Chamonix / Lift system

Le Brévent and La Flégère are the only lift-linked areas (by a cable car on the mountain). Le Brévent is the only ski area accessible from Chamonix itself - and surprisingly has the shortest queues, except at ski school rush hour. The base station is a short (uphill) walk from the town centre or drivers can pay to park in the multi-storey nearby. The base lift at La Flégère (a short walk from the small village of Les Praz - or a bus from elsewhere in the valley) is an old, slow cable car, which often closes in high winds. When queues snake inside the base station building, the wait is at least half an hour.

Les Grands Montets base station is in Argentière - catch the bus there or drive, though the free car park fills quickly. There are two lift choices - the busier cable car up to the Lognan mid-station or the Plan du Joran chairlift, which starts to the left of the cable car. The latter is always quieter, and colder, but often beats standing in line for the very popular cable car. One of the worst queues up the mountain is found on Les Grand Montets, for the Lognan-Grands Montets cable car - when this opens, there's a rush to be in line.

Le Tour at the far end of the valley is reached by gondola from the small village, as well as from Vallorcine (a small village beyond Argentiere and over the Col de Montets). There are seldom queues other than on bad weather days when the whole valley descends to make the most of the tree-lined slopes.

Those wishing to experience the Vallée Blanche can reach the start of the infamous off-piste descent by taking the Aiguille du Midi cable car up from the town.

Les Houches, a 10 minute drive from Chamonix town, has its own lift system, with new lifts for the 2006/07 ski season.

Most lifts open in early December. Le Brévent, La Flégère and La Tour generally close by the end of April, with the lifts on Les Grands Montets staying open into early May if snow conditions are good.

LIFT PASSES
Buying a lift pass in Chamonix is a complicated business - the choice is endless. A (brief) summary:

Day passes, half-days, single and return trips
Available for Le Brévent, La Flégère, La Tour and Les Grands Montets (separately), on the Aiguille du Midi cable car and the Montenvers train.

Chamonix Le Pass
Gives access to all of Le Brévent, La Flégère, La Tour and Les Grands Montets (except the Lognan-Grands Montets cable car) and the valley floor beginners' areas. Available for 1 or more days, and for 4 consecutive hours.

Mont-Blanc Unlimited
Gives unlimited access to the same areas as the Chamonix Le Pass plus the Lognan-Grands Montets cable car, the ski area in Les Houches, the Aiguille du Midi and Helbronner cable cars, the Montenvers train and 1 day's skiing in Courmayeur. Available for 1 or more days.

Ski Pass Mont-Blanc
Gives the same access as the Mont-Blanc Unlimited pass plus access to all other ski resorts in the Mont-Blanc region, including Combloux, Cordon/Sallanches, Les Contamines, Les Houches, Megeve, Passy, Praz dur Arly, Saint-Gervais and Courmayeur. Available for 1 or more days.

Multi-day, non-consecutive passes
Allow access where and when you want it and are valid from the start of each ski season to the end of the calendar year. Available in packs of 5, 10 or 15 days, these passes are not specific to an individual and can be shared between family and friends.

All lift passes require a 'smart card' (for a refundable deposit of €3), and photos are required for passes over 10 days. Lift pass upgrades are also possible.

Resort shortcuts