Just across from the Montenvers train station you will find the Chamonix Leisure Park at Les Planards – an action packed fun area that is a magnet for children and families in the summer months. During the winter Les Planards transforms into a small ski area for beginner/early intermediate skiers with easy green, blue and red runs accessed from a 4-man chair and 2 drag lifts. Planards also hosts a number of slalom races throughout the winter - the FIS night slalom in January and the Sebastien Rung Memorial Challenge for disabled skiers in February.
Les Planards - Aire de Jeux (play area)
The lower part of the area is packed with activities for kids of all ages. Little ones can bounce on the safely enclosed trampolines, clamber on the adventure climbing frame or ride round the mini go-cart track. For budding Bob the Builders there is a sandpit with mechanical digger suitable for anyone over 2 years. For children over 7 years there are more exciting rides such as the nautic jet, the loop and the sky dive. The nautic jet is a little boat (like a one-man flume) that plummets down a track at 40km/h before shooting off a little ramp at the end to land with a splash in a plunge pool! All activities are safe and children will be provided with safety gear if necessary.
There is a snack bar and restaurant at the aire de jeux with a large sunny terrace and menus starting from €4 for children. You can buy anything from hot meals to sandwiches, ice creams and drinks.
Les Planards - Luge d'Eté (summer luge)
Les Planards is also the home of the summer luge – a thrilling 1820m ride through the woods and meadows along a specially designed track. Suitable for anyone over the age of 6 years (or over 4 feet tall) this activity has no upper age limit and is great fun for children and adults alike. For little speed demons, kids under the age / height limit can ride for free if accompanied by an adult. The little blue sledges can travel surprisingly fast and so are equipped with brakes for when you want to slow down. There are two parallel tracks, so you can race your friends to the bottom!
Access to the luge is via the 3 man chairlift and one trip up the chairlift and back down the luge costs €5. Again, you can buy multipass tickets that work out cheaper in the long run and you can also buy a season pass for €90 that gives you unlimited access whenever the park is open. The chairlift brings you up to the top of the piste, from where you can start a number of walks including a sign-posted trail to Montenvers (it is quite steep but not that far so you could easily walk up, but you get nice views from the chairlift!).
NB For safety reasons the luge may not be open during wet weather.
Les Planards - Parcours Aventure
The Parcours Aventure is a safe but challenging adventure course through the trees. A network of ropes, bridges, zip lines, balance beams and scramble nets will test your head for heights as you traverse the forest high above the valley floor. Safety harnesses and helmets are provided and there are 3 different courses; the Grand Forêt for those with nerves of steel, the Petit Forêt for those who want to stay a bit closer to the ground and the Mini Forêt for little monkeys over 3 years old. There are height and age restrictions for the harder parts of the course. If you can keep your eyes off the ground this is a great way to get a bird’s eye view of Chamonix!
The tariffs are:
Grand Forêt - €23 for adults, €15 for children
Petite Forêt - €17 for adults, €14 for children
Mini Forêt - €14 for little children over the age of 3 years
Les Planards - Access & Information
The park is situated just behind the Montenvers parking lot; if you are driving into Chamonix continue along the main access road (Route Blanche) until it bends round to the left, the parking is on your right just before you cross the railway lines. If you are approaching from the centre of town take Avenue Cachat le Geant off the large roundabout by Place du Mont Blanc, Les Planards is on your left just over the bridge and after the railway lines. There are 800 free parking places situated right beside Les Planards but during high season it is still recommended to arive early as it can fill up surprisingly quickly with Chamonix day trippers and coaches.
Entry to the park costs €14 for adults and children over 1.45m, €12 for children between 1m - 1.45m and if you're a little tot under 1m, you get in for free! Instead of a ticket you'll be issued with a wrist band which then entitles you to unlimited rides on all of the parks 17 activities meaning it's very easy to stay there all day. If you frequent Chamonix regularly, season tickets are also available.
The park is open from 11am to 6pm from early April through until early July. During the high season of July and August you can enter between 10am and 7pm and then in September and October, opening hours revert back to 11am to 6pm. Please note that for some weeks during the early and late months the park may only be open at weekends as weekdays can be reserved for group bookings and seminars, please see the Chamonix Leisure Park website to confirm opening hours and prices.
Video Snow Report from Chamonix : Thu 26th Jun 2008 - Les Planards Leisure & Adventure Park
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The weather is still hot and sunny and there is still loads going on in Cham. This weekend runners from all over the world will compete in the Marathon du Mont Blanc, a gruelling marathon through the woods and mountains of Chamonix. Alternatively, on Saturday, there will also be downhill mountain biking at Vallorcine. The kind people at Zero G have carted a load of bikes, helmets and pads over to the Swiss border for anyone who wants to give it a go free of charge! There will also be a BBQ and party hosted by Le Vert bar. If you are out with a young family then where better to spend the weekend than the adventure park at Les Planards? With rides and activities for all ages it is a great day in the sun.
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