What do in Chamonix

Whether you want to enjoy a unique panorama while flying over the Chamonix valley, or if you're looking for extreme sensations during a free-style or XXL flight, there's a paragliding experience tailored to you, and even for the youngest ones, as some formulas are adapted for 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 excel on all types of snow and terrains? Discover new sensations by combining activities 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 Améthystes glacier or the south face of Mont-Blanc. Allow half to a whole day for this, depending on the chosen activity.

Numerous 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!

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 the generous Franco-Italian cuisine, creatively crafted by the restaurant chef and his team. 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 macarons. The house's creations include pastries, chocolates, and pies that can be eaten on-site or taken away. The shops are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. in summer.

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 a simple, authentic, and invigorating meal. Note that the Savoyard fondue with Beaufort and Comté, porcini mushrooms, or chanterelles can also justify a gourmet stopover in one of the most popular restaurants in Chamonix.

Located in a green setting two kilometres from Chamonix, La Crèmerie offers grills, salads, and Savoy specialities served in a magnificent garden overlooking the Mont-Blanc range. The plates are beautiful and generous, and the meal is served under arbours when the sun shines in, 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, no less than 70 animals inhabit the wildlife area of ​​the park. The discovery path is organised around two circuits: one that lasts an hour and the other, which lasts two hours and is a more difficult path.

Do you have some room left in the car for the return trip? Fortunately, the country of Mont-Blanc invites you to adopt an 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 transforms into 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 years old. 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 the age of 8.

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 sledge effectively. Several options are available, ranging from one hour to one day, for initiation.

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, making them a unique attraction. Allow an hour 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 Mont-Blanc's historical and cultural heritage. The place thrives on the rhythm of workshops and activities for children and adults, allowing you to discover while having fun. This makes the heart of the Chamonix valley beat. The permanent exhibition features collections on the origins of mountaineering and winter sports, the development of tourism in the valley, and the ascent of Mont Blanc.

A ceramic studio and artists' co-working space, Rūsc is the result of a crazy gamble that two friends 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 where visitors can leave with magnificent creations.

Anyone can learn Photography, but not from just anyone! By following Teresa Kaufman's private or semi-private lessons, which last from 3 to 3:30 pm, 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 personalised technical advice of this lens expert.

There are goat and cow cheeses, as well as reblochon and charcuterie made from farm pigs who've been milk-fed. Every Wednesday, from 3 pm to 7 pm, the Chabon market offers you exceptional local products, including Chabon bread, a 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 places water at the heart of well-being and mental regeneration, offering you unique and unforgettable experiences. With a breathtaking view of the Bossons glacier, the centre provides more than 30 multi-sensory activities. You will find something to help you relax in this exceptional setting, between tailor-made massages, a salt room, or a bath with a panoramic view. The ideal 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 spanning three countries, featuring seven events for all audiences, with routes ranging from 56 to 300 km and an elevation gain of 3,500 to 25,000 m. An extraordinary human experience awaits you, accompanied by 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 Chéserys lakes offer an incredible view of the Mont-Blanc massif. You will appreciate the tranquillity that reigns there, as it remains less known than that of Lac Blanc. To access this wild corner, you will need to wear a good pair of walking shoes, as the trails leading there are quite challenging, with significant drops.