Travelling to Chamonix

This really depends on personal choice, budget, phobias, hobbies (spotters!), and days of travel. If you are travelling on Saturdays the Eurostar whilst potentially being more expensive than charter or low-cost flying, gets you to within a tiny distance of Chamonix with the minimum of fuss in around 7hrs. Outside the weekends and without direct train links things are trickier and require the jury this end to investigate further before give you a definitive decision....

Flying, whilst seemingly less time moving between countries, involves much longer check-ins and greater potential for delays. This all counts towards stress, tiredness and length of time to get to your destination. With flying you are much more likely to get a 'bargain' price, and if you want to arrive/depart on days other than the weekend is probably less hassle than negotiating the train.

Driving out from the UK by car is relatively inexpensive if you can share the journey with several friends. Bear in mind that the normal nine hour journey across France may take much longer if you chose to travel on a busy Saturday or encounter heavy snowfalls. For more information on driving in Chamonix and getting here by road, take a look at our Driving in France article.

For Chamonix, the most convenient airport is Geneva, situated  100 kms (1 1/4hrs) away.  From here, you have a number of different methods of transport to choose from to get you up to resort.

If you can’t get a flight to Geneva, the next best options are Chambery (1.5hrs), Lyon (2.5hrs) and Grenoble (3hrs) all of which are serviced by a number of the major airlines.  However, before succumbing to a bargain flight into one of these airports, take a few minutes to investigate your onward transfer options below; your flight may only cost you £50 but your transfer to resort could set you back €300 - €400!!

It is also possible to fly into Turin (2hrs) and St Etienne (3.5 hrs) airports, although neither of these are particularly convenient for Chamonix.  Unless you wish to hire a car, the onward transfer options are limited and likely to be expensive.

Altibus operates public bus services from Geneva, Chambery, Lyon and Grenoble airports to all of the major French ski resorts.  They run at regular intervals throughout the winter (more frequently on Saturdays) and bus tickets can be purchased in advance on-line through Altibus.  Tickets can also be bought on the day of travel** from the Information desk inside the terminal, however, during the winter these services get very busy so it is advisable to book in advance to assure your place.   For return tickets, you must confirm your reservation 48 hours before departure at the local bus office in resort.

**For Geneva services to resorts in the Tarentaise (Meribel, Courchevel, Val Thorens, Val d’Isere, Tignes, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Les Menuires etc), seat reservations MUST be made in advance and can be done so on-line through Alpski-bus or by e-mailing accfrance@bluewin.ch.  Alternatively, call the “Acceuil France” office at the airport on +41 22 798 20 00.  All buses depart from the Swiss sector of the airport so you need to be in possession of a valid passport (and visa if necessary). 

If you’re travelling to one of the Swiss ski resorts from Geneva, they are all serviced by the local train network – see below. 

In this area, SAT Mont Blanc (a subsidiary of Altibus) is the principal operator for the route.  You can find all the latest timetables and prices on the Altibus website but approximate journey costs from the airports are as follows:

Discounted rates are available for children (4-12 years) and groups (4 pax +) and Altibus can also organise private transfers if there are a few of you travelling together. *Route prices quoted in red are operated by Agbus - see below.

In addition to Altibus, Grenoble airport also has a public bus service operated by Agbus for resorts in the Tarentaise (Val d'Isere, Courchevel, Moutiers & Bourg St Maurice only) and to Lyon city centre.  Seats on these routes must be booked in advance (0479 68 32 96) and the latest timetables can be found below.

Travelling by train from the airport to French ski resorts is generally not a very convenient option.  Journeys tend to be long and convoluted with at least one change, making the public bus or an airport transfer a quicker, often more economical choice.

However, if trains are your thing, then times and prices for onward travel to French resorts can be found on the SNCF website.  The nearest mainline station for Chamonix is St Gervais les Bains/Le Fayet at the bottom of the valley and from there you would need to take the Mont Blanc Express Train up to resort.

