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Ski-Areas > Northern Alps > Haute-Savoie (74) > Mont-Blanc > Argentière
The ski resort of Argentière is situated in the Mont-Blanc area of the Haute-Savoie department in the Northern Alps region. It is part of the Skipass Mt-Blanc ski domain. The lift served area extends from 1250 metres to 3250 metres. There are 20 km of lift served runs. There are 7 km of cross country trails.
Argentiere is, in many ways, Chamonix's country cousin - smaller and less sophisticated (but when sophistication is typified by the likes of No Escape or the execrable Clubhouse, that's not necessarily a bad thing), but offering a rawer and more authentic French Alpine village experience . It is also closer to the main action: stay in Chamonix if you want to party but go to Argentiere if first bins and fresh tracks are your thing.
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Nearest Airport(s): Geneva - 1 hour approx.
Road: as for Chamonix, then continue 8 kms up RN 205 towards Martigny/ Swiss border. Whereas snow tyres or chains are rarely necessary to get as far as Chamonix in winter, they can be very useful (and occasionally obligatory) in bad weather for the climb up to Argentiere.
Rail: On the metre-gauge St Gervais-Vallorcine-Martigny line. Station in the village - ARGENTIERE HAUTE-SAVOIE. 200 metres walk to the Grands Montets cable-car. Philippe, the chef de gare is a very helpful chap for booking onward travel.
Gite Le Belvedere is home to that fast-disappearing Chamonix inhabitant, the genuine ski-bum. Cheap, cheerful, and within walking distance of the cable-car, its dormitory rooms fill up during the winter months with powder hounds from across the globe who have come to experience the magic of the Grands Montets.
For something a little more comfortable, White Mountain Lodges -http://skiwml.com- has a very cosy little chalet in the heart of the old village (available catered or self-catered) and is run by very friendly and experienced former ski-bums, who will be able to help you get the most from your stay.
Marmotte Mountain Adventure -http://www.marmottemountain.com- also has a couple of very nice chalets priced further towards the luxury end of the spectrum.
Mont Blanc Retreats, http://www.montblanc-retreats.com have fantastic properties in Argentiere to help you get the most out of your holiday!
The Savoy Bar -http://www.savoy-bar.eu- The Savoy Bar has been a feature of the Argentiere village for many years, but the winter 2008/09 season saw Fred and Alex take over the management of the Savoy.
Tell readers about any good restaurants and bars in the resort
We don't all ski 24/7, if there are shops: ski, fashion or bookstores you think people should know about mention them here.
As well as having its own branch of the ESF, Argentiere is home to Chamonix Experience guides' bureau -http://www.chamex.com-, a very professional outfit run by Russel Brice, who also organises expeditions to Everest and the Himalaya. They can arrange everything from a run down the Vallee Blanche to a Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route or a descent of Mont Blanc on skis.
Also worth mentioning is Robbie Fenlon, an Irish mountain guide -http://wilderplaces.com- who, as well as doing all the usual guides' stuff, organises backcountry courses in conjunction with ski-instructor Derek Tate of BASS Chamonix -http://www.britishskischool.com-. These courses offer a very useful and enjoyable introduction to the world of backcountry skiing, with Derek working on off-piste technique while Robbie covers route-planning, avalanche awareness, glacier travel and all the other elements essential to safe enjoyment of the mountains.
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Category: Ski Areas
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