
The local slopes of the Grands Montets are ideal for advanced and expert skiers, but there are also some more gentle slopes for beginners and intermediates. The other resort sectors – Brévent, Flégère, Les Houches and the Domaine de Balme – are similar in that much of the terrain is difficult, particularly up high, but there are still some easier pistes for those with less experience behind them.
Compared to its bustling neighbour, Argentière is definitely quieter. That being said, it is not devoid of life and there is a decent collection of small shops and restaurants along the main street beyond the station. Chamonix is only a short hop away so head there if you’re looking for nightlife, a wider choice of restaurants and some really good shopping.
As a base in the valley this is a good option and things are much quieter than in the main town of Chamonix. Access to beginner skiing zones can be difficult as the local one up the Grands Montets is not ideal for early learners. The valley has some good activities away from skiing, including a popular alpine coaster and dog-sledding.
Although the terrace at Lognan is a good spot for a post ski beer, head to Chamonix for your après fix. Numerous bars line the streets of central Chamonix, particularly on the Avenue Michel Croz and the Rue du Dr Paccard and these do get lively after the lifts close. Nightlife often continues into the small hours but be prepared to get a taxi back to Argentière.
The Chamonix Valley is incredibly accessible from Geneva airport, with transfers generally taking under an hour and a half, traffic dependent. Public buses also run the same route, although travel times extend to two and a half hours and the spread out nature of the valley lends itself to having a car. The drive from the UK is also one of the shortest around, expect to be on the road from Calais for about 10 hours.
The Chamonix Mont Blanc ski area employs a wide variety of opening and closing dates for its various ski areas:
Updated for 2024/25
For full details see the resort’s website and note that these dates are subject to change. The Ski Club’s expert info &advice team are also on hand to help – call 020 8410 2009
The Chamonix Le Pass covers the Grands Montets (except the cable car to the top), the Domaine du Balme and Brèvent-Flégère. For those looking to visit Courmayeur in Italy, Les Houches, the Aiguille du Midi, St Gervais and Megève, the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass is the pass to choose – this also throws in a day at Crans Montana, too. Note that these prices may change, so check with the resort’s website for the latest or give the Ski Club’s expert info & advice team a call on 020 8410 2009.
*Day passes for both high season (16 December to 29 March) and low season (all other dates) have not been confirmed by the resort but are expected to be in the band displayed.
| Category | Day Ticket | 3 Days | 6 Days |
Chamonix Le Pass |
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| Adult (15-64) | c. €50 – 70* | €183 | €334 |
| Child (5-14) | c. €45 – 60* | €155.60 | €283.90 |
| Senior (65-79) | c. €45 – 60* | €155.60 | €283.90 |
| Veteran (80+) | c. €45 – 60* | €91.50 | €167 |
Mont Blanc Unlimited |
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| Adult (15-64) | €64 – €90 | €97.30 – €250 | €176.90 – €487 |
| Child (5-14) | €54.40 – €76.50 | €82.70 – €212.50 | €150.40 – €367.20 |
| Senior (65-79) | €54.40 – €76.50 | €82.70 – €212.50 | €150.40 – €367.20 |
The Ski Club uses third party independent assessments and accreditation of ski resorts to determine a resort “environmentally sustainable – more information can be found here.
As part of the French Flocon Vert (tr. Green Snowflake) scheme, Argentiere – as part of the wider Chamonix Valley resort area – has been awarded two snowflakes out of a possible three, representing significant investment in resources to reduce its environmental impact. Flocon Vert is an independent scheme operated by Mountain Riders, which accredits resorts in France who have met twenty criteria based on environmental, social and economic sustainability; only a quarter of Flocon Vert recipients have been awarded two snowflakes – no area has been awarded three.
