Chamonix Lift Pass Options - Winter

Chamonix Le Pass - gives access to the three main valley ski areas; Brevent-Flegere, Le Tour and Grand Montets to 2765m (so not the top cable car) and also the valley floor beginner areas (La Vormaine, Les Planards, Le Savoy and Les Chosalets). This pass is an improvement on previous years as you are now able to ski more than one area in a day, without having to buy a second ticket.

This pass does not allow you to use the lifts in Les Houches or take the Aiguille du Midi cable car or the Montenvers train (therefore ruling out the Vallée Blanche). However, it can be upgraded at any point during your stay to the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass on payment of the appropriate supplement. With Le Pass you are entitled to a 50% reduction on the Montenvers train to the Mer de Glace, which is well worth doing to see the ice caves and to watch the skiers coming off the Vallée Blanche.

If you buy a season or annual Chamonix Le Pass ticket, you will also receive vouchers for 3 free day pass to use in any of the Haute Savoie resorts (eg. Portes du Soleil, Flaine, Megeve, Les Contamines etc).

If you generally prefer to stay on the groomed runs or venture off-piste within a secured area, then this is the pass for you.

Mont Blanc Unlimited – is the “all singing, all dancing” pass that will give you unlimited access to all the areas the Chamonix Le Pass does PLUS, top station Grand Montets (normally €10), Aiguille du Midi, Montenvers train, Tramway du Mont Blanc and unlimited access to Courmayeur (Italy) and Verbier (Switzerland), both of which are well worth a visit. After the "is it, isn't it" debacle of winter 08/09, we can confirm that this year the entire Les Houches skiing area IS included on the MBU pass from the outset.  With this pass, you can also reserve your place on the Aiguille du Midi and the top Grand Montets cable car meaning more skiing and less waiting! 

To ski in Courmayeur, you need to go to the cash desk on your first visit to activate your pass, after which you can simply go straight through the turnstiles.  Since 2008/09, there have been FREE shuttle buses operating betweeen Chamonix and Courmayeur for holders of the MBU pass.  Seats must be booked in advance by calling the following number: 0450 53 01 15. There are two buses per day that leave from the SNCF train station (by Chambre 9) at 08.45 and 09.45 and drop you off in the centre of Courmayeur by the Tourist Office.  From there it is a 5 minute walk to the main Courmayeur cable car or there is a shuttle bus service every 5 minutes to the Dolonne gondola (in case you come down that lift by accident at the end of the day). Return buses leave Courmayeur at 16.00 and 17.00. 

If you decide to drive to Courmayeur instead, the MBU ticket also entitles you to reduced rates on the cost of a Mont Blanc Tunnel ticket - €22 instead of €41 for a return trip.  To benefit from this offer you need to call by the cash desk at Montenvers before you set off to get a special voucher.  The tunnel staff will not simply accept your MBU ticket at the toll booths at the tunnel entrance.

In 2009/10, the Verbier coverage on the MBU ticket now includes the entire 4 Valleys area rather than just the Verbier valley as in 08/09.  Available to anyone with an MBU pass of 6 day or longer and still within its original period of validity, you can now enjoy unlimited skiing in this fabulous resort which is only an hour by car from Cham (train links also exist - approx 2.5 hrs each way).  Unlike Courmayeur, where your Chamonix MBU pass works directly in the turnstiles, you need to pass by the cash desks in Verbier each time you ski there and be issued with a compatible day pass.

As a further bonus with an MBU season or annual lift pass, you will also receive tickets for 3 free day pass to use in any of the Haute Savoie resorts (eg. Portes du Soleil, Flaine, Megeve, Les Contamines etc).

If back country exploring is your thing and you want the maximum variety of terrain available, look no further!

It is also possible to buy a pass just for the 19 ski lifts in Les Houches.  Whilst only small (55km of piste), the Les Houches ski area has got some wonderful terrain for all abilities, ranging between 1900-950m in altitude.  Depending on where you are staying, you can access the area via the Bellevue cable car, the Prarion gondola or hop on the Maison Neuve chairlift if you are staying up top.

For beginners, the gentle nursery slopes are at 1850m making them more snow sure than the other beginner areas on the valley floor.  Intermediates will love the wide range of blues and reds, whilst thrill seekers can test their nerve on the legendary World Cup black run – La Verte des Houches – the setting for the Kandahar Downhill race each year.  With it’s tree lined pistes, Les Houches is also the best place to head when the weather closes in and it boasts some excellent off piste skiing through the trees.

If you are staying in Les Houches and enjoy skiing at a leisurely pace and having charming mountain restaurants on your doorstep, then the Les Houches lift pass is worth considering.  If you really want to clock up the kms during your stay, the MBU pass is probably a better option.

Les Houches passes are available for ½ – 8 day durations, as well as a 4h hour ticket valid for 4 consecutive hours of skiing, starting from the moment you take your first lift.  **New for 09/10** Passes of 4 days or more are now automatically valid for 2 additional days, allowing you greater flexibility on when you ski.  EG. a 4 day pass will let you ski for 4 days out of 6 so you can rest those aching legs part way through your stay.

If you are here longer term or planning multiple trips, then you can also buy a season or annual ticket for Les Houches.  Get in early and you can snap these tickets up for half price if you buy before the end of November. 

For those of you who live in the Chamonix Valley or own a property here, the Compagnie du Mont Blanc offers favourable lift pass rates on annual Chamonix Le Pass and Mont Blanc Unlimited lift tickets for adults, couples and youths.  This “resident rate” is generally 50% of the public price and is only available on ANNUAL tickets and not on season or shorter duration passes.

