Vallorcine
Why Vallorcine Ski Resort?
- A small, unspoilt resort that’s less crowded than Chamonix
- High-altitude skiing nearby with very good snow records
- A pretty traditional village
Vallorcine Resort Information
The Chamonix Valley stretches from Servoz to Barberine on the Swiss border. The main towns within the Chamonix Valley include Les Houches, Les Bossons, Chamonix, Les Praz, Montroc / Le Tour and Vallorcine.
The main ski lift areas (working up the Valley) are:
- In Les Houches - Les Houches,
- In Chamonix - Le Brevent and the Aiguille du Midi (off piste only, the Vallee Blanche)
- In Les Praz - La Flégère
- In Le Tour/Vallorcine - Le Tour/Balme
Flégère is interconnected with Brévent. Le Tour/Balme is connected by lift to Vallorcine. The snowpark is in Les Grands Montets. There are other smaller beginner lift areas including Les Planards in Chamonix.
The tiny, unspoilt village of Vallorcine is superbly located at the foot of Mont Blanc, 20km from Chamonix and included in that famous resort's area lift ticket.
Close to the Swiss border, the scenery is stunning and the snow record good. Skiers have fast access to the friendly local Balme ski area, shared with neighbouring Le Tour, via an efficient gondola from the village.
Facilities in the Vallorcine village itself are somewhat limited. There are a handful of simple restaurants and available activities, besides skiing, are limited to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. However if you’re looking for a livelier night out or more extensive facilities, it’s easy to get to Chamonix and the local guest card provides discounts on activities in the area, such as the Chamonix swimming pool complex.
If architecture is your thing, look out for the ‘raccards’, the traditional granaries that are not found anywhere else in France. They testify to the Valaisan origins of the village.
Chamonix (10 miles away) is indeed a fascinating traditional resort with a bustling atmosphere thanks to the presence of over 100 shops, bars and restaurants. The picturesque town also has a casino, Olympic ice rink, sports complex, tennis courts, climbing wall, bowling, Alpine museum, night clubs and cinemas. Also in the region, you can try paragliding or take a helicopter sightseeing flight.