| Thu 22 Jan | Fri 23 Jan | Sat 24 Jan | Sun 25 Jan | Mon 26 Jan | Tue 27 Jan | Wed 28 Jan | Thu 29 Jan | Fri 30 Jan | Sat 31 Jan | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | ![]() Broken clouds |
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![]() Broken clouds | ![]() Rather cloudy |
![]() Occasional snow |
![]() Light snow | ![]() Occasional snow |
![]() Occasional snow |
![]() Occasional snow | ![]() Occasional snow |
![]() Occasional snow |
![]() Occasional snow | ![]() Partly cloudy |
![]() Mainly fair |
![]() Mainly fair | ![]() Occasional snow |
![]() Light snow |
![]() Light snow | ![]() Light snow |
![]() Occasional snow |
![]() Occasional snow | ![]() Occasional snow |
![]() Light snow shwr |
![]() Occasional snow | ![]() Occasional snow |
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![]() Snow grains | ![]() Occasional snow |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.2 cm | 2.1 cm | 4.4 cm | 1 cm | 1.4 cm | 4.4 cm | 3.3 cm | 2.1 cm | 1 cm | 0.2 cm | 0 cm | 0.5 cm | 2.4 cm | 6.2 cm | 9.6 cm | 4.6 cm | 2.6 cm | 2.8 cm | 1.8 cm | 4 cm | 5.2 cm | 2.2 cm | 3 cm | 2 cm | 1.3 cm | 1.3 cm | 3.1 cm |
| Max temp | -6.6°c | -6.5°c | -10°c | -10.2°c | -9.7°c | -10.7°c | -10.5°c | -10.2°c | -11.6°c | -10.8°c | -10.5°c | -12.5°c | -11.7°c | -11.4°c | -14°c | -9.3°c | -9.1°c | -10°c | -10°c | -9.8°c | -11.4°c | -9.8°c | -9.6°c | -10.9°c | -9.5°c | -9.4°c | -11.2°c | -9.5°c | -9.4°c | -11.4°c |
| Min temp | -9.4°c | -10°c | -12.7°c | -13.5°c | -10.8°c | -12.4°c | -13.8°c | -11.9°c | -12.2°c | -12.2°c | -12.5°c | -14.2°c | -14.6°c | -14.2°c | -14.8°c | -12°c | -10.1°c | -10.9°c | -11.6°c | -11.4°c | -13°c | -13°c | -11.2°c | -11.9°c | -11.9°c | -11.2°c | -12.8°c | -12.1°c | -11.4°c | -12.3°c |
| Feels like temp | -9.1°c | -6.6°c | -10°c | -13.4°c | -10.2°c | -10.7°c | -13.6°c | -10.5°c | -11.9°c | -12°c | -10.8°c | -12.5°c | -14.4°c | -11.7°c | -14.2°c | -12°c | -9.3°c | -10.1°c | -11.4°c | -10°c | -11.4°c | -13°c | -9.8°c | -11.2°c | -16.9°c | -9.5°c | -11.2°c | -12.1°c | -9.5°c | -11.4°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | ![]() Broken clouds |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | -6.6°c | -6.5°c | -10°c |
| Min temp | -9.4°c | -10°c | -12.7°c |
| Feels like temp | -9.1°c | -6.6°c | -10°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | ![]() Rather cloudy |
![]() Occasional snow |
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| Snow expected | 0.2 cm | 2.1 cm | 4.4 cm |
| Max temp | -10.2°c | -9.7°c | -10.7°c |
| Min temp | -13.5°c | -10.8°c | -12.4°c |
| Feels like temp | -13.4°c | -10.2°c | -10.7°c |
| Thu 22 Jan | Fri 23 Jan | Sat 24 Jan | Sun 25 Jan | Mon 26 Jan | Tue 27 Jan | Wed 28 Jan | Thu 29 Jan | Fri 30 Jan | Sat 31 Jan | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Mainly cloudy |
Rather cloudy |
Broken clouds | Broken clouds |
Light snow shwr |
Occasional snow | Broken clouds |
Rather cloudy |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Snow grains | Light snow |
Rain and snow |
Light snow | Light snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Light snow |
