The Chamonix valley is one of the Alps’ most spectacular holiday locations. The sides rise steeply to a row of jagged peaks nearly 10,000ft above the town; towering behind them to the south is the dome of Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, with its massive glaciers and icefalls.
The bustling town centre of Chamonix provides an eclectic mixture of traditional Savoyard markets, cosmopolitan boutiques and restaurants with pavement terraces – ideal for a leisurely lunch watching the world go by. The evenings can be as sophisticated or as lively as you wish, and for those with Euros to spare, the Casino is a late-night option.
Why Chamonix
The Chamonix valley is one of the Alps’ most spectacular holiday locations. The sides rise steeply to a row of jagged peaks nearly 10,000ft above the town; towering behind them to the south is the dome of Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, with its massive glaciers and icefalls.
The bustling town centre of Chamonix provides an eclectic mixture of traditional Savoyard markets, cosmopolitan boutiques and restaurants with pavement terraces – ideal for a leisurely lunch watching the world go by. The evenings can be as sophisticated or as lively as you wish, and for those with Euros to spare, the Casino is a late-night option.
Book Early to secure your `Crunch-Buster´ deals
FREE holidays for children and infants
Full child discounts even in their own rooms
FREE soft drinks all day for children
FREE packed lunches for all
FREE wine for all adults with dinner
FREE ice-lollies for children
FREE Baby Listening and Child Patrol Service
Reductions at the Alpine Museum and Minigolf with free guest card
FREE travel on Chamonix's buses and local trains
All `Crunch-Busters´ have limited availability, must be reserved at the time of booking your holiday, and may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Conditions apply to most deals
Esprit Classic Child Care
All Esprit Child Care is based in Chalet Hotel Sapinière. Please see pages 6-9 for pricing details
and examples of activities in our Nursery and Alpies Club.
Nursery – runs all season, Sundays, Mondays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays from 9.30am –
6pm in our own Esprit Nursery.
Alpies Club for children aged 3-11 years – runs all season, from 9.30am – 6.00pm, Mondays,
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, including lunch and all drinks. See pages 8-9 for details.
FREE Cocoa Club is run six evenings a week from 7.30 – 10.00pm. All children over 3 years of age
not yet asleep in bed are welcome to attend.
FREE Baby-Listening/Child-Patrol Service every night (7.30 – 11pm) during our adult-only
dinners, plus one night 7.30 – 11pm on staff day off (normally Tuesdays(, when parents can dine
out in the village and enjoy a local speciality meal.
Twin Centre Idears
Chamonix is ideally situated in the Northern Alps, lending itself to perfect twin-centre
links with our other resorts in France and Switzerland. Choose between our other
Chalet Hotels - either in Belle Plagne, amidst the
Bellecôte Massif, Alpe d’Huez or in
Saas Fee, with its sensational views of Switzerland’s highest peaks.
It's 550 miles from Calais to Chamonix.
Fly-drive: Fly to Geneva and take a hired car from there to the resort. Travelling
time from Geneva to Chamonix is about 1 hour.
For Ramblers, Kikers & Bickers
Chamonix’s cable-cars, chairlifts and pathways give the whole family the chance
to gain access to this wonderful alpine terrain. There are over 330km of signposted
paths, combining forest trails with high altitude tracks, thus offering a variety
of styles of walk to suit all ages and energies! You can even walk on the glaciers
or take the Aiguille de Midi cable car to within 3,500ft of the summit of Mont Blanc.
For those with a palaeontological interest and the stamina, there is a walk (5-
6 hrs) from the Emosson Dam on the border of France and Switzerland to see the famous
dinosaur footprints.
The FREE Esprit Welcome Wander
Takes place on Sundays and is a family-friendly walk, suitable for all ages, to
introduce you to the local area. It offers a great opportunity to meet fellow guests
and to plan the week’s activities. The gentle walk will culminate at a scenic spot
to enjoy a complimentary light packed lunch. You may then leave your younger children
in our child carers’ capable hands and enjoy a further hour’s walk if you wish.
Attractions and Activities
Chamonix is a major recreational centre, boasting an excellent indoor swimming-pool, an ice rink, a
10-pin bowling alley, pony trekking, an adventure park and, probably the single most popular
activity amongst all our guests, child and adult alike - the summer toboggan run.
A visit not to be missed is a ride with the rack and pinion train to the famous glacier, the Mer de
Glace, where ice grottos and sculptures, a little natural history museum and a rock crystal gallery are
guaranteed to enthral and capture the imagination.
The ‘Global Mer de Glace’ ticket covers the train ride and entrance fees, and costs approximately £19.50
per adult and £16 for children (aged 4-15 years). Family Pass (2 adults, 2 children under 16) £59.
Around and About
Chamonix is ideally located for day trips into Italy via the Mont Blanc tunnel or into Switzerland, up
winding mountain roads with dramatic picture postcard views. There is a scenic train ride through the
mountains and over the passes to Martigny in Switzerland. This old town boasts a Roman amphitheatre,
a car museum and many other exhibitions.
Geneva, with all its lakeside attractions and international shops is only an hour away. Chambéry, south of
Chamonix, is home to Parc Walibi, a large theme park with plenty of family friendly attractions, stomachchurning
rides and a waterpark, complete with the requisite slides and chutes!
Golf
Excellent 18 hole par 72 golf course with a Driving Range for practice and tuition
available. Green fees range from £25-£50 and club hire is from £12.
Rock-Climbing
Get close to the mountain face! Specialist courses and instruction in mountaineering
and ice climbing are all available (minimum age 6 for rock climbing, 12 years for
ice climbing). Half day sessions from £39 per person.
Summer Tobogganing
The summer toboggan run has two choices of tracks offering hours of enjoyment for
all ages. For a chair lift ride up and one descent the cost is £4 per person.
River Rafting & Kayaking
The whole family (children aged 6+ for rafting / 12+ for kayaking) can enjoy a white
water rafting trip on the River Arve, 20 mins from Chamonix. The Initiation Course
is eminently suitable for first timers, with carefully controlled white water adventure!
£30 per adult / children from £21 on certain routes.
Swimming
In the town centre the complex in Chamonix offers an indoor pool, a baby pool and
water slides with plenty of sunbathing areas for soaking up the rays. Be warned
though of the strict swimming trunks rule – no "shorts -style" allowed. Entrance from
£3;30 for adults and children £2.50.
Cycling
All the Chamonix valley is accessible by mountain bike with gentle valley routes
or take the bike on a lift for a downhill descent. Bike hire varies from £11 for
adults and £7 for children.
Mer de Glace
Take the cog railway to the spectacular glacier Mer de Glace where a small cable
car takes you to the ice grottos carved into the base of the glacier. Adults £20
children from £16.
Day Trips by Car
Only 90 minutes by car is this wonderful historic lakeside town of Annecy with plenty
to do and see. Past guests also recommend the excellent Aquaparc at Bouveret on
Lac Léman (11/2 hours).