Whether you're a regular visitor to Chamonix, or perhaps just discovering the ski areas surrounding the town renowned for its ski access, you're looking for a pleasant place to spend your skiing vacation, gliding along the snow-covered slopes while enjoying the sun and the view. If black slopes mean nothing to you but danger for thrill-seekers, and if you're looking for just a few red slopes for sport and the rest for leisurely descents, Balme is the place for you.
The most pleasant ski area
The Balme ski area is particularly suitable for skiers with a lower level of skiing ability, or for those for whom vacations don't necessarily rhyme with winter sports. With an area that stretches over two sides of the mountain, discover the Charamillon side, with its more pleasant runs down to the village of Le Tour, at an altitude of 1,462 meters, and the Balme side, with its very long, more complicated runs through the fir trees, particularly if you link up the Belle Place and Forêt Verte runs, which take you up to 2,250 meters and then down to 1,264 meters to the village of Vallorcine. Almost a kilometer of vertical drop! On the Balme ski area, and in particular on the piste de la belle place, you'll come very close to the Swiss border.
Winter opening times and prices Domaine Balme Vallorcine
The ski area is open to skiers from December 9 to April 15, with the full season running from February 10 to April 15. For full access to Balme, you will have to pay :
- For an adult, 28.50€ for the return trip from Vallorcine to the ski slopes, or 24€ for the one-way trip.
- For a young person aged 5 to 14, or a senior citizen aged 65 or over, the fare is €24.20 for a round trip, and only €20.40 for a one-way ticket.
- For a family with a minimum of two children and two adults, a round-trip ticket for the entire ski area will cost you €88.30.
A domain also accessible in summer
As with all the ski areas around Chamonix, access is open in summer for hiking enthusiasts. So you can discover these mountains in the summer sunshine on foot or by bike, and explore all the facets of the mountain on multiple hiking itineraries.
In Balme, you'll find hiking trails for all levels, such as the ascent to the Albert1er refuge, or downhill paths from the mountain heights to the village of Le Tour, for example.
Summer opening times and prices
In Balme, the Tour - Charamillon ski area opens on June 16 and remains open until September 23, while Vallorcine is only open from June 30 to September 2. Both have a busy season, during which the gondola opens earlier and closes later, from July 14 to August 19.
As far as fares are concerned, the family pass remains at 88.30€ for two adults and between two and five children inclusive, and the return ticket for an adult costs 28.50€ and 24.20€ for a child or senior citizen. You can also take advantage of a mountain bike pass for 22€, or a more comprehensive pass for 32.50€ to extend the authorized area to Prarion, Bellevue and Autannes.
Hotel Les Aiglons in Chamonix
If you want to enjoy Balme, whether skiing or hiking, and all the other ski areas surrounding Chamonix, the Les Aiglons refuge is the perfect place to stop. As well as offering easy access to any of the areas, the 4-star hotel offers a host of services and facilities for you to use at your convenience.
You'll be able to discover our unlimited SPA for hotel guests, our escape-game, our swimming pool, or the children's area where they can sit back and read books from our children's library, or take part in educational workshops from age 3 upwards.
Discover the hotel Les Aiglons, and enjoy all the skiing and hiking you could wish for!
