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Argentière
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Ski area: Chamonix Valley, France
Resort height: 1230m
Resort top height: 3300m
Chamonix Valley
(Cham Le Pass)
Km piste: 110
Lifts: 39
Snow parks: Various
No. of slopes: 69
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28 |
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10 |
Beginners
Intermediates
Experts
Boarders
Driving distance from Calais: 563 miles (8hrs 10)
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resort info
ski info
Other Accommodation In: Argentière
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The old village is in a lovely setting towards the head of the Chamonix valley towards the village of Le Tour, beneath Les Grands Montets and surrounded by the most magnificent peaks and glaciers in the Alps. The picturesque mountain feel of the village is abundant, it has long been at the fore front of Alpine sports, welcoming tourists for 200 years and skiers since the early years of the century.
Built beside the Torrent de l’Arve, the village of Argentiere retains a large number of traditional wooden houses, as well as ancient farmhouses where the farmers still subsist on mountain agriculture. Argentiere provides an interesting base to explore the surrounding ski areas of the Chamonix valley. There is a newer side of Argentiere too with all the modern amenities and services, a variety of cosy bars and restaurants and a disco.
A shuttle bus runs from Argentiere into Chamonix every 15 minutes.
View here for a 360 degree view from the top of the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix (hold down the left click of your mouse and drag left right up and down whilst still holding on the left click button to move 360 degree).
Voted one of the top resorts for Experts
Interested in buying an apartment at this residence? See our Buying in the Alps section
Why Argentière?
· For the challenging skiing · Spectacular scenery · Traditional old villages- Opening Dates
- Child Care
- Activities
- Apres Ski/Eating
- Access
- Other Amenities
Opening Dates
Chamonix Valley is open from 08/12/12 - 12/05/13
Individual opening dates:
Grands Montets (Argentiere) ski area opening: from December 8th 2012 to May 12th 2013
Le Brévent (Chamonix) ski area opening: from December 22nd 2012 to April 21st 2013
La Flégère (Chamonix) ski area opening: from December 22nd 2012 to April 21st 2013
Balme ski area opening from December December 22nd 2012 to April 21st 2013
La Flégère (Chamonix) ski area opening: from December 22nd 2012 to April 21st 2013
Balme ski area opening from December December 22nd 2012 to April 21st 2013
Child Care
CRECHE CHILDCARE WITHOUT SKIING (for childcare with skiing, see below):
Panda Club: 10 months - 12 year olds, telephone 0033 450 558 612 Chamonix Centre, or 0033 450 540 476 Argentiere
Childrens Ski Lessons in Argentiere
Children can ski from 3 years old in Argentiere with ESF. CHILDCARE WITH SKIING ESF Argentiere also arrange kids ski and garderie formulas which Peak Retreats can pre-book: Teddy lunch - ski tuition, lunch and garderie for 4-12yrs 6 half days for 4-12yrs (09.15-14.00 inc lunch or 12.00-16.30 inc lunch): £206-223 6 full days for 4-12yrs (09.15-16.30/17.00 inc lunch): £269 Peak Retreats can pre-book this. See here for details.
Activities
Bowling, skidoo, cinema gym/fitness room, indoor pool, parapenting, shops, heated outdoor pool, ice skating, snow shoeing, walking trails.
Christmas Market Argentiere - Mairie (town hall), Argentiere centre
Daily from 18th to 30th December 2011, the Argentiere Christmas Market is a great place to browse around and pick up a few local items for gifts. Arts & crafts, local produce, Christmas decorations, etc. The market runs every day from 10am to midday and then from 2pm to 6pm.
New for winter 2011/2012
Natural outdoor ice rink in Argentiere
Located adjacent to the church in Argentiere, the rink is open every evening from 4pm-7pm and on Wednesdays until 10pm (free access). Skate hire available.
Please see a list of activities on the CHAMONIX PAGE
All the above information is for information only. For the most up-to-date information please visit the resort tourist office website
Argentiere Tourist Office • December: Monday to Saturday from 9am to 12pm and 3pm to 6pm • Christmas and February holidays: open daily from 8.30am to 12pm and 3pm to 7pm • January and March: open daily from 9am to 12pm and 3pm to 6.30pm • April: open daily from 9am to 12pm and 3pm to 6pm English spoken (Level may vary from basic to medium) Tel. 0033 450 54 02 14
Apres Ski/Eating
Bars, very reasonably priced restaurants, nightclub.
