The Chamonix Valley consists of seven separate lift areas that cater for a whole host of individuals - from skiers and snowboarders, mountaineers and climbers, hikers and mountain bikers, to those simply wishing to enjoy the more leisurely pursuit of admiring the beauty of the surrounding mountains. With such variety on your doorstep, it makes sense that there are a number of different lift passes available so that you can tailor your purchase to the ability and preferences of your group.
Lift passes are available from the base of each lift station, the Montenvers railway cash desk or in advance on-line purchases can be made via the Compagnie du Mont Blanc website. Visa, Mastercard and Amex credit cards are all accepted. Don't forget that your lift pass also provides you with free access to the bus and train system that runs throughout the Chamonix Valley so you can leave your car at home!
During the summer months Chamonix still has a significant number of lifts open, giving you access to some truly beautiful hikes and panoramic vistas. The Mont Blanc Multipass gives you unlimited access to all the sites of the Chamonix Valley on one pass (except Panoramic Mont Blanc gondola to Helbronner, Les Planards Leisure Park and the Bellevue cable car in Les Houches). Available for a variety of durations, it means you only have to go to the cash desk once and includes a number of other perks to save you time and money around town:
• Free reservation for the Aiguille du Midi cable car • Free access to the top lift of the Aiguille du Midi • Discount on the Planards summer toboggan run and the Chamonix Tourist Train.
You can buy a Multipass for between 1 and 15 consecutive days duration, or even greater flexibility is possible with a non-consecutive day option, allowing you to pick and choose the days you want to use the valley lifts. Non-consecutive passes can be bought for a 7 or 15 day period, allowing you 2-3 or 4-6 days usage respectively. If you are lucky enough to make several trips to Chamonix over the summer, then there is also a season option (photo required) for 10 or 15 days to be used before end of November.
Multipasses can equate to a saving if you do the Aiguille du Midi and the Montenvers Train in one day!However, more value can be gleaned from purchasing a longer duration pass, enabling you to visit more of the valley’s areas and attractions. A hands free “smart card” is compulsory with this pass for a €3 refundable deposit!
It is also possible to buy single or return tickets for each of the individual lifts, available at the cash desk at the base of each lift station.
With Mont-Blanc as its impressive backdrop, the Chamonix valley is definitely a great place for mountain biking as the different and varied terrains suit bikers of all levels. With so many people coming to Chamonix to mountain bike in the summer, it makes sense to have a specific pass for bikers.
Passes are now available only on a daily basis, you can buy them from the base of any of the mentioned lift stations.
The Compagnie du Mont Blanc offer a mountain bike pass that will give you unlimited access to the following lifts:
Chamonix - Plan Praz gondola (Brevent)
Flegere cable car
Lognan cable car (Argentiere)
Le Tour gondola
Autannes chairlift (Le Tour)
Vallorcine gondola
Prarion gondola (Les Houches)
**NB: Mountain bikes are not permitted at all on the Montenvers train or the Aiguille du Midi cable car**
Les Houches also offers it's own version MTB lift pass which gives you unlimited access to the Bellevue cable car and the Prarion gondola. With some of the nicest single track in the valley as well as some more technical downhill trails and a bike park, Les Houches is one of the best areas to get astride your bike. Passes are available by the day or they also have a 6 day option available and as always, a hands free card is required.
It is also possible to buy a summer lift pass with paragliding specifically in mind. Whilst quite similar to the mountain biking option, the Paragliding pass will give you easy unlimited lift access to the designated take off areas in the valley via the following lifts: Chamonix - Planpraz gondola & Plan de l'Aiguille cablecar**, Les Praz - La Flégère cablecar & Index chairlift, Argentière - Lognan & Les Grands Montets cablecars, Le Tour - Charamillon gondola, Les Houches - Prarion gondola
**It is forbidden to take off or overfly this area during July and August.
Passes are now available only on a daily basis, you can buy them from the base of any of the mentioned lift stations.
In winter, the ski areas tend to open partially from November and then fully from just before Christmas. Closing dates vary throughout the ski areas and are of course weather dependant, but you can usually guarantee that they will all be open until the end of April, with the Grands Montets staying open until the first week of May.
The Aiguille du Midi cable car and the Montenvers train both remain open throughout the year. After a short inter-season closure for maintenance and holidays, the lifts start to re-open for the summer around the beginning of June and start to close from the beginning of September. Check out the attached table for this years opening and closing dates. ... see "Chamonix Lift System Opening/Closing Dates" for more
Lift Pass Options for Chamonix - Winter
There are currently a number of different lift pass options available to ski and enjoy the Chamonix valley. All lift passes (except cross country) require a hands free card to operate the turnstiles. You will be issued with this when you purchase your pass and will have to pay a deposit of €3 which is refundable, or you can keep it as a souvenir! ... see "Chamonix Lift Pass Options - Winter" for more
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