Mont Blanc - Vallorcine

Skiers have fast access to the friendly local Balme ski area, shared with neighbouring Le Tour, via an efficient gondola from the village.

Facilities in the village itself are blessedly limited.  There are a handful of simple restaurants and available activities, besides skiing, are limited to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.  However if you’re looking for a livelier night out or more extensive facilities, it’s easy to get Chamonix and the local guest card provides discounts on activities in the area, such as the Chamonix swimming pool complex.

Chamonix is indeed a fascinating traditional resort with a bustling atmosphere thanks to the presence of over 100 shops, bars and restaurants. The picturesque town also has a casino, Olympic ice rink, sports complex, tennis courts, climbing wall, bowling, Alpine museum, seven night clubs and three cinemas.  Also in the region you can try paragliding or take a helicopter sight-seeing flight.

Why Vallorcine?

·          Small, unspoilt resort that’s less crowded than Chamonix

·          High altitude skiing with very good snow records

·          Traditional village

Your Children

The Panda Club+33 (0) 4 50 54 08 88 or  +33 (0)4 50 55 86 12

Kindergarten with ski instruction in both downtown Chamonix (0033 450 55 86 12) and in Argentière at the cable car station (0033 450 54 04 76). The Panda Club Chamonix is on Clos du Savoy. Panda Ski at the Argentière station takes kids ages 3–12. These child care centres have games, crafts and outdoor snow games. Children ages 3-12 years welcome.

Rough costing - €60 for half day, €80 for a full day, €255 for five half days, and €310 for five full days, €285 for six half days, and €340 for six full days.

Open from 8.30am to 5.30pm every day and entertains children from 3-12 years old.  Daily pick up/drop off service can be arranged (parents must accompany infants in minibus).   

Website: http://www.panda-club.com/ Email address: info@panda-club.com

A list of approved baby-sitters is available from the Chamonix Tourist Office

Activities in nearby Chamonix

A large sports complex offers sports hall, indoor and outdoor ice rink, speed skating rink, 19 tennis courts including 4 indoor, squash courts, swimming pool complex with water-slide & fitness centre (saunas, Turkish baths, solarium). Click here for more information

Centre Sportif Richard Bozon

Tel : 00 33 450 532 370

Open daily 14.00 – 20.00 & Fri 14.00 – 21.00

Numerous runways are available for hang and paragliders.  The Alpine Mueseum and a range of exhibitions with vaied themes are offered throughout the season.

If you prefer walking or snowshoeing to skiing, Chamonix has just what you need to enjoy high mountain scenery: discover the Mer de Glace with the picturesque cog railway of Montenvers, take Europe’s highest cable car to the top of the Aigulle du Midi, ride on the tramway du Mont-Blanc, Frances highest cog railway, fly over the Mont-Blanc with Chamonix Mont-Blanc Helicopters – or simply enjoy the 17km of footpaths which take you deep into the winter landscape.                     

Eating Out and Après-Ski in Chamonix

Chamonix hosts a wide selection of typical cafes and tempting pastry shops along with 14 bars, 80 restaurants, 100 shops and 7 discos.  The world class casino in the centre of town will tempt the gambler in you with black jack, roulette and slot machines of the purest tradition.  The Vox cinema delights moviegoers with all the latest films. A free guide to the restaurants in the Chamonix Valley is available from the Tourist Office.

Office de Tourisme de Vallorcine
Le Betté Chef Lieu
74660 VALLORCINE
Tél +33 450 54 60 71
Fax +33 450 54 61 73
info@vallorcine.com

Access to Vallorcine  

By Road: Driving distance from Calais to Vallorcine 530miles (8hrs)

Direct access by the 'Autoroute Blanche' (Motorway), connected to the European motorway network, all the way to Chamonix. Then on the RN 506 to Vallorcine (17 km), heading towards Switzerland.

By Rail: TGV (fast train) to Saint-Gervais. Mont-Blanc express Saint-Gervais - Vallorcine.

Airports:

- Geneva Airport is 120km from Vallorcine +41 22 799 59 99 or Taxi

For further information on car parking, etc:

www.gva.ch/en  (then select Transportation in menu)

- Chambery Airport is 80km from Vallorcine +33 479 54 49 54

Lyon Saint-Exupery is 150km from Vallorcine +33 472 22 72 21

Airport Transfer

Pre-book your taxi transfer with Peak Retreats

From Geneva Airport to Vallorcine – from £75 per person return based on 4 people sharing. 

For all other transfer prices please click here

Access Plan

Vallorcine

Vallorcine

Resort Map

Click on maps to enlarge

Chamonix Valley

Resort Map

For families and beginners arriving when there is snow at valley level there’s the additional option of the small, separate, la Poya ski area which operates three lifts and three runs – a green, blue and red as well as a snow garden for children.  Balme also has beginner ski areas and higher up the mountain some marginally steeper blue runs for improving beginners which are served by the Autannes chairlift.

The local Ecole du Ski Francais (ESF) ski school organise children’s classes.  For non-skiing children requiring care, the Panda Club, based in Argentiere and Chamonix, will look after children aged three to twelve.

Intermediate level skiers will be satisfied by the local ski area for several days, particularly the long blue run back to the resort.  The Autannes Chair at the front gives access to some good intermediate runs on the front, Ecuries being the most obvious as it runs below the lift. The front of Le Tour is littered with gullies, which during the winter fill in with snow and form themselves into natural halfpipes. From the Autannes chairlift you’ll notice one right next to the Ecuries piste.  A five-minute walk to the Col de Balme from the top of the Autannes chair will take you to the border with Switzerland and some spectacular views.  Of course you can always visit one of the neighbouring ski areas to increase the options available.

Advanced skiers will probably want to take advantage of the Mont Blanc regional pass which encompasses the ski areas of a dozen resorts around Western Europe’s highest mountain, including Courmayeur across the border in Italy.  This provides access to all the treasures of Argentiere, Chamonix and many more.

However there are snowy delights to be had closer to home.  In addition to the one technical black run on Balme, Emosson, which includes a steep mogul section, Les Jeurs, on the northern part of La Tete de Balme is one of the favourite off-piste routes which goes down through the forest. There are many other options which the local mountain guides, who are based in Vallorcine, can take you to, with option of skiing further along the valley and returning to the villager by train.

For beginner and intermediate cross country skiers there are 10km of cross country trails.

Lift passes

Save Time in resort and budget ahead by pre-booking lift passes. See below for prices.

Pre-book your 6 day Chamonix or Mont-Blanc lift-pass with Peak Retreats

Children under 4* receive a FREE lift pass.

Proof of age will be required

NOTE: Compulsory €3/pass for hands-free pass to pay locally (reusable annually).

Ski Schools

Pre-book your group ski/snowboard lessons with Peak Retreats

Individual Tuitions (07/08 prices)

Please note that prices are an indication only and are subject to change

For individual tuitions please contact the ski school directly

Ecole du Ski Francais +33 450 54 00 12

www.esf-chamonix.com

Mountain restaurants

Various

Off-Piste

Le Tour in the Domaine de Balme has some of the best off piste in the valley. Do take a guide with you though; as comes with the territory of off-piste skiing the conditions can be dangerous and avalanches are frequent in this area.

Cross country

In the centre of the village.
Tel: (+33) 4 50 54 61 09
Open every day from 9 am - 12 noon & 1.30 pm - 5.30 pm.

10 km of cross country pistes starting from the foyer or Le Buet. For beginner & intermediate skiers.