subject: Attractions Off-piste In Chamonix [print this page] When you think of booking a holiday that will take you in to Switzerland and then from Geneva to Chamonix, you will often have visions of the amazing array of slopes and pistes that you can spend hours skiing down. After all, this ski resort area in the small commune on the French border sits below Mont Blanc, which is the highest mountain in Europe outside of Russia. It is known for its skiing and is considered the oldest ski resort in France, and one of the best in the Mont Blanc area. In 1924 it was the site of the first winter Olympics and boasts over 108 kilometres of pistes.
But, just because you have booked a transfer that goes from Geneva to Chamonix and back again doesnt mean that the only thing you can do is ski. In fact, the region has loads of non-skiing opportunities that can keep you busy in the chilly winter months. While you are in the area, be sure to do a bit of sight seeing.
Sight seeing above the piste
Heading from Geneva to Chamonix for a ski holiday doesnt mean that you will need to spend all your times going down pistes and weaving in and out of trails on skis and snowboards; actually, there are loads of other sights to see while in the area as well. If you are looking for a bit of time off your skis, then head up the Aiguille du Midi cable car without them. The Aiguille du Midi cable car is one of the highest in the world and finishes at a staggering 3810 metres above sea level. At the top, take the next cable car from Aiguille du Midi in France to Helbronner across the border in Italy for a five kilometre ride across the snow capped mountains. Incredibly, on this trip there is a three kilometre stretch without pillars to support the cars; this is the longest stretch in the world without such pillars.
Once you have taken the Aiguille du Midi cable car trip up to its giddy and fantastic heights, head across the valley to the Brevent cable car, to get a different view of Mont Blanc. To get a fantastic view of the whole valley, go to nearby Les Houches and take the Bellevue cable car where you can see Mont Blanc on one side and the Brevent on the other. If you are looking to for an outing to get you outside and up a mountain that isnt all about skiing downhill, then sign up for the Le Tour cable car, which will take you up to the French-Swiss border tops where, in the summer you can walk and hike along the ridges, and in the winter you have excellent access to some of the best slopes in the area.
When you arrive in Switzerland for your ski holiday and head off on your transfer from Geneva to Chamonix, dont forget to take the time to explore a little off-piste as well as on! Youll be glad you did.