The young person's pass is for those aged between four and 25 years old and if you are applying as a couple, you need to present proof of address, such as an electricity bill, in both names and buy your passes at the same time.  If you're not already on the lift pass system, you will also need to take a colour passport-sized photo along to the Montenvers cash desk or you can apply on line and attach a digital photo of yourself (without headgear or sunnies). All passes operate on the hands free card that costs €3 (or recycle an old one) and you can arrange to have your pass mailed to your home address (€10) or collect it from the Montenvers cash desk (free!).

In order to qualify for this reduction you need to be in possession of a Gens de Pays or Resident Secondaire card issued by the Chamonix Mairie.  The Carte Gens de Pays is available for anyone who can prove residency in the Chamonix valley by their latest 'Avis d'impot sur le revenu' (French income tax bill) whilst anyone who owns property in the valley is eligible for a Carte Resident Secondaire on production of your latest 'Taxe Fonciere' invoice (payable every October).  All you need to do is complete a very simple form, attach a colour passport photo and pay the €5 administration fee.  It is also possible to add dependents (ie spouse and children) to each card on production of a birth certificate.  Applications can be made in person at the Chamonix Mairie or by post and the cards are valid for 5 years:

Chamonix Mairie
BP 89
Service Population
74400 CHAMONIX MONT BLANC

Resident’s lift pass rates are usually released around the middle of October and if you are already eligible for them you will also receive a flyer through the post towards the end of the month.

Early Purchase Discount - The Compagnie du Mont Blanc offer discounts of up to 40% if you buy your season or annual Le Pass or MBU or carnet of tickets before the 30th November each year.  These early bird discounts usually go on sale around mid-September and represent a considerable saving if you're organised and get in quick.

Seasonnaire Ski Pass - if you're going to be in Chamonix to work for the season, then you should take a look at the Work & Ride pass.  It offers the same coverage as the Chamonix Le Pass (but without the 3 Decouverte tickets for day passes at other Haute Savoie resorts) but at a specially reduced rate for seasonnaires (€390 for 09/10).  In order to qualify you need to have a valid French contract of employment with a Chamonix registered company.  They go on sale from 1st December but then need to be re-validated from 10th March to prove that you are still working (take your February pay slip along to the Montenvers cash desk).

Family Pass - if you are here “en famille” then the Family Pass option offers some very attractive discounts for the younger members of your party. For every two adults (from the same family) paying the normal tariff, the first child (up to 15 years) gets a 50% reduction in price and any remaining children ski for free!!. Each member of the family will have their own hands free pass (€3 each) and it is possible to mix and match between the Le Pass and Unlimited options by paying a small supplement. The Family Pass is available from 1 day duration onwards and proof of age is required. Children 16 years and older are classified as adults.

For family season passes, the family rate applies to 2 adults and 1 child only (up to 15 yrs) and any additional children are charged the senior season pass rate.

Carnet of Tickets - it is also possible to purchase a book of tickets for the Chamonix Le Pass or the Mont Blanc Unlimited area for 5, 10 or 15 days. These tickets are non-consecutive and valid until 31st December the following year, so can be used over the summer months too. The 5 day pack is also non-nominative and can therefore be used by different people. With one of these tickets you benefit from a reduced daily rate and there is no need to queue up at the cash desk each time you wish to go skiing.

4 Hour Ski Pass - if you are on a flying visit through Chamonix or if you have the chance for a few last turns before you head home, it is now possible to buy a pass for 4 consecutive hours skiing. The clock starts ticking when you take your first lift.

Seniors - reduced rates are available for adults between the ages of 65-74 years and a reduction of 50% is applied to the cost of a day pass to anyone over the age of 75.

Non-Skiers - for those of you wishing to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding mountains without hurtling down them, it is possible to buy a pedestrian ticket at the base of any of the valley gondolas, cable cars and trains for one return trip.

If you plan to meet up for lunch with the skiing members of your party, then ask about Le Cham’Gourmand pass. This entitles you to spend €27 in either Restaurant Plan Joran (Grand Montets) or La Bergerie de Planpraz (Brevent) and the return trip on the lift is included in the price. We recommended that you book your table in advance as the restaurants can get very busy between 12-2pm, although it is not possible to reserve a table for more than 10 people. You can call La Bergerie on +33 (0) 450 53 05 42 and Plan Joran on +33 (0) 450 54 05 77.

Photos are only required for passes over 10 days in duration but all are now issued as a hands-free electronic smart pass that operates the lift turnstiles. You have to pay a €3 deposit for the card which is refundable, or you can keep it as a souvenir.

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 wesbite. Visa, Mastercard and Amex credit cards are accepted.

Insurance - when you purchase your lift-pass you may be given the additional option to add insurance. Even if you have your own this is worth considering as it is a special ski insurance instantly recoginised in France. Ask for 'assurance Carré Neige' - it has to be put onto the pass at the time of purchase and only costs €2.70 per day (€2.30 for children).

Prices will vary according to the lift pass you have chosen. The attached tables show current prices for Chamonix Le Pass, Mont-Blanc Unlimited, and Skipass Mont-Blanc. You have the choice of buying consecutive or non-consecutive days, for adults, children and seniors, and families.

Remember that if you buy your lift pass about a month before the season begins, the Compagnie du Mont Blanc offer discounts for season and annual passes. You can save 35% on the Mont Blanc Unlimited ski pass, and 30% on the Chamonix Le Pass - well worth it if you're organised! Prices are generally publicised at the end of October for the coming winter season. ... see "Chamonix Lift Pass Prices - Winter" for more

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! ... see "Chamonix Lift Pass Options - Summer" for more