Mont-Blanc - Argentiere

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).

Chamonix Resort Opening Dates

Domaine des Grands Montets from 18/12/09 – 03/05/10

Partial opening* from 05/12/09 – 18/12/09 & 03/05/10 – 09/05/10

*depending on snow conditions

Domaine de Balme open from 19/12/09 – 25/04/10

Brevent/Flegere open from 19/12/09 – 25/04/10

Follow the links below

Why Argentière?

·          For the challenging skiing

·          Spectacular scenery

·          Traditional old villages

Childcare in Argentiere/Chamonix

The Panda Club Tel: 00 33 4 50 54 04 76 www.panda-club.com

Entertains children from 3 to 12 years old.

Open: Mon to Sun 8.30am to 5.00pm.

Rough prices

Please use the above prices as a guide only.

Childrens Ski Lessons in Argentiere

Children can ski from 4 years old in Argentiere with ESF.

Peak Retreats can pre-book this. See here for details.

Activities in Argentiere

Bowling, skidoo, cinema gym/fitness room, indoor pool, parapenting, shops, heated outdoor pool, ice skating, snow shoeing, walking trails.

Please see a list of activities on the CHAMONIX PAGE

Eating Out and Après-Ski in Argentiere

Bars, very reasonably priced restaurants, nightclub, shops.

And all the après-ski activities and night life of Chamonix, only 4km away.

www.chamonix.com

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

Opening times: High Season: 8.30am to noon / 3.00pm to 7.00pm. Low season: 10.00am to noon / 4.00pm to 6.00pm.

English spoken (Level may vary from basic to medium)         

Tel. 0033 450 54 02 14

Access to Argentiere

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. For a full timetable for all resorts in Chamonix Valley, including the night bus, download the PDF document here. 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. See full PDF train timetable here.

Airport Transfer

Pre-book your taxi transfer with Peak Retreats

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

For all other transfer prices please click here

Access Plan

Argentiere

Click on maps to enlarge

Resort Map

Argentiere

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.

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. 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.

Argentiere Lift Passes

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

PRE-BOOK* your 6 Day Chamonix Valley Lift-Pass

**2 adults + 1 child (4-15yrs) ; extra children free (people with same name living at same address)

Argentiere Ski Schools                  

PRE-BOOK* your Argentiere Group Ski/Board Lessons

Please note that a booking fee of £9 per party will be charged

Group Ski Lessons

Snowboard from 8yrs.

1 Sun-Fri for 6 days, or Mon-Fri for 5 days. Mornings 09.15-11.45 or afternoons 14.00-16.30 until 7/2, then 14.30-17.00

2 Evasion for adults is 09.15-13.45 * Levels up to Evasion for Children, up to Class 4 for adults

** Piou Piou lessons (3-4 years old) are mornings ONLY 09.45-11.45

Argentiere Individual Tuitions (09/10 prices, NOT pre-bookable)

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

Vallee Blanche - €280 for 1 – 4 people.

For individual tuitions please contact the ski school directly

Ecole du Ski Français +33 450 54 00 12

www.esf-argentiere-valleedechamonix.com

Mountain restaurants 

3

Cross-country  

42km of marked tracks

*ALL PRE-BOOKABLE EXTRAS ARE PAYABLE TO PEAK RETREATS IN STIRLING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. PRICES ARE IN £.

ANYTHING IN EUROS (€) WE ARE UNABLE TO PRE-BOOK AND

WILL BE PAYABLE LOCALLY.