Argentière, a characterful village nestled at 1,250 metres altitude in the upper Chamonix valley, is a legendary destination for mountain and big-skiing enthusiasts. At the foot of the majestic Argentière glacier and emblematic peaks such as the Aiguille Verte, the Drus and the Courtes, the village has retained an authentic alpine atmosphere, wilder and more sporty than its neighbour Chamonix. In winter, Argentière is inseparable from the Grands Montets area, a world-renowned site for its impressive vertical drops and off-piste possibilities. In summer, it becomes a favoured base camp for mountaineering, glacier hiking and major mountain expeditions.
Argentière
Overview
Argentière
📏 Altitude: 1250 m
🎿 Alpine skiing: 155 km
⛷️ Cross-country skiing: 15 km
🌟 Resort style: Village resort
💰 From 74 €/day (2025-2026)
📅 Open 28 November 2026 to 2 May 2027
Overview of Argentière
The village of Argentiere stretches at the foot of its imposing namesake glacier, offering spectacular views over the surrounding summits. Its architecture is typical of high-mountain villages, with traditional timber-and-stone chalets and the Baroque church of Saint-Pierre with its distinctive onion-domed bell tower. The Grands Montets cable car — though its summit station is under reconstruction (expected late 2026) — remains the iconic infrastructure, the gateway to a high-altitude world. The historic centre and surrounding hamlets (Le Tour, Montroc, Le Planet) have preserved their old-world charm, bearing witness to a long tradition of mountain life and alpinism.
Our review — Argentière
4.2/5
Ski area — key figures — Argentière
- 🌟 Village resort (Haute-Savoie)
- 📏 1250 m Village altitude (2752 m Top altitude)
- 🎿 68 runs
🚠 59 ski lifts
Average lift age: 33 years
When to visit
Argentière in summer
In summer, Argentiere is the ideal starting point for numerous alpinism courses on the prestigious summits of the Mont Blanc massif, such as the Aiguille Verte or Les Droites. Experienced walkers venture onto high-mountain routes, notably towards the Argentiere glacier (viewpoint accessible via the Lognan/Plan Joran lifts) or on hillside trails offering spectacular views. Mountain biking and climbing are also popular activities. The atmosphere is resolutely focused on active mountain pursuits, attracting a sporty and passionate clientele. The proximity of Chamonix allows for varied day trips and discoveries.
🎯 Things to do in summer:
✅ Road cycling • ✅ Enduro MTB • ✅ Hiking • ✅ Mountaineering • ✅ Rock climbing • ✅ Via Ferrata • ✅ Rafting
Argentière in winter
In winter, Argentiere is the mecca of freeride and committed skiing, thanks to the Grands Montets ski area. Experienced skiers and snowboarders find steep slopes, couloirs and vast powder fields. Ski touring is also very well developed, with numerous routes departing towards the glaciers and surrounding summits. Ice climbing is another highlight activity for thrill-seekers. Though the ski area is primarily focused on sporty skiing, the groomed runs still offer fine descents. The apres-ski scene, though more discreet than in Chamonix, is convivial and focused on a passion for the mountains.
🎯 Things to do in winter:
✅ Alpine skiing • ✅ Cross-country skiing • ✅ Ski touring • ✅ Mountaineering • ✅ Dog sledding • ✅ Snowshoeing • ✅ Winter walks
Skiing
Below are the 4 ski areas accessible from Argentière: La Vallée de Chamonix (alpin), Argentières (nordique), Chamonix (nordique), Le Margeriaz (nordique).
Ski area — La Vallée de Chamonix
⛰️ Altitudes: 1035 m – 3290 m
🎿 Alpine skiing: 155 km
💰 Day pass: 74 €
Chamonix has around ten ski areas covering approximately 120 km of runs. Several are small beginner areas perfect for family skiing. The 4 main substantial ski areas are: Argentiere/Grands Montets — a high-altitude, predominantly technical ski area, situated between the Argentiere glacier and the Mer de Glace, with 28 km of runs. Brevent/Flegere — a ski area directly accessible from the Chamonix town centre or from Les Praz. Mostly technical skiing, facing due south opposite the Mont Blanc massif, with 56 km of runs. Les Houches/Prarion — a family ski area with accessible and technical runs, linked to Saint-Gervais by the Mont Blanc tramway. Sunny skiing with fine views over the Chamonix valley and forest runs for a magical atmosphere, with 55 km of runs. Balme/Vallorcine — a family, sunny ski area with fine views of the Mont Blanc massif, with 29 km of runs. From the summit of the Aiguille du Midi (3,842 m), it is possible to undertake the most famous off-piste route in France: the Vallee Blanche descent (the Mer de Glace). In good snow years, the descent can reach all the way to the valley — 2,800 m of pure natural descent. Otherwise, it ends at the Montenvers site (rack railway). The route varies from very technical to relatively easy depending on snow conditions. Any reasonably competent off-piste skier can attempt it. In any case, hiring a mountain guide is strongly recommended, as you will be skiing on the glacier.