Access
By Road: Driving distance from Calais to Argentiere 563miles (7hrs50)
From Calais, take A26 Motorway towards Reims and Troyes, then Dijon, Mâcon then ‘Autoroute Blanche’ Motorway (A40 Mâcon – Cluses) exit Chamonix. Follow signs to Argentière (4km from Chamonix) on the N506.
By Rail: TGV to Saint-Gervais (35km transfer or regional train)
Airports:
Geneva Airport is 108km from Argentiere (1 ¼ hours)
www.gva.ch/en
Chambery Airport is 146km from Argentiere (1 ¾ hours)
www.chambery-airport.com
Turin Airport is 181km from Argentiere (2 hours)
www.aeroportoditorino.it
Lyon Saint-Exupery Airport is 229km from Argentiere (2 ¼ hours)
www.lyonairport.com
Grenoble Airport is 236km from Argentiere (2 ¼ hours)
www.grenoble-airport.com
Getting around the Chamonix Valley area
(Argentiere, Le Tour, Chamonix, Les Houches, Vallorcine etc) The Chamonix Valley has very good shuttle bus links throughout all its resorts so it’s easy to hop on the resort shuttle to whatever ski area you desire. Link up to Chamonix town, Les Houches, Vallorcine; buses run from early in the morning to late afternoon and the night bus runs between 10pm-12pm, returning latest 12.30am. The Mont Blanc Express train also provides access between the Chamonix Valley resorts. There are a number of ski lockers underneath the restaurant at top of the Lognan cable car at Les Grands Montets in Argentière.Airport Transfer
Pre-book your taxi transfer with Peak Retreats From Geneva Airport to Argentiere – from £86 per person return based on 4 people sharing. For all other transfer prices please click here
Other Amenities
ski info
Argentière offers probably some of the most challenging skiing in the Alps, although it offers some beginners slopes too. Les Grand Montets is situated above Argentière and is the largest of the pisted skiing areas in the Chamonix valley. The area isnt huge but the sheer number of combinations of possible descents both on and off piste makes this a great place for expert and off-piste skiers.
ARGENTIERE SKI AREA
Argentière pistes benefit from wide open spaces. The pistes are spread over 3 mountainsides (the Argentière glacier, Lognan and the Pendant) and offer excellent on and off-piste possibilities. Ski adjacent to the glacier and take advantage of excellent snow conditions right up until early May. Grands Montets area is made up of various high altitude and north-facing bowls that make for good-quality snow from early December through to May. Access is mainly by the Lognan cable car which departs from the main car park at Argentiere or by slow chairlift. This chairlift is due to be replaced at some point in 2012 for faster access. The Lognan area is where you need to be for access to the highest runs. The Marmottons area is accessed by taking either the Tabé or Plan Roujon chairlifts. This is the centre of the Grand Montet ski area and from here beginners can perfect those wide carving turns. The more adventurous can go into the board park which is situated just to the left at the top of the Tabe chairlift.
Grand Montets
1 snowpark
ARGENTIERE EXPERT SKIERS
Expert skiers throng to what is undoubtedly the mecca of off-piste skiing and boarding. The world famous couloirs and steep gullies of the Grand Montets provide the best challenges. The vertical drop of 2000 metres from the summit to Argentière is not for the faint hearted. Whilst the run down the glacier is not too difficult the Rectiligne gully is something else, with the Vallee Blanche stretching from the Aiguille du Midi at 3790m down to Chamonix 24kms later.
Then there are the Point de Vue and Pylones, steep slopes where the piste bashers never venture. Grand Montets has at least 30 off piste runs from the top like the formidable Pas de Chèvre with 1000m drop to the Mer de la Glace.
ARGENTIERE BEGINNERS
Les Chosalets beginners’ slope (1252m) on the valley floor can be found at the lower end of Argentiere just up from the turning for the Grands Montets car park. It’s surrounded by trees and has a small snack hut at the bottom of the lifts. It is served by two draglifts. This north-facing shady area normally has good snow on these 2 slopes. One is very short and flat with its own draglift for first timers. The adjacent slope is much longer and wider and steeper in some parts.
ARGENTIERE OFF-PISTE
La Pendant is a powder bowl par excellence and is both a good place to learn about off-piste skiing and a favourite with the regulars. Les Grands Montets is always the first ski area in the valley to open and the last to close. The lifts in the Grands Montets give access to miles of exceptional steep and deep off piste powder and glacial terrain, but it can get tracked out very quickly on a powder day.
