Chamonix. A driver each morning to whichever of the valley's mountains is skiing best that day.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc sits at about 1,035 metres at the foot of the highest mountain in western Europe, an hour and a quarter from Geneva on a good day. The skiing is spread along twenty kilometres of valley in separate areas, which is why a car and a driver here earn their keep every morning.
The place
One valley, several mountains
Chamonix is a working alpine town rather than a purpose-built station, with a railway, a hospital, a year-round population and a long history of mountaineering. It runs from Les Houches at the lower end, through Chamonix itself and Les Praz, up to Argentière, Le Tour and Vallorcine at the head of the valley near the Swiss border.
The important thing for anyone planning a week is that these ski areas are not joined by lifts. Les Houches, Brévent, La Flégère, Les Grands Montets above Argentière and the Balme area above Le Tour are separate mountains reached by road. Guests choose where to ski at breakfast, after looking at the snow and the wind, and then need to get there. A dedicated car for the week, or a driver on call, is the difference between skiing where the conditions are best and skiing where the bus happens to go.
The other headline is the Aiguille du Midi cable car, which climbs from the middle of town to over 3,800 metres and is the way onto the Vallée Blanche. It is also the reason the town is busy in summer as well as winter, with alpinists in August and a very large mountain running week at the end of it.
At a glance
What you need to know
- Town altitudeAbout 1,035 mHaute-Savoie, France, at the foot of Mont Blanc. Villages run from Les Houches to Vallorcine.
- Closest large airportGeneva (GVA)About 88 km. Roughly 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 45 by road on the A40 and the valley road.
- Through to ItalyThe Mont Blanc tunnelAbout eleven and a half kilometres to the Aosta valley. Courmayeur is roughly half an hour from Chamonix.
- Getting aboutA car most daysThe ski areas are separate mountains along the valley, so transfers between them are by road.
Getting there
Airports and typical transfers
| Airport | By road | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva (GVA) | About 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 45 | The default by a wide margin. Motorway on the A40 as far as Le Fayet, then the valley road up to Chamonix. Add time on Saturdays and after heavy snow. |
| Chambéry (CMF) | About 2 hours | An option when Geneva is congested, and sensible if the trip also takes in the Tarentaise. Mountain weather limits apply. |
| Annecy | About 1 hour 30 | A small field for light aircraft. Handling and operating hours are limited and we confirm them for your dates. |
| Milan Malpensa or Linate | About 3 hours | Only worth it if you are already in Italy, and it depends on the Mont Blanc tunnel being open. |
Realistic ranges in normal winter conditions, not promises. A helicopter from Geneva is roughly 20 to 25 minutes in daylight and good visibility, to landing sites the operator is approved to use, which we confirm before it is offered. Outside London and Manchester our cars are arranged through operators we know, with winter tyres and chains.
The tunnel
Half an hour from Italy
The Mont Blanc tunnel puts Courmayeur and the Aosta valley about half an hour from Chamonix, and it is genuinely useful: lunch on the Italian side, a day on different snow, or a flight home from Milan when the French airports are difficult. It is a single bore with a strict convoy discipline and a speed limit, so it does not reward being in a hurry.
It also closes for maintenance, and the pattern of those closures changes from year to year. The operator publishes them in advance, including short overnight closures as well as longer programmes. Whenever an itinerary depends on the tunnel we check the published schedule against your dates and tell you before anything is confirmed, rather than discovering it at the portal.
Local realities
What experienced visitors do
- Keep the car and driver for the week rather than booking transfers each morning. The point of Chamonix is choosing the mountain on the day
- Say which village you are staying in, not just Chamonix. Argentière and Vallorcine add fifteen to twenty five minutes each way
- Give us the address and a pin. Central Chamonix has a one-way system, limited parking and narrow lanes near the church
- Avoid a Saturday arrival if you can. The A40 and the valley road both suffer on changeover day
- If you plan the Vallée Blanche, build in a weather day. Guides cancel for wind and visibility, and everyone tries again the next morning
- Coming in summer, ask us about the last week of August before you fix dates. The valley fills for the mountain running week and rooms and roads both tighten
Around the trip
Related pages
Routes and airports
Request a quote
Tell us the week
Dates, numbers, which village you are staying in and how much ski kit is coming. We reply with aircraft options into Geneva, the transfer plan, and a sensible answer on whether you want a car for the week or transfers only.
Prefer to talk? +44 2030 048300 or WhatsApp, at any hour.
Questions people ask
About Chamonix
Is there an airport in the valley?
No. Geneva is the practical arrival point, with Chambéry and Annecy as alternatives. Helicopters can serve the valley in daylight and good visibility, using landing sites the operator is approved for.
Do we really need a car all week?
Most guests find they do. The ski areas are separate mountains along the valley and the best conditions move between them. If you are staying in central Chamonix and only skiing Brévent, you can manage without.
How bad is the Geneva drive after snow?
The motorway part is usually fine. The valley road above Le Fayet is where the time goes, and a heavy snowfall or a Saturday can add half an hour or more. We plan departures with that in mind.
Can we go into Italy for the day?
Yes, when the tunnel is open. Courmayeur is roughly half an hour away. We check the published maintenance closures against your dates before the itinerary is confirmed.
Do you have your own cars in France?
Our own cars and chauffeurs are in London and Manchester, and a trusted global network covers everywhere else. Alpine transfers are arranged through operators we know, and one contact at Odyssey holds the whole itinerary together.
One contact, wherever you are