For resorts in the 3 Valleys, Paradiski and Espace Killy, you can take the train from Geneva to Moutiers, Aime and Bourg St Maurice respectively in 3.5 to 4 hrs for around €27 each way.  All trains go via Chambery and include two changes with some lengthy waits for connections.  From these railway stations, you will then need to take a bus or taxi the final stretch to resort.

The only exception to the travelling by train rule is Geneva airport which offers direct connections to the Swiss and European rail network.  The railway station is located on the Arrivals Level at the far end of Main Terminal (continue past the car hire desks and straight on).  If you are travelling to a Swiss ski resort from Geneva then the only public transport option open to you is the train.  Swiss trains area excellent – clean, prompt and with meticulously timed connections, making it a very pleasant way to get to resort.  Tickets can be purchased from the ticket desks or machines located on the station concourse and Swiss francs, Euros and credit cards are all accepted.  All trains stop at Geneva-Cornavin (Geneva Centre), only 6 minutes from the airport.

Getting around the valley and resort you may find the following maps and timetables for buses and trains useful. Shared transport is the way forwards for the planet, and with the centre of Chamonix being pedestrian or busy, your own car is often slower. Valley-long transportation options consist of the main buses and the train, with in-town hop-on, hop-off free bus service which are low pollution models. And to be really carbon friendly - walk!

There are a number of companies operating in and around Chamonix that offer door-to-door minibus transfers from most airports in the region. With all of them you have the option of booking either a private transfer or a more economical "shared" one, where up to 8 people arriving around the same time travel to resort together. Booking in advance is definitely recommended as you cannot guarantee to just pick up a transfer at the airport and some companies strictly forbid their drivers from doing this.  Below are approximate transfer costs comparisons between the various airports and resort:

Resort	Geneva 4 / 8 pax	Chambery 4 / 8 pax	Lyon 4 / 8 pax	Grenoble 4 / 8 pax
Chamonix/Portes du Soleil	€ 40 / 25	€ 80 / 50	€ 100 / 60	€ 100 / 60
Verbier	CHF 75 / 50	€ 100 / 50	€ 110 / 60	€ 120 / 65
Meribel/Courchevel/Val Thorens*	€ 65 / 40	€ 55 / 35	€ 75 / 45	€ 75 / 45
Les Arcs/La Plagne	€ 70 / 40	€ 65 / 40	€ 85 / 50	€ 85 / 50
Val d'Isere/Tignes	€ 80 / 45	€ 75 / 45	€ 90 / 50	€ 90 / 50
Alpe d'Huez/Les Deux Alpes	€ 130 / 70	€ 92 / 55	€ 110 / 65	€ 110 / 60

Prices are approximate and for one-way shared transfers
*Surcharges may apply for transfers to Val Thorens

For a full list of all the Airport Transfer Companies in Chamonix, see our listings page.

Private Taxis
It is also possible to pick up a private taxi in one of the ranks found immediately outside the airport.  Prices to resort should be negotiated before setting off, but as a guideline it will cost approximately 300CHF from Geneva to Chamonix for up to 4 people.  For more than 4 people the cost will obviously be higher for a larger vehicle but probably cheaper per person.  Even though you agree a price beforehand, the driver is obliged to keep the meter running and may not charge more than the price shown (except for surcharges and motorway tolls etc).  Take a look at our Taxi Listings and also enquire about "private" transfer prices from the Airport Shuttle Companies above.

There are a number of companies that offer a long-distance coach service from various pick-up points in the UK to the Alps. The coaches are usually more comfortable than the type you used to get on school trips and many travel through the night, allowing you more time on the slopes once you are in resort.

Although the actual journey time is obviously longer, you don't have the usual airport hassle of checking in luggage and hanging around in the departures lounge waiting for your flight to board. It is also more eco-friendly and often a bit gentler on the pocket. Check out our Bus & Coach section for details of companies that provide this service.

