For advanced skiers looking to visit St Anton on a tight budget the options are many and varied. On the packaged holiday market chalet Pia is a 3* property with 36 beds, located just off the resort’s main high street. It’s a five minute walk to town centre and access to the Galzig lift is easy on foot. The 3* chalet Elfie is another good packaged option for those on a budget. It sleeps 24 and sits just seven minutes away from the town centre and the Galzig gondola. Both these chalets include breakfast, afternoon tea plus evening meals.

If you’re happy to buy flights separately into Innsbruck or Friedrichshafen airport, St Anton has a wide selection of guesthouses, hotels and self-catered chalets you can stay in boasting good locations and decent value for money; for more information on accommodation, skiers can click here. Independent catered chalets like the Waldhausli and the Arlberg are comparatively inexpensive across the entire season, and are popular options for skiers keen to see this iconic resort for themselves.

Up on the slopes advanced-level terrain can be found in abundance, and after fresh snowfall off-piste powder fields are everywhere! Advanced skiers can take the Gampen then Kappl lifts for the area’s best selection of steep and challenging black pistes, and there are three different routes back to resort level to explore. Leaving St Anton behind and heading over towards the resorts of Lech, Stuben or Zurs, advanced skiers can enjoy the area’s enormous off-piste potential as well as pleasantly varied and challenging slopes. Mechanised piste-bashers keep the slopes in absolutely pristine condition, something the towns below are enormously proud of.

For advanced skiers looking to really test their mettle, St Anton is home to der Weisse Rausch (the White Ring.) This is one of the longest, most challenging and most varied ski races in the world, with participants starting at the Rufikopf peak before setting off on the twenty two kilometre endurance battle. The White Ring draws racers from across the globe keen to test their skills against the best in the game, and when it’s all over and done with the after-party has to be seen to be believed!

Tignes

Ask any group of advanced skiers which French resorts they most enjoy visiting, and Tignes will almost inevitably make the list. It sits in the Espace Killy in France, over the ridge from its more upmarket neighbour, Val d’Isere, and the range of steep terrain there is as good as any you’ll find anywhere in the whole of France. The entire area offers around 300 kilometres with a good percentage of that dedicated to steep red and black runs ideally suited to advanced-level skiers.

Tignes, France by titom-666

One of the best things about Tignes for budget-conscious skiers looking for the steep and deep is the range and quality of accommodation options there, at the lower end of the price spectrum. Chalet hotel Le Dome is a prime example; a 3* property with flights and transfers available in a package deal, sleeping 26-31 people. Le Dome sits a minute’s walk from the Boisses gondola and offers fully en suite rooms, lounge and bar area – for skiers on a budget it’s a great option. Tignes chalets like Les Tavaillons and Le Tichot are also great for budget-conscious skiers looking for a price-savvy ski package.

A great way to ski in Tignes and save money on accommodation is to base yourself down in Tignes Les Brevieres, a pretty village at the base of the valley yet within easy reach of Tignes centre via a gondola and chairlift. Independently-run chalets like the BonjourBonjour or the Lavachet Lodge offer great value for money plus the flexibility to sort travel at the times and costs that suit you. It’s also worth noting that there’s a black piste called Sache which starts at the Aiguille Percee peak at 2748 metres and runs all the way down to les Brevieres at 1550 metres – what more could advanced skiers ask for?

Another highlight for advanced skiers in the Tignes valley include the steep red and black pistes atop the mighty Grande Motte glacier, at an eye watering 3456 metres. There’s a long red piste here called Double M, under the Les Lanches chairlift, which is a sheer thrill to ski and takes you nicely back into Val Claret for further exploration!

Zermatt

Dominated by the spectacularly imposing peak of the Matterhorn mountain nearby, the Swiss resort of Zermatt is one of the most iconic of all Europe’s ski resorts. A whopping 23% of the area’s 200 kilometres of piste are designated black runs so Zermatt is an advanced skier’s paradise, and with a base altitude of 1600 metres and lifts taking you up to 3820 metres, Zermatt offers excellent snow coverage and strong off-piste potential all winter long.

Zermatt, Switzerland by chensiyuan

One of the main drawbacks of a stay in Zermatt is the expense of everything. Zermatt’s lift passes are some of the most expensive in Europe and the resort has more Michelin-ranked mountain restaurants than you can shake a stick at, so it’s perhaps surprising to find the resort in an article aimed at skiers on a budget. Zermatt is included in this list for its suitability for advanced skiers, and as this is a sizeable resort, there will be some types of accommodation options available at the lower end of the budget scale.

