Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Skiing for 15 years and visited resorts in:
🇦🇺 Australia (6) • 🇺🇸 USA (15) • 🇯🇵 Japan (5) • 🇪🇺 Europe (10)
Grands Montets rises from 1,252 metres in Argentière village to 3,295 metres on the Aiguille des Grands Montets, delivering 2,043 metres of vertical drop across 29 kilometres of piste and 16 marked runs. The ski area spans three mountainsides above the Argentière Glacier, with terrain split into 21 per cent beginner, 31 per cent intermediate, 40 per cent advanced and 8 per cent expert. Its north-facing aspect and high-altitude glacial terrain guarantee snow preservation from late November through early May, consistently making it the first Chamonix area to open and the last to close.
The area operates under both Chamonix Le Pass and Mont Blanc Unlimited, though only the latter includes access to the summit installations. Six black runs descend from the upper stations, including the technical Point de Vue and Les Pylônes pistes, whilst intermediate terrain fans out across the Lognan plateau at 1,972 metres. Off-piste options dominate the experience, with Combe de la Pendant and the Magic Forest tree runs attracting freeriders from across Europe.
Argentière village at 1,250 metres retains its mountain authenticity, with an 18th-century baroque church and traditional alpine architecture anchoring a quieter alternative to central Chamonix 8 kilometres down-valley. The resort sits directly beneath the 4,122-metre Aiguille Verte and the sprawling Argentière Glacier, creating one of the most dramatic high-mountain settings in the French Alps. On-mountain facilities include restaurants at Lognan mid-station and boardercross terrain accessed from the Marmottons chairlift.
Grands Montets forms part of the broader Chamonix valley network but operates as a standalone area requiring road or rail connections to neighbouring sectors. The 2018 fire destroyed the original summit cable cars, temporarily limiting access to the highest terrain until December 2026, when architect Renzo Piano's €155 million replacement system reopens the glacial summit. The area suits confident intermediates through expert skiers, with limited appeal for pure beginners despite dedicated learning zones at Plan Joran.
Total Runs
16
Total Area
29km
18 miles
The ski area currently operates 7 lifts transporting skiers from Argentière to mid-mountain elevations, comprising 2 gondolas, 2 six-seat chairlifts, 1 triple chairlift and 2 T-bars following the 2018 infrastructure changes. Access from the village begins via the Plan Joran gondola, climbing to 2,134 metres and serving beginner terrain, whilst the original Lognan cable car route remains closed pending reconstruction. Additional surface lifts include the Tabé chairlift for novice areas and the Pendant and Lavancher chairs serving varied descent options.
The Bochard gondola rises 800 metres to 2,765 metres, providing the current highest lift-served point and access to steep alpine terrain overlooking the glacier. The Herse six-seat high-speed chairlift reaches 2,593 metres, replacing an older two-seat installation during mid-station upgrades completed in recent years. Both lifts deliver skiers to challenging red and black pistes, plus extensive marked and unmarked off-piste zones beneath the glacier seracs.
The lift network flows from multiple base points, with Plan Joran handling the majority of uphill traffic since the cable car closure. From the mid-station hub at Lognan, skiers branch towards either Bochard for steeper glaciated runs or Herse for technical couloirs and bowls. The system efficiently distributes skiers across three distinct sectors despite reduced summit access.
Construction of the replacement summit system began in April 2024, with Doppelmayr installing a 10-person monocable gondola from Argentière to Lognan and a 24-person 3S tricable gondola from Lognan to 3,275 metres. The €107.6 million project includes wind-resistant technology to maximise operational days without increasing capacity. Until completion in December 2026, skiers skin 500 to 600 vertical metres from the Herse top station to reach glacier terrain previously served by the destroyed cable car.
Total Lifts
7
Lift Types
4
The 2025-2026 season runs from 29 November 2025 through 3 May 2026, delivering a 155-day operating window that consistently outlasts other Chamonix areas by several weeks. Grands Montets typically opens in early December and extends into early May thanks to its exceptional altitude range and predominantly northwest exposure. The resort holds the distinction of being both first to open and last to close in the Chamonix valley each winter.
Snow reliability stems from the 3,300-metre summit elevation and north-facing glacial terrain, which preserves powder quality when lower resorts deteriorate. Average seasonal snowfall totals 461 centimetres, with summit snow depth averaging 2 metres at mid-season and base depths maintaining 1 metre through spring. March delivers peak accumulation, averaging 224 centimetres at the top and 109 centimetres at base elevations, though the shaded slopes receive limited afternoon sun from December through February.
January through March offers optimal powder conditions and full terrain access, whilst December requires patience as early-season coverage builds over rocky glacial sections and open crevasses. Late-season skiing from April into May attracts freeriders seeking corn snow and extended daylight, with temperatures warming but snow quality preserved at altitude. The resort's climate creates extremely cold morning temperatures during mid-winter, maintaining exceptional snow quality whilst other areas thaw.
The area hosts the Chamonix Unlimited Festival at season's end, typically staged as a major freeride closing party in late April. Limited programming exists compared to larger resorts, with the focus remaining on pure mountain terrain rather than events calendars. Artificial snowmaking covers lower slopes including the Pierre à Ric piste, ensuring valley-level access throughout the season regardless of natural accumulation.
Current Season
2025-2026
Opening Day
11/29/2025
Closing Day
5/3/2026
Days Open
156
Grands Montets occupies the northern Chamonix valley in the Haute-Savoie département of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, with Argentière village sitting at 1,250 metres beneath the Aiguille Verte and Argentière Glacier. The ski area lies 8 kilometres north of Chamonix town centre, positioned at the upper end of the Arve valley within the Mont Blanc massif. Surrounding peaks include the 4,122-metre Aiguille Verte, Les Droites and Les Drus, creating an amphitheatre of 4,000-metre summits enclosing the glacial terrain.
Argentière functions as the base village, retaining authentic mountain character with traditional chalets, local guides' families and a baroque church dating from 1724. Chamonix lies 8 kilometres south via the valley floor, accessible in 15 minutes by road or 16 minutes on the Mont Blanc Express railway. The hamlet of Le Tour sits 5 kilometres north, whilst Vallorcine marks the valley's northern extremity near the Swiss border.
Road access follows the Route Départementale 1506 through the Chamonix valley, connecting to the A40 Autoroute Blanche at junction 21 near Passy. Drive time from Geneva measures 88 kilometres, typically requiring 75 to 90 minutes via the motorway through Cluses and Sallanches. The route involves two French péage points totalling approximately €6, with an optional Swiss vignette costing CHF 40 if using the faster Geneva airport autoroute routing.
Geneva Airport provides the primary international gateway, positioned 88 kilometres northwest with direct bus services taking 75 minutes and private transfers requiring similar journey times. Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport lies 220 kilometres south, whilst Chambéry Airport offers seasonal ski charter access. The Mont Blanc Express narrow-gauge railway connects Argentière station to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le-Fayet in 55 minutes, with onward TGV connections to Paris and regional links via Martigny into Switzerland.
