Things to do in Chamonix
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L'Impossible
Impossibly irresistible, the Impossible is a barn dating back to 1754 near the Aiguille du Midi cable car that has been transformed into a rustic but modern eating space - lots of wood, wicker, warm lighting, gilded gold frames and glass chandeliers. Quail stuffed with foie gras, garlic butter-oozing snails or pineapple carpaccio with ginger and mango sorbet are quintessential French dishes cooked with a twist at this ode to Sylvain Saudan (b 1936), extreme-skiing pioneer and self-proclaimed 'skier of the impossible'.
reviewed
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Aiguille du Midi
A jagged needle of rock rearing above glaciers, snowfields and rocky crags, 8km from the hump of Mont Blanc, the Aiguille du Midi (3842m) is one of Chamonix' most distinctive landmarks. If you can handle the height, the 360-degree views of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps from the summit are (quite literally) breathtaking.
Year-round the vertiginous Téléphérique de l'Aiguille de Midi cable car links Chamonix with the Aiguille du Midi. Halfway Plan de l'Aiguille (2317m) is a terrific place to start hikes or paraglide. In summer you will need to obtain a boarding card (marked with the number of your departing and returning cable car) in addition to a ticket. Advance pho…
reviewed
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Chambre Neuf
Cover bands, raucous après-ski drinking and Swedish blondes dancing on the tables make Chambre Neuf one of Chamonix' liveliest party haunts. Conversations about epic off-pistes and monster jumps that are, like, totally mental, man, dominate at every table.
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Munchie
The style of this trendy Swedish-run hangout is pan-Asian fusion: sashimi, sushi, tempura and Malaysian yellow curries are authentic and creatively presented. Sittings go faster than musical chairs, so it's worth a try even if you haven't booked.
reviewed
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Le Panier des Quatre Saisons
A firm favourite, the Basket of Four Seasons cooks up a veritable feast of season-driven, quintessentially French dishes. Reservations recommended.
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Cantina Club
DJs spin everything from deep house to Afrobeat and hip hop at this pumping underground club. The street-level restaurant cooks up Tex-Mex food.
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Tour du Mont Blanc
11 days (Chamonix Valley)
An extended self guided circuit of Mont Blanc.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,290 -
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Téléphérique du l'Aiguille du Midi
Year round the Téléphérique du l'Aiguille du Midi links Chamonix with the Aiguille du Midi; its halfway point, Plan de l'Aiguille (2317m) is an excellent place to start hikes or paraglide in summer. Be prepared for long queues, especially in summer when you need to obtain a boarding card (marked with the number of your departing and returning cable-car cabins) from the ticket desks in addition to a ticket. Making advance reservations on the 24-hour phone number incurs an around booking fee. The ascent is not recommended for children aged under two. Even in summer the temperature rarely rises above minus 10°C at the top - so bring warm clothes!
reviewed
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La Crèmerie du Glacier
In 1926 Georges Ravanel started selling drinks to hikers from a little wooden hut at the foot of the Argentière's glacier. In the 1950s his son added home-made tarts and croûtes aux fromages (chunky slices of toasted bread topped with melted cheese) to the repertoire, and by the 1980s when the next son took charge of the business La Crèmerie - at a heady height of 1300m in Argentière - was known far and wide for its cheesy croûtes (around €5 to around €1050), fondue and other Savoyard staples. It still is today. Ski to it with the red Pierre à Ric piste in Les Grands Montets.
reviewed
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Mont Blanc Classic
8 days (Chamonix Valley)
A classic self guided supported walk in the Alps through France, Switzerland and Italy.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$890 Advertisement
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Téléphérique de l’Aiguille de Midi
Year-round the vertiginous Téléphérique de l’Aiguille de Midi cable car links Chamonix with the Aiguille du Midi. Halfway Plan de l’Aiguille (2317m) is a terrific place to start hikes or paraglide. In summer you will need to obtain a boarding card (marked with the number of your departing and returning cable car) in addition to a ticket. Advance phone reservations incur a €2 booking fee. Ensure that you bring warm clothes as even in summer the temperature rarely rises above -10°C at the top.