For independent travellers the airports of Geneva, Zurich or Milan are the closest, and for cheap accommodation the resort offers a few fantastic options. The Matterhorn Hostel, for example, sits about 200 metres from town centre and 100 metres from the main lift station, with dormitory and private rooms, common rooms with satellite TV, cooking facilities and ski rental deals. Regarding accommodation which includes flights and transfers, options such as the Atlanta and Bellevue are great. The 3* chalet Atlanta is a wonderful option for skiers on a budget – it sits a 3 minute stroll from town centre and offers on-foot access to the Sunnegga and Gornergrat lifts in under 4 minutes!

Highlights for advanced skiers in Zermatt are plentiful but it’s worth noting the amazing black runs off the Stockhorn and Hohtalli peaks. You can access them from the Gornergrat peak, and they’re well-linked via gondola. Myriad routes down offer wonderful variety, and the long piste 7C takes you to a great little mountain cafe for a drink in the snow. Over to the south, the Schwarzee peak is the start of the piste 12, a long sloping black run which changes into a red piste and takes you from 2583 metres all the way down to resort level at 1620 metres.

Thanks to the diverse range of pistes and package deals, any adrenaline seeking skier is sure to find something to suit their requirements.

Anna Campbell is a freelance writer who blogs on a freelance basis to share her travel tips for those about to hop on a plane for their next holiday. Anna has been involved in travel journalism for several years, and currently lives in London.

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Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France by Flávio Eiró

The World renowned Skiing

Chamonix offers one of the best ski-resorts in the world with five major ski stations complete with all year round lift systems. This is home to the awe inspiring Vallée Blanche, Chamonix’s most famous and challenging 20 km ski run where both glaciers and crevasses can give the very best exponents a run for their money. Generally the off piste skiing is fantastic and there are plenty of beginners slopes so the town can cater for all abilities and ages. Many believe the term “Après-Ski” was created here, and the accommodation is of a high standard with chalets, apartments and hotels aplenty. With skiing in mind, the next attraction on our list will certainly stir interest with you.

Aiguille du Midi

You simply haven’t experienced the Alps until you stand atop the most incredible views from the peak station of the Aiguille De Midi cable car, the 1905 brainchild of two Swiss engineers. At more than 3800 metres you’ll need time to take in the Mer De Glace glacier in all its God like glory, the whole panorama of Chamonix including Vallee Blanche, and of course the enigmatic Mont-Blanc range of mountains. But it gets better as on a clear day, you can also spot the magnificent Matterhorn, Monta Rosa and the Grand Combin. The journey is made in two stages bottom to top and can take up to two hours all in. If you fancy eating in one of the World’s highest restaurants then the ambient “3842″, is the place to be seen in. But there are plenty of cafes and snack bars around and the station even has its own stamp and post-box.

Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix, France by Guillaume Baviere

Montenvers railway

The Montenvers Railway  has the distinction of being the first specialist tourist attraction in the valley, opening in 1908. Enjoy lovely views as the train works its way up the sides of the Aiguilles de Chamonix eventually reaching a height of just under 2000 metres. Known as ‘the little rack railway’, It’s now one of the most popular attractions in Chamonix with the station balanced on a rocky ridge overlooking the Mer de Glace glacier, the largest of its type in France.

Ice Caves

Once you have ridden the Montenvers train to the top, a short cable car ride will take you to the Ice Grotto or caves where you can see some wonderful sculptures made out of ice and fascinating caves. There’s also an animal museum and exhibition of extraordinary mountain crystals. But remember there are more than 300 steps from the lift to the cave entrance.  A return trip for an adult will cost just under 28 Euros and you can buy a family package for just under 83 Euros.

Climbing Mont Blanc

If you’re extremely fit and fancy an exciting challenge then even without much experience you can still climb the White Mountain. There are specialist companies who will quickly train you in all the necessary skills to make a climb alongside a vastly experienced guide. This means everyone can climb at their own pace. You can spend time acclimatising in unique mountainside huts and then have three nights to make the ascent. You’ll need to research the companies thoroughly to get the best deals and the package best for your needs. The main ascent day is quite tough involving 1600m of height gain though you’re roped up and won’t have to use your hands much at all. Normally spread over  12 hours, the feeling of achievement is reported to be simply fantastic. This will generally cost you just under 2,000 Euros for the experience of a lifetime. But remember, weather conditions can change rapidly here so flexibility on timescales is key to a successful summit.

