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 Vallorcine 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 (10 miles away) 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.

Chamonix Valley Resort Opening Dates

Chamonix Valley opens from 18/12/2010 – 08/05/2011.

Individual 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 Vallorcine?

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

·          High altitude skiing with very good snow records

·          Traditional village

Childcare in Chamonix Valley

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 Vallorcine/Chamonix

There are 5 restaurants (plus 2 refuges) in Vallorcine. OtherwiseChamonix 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.

All the above information is for information only. For the most up-to-date information please visit the resort tourist office website

Vallorcine Tourist Office

Vallorcine tourist information
Le Betté Chef Lieu
74660 VALLORCINE
Tél +33 450 54 60 71
Fax +33 450 54 61 73

www.vallorcine.com
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 116km from Vallorcine (1 ½ hours)

www.gva.ch/en   

Chambery Airport is 149km from Vallorcine (1 ¾ hours)

www.chambery-airport.com

Lyon Saint-Exupery is 236km from Vallorcine (2 ½ hours)

www.lyonairport.com

Grenoble Airport is 243km from Vallorcine (2 ½ hours)

www.grenoble-airport.com

Getting around the Chamonix Valley area

(Argentiere, Le Tour, Chamonix, Les Houches, Vallorcine etc)

Buses from Servoz to Vallorcine are free for holders of the guest card (Carte d’Hote) or a ski-pass. You can also travel by train (free of charge) between Servoz and Vallorcine with the Carte d’Hote.

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 SNCF line serves all the villages from St Gervais/Le Fayet to Martigny (Switzerland), passing through Chamonix, Argentiere and Vallorcine. Roughly one train every hour (see http://world.chamonix.com/PDF/sncf.pdf).

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 Vallorcine – from £75 per person return based on 4 people sharing. 

For all other transfer prices please click here

Access Plan

Vallorcine France

Vallorcine France

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.

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.

CHAMONIX PISTE MAP

To see the Chamonix piste map for 09/10 please see the resort guide panel on the top right hand side of the current page.

CHAMONIX SNOW REPORTS

To see Chamonix snow reports please see the resort guide panel on the top right hand side of the current page.

Vallorcine Lift passes

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

PRE-BOOK* your CHAMONIX VALLEY LIFT PASS with PR

(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: Chamonix Le Pass + Les Houches + Verbier/4 Vallées - Suisse + Les Grands Montets (Argentière) & Courmayeur (Italy) + unlimited access to lifts, mountain trains and excursion sites of Aiguille du Midi & Panoramic Mont-Blanc, Montenvers gondola, train & ice grotto visit, Tramway du Mont Blanc and Funivie Monte-Bianco (Italy). Access to the resort and Chamonix - Les Houches shuttle service is also included.

(3) Ski Pass Mont-Blanc: Mont-Blanc Unlimited (except Verbier and Funivie Monte-Bianco (Italy) + St Gervais, Les Contamines, Megeve, Passy, Combloux, Cordon/Sallanches, Praz sur Arly.

BEGINNERS PASS

Please note that for beginners having lessons with ESF, lift pass to buy LOCALLY (Le Poya).

NOTE: Compulsory €3/pass for hands-free pass to pay locally (reuseable annually). No photo necessary.

FAMILY PASS (as above)

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

FREE PASSES!

Children aged 2-3yrs receive a FREE lift pass.

Note: Proof of age will be required for reduced price passes.

Vallorcine Ski Schools

PRE-BOOK* your GROUP SKI/BOARD LESSONS WITH PR

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

Group Ski Lessons

Times and Schedules (ALL TIMES TO BE CONFIRMED, SUBJECT TO CHANGES).

^* SKI: Adults (5 sessions, Monday-Friday)

* SKI : Children (7-12yrs) (5 or 6 sessions, Sunday/Monday-Friday)

* SKI : Kindergarten (4-6yrs) (5 or 6 sessions, Sunday/Monday-Friday)

^** SNOWBOARD: Adults & Juniors (9-12) (Sunday-Friday):

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 (18/12-2/1, 13/2-13/3 & 9/4-24/4) we strongly recommend that you book as early as possible and in any case at least 6 weeks prior to the required dates. Morning lessons tend to get booked up first and therefore we may only be able to offer afternoon classes within 6 weeks of departure. In some resorts English speaking instructors may not always be available, particularly at peak times.

Vallorcine Individual Tuitions

(10/11 prices, NOT pre-bookable)

* + €5 per person suppl.

** + €8 per person suppl.

Individual tuitions can only be purchased directly from the ski school. Peak Retreats cannot pre-book these.

Gare de la Télécabine
74660 Vallorcine

Ski school contact number:
Tél : +33 (0)4 50 54 61 67
contact@ecole-ski-vallorcine.com

Vallorcine Ski Hire

Ski hire in Vallorcine prices start from £35 for children (skis and boots) & £49 for adults (skis and boots) for 7 days. View here for Vallorcine ski hire prices

Mountain restaurants

Various

Ski in Vallorcine 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.

Ski in Vallorcine 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.

*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.