Mont-Blanc Region

The mountain lies between the regions of Aosta Valley, Italy, and Haute-Savoie, France. The location of the summit is on the French-Italian border but French and Swiss cartographers place it within France's boundaries on maps.

Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco (French and Italian, respectively, meaning "Mount White") is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union.[1] It rises 4,810 m (15,781 ft) above sea level and it's the absolute high point of any trip to the area south of Lake Geneva. It is also sometimes known as "La Dame Blanche" (French, "the white lady").

Mont-Blanc is the third most visited natural site in the world. The two most famous towns near Mont Blanc are Courmayeur, in Aosta Valley, Italy, and Chamonix, in Haute-Savoie, France - the site of the first Winter Olympics. A cable car ascends and crosses the mountain from Chamonix to Courmayeur.

Begun in 1957 and completed in 1965, the 11.6 km (7¼ mi) Mont Blanc Tunnel runs beneath the mountain between these two countries and is one of the major trans-Alpine transport routes.
The cultural heritage of the Pays du Mont-Blanc is as extensive as its mountain tips. In the past, in these high valleys, it took courage to survive. Inaccessible and isolated from the world's progress, they represented a difficult world for the mountaineers. The beautiful baroque churches, chapels, cross roads and a very special culture originated from the stories of farmers, peddlers and smugglers. A spirit of solidarity and beautiful traditions of celebration and sharing grew out of the isolation.

The first climbers came to this country and enabled people to take another look at the mountain. Tourism emerged with the birth of mountaineering, and with it alpine skiing and all other recreational activities. The evolution of the architecture of villages, then the birth of the ski stations are the major signs of these changes.

Getting there

By plane, train or car, getting to the Mont-Blanc region is pretty simple. Whether you arrive from France, Italy or Switzerland, you are immediately immersed in the mountains.
From Geneva International Airport the highway gives you quick access to all major villages. On the other hand, the Mont Blanc Tunnel allows you to get directly into the Chamonix valley. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, choose the train or bus: a network perfectly organized to take you up mountains without polluting the planet! And for Pays du Mont-Blanc intermodality is not a vague concept: all means of transport are related to each other through a network of professionals who know the roads as their pocket! Useful if you do not want to lose too much time and start your holiday without waiting!

Chamonix

There's almost too much to see and do in Chamonix - surrounded by 3000-metre peaks, the resort of Chamonix is the undisputed capital of mountaineering and the departure point for a comprehensive and clearly marked network of mountain paths and biking tracks.

The resort town hasn't changed so much since Charles Dickens said, "Mont-Blanc and the valley of Chamonix, and sea of ice, and all the wonders place are above and beyond one's wildest expectation. I cannot imagine anything in nature more stupendous or sublime".
Located at the foot of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain at 16,000 feet, Chamonix has been a major alpine centre since the 19th century and is the 3rd most visited natural site in the world.
The skiing is divided into 5 main areas which all have an excellent range of testing and high altitude runs. On either side of Chamonix, are base stations of the Aiguille du Midi, starting point of Vallee Blanche and a new gondola to Le Brevent. La Flegere is reached by cable car from the nearby village of Les Praz. The other ski areas are widely spread across the valley.
Skiing in Chamonix is made easy as all five areas are linked by an efficient bus service (free with lift pass).
Advanced to expert skiers will love the incomparable slopes and challenging range of skiing. Chamonix skiing is the undisputed off-piste capital of Europe with some quite extraordinary experiences awaiting you on the Mont Blanc Massiff.

Saint-Gervais

Situated at the foot of Mont-Blanc, the spa resort of Saint-Gervais has attracted tourists since 1806 and today is popular with discerning skiers. Set in a narrow river gorge halfway between Megève and Chamonix, the landscape is impressive wherever you look.
Among Saint Gervais' attractions are thermal baths with spa treatments, a cinema, casino, and many outdoor activities available such as an Olympic skating rink. A trip up the mountain on the Mont Blanc Tramway is not to be missed.

Les Houches

At the entrance of the Chamonix valley and only 4km from Chamonix itself, the typical mountain village of Les Houches is right under the impressive Mont-Blanc. There are a number of pleasant bars and good restaurants for quiet evenings out and buses run in and out of Chamonix all day.
Les Houches' friendly relaxed atmosphere is ideal for families and for those wishing to explore the rest of the legendary valley. World-renowned sites such as the stunning Aiguille du Midi, Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) can be easily accessed from Chamonix and its many cable cars, the scenic Montenvers train or the picturesque Mont-Blanc tramway.
Les Houches is the regular venue for Chamonix World Cup Downhill but is in fact well suited to families, beginners and intermediates, with easy runs at the top of the mountain.
The 70 kilometres of almost entirely wooded slopes form the biggest single area of prepared runs in the Chamonix valley. Les Houches ski runs are normally quiet and the views superb from the several attractive mountain restaurants. Les Houches has some of the best tree-lined skiing in the Mont Blanc.

Activities in Les Houches

Non-skiers can try out the many other activities Les Houches has to offer such as dog sleigh rides, ice-skating, Abre Adventure, climbing, snow shoeing, ice climbing, tree-tops adventure, ski jumping, paragliding, and air excursions. Places to visit include Les Houches local markets, the ‘Musée Montagnard' and the Saint-Bernard breeding kennels.