Grands Montets commands the most challenging and extensive terrain in the Chamonix Valley, spanning over 1,800 hectares across three mountainsides with skiing reaching 3,295m on the Argentière Glacier beneath the towering Aiguille Verte. This legendary freeride destination offers an unparalleled vertical drop of over 2,000 metres from summit to base, creating some of the longest and most demanding descents in the world while maintaining its reputation as a mecca for off-piste skiing and snowboarding. The resort delivers both glacial terrain above the treeline and tree-lined lower slopes, providing diverse skiing experiences from technical black runs to extensive unmarked powder fields that attract elite freeriders from around the globe. Built in 1963, this iconic ski area continues to set the standard for extreme Alpine skiing, combining world-class terrain with spectacular high-mountain scenery.
Total Runs
16
Total Area
29km
18 miles
Grands Montets operates through a strategic network of 8 main lifts including cable cars, gondolas, and chairlifts that efficiently transport skiers from the 1,235m base in Argentière village to the 3,295m glacial summit. The system features the Plan Joran gondola providing access to beginner terrain, while the Bochard gondola and Herse chairlift serve the challenging intermediate and advanced sectors up to 2,765m elevation. Following the 2018 fire damage, the resort underwent major reconstruction with renowned architect Renzo Piano designing new stations, including a cutting-edge 3S gondola system scheduled for completion by 2026 that will restore full summit access. The lift infrastructure includes the Tabé, Pendant, and Lavancher chairlifts serving varied terrain, plus specialist transport for accessing the extensive off-piste areas and glacier routes that define this world-renowned resort.
Total Lifts
7
Lift Types
4
Located in Argentière village, 8 kilometres from Chamonix town centre in the prestigious Haute-Savoie region, Grands Montets occupies a dramatic position beneath the 4,122m Aiguille Verte and the extensive Argentière Glacier. The resort sits at the heart of the Mont Blanc massif, surrounded by legendary 4,000m peaks including Les Droites and Les Drus, creating one of the most spectacular high-mountain skiing environments in the Alps. Argentière retains its authentic mountain village character with an 18th-century baroque church and traditional Alpine architecture, while serving as the gateway to world-class mountaineering and extreme skiing terrain. The area is easily accessible via the Mont Blanc Express train to Argentière station or by road, with excellent connections to Geneva Airport and the broader Chamonix Valley, making it a premier destination for serious skiers and mountaineering pursuits.