By far the best and highly recommended way to explore the limitless off piste is with one of the many local experienced guides, who run group sessions or private days. Off-piste skiing can be very dangerous if you don’t have the right equipment or take a guide with you.
View here for more details on the different areas of the Chamonix Valley ski area
| Km | 28 |
| Lifts | 9 |
| No. of slopes - 17 | |
| 2 | |
| 5 | |
| 4 | |
| 6 | |
- Ski Hire
- Ski Passes
- Ski School
- Activities
Ski Hire
Ski hire in Argentiere - prices start from £33 for children (skis and boots) & £47 for adults (skis and boots) for 7 days. View here for Argentiere ski hire prices.
Ski Passes
NOTE: Compulsory €3/pass for hands-free pass to pay locally (re-useable annually)
*CHILD/SENIOR: Proof of age is compulsory; please bring ID when collecting lift-passes.
** FAMILY PASS: 2 adults + 1 child (4-15yrs); extra children (4-15yrs) free (people with same name, living at same address)
Photo necessary (only for passes +10 days)
(1) Chamonix Le Pass: Brevent/Flegère (Chamonix), Lognan (Argentière, except Lognan - Grands Montets cable car), Balme (Tour/Vallorcine) + Les Planards, Le Savoy, Les Chosalets, La Vormaine (family area, bottom of the valley). Access to the resort shuttle service also included.
(2) Mont-Blanc Unlimited
What's covered by the MONT BLANC Unlimited pass:
In France…
• Unlimited access to the ski areas in the Chamonix-Mont Blanc Valley: Les Grands Montets (includes Lognan - Les Grands Montets cable car),
Brévent-Flégère, Balme ski area (Le Tour - Vallorcine), Les Houches ski area, La Vormaine, Les Chosalets, Le Savoy, Les Planards.
• Unlimited access to 3 major attractions: Aiguille du Midi Cable Car (access to the Vallée Blanche), Montenvers Train,
Mer de Glace (Vallée Blanche return route), Mont Blanc Tram (from Saint Gervais - Le Fayet).
In Switzerland…
• The Verbier - 4 Valleys ski area (included in passes valid for 6+ days): an 'unlimited' ski area, fantastic for all snowsports.
In Italy…
• The Courmayeur ski area (1224 m - 2624 m): this warmly welcoming ski area just 20 minutes from Chamonix by road offers a variety of pistes for
all abilities in sunny, wooded surroundings with the bonus of some great Italian food and delicious lunch opportunities along the way.
• The Monte Bianco Cable Car to the Vallée Blanche from Italy.
Still included: Free daily shuttle buses to Courmayeur and back (reservation required), reduced rates for the Mont Blanc Tunnel crossing, free reservations on the Aiguille du Midi Cable Car, plus lots more on offer
NOTE: Compulsory €3/pass for hands-free pass to pay locally (reuseable annually). No photo necessary.
*2 adults + 1 child (4-15yrs); extra children free (people with same name living at same address).
Other lift pass on offer (to buy locally in resort in Euros):
Cham Le Pass ski pass – ½ day and daily rates:
½ day - €32 children, €37 adults
Day - €36 children, €42 adults
Mont Blanc Unlimited - ½ day and daily rates:
Day - €44 children, €52 adults
| Lift passes 12/13 | Adult (16-64) | Child (4-15) / Senior (65-74)* | Senior (75+)* | Family** | |
| 7 days Cham le Pass (1) | £208 | £177 | £104 | £594 | |
| 7 days MBU (2) | £251 | £214 | £126 | £716 | |
| 6 days Cham le Pass (1) | £183 | £156 | £92 | £522 | |
| 6 days MBU (2) | £224 | £190 | £112 | £637 | |
| 5 days Cham le Pass (1) | £167 | £142 | £84 | £477 | |
| 5 days MBU (2) | £203 | £173 | £102 | £579 | |
| MBU Early snow (1/12-28/12) & Spring (13/4-12/5) OFFER: | |||||
| 6 days lift pass MBU (2) - OFFER | £168 | £143 | £84 | £479 | |
| MBU Early booking OFFER (weeks 5/1-15/2 & 16/3-12/4)**: on 6 days lift passes | |||||
| **Bookings have to be done before 15/11/12 | |||||
| 6 days lift pass MBU (2) - OFFER | £179 | £152 | £89 | £510 | |
| Please note a £9 booking fee applies | |||||
Ski School
Please note that prices are an indication only and are subject to change
Vallee Blanche - €285 for 1 – 4 people.
