Holiday Homes & Rentals in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

Unlike most ski resorts, Chamonix is not just an isolated town built around ski lifts, but is in fact encircled by lovely villages. With attractive holiday homes available in all of these villages you’ll be spoilt for choice. Les Houches is a family orientated town with gentle pistes and a quieter nightlife. Argentier has beautiful mansions and a good range of shops and restaurants. Chamonix itself is lively and fun, with more flats than ski chalets. The south of the town is not quite so chocolate-box pretty, but it has a wide range of lower-cost rentals.

Wherever you are you will be close to ski lifts, and the village chalets and flats offer stunning views over the Alps. Traditional wooden mansions feature the iconic Alpine widely projecting rooves, and many rentals in the villages surrounding Chamonix are spacious and roomy with some having plenty of outdoor space. Apartments are luxurious and often come with terraces where you can take in the crisp air over a glass of post-ski glühwein.

Just an hour from Geneva by car, Chamonix is easy to reach via spectacular roads sweeping through the Alps. Stretching east to west along a valley, the town itself is centred around its ski lifts, with a multitude of restaurants and bars ready to welcome you. Wander around the town and soak in the mix of old and new, fancy boutique shops and historic churches and classic wooden buildings.

As well as the myriad attractions in this stunning resort town, Chamonix is best known and loved for its fantastic skiing. With a slope for any level, from the absolute beginner to those with some experience to thrill-seeking black-runners, Chamonix is Europe’s number one destination if skiing is your passion. Not only are the ski runs here perfectly maintained, but they are also the most scenic in the Alps. Take the Brevent lift from the outskirts of Chamonix’s town centre for a fantastic range of pistes or explore the many ski slopes in the surrounding villages.

The nursery slopes in the surrounding villages of Les Planards and Le Savoy are perfect for families who want to introduce their children to the sport. The local ski schools offer a variety of programmes for the little ones and support and guide them to build their confidence and gain their ski-legs. Chamonix boasts its own ice rink, which is open to the public, and children will love taking the famous little red Montenvers train which winds from the centre of Chamonix town all the way to the spectacular Mer de Glace (sea of ice) glacier.

Chamonix isn’t just about the snow. The spectacular sight of the highest peak in the Alps, Mont Bloc, attracts hikers from all around the world, and those who make the summit are rewarded with magnificent views across the Alps. There are countless routes for the novice hiker, such as the local’s favourite: Grand Balcon Nord, a 3-hour route suitable for families and casual walkers along a trail that passes glaciers, wild rivers and sweet-scenting pine forest. Take a leap of faith and try out paragliding, or perhaps you prefer to brave the wild waters of the river Arve on a white-water rafting trip, or for the truly brave of heart, hydrospeeding – body rafting down the rushing river – the epitome of thrilling!

Take the white-knuckle cable car ride up to Le Brévent at the astonishing height of 2,525m, and be astounded by the panoramic views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding towering mountains.

Take the one hour hike to the foot of France’s longest glacier at an incredible 7km in length and 200m deep. Discover glittering ice caves deep in the heart of the glacier and learn more about this fascinating phenomenon at the nearby Glaciorium Museum!

Explore the strange and wonderful at the Musée Alpin, Museum of Alpine History, which marks the town’s history from the 1700s onwards. Located in the beautiful Chamonix Palace, it is worth the visit just to see the building.

Unsurprisingly for such a picturesque destination, Chamonix boasts its own photography gallery, Philip Fragnoli Gallery, which delights its visitors with charming images of the enchanting town. Part of its exposition is dedicated to the history of skiing, with Chamonix being the birthplace of alpine skiing.

If you’re not exhausted from the hard day’s skiing and are ripe and ready for a hard night’s partying, Chamonix will definitely not disappoint. The Du Moulin club is open for visitors every night of the week, a mellow and friendly night spot with great DJs and very reasonably priced cocktails.