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Chamonix

Chamonix - now there's a name to conjure with for both mountaineers and skiers alike. And indeed, it's a place with a whole lot of magic, ever since it hosted the first Winter Olympics way back in 1924. At 1035m, in a steep-sided valley beneath the spectacular peak of Mont Blanc, it combines fabulous skiing and dramatic scenery with the added bonus of Chamonix itself being a traditional Alpine town.

There are nursery slopes with tuition for novices that is nothing short of brilliant - for it's Chamonix where ski instructors come to qualify. There are also cruisey pistes below the tree-line but it's skiing for thrill-seekers which is where Chamonix excels - le grand ski. Powder hounds will be in seventh heaven and some of France's most challenging off-piste skiing is here for the taking. Above all, there's a 20 km glacier run along the beautiful Vallée Blanche - and you don't have to be an Olympic-class skier to enjoy it.

Skiing and snowboarding Chamonix means not just one but five areas - (Grands Montets, Les Houches, Le Tour/Balme, La Flegere and Le Brevent) linked by a jolly good bus service. The lift pass even includes a day in Courmayeur, the magnificent Italian resort just over the border.

Apres-Ski in Chamonix

Chamonix is a busy town, retaining its Victorian style and full of facilities. The centre is thankfully traffic-free, thrumming with cosmopolitan cafés and interesting little shops, top-range snow sports stores and galleries. Every Saturday morning there's an open air market too.

Nightlife? Oh yes! Check out Chambre 9 why don't you? Live music between 5 and 7 p.m. Or have a drink in front of a roaring log fire in The Vagabond. Or hang out in the central bar, La Terrasse. For sports fans there's an Irish bar (isn't there always?) called the Munster. There are nightclubs too if you have the energy - L'Amnesia (is the name a clue to your hangover experience?) and The Bunker are just two of renown.

If you need more exercise, there's the Centre Sportif Richard Bozon - a multi-purpose sport complex - and opportunities for many non-skiing snow sports including husky sledding, snowshoe trails, parapenting and helicopter rides.

Chamonix skiing holidays cannot fail to be epic, because that's the nature of Chamonix. Seize the day and book with GetSkiing!

Gary's Little Gems in Chamonix

The Chamonix/Mont Blanc valley is a mecca for off-piste and big mountain skiing. For those who want to experience the thrill of big high mountain skiing on a glacier, hire a local French mountain guide and try the Vallée Blanche. The skiing scenery is breathtaking and the local guides are a great source of information not only about the pistes but the lovely rustic mountain restaurants. Taking the local Chamonix train back to town is fun and unique as is the Aiguille du Midi cable ride to 13500 feet.