Apartment Patrice

Chalet Patrice is ideally situated to allow guests to make the most of the exceptional resort amenities of Argentière. Less than a fifteen-minute drive away from the lively town of Chamonix, the village is located at the foot of Les Grands Montets, a world-famous ski area with incredible slopes and scenery. Argentière also offers visitors a range of stunning hiking and biking trails during the summer season, while golf enthusiasts will adore Chamonix Golf Club, where the pristine greens and breathtaking mountain views are sure to bring out the very best in your game! For something a little different, adventure seekers can spend an adrenaline-fuelled afternoon at the local sky-diving centre.

With three distinctive zones and incredible vistas, the area of Les Grands Montets is known amongst lovers of winter sports for its steep terrain and challenging off-piste skiing. However, there is also a gentler ski area for beginners available here too. Ski areas include the lower terrain around Argentière, the mountain stretching from Lognan to Borchard, as well as steeper alpine terrain that reaches up to 3,275m and includes the jaw-dropping Argentière glacier.

While the winding runs and steep, dramatic drops of Les Grands Montets are best suited to more experienced visitors, the Chamonix resort also provides novice and intermediate skiers with fantastic training slopes. Home to the Kandahar World Cup skiing event, Les Houches is great for beginners, with a welcoming upper plateau that also provides mountain bikers and hikers with rewarding views during warmer months. Meanwhile, cable car rides offer breathtaking ascents to sublime summits, where you can marvel at the peaks of Les Droites and L’Aiguille Verte.

In Argentière, there are beautiful hiking routes to be explored during the warmer months, with the majestic sights of the Couloir du Grand Chantet and La Pierre a Bosson nearby, as well as the popular ascent to glacial Lac Blanc, which rewards hikers with mesmerising views of Mont Blanc. You can also spend a sunny morning hiking along the picture-perfect Petit Balcon Sud to reach Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, in time for a well-earned lunch of raclette and a glass of wine.

After another day of adventure in the fresh air, the Chamonix Valley offers a myriad of après-ski options for visitors to enjoy, ranging from cosy mountain inns to lively bars located in the heart of Argentière. Indoor activities such as spa treatments and wine tastings in Chamonix also make for indulgent and memorable evening experiences. Wholly deserving of its excellent reputation, the spectacular Chamonix Valley offers winter sports enthusiasts and nature lovers a uniquely beautiful setting with abundant alpine charm.

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Chamonix is often preceded by its own reputation. As one of the most famous ski resorts in the world, it has visitors travelling from all corners of the world to experience the epic runs year after year. The Chamonix town centre, also known as Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, is an endlessly inviting little city with enough going on to entertain skiers and non-skiers alike for weeks on end. For those travelling from the UK, it is fabulously easy to reach. You can drive straight from Calais by motorway and be set up in a gorgeous chalet in less than half a day.

The Chamonix Valley encompasses five main ski areas on four different mountains (with easy transfers in between). You can get yourself a single-resort lift pass or one that encompasses the whole valley. If you go with the latter option you’ll even have access to the Italian side of the valley in Courmayeur. The wider area encompasses 106 pistes at up to 3842m altitude and unparalleled off-piste runs. 

Most of Chamonix’s ski areas are best suited to those who already feel at home on a pair of skis. Beginners definitely won’t get as much out of this valley as those who are comfortable tackling a black run. But that’s not saying Chamonix is unromantic by any means. There is incredible scenery for everyone to enjoy, from non-skiers to experts, and nature lovers will fall in love with the Chamonix in summer too. Ski season, however, often lasts until mid-March.

Once the skiing is over at the end of the day you’ll still find plenty to keep you occupied in town. There is an excellent selection of restaurants to choose from, ranging from Michelin starred fine dining to street food that will line your stomach for the après-ski (and rest assured there are dozens of great bars and clubs to choose from!)