Car hire can be arranged from each of the above airports and if there are a few of you travelling together, it is not necessarily an expensive option. It is however, worth checking in advance to see what parking facilities are available at your accommodation as it can be tricky to find a space in town at certain times of the season.

Pre-booking of car hire is highly recommended, if not obligatory, and you should also detail any extra requests such as ski racks and baby seats etc, at the time of booking.

When hiring a car from Geneva airport, you should be aware that you can do so from both the French AND Swiss sides.  If you have made a reservation in advance, make sure you know where you should be collecting your vehicle from.  This is especially important when it comes to dropping it off at the end of your stay at the French sector is not as straightforward to find and you should allow a little more time for your journey.  You can find directions to the French sector here.

Try our Ski Car Rental Finder for some of the best deals and rental prices at the moment, or for more information on driving in Chamonix and getting here by road, take a look at our Driving in France article.

Unless you book a private transfer or have a car, travelling between French ski resorts is generally not very easy.  There aren’t regular inter-resort public transport routes meaning that your journey is likely to be time consuming and involve at least one change. 

In Switzerland, it’s a different story, as the whole country is linked by its impeccably timed rail network, making travelling around almost pleasurable!  You can find the latest train fares and timetables on the SBB Swiss train website.  For journeys to or from Verbier, the nearest station to the resort is Le Chable, at the bottom of the valley, from where you must either take the Le Chable gondola to resort or the Post Bus (times also available on the SBB site above).

If you do wish to get from one side of the French Alps to another under your own steam, then there here are a few options to investigate further:

Go via the airport
Whilst this may take you a bit out of your way geographically, going from one resort to another via the airport is not as daft as it sounds.  Airport transfer companies and tour operators run regular transfers to and from the airport (especially at the weekend) and they sometimes have spare seats that you can purchase from them.  Once at the airport, the idea is to co-ordinate with an onward transfer to the resort of your choice – either with the same tour op or transfer company, or by one of the methods already explained above.  As the majority of people travel on Saturday or Sunday, the weekend is your best chance of bagging an inter-resort transfer; mid-week or out of season travel is likely to be complicated and potentially expensive.  You should enquire directly with the operators in resort about availability but they may not be able to confirm your place until the last minute as priority will go to their “package” clients.

Public Transport
You can potentially weave your way across the Alps by the buses and trains, but expect it to take you the best part of the day.  To help you plan your route, we’ve put together a list of the main feeder/connection points for the big resorts.  Use the Altibus (public bus) website or the SNCF Trains website to plan your connections to/from these towns.  From there, expect to take a taxi up to resort, or check out our Maps & Timetables section for public bus times (if any).

Resort	Nearest Mainline Bus/Train Station	Travel up to Resort
Chamonix	St Gervais Les Bains/Le Fayet (74)	Mont Blanc Express train to Chamonix
Morzine/Avoriaz	Cluses or Thonon (74)	Public bus or taxi
Meribel	Moutiers Salins Brides Les Bains (73)	Public bus or taxi
Courchevel	Moutiers Salins Brides Les Bains (73)	Public bus or taxi
Val Thorens	Moutiers Salins Brides Les Bains (73)	Public bus or taxi
La Plagne	Aime La Plagne (73)	Public bus or taxi
Les Arcs	Bourg St Maurice (73)	Funicular to Arc 1600, public bus or taxi
Val d'Isere	Bourg St Maurice (73)	Public bus or taxi
Tignes	Bourg St Maurice (73)	Public bus or taxi
Les Deux Alpes	Bourg d'Oisans (38)	Public bus or taxi
Alpe d'Huez	Bourg d'Oisans (38)	Public bus or taxi
Verbier (Swi)	Le Chable (Switzerland)	Le Chable Gondola or Post Bus

