Worldwide Ski Resorts • France • Argentiere

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Overview

Quietly hidden in the Chamonix valley some 10km from the Swiss boarder, surrounded by dramatic rugged and picturesque peaks, is the traditional Savoyard village of Argentiere; one of several smaller resorts which are part of the Chamonix ski area in France. It is a small pleasant village linked by a free shuttle bus to Chamonix 8km away, with a balanced variety of skiing terrain and Le Grand Montets is close by. Set against one of the more spectacular Alpine backdrops, it has access to some of the best on and off piste skiing and snowboarding for experts in the world due in part to the fact that the Chamonix region was host to the world’s first Winter Olympic Games in 1924.

Profile

Argentiere manages to mix a smattering of modern buildings with a traditional village atmosphere to give a pleasing ambience. The resort has admirable facilities and services and there are plenty of shops to keep the non skier busy. The resort is more suited to higher intermediate and expert skiers than the beginner, but there is an excellent well staffed childcare day centre, ideal for mum and dad to enjoy some skiing on their own. During the season tourists outnumber the locals and the good and plentiful range of accommodation will suit all budgets and tastes.

Mountain Information

Argentiere is virtually snow sure. The 30kms of prepared slope provide 16 challenging runs particularly suited to expert, advanced and upper intermediate skiers and snow boarders. The north facing slopes above Argentière have a brilliant snow holding record but if you wish to access some of the exhilarating glacial runs it is advisable to enlist the services of a local guide. Amongst the 11 ski lifts there are draglifts and chairlifts with the capacity to lift thousands of people per hour; queues are rarely a problem. The Chamonix area, accessible by free shuttle bus, offers gentler slopes more suited to beginners and more off piste options for experts with some awesome skiing.

Apres Ski

Argentiere is small, friendly village which offers a warm welcome to visitors. There is no shortage of food outlets in Argentiere; there are 20 bars, 80 restaurants and 3 nightclubs. These are, in the main, good value and informal. The village also boasts a sports centre, with a heated indoor pool, sun beds, saunas and a Turkish bath, an ice rink, banks and a supermarket. Heli skiing is also available, as is paragliding, sleigh rides and alpine flights. For those who prefer the livelier side of the night life, nearby Chamonix with its free shuttle bus is easily accessible and has a cinema and a casino, as well as more bars, restaurants and clubs, most of which are open throughout the night.

French Resort Guide

Resort Information • Argentiere

Resort Height Resort Height 1240m
Top Station Top Station 3275m
Bottom Station Bottom Station 1252m
Vertical Descent Vertical Descent 2023m
Drag Lifts Drag Lifts 4
Chair Lifts Chair Lifts 3
High Capacity High Capacity 3
Opening Dates Opening Dates Nov-May
Rating Expert Rating Expert 10
Rating Intermediate Rating Intermediate 8
Rating Beginner Rating Beginner 5
Apres Ski Rating Apres Ski Rating 8
Snow Reliability Snow Reliability 10

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