Cross-country ski area — Argentières
⛰️ Altitudes: 1250 m – 1300 m
🌲 Cross-country skiing: 15 km
💰 Day pass: 10 €
Argentiere itself is primarily focused on alpine skiing and freeride. However, the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc valley offers an excellent Nordic ski area, easily accessible from Argentiere. The Argentiere site has around fifteen kilometres of trails marked for both classic and skating technique, including loops of different levels (green Iles loop, blue Chosalets loop, red Moraine loop) around the village and along the Arve. For a wider offering, Nordic skiers can head to other sites in the valley — such as Chamonix or Vallorcine — which offer 50 kilometres of varied trails in magnificent settings.
Cross-country ski area — Chamonix
⛰️ Altitudes: 1040 m – 1850 m
🌲 Cross-country skiing: 50 km
💰 Day pass: 10 €
With nearly 50 kilometres of dedicated runs, the Chamonix-Mont Blanc valley offers an appreciable playground for cross-country skiing enthusiasts in classic or skating technique. The varied routes, laid out in the heart of grandiose landscapes, are spread across four main sectors, each with its own character. Access to the Chamonix, Argentiere and Vallorcine runs is paid, while the Les Houches domain is free access (excluding the mechanical lift cost for the Prarion). If you are far from the major Nordic ski areas, skiing enthusiasts with a view will be satisfied. Les Houches/Prarion Plateau — high-altitude skiing at 1,850 m accessible by the Prarion cable car, offering spectacular views of the Mont Blanc range. Two main groomed routes for skating combine snowed plateaus and forest passages. This high-altitude environment guarantees good snow and a unique atmosphere far from valley bustle — a Nordic experience balcony-style. Chamonix/Les Praz — the heart of the domain at the Chamonix Nordic skiing lodge (near the Bois du Bouchet), offering three main runs: the green Bois du Bouchet (around 3 km) perfect for initiation, the blue Orthaz (over 7 km) and the red Les Bois (over 11 km) for experienced skiers, winding through forest and along the Arve. Direct link with the Argentiere domain allows up to 37 km for endurance skiers. Argentière — offering around fifteen kilometres of runs with striking views of the legendary Drus and Aiguille Verte summits. Green Iles run (1.3 km) near the car park, blue Chosalets (3 km) and the demanding red Moraine run (8.5 km) with some technical descents. Main departure from the Iles tennis car park. Vallorcine — at 1,300 metres, the last village before Switzerland offers a more intimate and wild Nordic domain of around 10 km. Trails wind between larch forests, along the black water stream and through preserved hamlets like the Montets. An ideal site for peaceful, family-oriented practice in an authentic end-of-the-world setting.
Cross-country ski area — Le Margeriaz
⛰️ Altitudes: 1330 m – 1440 m
🌲 Cross-country skiing: 4 km
The Margeriaz Nordic ski area offers around ten kilometres of trails in the Margeriaz forest, with a 1.5 km and a 3 km loop.
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Ski pass prices — Argentière
Current lift pass prices for ski areas accessible from Argentière.
| Ski area | Day pass | 6-day pass | Season pass | Season (prices) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Vallée de Chamonix (alpin skiing) | 74 € | 360 € | 1400.8 € | 2025-2026 |
| Argentières (nordique skiing) | 10 € | 50 € | 95 € | 2025-2026 |
| Chamonix (nordique skiing) | 10 € | 50 € | 90 € | 2025-2026 |
| Le Margeriaz (nordique skiing) | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2025-2026 |
Additional information
- La Vallée de Chamonix: A la journée, mais aussi sur certains autres forfaits, Chamonix pratique la tarification dynamique : en fonction de la demande, les prix des forfaits baissent lorsqu’ils sont achetés en ligne. N’hésitez pas à consulter le site de la stations pour trouver le meilleur prix.
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