reviewed
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Les Vieilles Luges
Like a scene from a snow globe in winter, this childhood dream of a 250-year-old farmhouse can only be reached by slipping on skis or taking a scenic 20-minute hike from Maison Neuve chairlift. Under low wood beams, Julie and Claude spoil you with their home cooking – dishes such as grand-mère's beef bourguignon and creamy farçon (prepared with potatoes, prunes and bacon), all washed down with vin chaud (mulled wine) warmed over a wood fire. Magic.
reviewed
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Mont Blanc Encompassed
10 days (Chamonix Valley)
An extended walk in the Alps, traversing high mountain passes.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,420 -
Mont Blanc Ascent
7 days (Chamonix)
A classic climbing ascent of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$2,990 -
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Télécabine du Brévent
The highest peak on the western side of the valley, Le Brévent (2525m) has tremendous views of the Mont Blanc massif, myriad hiking trails, ledges to paraglide from and summit restaurant Le Panoramic. Reach it with the Télécabine du Brévent, from the end of rue de la Mollard, to midstation Planpraz (2000m), then continuing to the top.
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Goophy
Goophy by name, goophy by nature at this large pub-style space with wooden floor, high ceilings and a bounty of merrymaking punters near the train station. Those who never quite make it back to their chalet can enjoy surprisingly tasty food - spare ribs with BBQ sauce, blackened chicken filet, a cheese and bacon Goophy burger and so on - from 19:00 to 23:00.
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Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix
A pair of raquettes (snowshoes) is all you need to go stomping off through virgin powder and glistening forests. The Compagnie des Guides arranges tours around the Mont Blanc range from France to Switzerland and Italy, and romantic twilight tours through the forest with dinner. All prices include snowshoe hire and transport.
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La Calèche
One of many restaurants around place Balmat aimed squarely at undiscerning holidaymakers (a folk group sings every Tuesday evening), La Calèche appeals nonetheless. Decor is rustic, with several forests worth of wood on the walls and cheese by the dairy load. Traditional Alpine dishes like fondue and raclette are musts.
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Télécabine Panoramic Mont Blanc
From the Aiguille du Midi, between mid-May and mid-September you can go for a 30 minutes of mind-blowing scenery – think suspended glaciers and spurs, seracs and shimmering ice fields – in the small bubbles of theTélécabine Panoramic Mont Blanc to Pointe Helbronner (3466m) on the French–Italian border.
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Le GouThé
Welcome to the sweetest of tea rooms. Philippe's smooth hot chocolates with pistachio and gingerbread infusions, startlingly bright macaroons and crumbly homemade tarts like mirabelle plum with liquorice are just the sugar fix needed for the slopes. He's a dab hand with galettes (buckwheat crêpes), too.
reviewed
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La Petite Kitchen
The little kitchen is just that: a handful of tables for the lucky few who get to indulge in its locally sourced feel-good food. Filling English breakfasts, steaks with homemade frites (hot chips) and the stickiest of toffee puddings will send you rolling happily out the door.
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Annapurna
Named after the 8000m-plus Himalayan mountain first summited by French Alpine climbers in 1950, Indian Annapurna does not disappoint. Cuisine is authentic, delicious and hot. All the regulars are here - biryani, tandoori etc - as well as more unusual dishes like curried lobster tail.
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Tigre Tigre
This hip Indian restaurant is all the rage with its slinky bar for nibbling poppadums and sipping Cobra beers before the main event. Nice and spicy tikka, tandoori and biryani dishes get your tastebuds jumping like a Bollywood film set and service comes with – hurrah! – a smile.
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Le Bistrot
Sleek and monochromatic, this is a real foodie's place. Michelin-starred chef Mickey experiments with textures and seasonal flavours to create taste sensations like pan-seared Arctic char with chestnuts, and divine warm chocolate macaroon with raspberry and red pepper coulis.
reviewed
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Monkey Bar
With a sign touting ‘live sports and sexy bar staff’, this is one very cheeky monkey. Slightly grungy, very cool, this party hot spot has live gigs and DJs several times a week. There’s a mad rush to the bar at 4.45pm when pints are €1.50 for 15 minutes – get ’em in quick!
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