Ski chalets Argentiere & hotels Argentiere France
Rustic ski village, stunning views & challenging skiing - the perfect destination for a ski weekend
Chalets Argentiere, hotels Argentiere, ski holidays Argentiere
Nestled beneath the mighty Grand Montets in the Chamonix Valley, the village of Argentiere has retained its rustic appeal despite some modern development. The old village plays host to the Glacier d'Argentiere and commands stunning views down the valley towards the Aiguille du Midi, Mont Blanc and Chamonix itself. The ski area on Les Grand Montets is justifiably renowned for its extensive steep terrain, which can only be fully explored and appreciated with the help of a local guide. The cable car takes you up to 3,300m giving access to numerous black, red and off piste runs making the village less than ideal for beginners and weak intermediates. As the Chamonix valley is made up of fragmented ski areas, serious skiers would do well to consider staying in Argentiere rather than any of the other areas, which make up the Chamonix valley. This is especially true late in the season as the North facing slopes above Argentiere hold their snow well into May. The Restaurants and bars tend to have an informal atmosphere and are less expensive than Chamonix itself.
View all 13 ski chalets in Argentiere
View 1 hotel in Argentiere
Resort statistics
- Beginners
- Intermediates
- Experts
- Snow sure
- Off-piste
- Ski area
- Charm factor
- Non-skiers
- Nightlife
- Practicality
- Fine dinning
- Short transfer
- Resort value
Airports
- GENEVA (1.25 hours)
Pros
- Lots of tough terrain especially off piste
- A wide variety of ski resorts are covered on Mont Blanc lift pass
- Weekend skiing due to close proximity to Geneva and Turin
- Incredible views of peaks and glaciers
- Excellent snow record early and late season
Cons
- Several separate mountains so mixed groups are likely to split up
- A less than perfect bus service between the different mountains. Hire a car.
- Bad weather can shut the best runs
- Large lift queues especially at peak times and weekends
Resort Restaurants
Argentiere, despite being a lot more laid back than its famous neighbour Chamonix, still boasts a nice quantity of high quality restaurants. Le Rusticana, which is very centrally located, is a great spot to meet up for an après-ski snack or a delicious fresh meal. The venue turns into a bit of a party bar later on but early evening it's a great place to meet your friends and family straight of the slopes. If it's more of a regional dish you are after then head to Le Carnotzet which specializes in local cheese dishes. Originally a wine cellar this rustic restaurant still has a very traditional French feel about it and offers some seriously yummy raclettes, fondues and much much more! If you need a change from all the local delights the infamous Office bar which describes itself as a "part pub, part restaurant" does a great burger and a very reasonably priced steak and chips.
Mountain Restaurants
Due to the extensive area covered by your lift pass in Argentiere there are plenty of mountain restaurants to choose from for your lunch. There is a wide range of variety to suit your taste and budget, from cosy chalet style restaurants serving gourmet cuisine to big self service sun decks where you can grab a quick bite. The Marmottens bar is extremely popular. More like a bustling canteen than an intimate restaurant, but still a great place to have a decent re-fuel. Serving the usual mountain fayre of omelettes, chips, burgers and the odd croute or gratin, it's the perfect place to catch some rays in a deck chair facing Mont Blanc. For something the other end of the scale and a little bit special head to the Cremerie du Glacier, located at the foot of the Argentiere glacier. This little gem is notoriously hard to find (ask your chalet hosts for best route) but worth the hunt once you get there. The place has been family run since 1926 and serves the most exquisite homemade Savoyard menu including fabulous fondues and charcuterie dishes.
Apres Ski
Despite being a relatively small village, Argentiere has a reasonable amount of choice of where to head for après ski. This resort has over 20 bars and 3 nightclubs, however the après is probably described as low-key compared to the après ski scene in bigger resorts. The office bar is a popular hangout for Brits and has great live music. The stone bar is also favoured amongst tourists and locals alike and a good place for a game of pool or darts. For those seeking more from their après ski, I would suggest heading straight off the slopes to Chamonix (only 8km away) and then get a local bus or taxi back to your chalet later on. Being a much bigger resort the après ski in Chamonix is noticeably more prominent and lively.
Nightlife
The Office bar is popular with the Brits and Scandinavians and they have regular live bands. Other places to head for are the Savoy bar which sometimes gets rather lively and the Rencard bar which plays reggae music and serves good beers and snacks.
Resort Map Note only lifts departing from the resort base are shown.
Key
Funicular
Cable Car
Gondola
Chair lift
Drag lift
Ski Hire Shops
| Location | Name | Stars | Discount | Promo Code |
| A | Grands Montets Sports | Up to 45% | AlpineAnswers |
The star rating for the ski hire shops is an indication of the level of service; quality and variety of stock, and the space and decor of the shop. It is also a reflection on the price. A five star rated shop will offer great service and equipment but also will charge the highest price. Ski hire shops with a two star rating have less variety and older, poorer quality of stock but are cheapest.