What do in Chamonix

Whether you simply want to enjoy a unique panorama while flying over the Chamonix valley, or whether you are looking for extreme sensations during a free-style or XXL flight, there is a paragliding experience made for you and even for the youngest ones, as some formulas are adapted to children from 5 years old. Accompanied by a free flight instructor, you will experience unforgettable moments in complete safety.

Are you a great mountain skier able to evolve on all types of snow and terrains? Discover new sensations by combining activity such as paragliding with skiing for a half-air, half-glide practice. Equipped with a pair of freeride skis and a mini-sail, you will tackle the Col du Passon, the Amethystes glacier or the south face of Mont-Blanc. Save half to a whole day for this depending on the activity chosen.

Nineteen schools await you with all the information needed to introduce you to rock climbing or to improve your skills in the Chamonix Valley. You can choose Vallorcine to practice on one of the best granite rock schools in the region, Les Gaillands and its accessible routes if you want to climb with the family or Le Labo if you are looking for a new, technical spot. In Chamonix, there is no shortage of choices to enjoy your holidays!

Hydrospeed or white water swimming is practiced in Chamonix for more than 6 km in a preserved environment at the foot of Mont-Blanc. Going down the course of a river on a float with the help of flippers will give you fantastic sensations without the need for any particular technique. All you need is to know is how to swim and be taller than 1,50 m to embark on a descent that you will remember for a long time.

At Refuge du Montenvers, your eyes and taste buds will not know where to turn. On one hand, the restaurant will delight you with its transalpine specialities. On the other hand, the cafe, Le Panoramique Mer de Glace, will make you drool with its platters of cold meats and cheeses. In our opinion, the best remains the creamy polenta of the refuge, to be enjoyed on the panoramic terrace where the view is simply breathtaking.

Granite, wood and glass blend harmoniously to provide a warm, elegant and intimate setting for Le Comptoir customers. Here we come to meet generous Franco-Italian cuisine, creatively crafted by chef Daniele Raimondi. Fresh regional produce is featured in bold gourmet dishes and reinvented classics.

People flock to the Aux Petits Gourmands and Chalet 4810 tea rooms in Chamonix to spend a gourmet moment with friends or family around colourful and flavorful desserts, tarts and macaroons. The creations of the house: pastries, chocolates, pies that can be eaten on-site or taken away. The shops are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm or 7:30 pm in summer and winter season, respectively.

La Crûte is the speciality of La P’tite Verte and a convivial dish that one should not miss in the resort and village. With garlic and cheese, raw ham, egg, and sometimes even chanterelles with cream, this gourmet bread slice promises you a simple, authentic and invigorating meal. Note that the Savoyard fondue with Beaufort and Comte, porcini mushrooms or chanterelles can also justify a gourmet stopover in one of the most popular restaurants in Chamonix.

Located in a green setting at two kilometres from Chamonix, La Cremerie offers grills, salads, and Savoy specialities served in a magnificent garden overlooking the Mont-Blanc range. The plates are beautiful and generous, done under arbours when the sun shines in for the meal—a welcome stop between two hiking trails.

In the Parc de Merlet, located at an altitude of 1500 m above the Chamonix valley, you will cross paths with chamois, marmots, ibex, llamas, sika deer, mouflons, fallow deer and farmyard animals. In all, more than 70 animals inhabit the wildlife area of ​​the park. The discovery path is organised around two circuits, one of an hour and the other that can last a day for the most motivated.

Do you have some room left in the car for the return trip? Good thing, the breeding of the country of Mont-Blanc invites you to adopt adorable Saint-Bernard, the most petite yet bulky dog ​​in the world. But don't panic! You can also admire them from afar, since the kennel organises tours of its kennel throughout the year. A quick stroll through the shop on the way out, and you might be the lucky owner of a pretty teddy bear.

From April to early November, the Planards ski area takes on the appearance of an amusement park. Trampolines, splash boats, diggers, mini motorcycles, slides, loop rides and many other water and air related activities that will entertain children and adults alike. Some attractions are open to children from the age of one or two. Others are accessible to ages seven and over and may require the accompaniment of an adult.

Open all year round; the Chamonix alpine coaster toboggan run is an attraction not to be missed. On a 1300 m long track of rails, you will experience the sensations of a roller coaster in the heart of the mountains with jumps, waves, flip flags and spins, each more fun than the next. Children can practice with the family since it is accessible from the age of 3 accompanied by an adult, and alone from 8 years old.

Learn to drive a team of 3 or 4 dogs, mainly Siberian huskies, and discover their character and how they function in a pack. During the first 15 minutes, a qualified instructor will teach you the basics of driving the team so that you can manage your own sled. Several options are available for an initiation from one hour to one day.

A true local institution, the Montenvers train has taken visitors from the centre of Chamonix to the terminal at an altitude of 1,913 m since 1910. Only five cogwheel trains still operate in France today, which makes it a unique attraction. Allow 20 minutes to cover the 5.1 km ascent, a time you will use to admire the majestic view of the Drus, the Grandes Jorasses and the Grands Charmoz.

Since 1926, the Alpine Museum has showcased the historical and cultural heritage of Mont-Blanc. The place lives to the rhythm of workshops and activities for children and adults, which allows you to discover while having fun. This makes the heart of the Chamonix valley beat. The permanent exhibition presents collections on the beginnings of mountaineering and winter sports, the valley's tourist development, and the conquest of Mont-Blanc.

A ceramic studio and artists' co-working space, Rūsc is the result of a crazy gamble that two friends have made: to create a centre for innovation and artistic expression in Chamonix. Local artists create while visitors can learn about pottery, drawing, sculpture and painting on ceramics. Everything is completed with exhibitions and a shop to leave with magnificent creations.

Anyone can learn Photography, but not with just anyone! By following Teresa Kaufman's private or semi-private lessons, lasting from 3 to 3:30pm, you will learn to master light, speed and composition during photographic walks in the fabulous Chamonix valley. The more experienced will also find what they are looking for, thanks to the personalized technical advice of this lens expert.

There's goat and cow cheeses, reblochon and charcuterie from farm pigs fed on milk. Every Wednesday, from 3 pm to 7 pm, the Chabon market offers you its exceptional local products, including Chabon bread, the speciality of the village of Les Houches. You can also see the mill in action and visit the farm animals to occupy the little ones during your gourmet shopping.

Inspired by the thermal baths of ancient Rome, QC Terme puts water at the heart of well-being and regeneration of the mind to offer you unique and unforgettable emotions. With a breathtaking view of the Bossons glacier, the centre provides more than 30 multi-sensory activities. You will find something to relax in this exceptional setting between tailor-made massages, a salt room or a bath with a panoramic view. A perfect way to spend your holiday!

Ready to tap into your physical and mental reserves? Take the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. It is a single individual trail through three countries, with seven events for all audiences, 56 to 300 km routes, and 3,500 to 25,000 m of elevation gain. An extraordinary human experience awaits you in the company of thousands of other runners who have come from all over to push their limits in a breathtaking setting.

Located in the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve, the Cheserys lakes offer an incredible view of the Mont-Blanc massif. You will appreciate the tranquillity that reigns there since the it remains less known than that of Lac Blanc. To access this wild corner, you will need to put on a good pair of walking shoes. This is because the trails leading there are pretty tricky with significant drops.