Our Chamonix expert ‘on the ground’ is Simon Hills. Simon came to Chamonix as a fan of the steep and deep skiing, decided to stay and started an airport transfer company. Now Mountain Drop-offs is transports thousands of passengers every year on transfers from Geneva Airport to anywhere in the Chamonix valley. Happily Simon still gets time to get out and about – here are his recommendations for the best things to do when you’re staying in Chamonix.
Go off-piste…
If you’ve been skiing for a while, then your Chamonix holiday simply wouldn’t be complete without taking on the world-famous Vallée Blanche, the off-piste run that should be on every practised skier’s bucket list. Experience the jaw-dropping views across to Mont Blanc from the top of the Aiguille du Midi, at 3,800m, before setting off on the 20km off-piste, glacier adventure back down to town. You’ll traverse glaciers and crevasse fields under the shadow of soaring granite spires. Make no mistake though, this is true ski mountaineering, and you absolutely must hire a guide to enjoy this route safely.
Take to the skies…
Try a tandem parapente flight on a sunny day and see the mountains from a whole new perspective high above the town of Chamonix. When conditions are good for flying and the thermals are just right, people have even been known to land on the summit of Mont Blanc. It’s also not uncommon to share the rising air currents with golden eagles, or even one of the rare bearded vultures that have made their home in the Chamonix valley. Flights operate from the Brevent ski area all year round.
Nordic dining…
Have a break from the standard Savoyarde fayre with an evening at Munchie, a Chamonix institution, where exotic ingredients are brought together with a clean and focused Nordic simplicity. This Scandi-Asian style restaurant, with its justifiably famous duck teriyaki, foie gras sushi, and deep-fried soft shell crab, has been popular with both locals and visitors alike for many years. Open for dinner only, the place fills up reassuringly quickly, so booking ahead is a necessity.
Ride the luge…
The perfect après-ski activity for all the family is a ride on the Chamonix Alpine Coaster. This fast-paced luge track is at Les Planards ski area, just at the entrance to Chamonix town. The two seater toboggans ride on rails and you sit on them whilst you climb to to the top…then wait for the green light..and go! Hurtle down the 1300m track, weaving in and out of the forest, with flip-flaps, corkscrews and crests to conquer. If you have a Mont Blanc Unlimited Pass for between 3 and 21 days, you get one ride a day on the luge for free. It runs all year round and is floodlit in the winter for night-time luge fun.
Relax in the spa…
Soothe those aching ski legs with a spa day at the funky and contemporary designed Hotel Heliopic. Non-residents who book a Nuxe spa treatment for 45 minutes or more are welcome to enjoy all the spa facilities, including the pool, whirlpool, sauna, hamman, ice cave and relaxation area. The Heliopic is also one of our favourite places in Chamonix centre to stop off for a morning coffee and there’s an indoor children’s play area in the main reception area, complete with pick ’n’ mix sweets, earning the hotel the moniker ‘the naughty sweet hotel’ from our kids!
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Unwind in Italy…
Take a quick journey through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Italy, where you can easily combine skiing in Courmayeur or La Thuile with time to luxuriate in the thermal spa at Pre St Didier, with its saunas and spa pools. Soak away the aches and pains of your outdoor endeavours in the naturally heated spa waters, surrounded by fresh snow. Relax in the jacuzzi and gaze across the valley towards the grandiose south face of the Dente del Gigante under a twinkling night sky – guaranteed to soothe even the weariest of wanderers.
