UPDATED (07/08/06) : Changes to Chamonix lift passes for winter 2006/07
There are a few changes being made for Winter 2006 / 07 for lift passes in the Chamonix valley. There is little information to date (August 2006) on the Compagnie du Mont Blanc website, but we received this publication 'Chamonix Ski Pass rates 06-07' from the Compagnie du Mont Blanc and based on articles written within Le Dauphine Libéré understand the following :
New for the winter 2006/07 is an improved CHAM'SKI pass and a totally new MONT-BLANC (Unlimited) lift pass. The SKI PASS MONT BLANC remains 'the daddy' of all passes giving all the benefits of the MONT-BLANC (unlimited) plus access to all lifts in the Mont-Blanc region. We have summarised the following information :
CHAM'SKI
Previously it was not possible to purchase a daily lift pass for the entire Chamonix valley. Those investing in a daily pass were limited to purchasing a pass for a particular area. This proved irritating on occassions if the weather conditions deteriorated in your intial chosen area because if you wanted to move to a different part of the valley you'd have to purchase an afternoon, or worse, a new day ticket for that area.
The improved CHAM'SKI lift pass gives access to ALL skiable areas in Chamonix (1000 to 2765 metres) including : Le Brevent & La Flegere, Le Grand Montets (excluding Lognan - Les Grand Montents cable-car), Le Tour and Vallorcine. Lifts in the beginner areas at Les Planards, Le Savoy, Les Chosalets and La Vormaine are also included in this pass. (Les Houches is still excluded). The new daily adult rate for the CHAM'SKI pass is set to be €36.00. The Companie du Mont-Blanc have additionally reduced the cost of the adult 6-day lift pass from €186 to €182 which is good news!
Furthermore, the newly improved CHAM'SKI pass also allows you to purchase a pass valid for a minimum of 4 consecutive hours (priced at €29.50). Although still fairly pricey, this is good news for those who are only able to ski for a morning before catching a flight home, or for those who only have a few hours off work at a random time during the day and don't want to fork out for a whole days pass.
MONT-BLANC (Unlimited)
Last season The MONT-BLANC ski pass was only available for a minimum of 5 days. This year, the new MONT-BLANC (unlimited) pass gives access for one day (€46.00 - adult rate), or as many consecutive days as required.
The new MONT-BLANC (unlimited) pass gives 'unlimited access' to the ski areas in Chamonix PLUS a whole load more:
- unlimited access to Les Houches
- unlimited access to the second cable car at Les Grands-Montets
- unlimited access to the Aiguille du Midi, including the Helbronner cable car (giving access to Courmayeur, Italy)
- unlimited access for the train and cable car at Montenvers (for access to Mer de Glace and Grotte de Glace)
- acces for one day's skiing in Courmayeur (Italy). It's this that the Companie du Mont-Blanc are hoping will please skiers. Although again slightly pricey for a weeks sking (€220 per adult), you definitely get value for your euro spent. There are certain features in Chamonix such as the vast amount of off-piste and glacial skiiing (vallée blanche) available here that are not readily available for skiers in other resorts
FAMILY PASSES
If you're skiing as a family then new options in the family ski pass could mean huge savings for you as it now longer matters how many children you have in your family. You have the option to purchase either the CHAM'SKI or MONT-BLANC (Unlimited) pass for your family, and only pay for 2 adults + 1 youngster. The first 'youngster' pays only 50% of the 'Adult' rate - all other children in the family subsequently ski for free!
SKI PASS MONT-BLANC
The Ski pass MONT-BLANC gives all the services of the above MONT-BLANC unlimited, PLUS unlimited access to all the resorts of the Mont-Blanc region. A weekly pass will set an adult back €250 but will also allow unlimited access to the following resorts : Combloux, Cordon/Sallanches, Les Contamines, Les Houches, Megeve, Passy, Praz dur Arly, Saint-Gervais & Courmayeur (Chécrouit / Val Vény).
DAYS PACKS (01/11/06 - 30/11/07)
Since 2004/05, the Comapagnie du Mont-Blanc has offered it's customers the opportunity to purchase non-consecutive day lift passes thereby giving the 'fair weather skier' or non skier from Chamonix or wherever more freedom. The packs give skiers the facility to ski for a select number of days during the season, as and when they choose. Days can be purchase in groups of 5, 10 or 15 and are valid on weekdays and weekends. 'Packs' are valid until 31 December 2007.
Note :
For all above passes a 'smart card' is obligatory: deposit €3.00, refundable at the main compagnie du guide office.
Photos are only required for passes of 10 and 15 days duration.
You can upgrade 'lesser' (cheaper) passes to other areas on a daily basis, though you need to work out the maths to see if it is cheaper to 'go large' from the start.
For further lift information can be found within our Lift Pass Offices section which will direct you to specific lift stations.
There are also prices and information for each lift area as you can choose to take days, half-days, single and return journeys only on: the Aiguille du Midi, the Montenvers train, Le Tour / Vallorcine, Les Grands Montets, the Mont Blanc Tramway, and the Brevent/Flegere.