Individual tuitions can only be purchased directly from the ski school. Peak Retreats cannot pre-book these.
Ski school Argentiere contact numbers:
Ecole du Ski Français +33 450 54 00 12
http://www.esf-argentiere-valleedechamonix.com/
| Ski School ESF Argentiere 12/13 Group Lessons only (lift passes not included) | |||||
| Ski or Snowboard (Snowboard from 8yrs+) | 16/12-29/12 + 5/1-16/2 + 16/3-4/5/13 | 30/12-4/01 + 17/2-15/3/13 | |||
| Adult | Child 3-15 | Adult | Child 3-15 | ||
| 6 mornings | £126 | £115 | £126 | £130 | |
| 6 days AM + PM (no Lunch) | £196 | £192 | £196 | £197 | |
| Sunday-Friday Children/Adults: AM: 09.15-11.45 or PM 14.00-16.30 until 11/2, then 14.30-17.00 from 12/2. Piou Piou (3-4yrs) : AM only 9.45-11.45 for children aged 3; full days only available for 4-5yrs. | |||||
| TEDDY LUNCH | |||||
| Ski tuition + lunch + garderie (4-12yrs) | |||||
| 6 half-days | £223 | (9.15-14.00) | £206 | (12.00-16.30) | |
| 6 full days (9.15-16.30/17.00) | £269 | ||||
| Ski School: Please note that: Lesson times are subject to change right until the last minute. Outside French school holidays the ski school reserves the right to cancel group lessons should numbers be insufficient. For peak periods (23/12-6/1, 16/2-16/3 & 14/4-21/4) we strongly recommend that you book as early as possible and in any case at least 6 weeks prior to the required dates. AM lessons tend to get booked up first and therefore we may only be able to offer PM classes within 6 weeks of departure. In some resorts English speaking instructors may not always be available, particularly at peak times. Please note that a booking fee of £9 per party will apply | |||||
Argentiere Individual Tuitions
(10/11 prices, NOT pre-bookable)
| 1-2 persons 1 hour | €55 |
| 3-5 persons 1 hour | €70 |
| 1-2 persons 2 hours | €85 |
| 3-5 persons 2 hours | €110 |
| 2 Hours during group lessons February holidays | |
| 1-2 persons 2 hours | €120 |
| 3-5 persons 2 hours | €135 |
Activities
Bowling, skidoo, cinema gym/fitness room, indoor pool, parapenting, shops, heated outdoor pool, ice skating, snow shoeing, walking trails.
Christmas Market Argentiere - Mairie (town hall), Argentiere centre
Daily from 18th to 30th December 2011, the Argentiere Christmas Market is a great place to browse around and pick up a few local items for gifts. Arts & crafts, local produce, Christmas decorations, etc. The market runs every day from 10am to midday and then from 2pm to 6pm.
New for winter 2011/2012
Natural outdoor ice rink in Argentiere
Located adjacent to the church in Argentiere, the rink is open every evening from 4pm-7pm and on Wednesdays until 10pm (free access). Skate hire available.
Please see a list of activities on the CHAMONIX PAGE
All the above information is for information only. For the most up-to-date information please visit the resort tourist office website
Argentiere Tourist Office • December: Monday to Saturday from 9am to 12pm and 3pm to 6pm • Christmas and February holidays: open daily from 8.30am to 12pm and 3pm to 7pm • January and March: open daily from 9am to 12pm and 3pm to 6.30pm • April: open daily from 9am to 12pm and 3pm to 6pm English spoken (Level may vary from basic to medium) Tel. 0033 450 54 02 14Other Accommodation In: Argentière
Le Cristal
MGM apartments. Sleeps 2-7
Indoor Pool
Le Cristal d’Argentière is located right in the centre of the resort, 50m from the tiny train station and the shuttle bus stop to the ski lifts and Chamonix.
MGM apartments. Sleeps 2-7
Indoor Pool
Le Cristal d’Argentière is located right in the centre of the resort, 50m from the tiny train station and the shuttle bus stop to the ski lifts and Chamonix.
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