Overall Rating

Grands Montets

Grands Montets3.5/55
Grands Montets3.5 out of 5 based on 5 reviews
  • Recommend
    100%
  • Would Revisit
    100%
Up Guides Maurienne Tours

Chamonix Ski Areas

Brevent Flegere
Balme Tour Vallorcine
Chamonix
Les Houches

Maps & Stats

    Grand Montets Trail Map
  • Grands Montets Trail Map
  • Vertical (m)
    1,252m - 3,275m (2,023m)
  • Average Snow Fall
    6 to 14 metres
  • Lifts (10)
    2 Gondolas
    3 Chairlifts
  • Opening Dates & Times
    Early December to early May
    8:30am - 4:30pm
  • Terrain Summary
    Runs - 30km
    Longest run - 6km+
    Expert - innumerable
    Advanced - 50%
    Intermediate - 30%
    Beginner - 20%
  • Lift Pass Price
    Day Ticket 22/23
    Mont Blanc Unlimited Pass
    Adult - €76
    Child - €64.60
    Child u/5yr - Free

    Chamonix Le Pass
    Adult - €49.60 to 62
    Child - €42.20 to 52.70
    Child u/5yr - Free

    Ikon Pass & Mountain Collective Pass valid with conditions/limitations
    Chamonix Ski Resort Map
  • Chamonix Ski Resorts Map

Grands Montets - Reviews

Grands Montets - Reviews

Love this place

Martin
22/12/2022
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Expert
  • Rider Age
    51-70
  • Month Visited:
    January
  • Admin Rating
    2

Love this place

Martin
22/12/2022
Grands Montet isn’t for everyone but what a special place for experienced skiers and boarders. A big mountain with so many options. Chaos on a powder day, as others say, but not so crowded at other times with fantastic terrain, high snow quality and spectacular views across the valley.
See our video here

Better with Less Lifts & More Sweat!

30/09/2019

POWDERHOUNDS EUROIPE

Powderhounds Ambassador
Powderhounds Ambassador

POWDERHOUNDS EUROIPE

Powderhounds Ambassador
Powderhounds Ambassador
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Telemarker
  • Rider Level
    Expert
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Month Visited:
    February
  • Admin Rating
    5

Better with Less Lifts & More Sweat!

30/09/2019

Set spectacularly under the towering spires of the 4121m Aiguille Verte & Aiguille du Dru, Grands Montet's north-aspect ski terrain holds Chamonix's best snow & hence attracts a horde of the world's best skiers. The terrain here is skied hard. So hard that if it hasn't snowed for a few days, there can be bumps on the bumps where you never expected to see bumps. So be it. It is a place that needs to be skied on its day, & if you miss that day ........ you can now still get a few freshies because the top cable car burnt down - YAY! Stick on the skins we are climbing up!

Strange how the loss of two cable cars, including one that serves some of the world's best off-piste terrain, can improve a ski area. It’s true. Grands Montets ski resort is better off without the top cable car, whilst the loss of the lower one possibly makes no difference (as the gondola to Plan Joran has good uphill capacity). We think Grand Montets offers a better ski experience without the two cable cars - go figure!

A surprisingly small ski area (only 30km of piste trail), Grands Montets is clearly not for everyone - even though everyone wants to go there. Beginners & lower intermediates need not apply. Whilst the recent lift improvements for beginners via the Tabe chair give some ground, it is just not a place to learn to ski (go to Balme). Similarly, the limited intermediate runs tend to be at the higher end, so by all means come and say you skied Grand Montets, but then head over to Balme or Flegere. The advanced trails are super nice ......... if they are groomed, which some weren't during our visit. We hate super bumps, but that's what we got. The Chamois trail is cool & the Pierre a Ric valley trail is a rip-roaring thigh-liquefier & the best in the valley.

I don't want to harp on it, but Grands Montets is all about the off-piste. The broad Combe de la Pendant off the Bochard is the pick of the lift accessed freeride terrain by a long way. Tree skiing is possible, but conditions weren't awesome for it during our visit, so we avoided.

We rate the nightlife here very highly because of its proximity to Chamonix, not for anything Argentiere serves up. We have heard rave reviews of the shenanigans at the resort base area but found it to be uninspired (perhaps the lack of powder at the time was rankling the natives!). Similarly, if looking to stay anywhere in the valley, go for Chamonix first, Le Tour second, Argentiere 7th!

Getting to Argentiere & Grands Montets was fantastic. Often maligned, we used the free Chamonix bus to get there (wonderful trip) & the train to depart (bit of a walk to the station but a cracking journey as we were heading to Switzerland!)

Every powder hound should strive to ski Grands Montets on a powder day at least once in their poudre soaked lives because it is an amazing location. We will have to return to tick that box. On that day, expect to see us lining up before dawn......


See our video here

Amazing...

Daniel
21/06/2019
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Advanced
  • Rider Age
    51-70
  • Month Visited:
    March
  • Admin Rating
    1

Amazing...

Daniel
21/06/2019
I could come back to this place every year. The scenery is amazing. Once on the slopes we had perfect snow conditions and blue sky. With a good ski teacher you can find the less crowded area's to enjoy this beautiful part of Chamonix the fully 100%. It might take some time to reach the highest point but it is worth it.
See our video here

Best in the Alps, but everybody knows it!

Stefan
05/11/2018
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Advanced
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Month Visited:
    February
  • Admin Rating
    1

Best in the Alps, but everybody knows it!

Stefan
05/11/2018
Grand Montets is the best ski area in the Alps, I think, if it weren't for the fact that everybody else also has found it out. It takes about half an hour until the whole mountain is tracked up.

Besides from that, Grand Montets is a fantastic mountain. Great vertical, wide open powder fields in between the dramatic mountains and lots of great snow.
See our video here

Steep Terrain

Mestdagt Dieter
04/10/2018
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Snowboarder
  • Rider Level
    Advanced
  • Rider Age
    18-35
  • Month Visited:
    February
  • Admin Rating
    2

Steep Terrain

Mestdagt Dieter
04/10/2018
Chamonix is made up of a few (no linked ) resort. Grand Montets is the largest. The terrain in Chamonix overall is steeper than most resorts.(it is also the birthplace of alpinism, so you get the picture!). Off piste riding is serious business here. Because of the steep and dangerous terrain, don't go following blindly every trial in fresh snow; it might lead to a sketchy situation.

Nightlife is ok but you notice that people come for the mountain sports (& not the nightlife!), but that doesn't mean you cannot party.
See our video here