The Mont Blanc Tunnel links France and Italy together, providing a vital transit between the two countries and facilitating the circulation of goods and services easily around Europe. The tunnel runs from the Vallée de l’Arve (Chamonix) in the Haute Savoie region, through to the Valle d’Aosta (Courmayeur) in Italy. ... see "Mont Blanc Tunnel" for more

There are numerous options for getting your sports equipment to resort, be it flying, train or coach. Most travel companies have their own individual policy terms and conditions depending on the type of sporting equipment you are transporting. Here's a snap shot of the different transport options and a guide to their restrictions:

Several airlines from around Europe will get you to the Alps without too heavy a hit on the old purse strings, check here for further airline information. Low-cost carriers such as Easyjet or Flybe regularly fly between Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble and the UK. You then have a number of options to get you from the airport to your resort, all of which are explained further in the following sections. A review of airlines terms and conditions in relation to sports equipment baggage indicates that it is highly likely that you will be subjected to a standard charge for taking your sporting equipment on board. Leisure 'Equipment' that will require additional handling can include bikes, golf clubs, parachutes, mountaineering equipment or skis/snowboards. If you like your skis, it is imperative that you pack them in a ski or board bag for protection! Most airlines will still take your skis if they are not in a ski bag; just don’t be surprised at the condition they arrive in at the other end of your flight. A ski or snowboard bag can also be packed with soft items (ski trousers, jumpers etc) around your skis or board to give them added protection. Just be careful if the equipment is covered in storage wax. Recently we decided to test the airlines by taking our mountain bike over from the UK to Geneva. ; bmibaby; Aer Lingus; and KLM indicated that there was an average additional charge of between £15 (€22.50) and £25 (€36) to take your mountain bike, one-way.

However, having recently travelled from the UK to Geneva with our mountain bikes on a low cost carrier we feel the need to clarify this minor detail as we ended up getting stung at check in for 'excess baggage'!! Having duly paid the £15 for bike carriage, and with our luggage weighing in at about 20kgs, we were informed that even though we'd paid to take the bike on board, the combined weight permitted for all luggage was 32kgs. Anything over and above that would be subjected to 'excess baggage' charges. Full suspension bikes although light are generally not below 12kgs so our excess baggage payment ended up costing us another £35!

Our bike was carried in its original cardboard box so who knows what the charges would have been had it been transported in a plastic case! Interestingly though we had to get a connecting flight from Belfast to Geneva on the same day, not wanting to pay another £35 we cleverly selected our check-in staff, a few cheeky smiles and bit of banter all proved to be a winner, no excess baggage charges, so we guess that's the random lottery that is excess baggage charges and check-in staff!

The more conventional airlines such as British Airways its code share partner Swiss airlines permit free transport of bikes providing they fit within the free baggage allowance, and are packed in a hard shelled container.

Airport Transfer companies - If you choose to take a mountain biking holiday most holiday firms will collect you from the airport where the hours drive from the airport is included within your holiday price. However, should you choose to book your transfer independently most airport transfer companies will still permit you to take your mountain bike in the vehicle provided you give advance warning at the time of booking. By

Car or Hire car from the airport - If you prefer the use of your own car you can drive down the autoroutes to Chamonix. It’s approximately an 8-10 hour drive (895kms/550 miles) from Calais and will cost around €70 in road tolls. Check out Viamichelin for exact route information. The most convenient way to travel with skis is a roof "coffin" style box that will carry several pairs of skis/boards, boots and poles. A roof rack is also a handy alternative and can be retned from many ski shops. If using a roof rack, try to cover the bindings over to prevent them getting covered in grit and salt. Roof boxes and roof racks should be lockable and therefore fairly secure from thiefs.

By Train - If you choose to take a train all the way to your ski resort it may involve a couple of changes and cost slightly more than a cheap flight. Eurostar recommends using its registered luggage service for your bike if you’re travelling from London, Paris, Brussels or Lille and charges approximately £20 for carriage of your bike. If travelling by France's national rail system check here for further train and route timetables.