Winter:
Chamonix has different ski areas:
Grands Montets (500 m walk or short bus ride): World famous off-piste, Argentiere Glaciere trails, also a few intermediate pistes. Le Tour (5 mins bus): Nursery slopes, intermediate and some more spectacular off-piste runs. Brevent/Flegere (10 mins bus): Nursery slopes, intermediate and some more spectacular off-piste runs.
Aigulle de Midi: Cable car to 3842m. Spectacular off piste ski run called the Vallee Blanche for intermediates and above. In summer, the Hellbronner cable car goes across the valley to Italy.
Les Planards (10 mins bus) : Nursery and beginner slopes
Les Houches (20 mins bus): Nursery to intermediate
The ski season usually runs from early December until the middle of May. It is usually possible to ski the vallée blanche until the early summer. Also a short drive, Courmayeur (30 mins), Verbier (1 hour), Megeve, St Gervais, Flaine and many more.
Summer:
In the summer:
Argentiere is the start of many walks for all abilities. Easy, same-level walks in the forest to high-altitude hikes. For the more experienced or with a guide there are several glaciers and many famous rock climbing routes.
Chamonix has a large outdoor swimming pool and leisure centre. The shared pool in the apartment block is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. There are also small mountain lakes at Passy for swimming and windsurfing or the beautiful lakes at the nearby city of Geneva (1h) and Annecy (1h).
It is also possible to white water raft down the river through the town centre, and on other rivers near by. Parapenting, golf, fishing, mountain biking or just have lunch in one of the many restaurants with spectacular views. The temperature often reaches 30C in the summer.
