Les Grands Montets in Chamonix: the Argentière ski area, access via Plan Joran, lift pass and off-piste

Les Grands Montets is the ski area of Argentière, about 8 kilometres north-east of central Chamonix. It is the area in the valley with the strongest reputation among advanced skiers: steep slopes, snow that often stays cold up high, the Argentière glacier within reach of your ski tips and great off-piste routes.

It is also an area in transition. For winter 2026-2027, both historic cable cars are announced as closed and access is via a single gondola. This page explains what that changes, who the area suits, and how to get there.

What is changing at Les Grands Montets in 2026-2027?

For years, the iconic way up went via the Lognan gondola, at around 1,972 metres, then the Grands Montets cable car to the upper sector, before the Bochard and Herse lifts. That route is not guaranteed this season.

The Compagnie du Mont-Blanc's official page states that the Lognan and Grands Montets cable cars are closed, and that access to the ski area is via the Plan Joran gondola. The winter press kit also states that the top of Les Grands Montets stays closed. The timetable page had also mentioned the site being closed for works during summer 2026.

In practice: coming only for the "Grands Montets cable car" sets you up for disappointment. The area can still be skied, but its highest part, the one behind its legend, is not accessible as it used to be. Check the exact state of each sector before booking a stay built around Argentière.

What are the opening dates for the season?

Les Grands Montets open before the other ski areas and close after them. For 2026-2027:

• partial opening on 28 November 2026 and 29 November, then closed from 30 November to 4 December;
• reopening on 5 December 2026;
• end of season announced for 2 May 2027, snow permitting.

It is the last ski area in the valley to close, two weeks after the general closure on 18 April 2027. To ski in late April, this is where it all happens: see skiing in Chamonix in April and lift opening dates.

The ski area in figures: altitude, runs, lifts

The difference in altitude is not trivial: 2,800 metres is a promotional rounding, 2,765 metres the operational figure. And both figures describe the full ski area, not the one that will be open with the summit closed.

Here, the split of runs changes with the sectors that are open: the official map of the day, on the app or at the Plan Joran base, beats any fixed count.

Who are Les Grands Montets for?

Mainly for strong intermediate to expert skiers. A skier used to blue runs will find accessible sectors, but easy runs do not make for an easy atmosphere: terrain, ice, wind, visibility and sudden changes of gradient can make the day demanding.

With 29 kilometres of runs, this is not the area for anyone who judges a lift pass by the length of the network. Its value lies in the alpine terrain, not in the number of easy runs. A beginner family will be better off at Balme, Les Houches or the Savoy: the comparison of ski areas is in our guide to skiing in Chamonix.

The best time is the morning, especially after a snowfall or in warm weather, when the snow deteriorates quickly up high. Avoid the school holidays if you can.

Is off-piste at Les Grands Montets for you?

Off-piste is one of the main reasons to come, around the Argentière glacier in particular. But these routes are not extensions of the pistes: they require you to assess avalanche risk, read the terrain and, depending on the route, have glacier equipment and skills.

The Argentière glacier has crevasses. For anyone without winter mountaineering skills, a high-mountain guide is the only reasonable option. And fully understanding their safety instructions is essential: choose a professional who speaks a language you are fluent in.

How much does a lift pass for Les Grands Montets cost?

The published price lists include no pass sold for Argentière alone: you ski Les Grands Montets with Chamonix Le Pass, which also covers Brévent-Flégère and Balme.

The senior rate applies from 65, on the same line as the child rate. A specialist guide shows €74 for an adult and €62.90 for a child for a high-season day, which contradicts the €76.50 and €65 published by Chamonix: the official rate prevails when you buy.

The Compagnie du Mont-Blanc announces a rise of 3.56% for Chamonix Le Pass this season, and 3.98% for the Mont-Blanc Unlimited. Free skiing for under-5s, an automatic early-booking discount or a refund in case of partial closure are not established for this area. It is all detailed in our lift pass guide.

How do you get to Les Grands Montets from Chamonix?

The operational address is 65, chemin de la Glacière, in Argentière. The nearest station is Argentière, and the bus stop is "Les Grands Montets".

• By train: the Mont-Blanc Express stops at Argentière, free with the guest card between Servoz and Vallorcine. It is often the most logical option.
• By bus: Chamonix Mobilité lines 2 and 11 serve the ski area, free with a valid lift pass.
• By car: via the RD1506. The car park at the base can fill up at weekends and during the holidays, and neither its capacity nor its rates are published.

Bus and train timetables are in getting around Chamonix, car parks in parking in Chamonix.

How much time should you give it?

• Half a day for a first look, or if only the lower part is open.
• A full day to enjoy several sectors.
• Two to three days in the valley to give yourself a chance of a good weather window.
• More for off-piste, which depends on the snow and the guide.

On the morning of your outing, check the Argentière webcams, the state of the lifts and the weather. A webcam shows what the site looks like, not how stable the snowpack is or whether a lift is open.

Where can you stay and eat near Les Grands Montets?

Staying in Argentière cuts out all the morning journeys. Les Grands Montets Hôtel & