Chamonix, a high mountain town

The Chamonix Valley includes several destinations: Chamonix, Servoz, Les Houches, Argentière and Vallorcine. These five places abound with grandiose landscapes and unique universes to immerse you during your winter holidays. Overlooked by the highest peak in Europe, Chamonix, also known as "Cham" is a high mountain town where ancestral traditions and a passion for mountaineering dominate. The resort of Chamonix gives the Mont-Blanc valley a surprisingly cosmopolitan aspect and a rare richness. Indeed, a real cultural mix exists thanks to the numerous sporting and cultural events and this desire to climb mythical summits, and the proximity of Switzerland and Italy is certainly not foreign to this phenomenon. Chamonix-Mont Blanc will surprise you with its lively town centre day and night, its well-kept shops where the tradition of welcoming travellers continues over the years. Choosing Chamonix-Mont Blanc for your winter sports holiday is like entering into legend. Raise your eyes and you will be faced with a myth, it is everywhere, bewitching, the highest peak in Europe, the Mont-Blanc! Culminating at 4810 metres above sea level, it watches over all those curious people wishing to climb it. 

Chamonix, the valley of the ice giants

A true natural heritage, the Chamonix valley allows you to experience the full range of sensations thanks to its preserved environment known throughout the world. Surrounded by ice giants, Chamonix inspires and fascinates by the beauty of its surroundings. Numerous peaks overlook the valley, such as the Aiguille de Bionnassay, the Aiguille du Belvédère, the Aiguille du Goûter or the Dent du Géant. Chamonix is also known for its Mer de Glace, a glacier 7 km long and 40 km² in area. To get there, you have to take a typical and ancestral little train. Once there, you will witness a grandiose show on the Drus and Grandes Jorasses. 

The history of mountaineering

In this high mountain atmosphere, you enter the history of mountaineering as in 1741 when two Englishmen Windham and Pocock discovered this small mountain village surrounded by ice peaks. In 1770, the very first hostel welcomed crystal makers and guides and then democratized the ascent of the peaks. It was in 1786 that Jacques Balmat and Michel Gabriel reached the summit of Mont-Blanc. Then it was during the reign of Napoleon III that the valley developed thanks to the construction of roads and railways. In 1924, Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympic Games and developed ski lifts including cable cars. Today, the valley enjoys its proximity to Italy via the Mont Blanc Tunnel and benefits from a rich environment and varied summits attracting more and more mountaineers every year who wish to conquer the summits in their turn. 

Skiing in Chamonix: a paradise for skiers and snowboarders

From Chamonix, you can access the Brévent-Flégère ski area, which will seduce all thrill-seekers. For the most experienced skiers, there are many speed slopes waiting to be raced down. And for beginners, "easy skiing" areas are at your disposal at the foot of the slopes. You will also be able to access the Les Houches ski area, where forest slopes and a very varied terrain benefit from exceptional snow cover. With black, red and blue slopes, you will discover a very "natural" ski with a privileged view on the Mont-Blanc.

A real legend in Chamonix, the Vallée Blanche is a large off-piste area where ski touring enthusiasts can enjoy a succession of slopes in a grandiose landscape. While some routes are marked out, others are only accessible with the presence of a guide with real mountain experience. Explore every corner of the valley in an exceptional wilderness.

From Chamonix, you will be able to discover a world famous site: the Aiguille du Midi. Climb to an altitude of 3,842 metres and enjoy a 360° view of the entire valley. This real terrace on Mont-Blanc promises you a unique feeling of freedom. And for the most daring, discover Le Pas dans le Vide, a glass box that you enter with almost 1000 metres of emptiness under your feet!

A large Nordic area will seduce cross-country skiing enthusiasts. Large loops are accessible from Chamonix to discover the Valley and its great natural spaces. Different itineraries will plunge you into a magical world combining powder fields and forest tracks. You can also try speed-riding, a discipline that combines skiing and paragliding. Skis on your feet, you will take off from the top of the slopes and enjoy a contemplative flight over the whole valley. 

Rent your ski equipment in Chamonix

To discover this immense ski area and enjoy the committed slopes and flirt with the mythical summits, go to our Chamonix rental shop. From now on, you can book your ski equipment on Ski Republic by choosing your destination. Then simply enter your dates of stay and choose the equipment adapted to your level. Our team of ski professionals will take care of preparing your equipment. As soon as you arrive in Chamonix, go to the Technique Extrême shop in Chamonix. Our dynamic and passionate team of mountain guides will be happy to help you make the most of your stay on the slopes. And if you come to Charmonix-Argentière, discover our team in our rental shop Chamonix-Argentière. 

Exceptional natural sites await you in the Chamonix Valley. Thanks to Ski Republic, you will benefit from quality ski equipment to hurtle down the slopes and take your eyes away. In the heart of Haute-Savoie, you will discover varied ski areas and preserved nature. Take the path of the pioneers of mountaineering by booking your equipment now on Ski Republic! Thanks to ski rental, you will save precious time to enjoy the ski area. Plus, no more need to worry about getting bogged down on the way! Come on winter sports holidays with a light spirit thanks to our perfectly maintained ski equipment. In our shop in Chamonix Technique Extrême, you will benefit from personalised advice and a large selection of ski accessories and technical equipment. If you are looking for ski resorts with committed slopes, take a trip to Tignes, another ski resort with a great difference in altitude or to Val d'Isère.

Come to Chamonix

From the airports of Geneva, Lyon-Saint-Exupéry, Chambéry or Turin, you can book your transfer by bus or taxi to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in advance. The SNCF Mont Blanc Express line serves the stations of St-Gervais-les-bains-le-Fayet, Matigny, Les Houches and Chamonix. From Italy, you can drive through the Mont Blanc Tunnel. From Switzerland, the motorway takes you to Martigny and then you have to climb the Col de la Forclaz and the Col des Montets. From France, you have direct access via the Autoroute Blanche (A40).