Light snow | Snow shower |
Light snow |
Light snow | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.2 cm | 2.3 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.5 cm | 0.9 cm | 0.9 cm | 1.8 cm | 0.5 cm | 0.5 cm | 0.8 cm | 0.8 cm | 0 cm | 1.8 cm | 2.2 cm | 0.8 cm | 2 cm | 2 cm | 1.9 cm | 4.4 cm | 1.8 cm | 1.4 cm | 2.8 cm | 1.1 cm | 0.6 cm | 2.7 cm |
| Max temp | 3.8°c | 3.8°c | 1.3°c | 2.7°c | 3.2°c | 0.6°c | 1.6°c | 2.1°c | -0.4°c | 1°c | 1.3°c | -0.9°c | 0°c | 0.3°c | -2.6°c | 3.4°c | 3.7°c | 2.1°c | 1°c | 1.4°c | -1°c | 1.2°c | 1.8°c | 0.6°c | 1.7°c | 2.1°c | 0.7°c | 1.8°c | 2.1°c | 0.2°c |
| Min temp | -0.3°c | 1.3°c | -1.1°c | -2.2°c | 0.6°c | -0.6°c | -3°c | -0.4°c | -1°c | -2.1°c | -0.9°c | -1.8°c | -3.2°c | -2.6°c | -3.1°c | 0.1°c | 2°c | 0.8°c | -1°c | -1°c | -2°c | -2.1°c | 0.5°c | 0.2°c | -0.4°c | 0.7°c | -0.4°c | -0.8°c | 0.2°c | -0.4°c |
| Feels like temp | 0.1°c | 3°c | 1.2°c | -2.1°c | 2.4°c | 0.5°c | -2.8°c | 1.4°c | -0.4°c | -1.6°c | 0.9°c | -0.9°c | -2.8°c | 0°c | -2.6°c | 0.1°c | 0.9°c | 1.9°c | -0.2°c | 0.9°c | -1°c | -2.1°c | -1.2°c | 0.5°c | 0°c | -0.6°c | 0.6°c | -0.7°c | 1.6°c | 0.2°c |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 3.8°c | 3.8°c | 1.3°c |
| Min temp | -0.3°c | 1.3°c | -1.1°c |
| Feels like temp | 0.1°c | 3°c | 1.2°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0.2 cm | 2.3 cm |
| Max temp | 2.7°c | 3.2°c | 0.6°c |
| Min temp | -2.2°c | 0.6°c | -0.6°c |
| Feels like temp | -2.1°c | 2.4°c | 0.5°c |
| Snowfall | Last Snowfall | 11/01/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Next 3 days | 28.8 cm | |
| Depths | Upper piste depth | 240 cm |
| Lower piste depth | 45 cm | |
| Snow conditions | Snow quality | Hard packed |
| Lifts | Lifts open | 6 out of 7 |
| Resort opening date | Sat 29 Nov 2025 | |
| Resort closing date | Sun 03 May 2026 |
Updated 22/01
A promising week is in store for the French Alps, as the freezing line prepares to take a long walk off a short pier and plummet to finish off the week, as unsettled weather moves in at the same time. Snowfall already falling over the Alps will therefore being to reach lower slopes over the course of Thursday.
Friday will dawn cold as the freezing line hits 500m, and whilst it will recover over the course of the day it won’t climb too far above 1,500m. Snow will begin with flurries throughout the afternoon, then will continue for much of this forecast period. Around half-a-foot will fall over each of Saturday, Sunday and Monday, before the taps open on Tuesday and around 2ft of snowfall could be expected across higher ground – the freezing line will climb to 2,000m thereby limiting this snowfall across lower slopes, before falling again as Tuesday draws to a close.
This snow will fall on a persistent weak layer avalanche problem that has already caused havoc across the French Alps in previous weeks; expect the avalanche risk to climb considerably over this period. Check your local avalanche forecast and plan off piste and backcountry travel carefully.
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