Soaring east face of Mont Blanc du Tacul by Masa Sakano

So there we have it. Exciting visitor attractions set alongside some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. The area around Chamonix is not only fabulously French but tantalisingly tasty when it comes to exhilarating activities.

Convinced and fancy a trip to the famous Chamonix? Being located only 100km from Geneva International Airport organising a Geneva to Chamonix transfer has never been easier than it is with Chamonixfirst. With door to door collections and drop offs this is the best way to make traveling to Chamonix from Geneva Airport simple. Alternatively Chamonix is only an 8 hour drive from Calais if you would like to indulge in the scenic drive through rural France.

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I enjoy a variety of winter sports and have been fortunate enough to visit a number of leading resorts. Here are my top 10 ski resorts in Europe:

1. Davos

The resort of Davos in Switzerland is most obviously associated with gatherings of the rich and famous. This should not, however, ignore the fact that it is also a location that provides beautiful ski conditions and a wide variety of entertainment.

Davos, Switzerland by Flyout

2. Verbier

The Swiss resort of Verbier is known as a place where you can enjoy luxurious accommodation, great ski conditions, wonderful restaurants and plenty of entertainment in the evenings. If you are looking for thriving nightlife, then Verbier clearly has a lot to offer.

3. St Anton

If you follow professional skiing, then you’ll know that Austria has a rich history in this area. It should come as no surprise, therefore, to see Austrian resorts within this list. The skiing in St Anton is fantastic and it’s worth noting that the resort is popular with leading celebrities too.

4. Levi

One of the advantages of choosing for a resort in Finland is that you’ll find that the ski season there is really extended. Indeed, you may even find that it’s possible to enjoy a ski vacation during the early part of the summer.

At first, you may feel that this seems a little unnatural. My own view is that it’s something that should certainly be embraced.

Levi, Finland by Leo-setä

5. Chamonix

Possibly the finest resort in France, where you can expect to have a pretty impressive experience. From gourmet food to stylish, French chic, this is a location that is not to be missed.

6. Pas de la Casa

Located within the tiny state of Andorra (in the Pyrenees, on the border between France and Spain), I have enjoyed skiing here in the past. If you do get bored, then it’s also nice to know that you have possibilities available to you in southern France and northern Spain, which are both within easy reach of Andorra.

7. Bansko

One of the newly emerging budget resorts, this Bulgarian town offers the skiing and entertainment, with a no-frills atmosphere.

Bansko, Bulgaria by Amorphisman

8. Les Arcs

Les Arcs is a French ski resort that caters to all tastes. Whether you are seeking a luxury escape, or a frugal family break, you’ll find that everything is possible in Les Arcs.

9. Livigno

The Italian resort of Livigno often seems to be overlooked, but it actually offers some fantastic budget skiing options. If you want the excitement of an Italian ski resort, without the high prices, then you can’t go far wrong with Livigno.

10. Kraniska Gora

You may already have heard of some of the resorts that I’ve mentioned, but Kraniska Gora is viewed as being a little away from the beaten track. Young families are often thrilled to spend time in this beautiful Slovenian resort.

Keith Barrett always investigates Verbier ski accommodation online, prior to heading for the popular Swiss resort. He also enjoys planning ski trips and experiencing the thrills offered by the slopes.

The post The Top 10 European Ski Resorts appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Rob Alter

Chamonix provides skiing in a variety of central areas, which are linked by an efficient bus service, and because the resort shares its peaks with neighbouring Courmayeur, a full lift pass gives skiers access to nearby Italian slopes as well. Beginning with Les Houches and le Touchet, beginners can enjoy a broad variety of nursery slopes to find their rhythm before progressing to tougher pistes.

Intermediate skiers can make steady progress in the well-known Vallée Blanche (with a guide) and enjoy the variety and scenery in Flégère before moving on to off-piste, red and black runs. Advanced skiers can hone their skills at the Grands Montets in Argentière, at Brévent, Flégère and le Tour, while all the runs offer some of best powder skiing available in the country.

Not forgetting snowboarders; there are drag lifts in the beginners’ areas, and plenty of on and off-piste terrain for intermediate and advanced boarders at Brévent, Flégère and le Tour, providing opportunities for jumps and gullies.

Chamonix is also a part of France’s mountaineering heritage, perfectly situated for hikers and climbers to explore the local terrain. The untouched countryside, red squirrels, chamois and deer, and magnificent views across Mont Blanc, provide a harmonious atmosphere. Chamonix is also well-equipped with sporting and leisure facilities, including exciting nightlife, and comes highly recommended as one of France’s best-loved places to ski.

View Powder Ski? Choose Chamonix in France! in a larger map

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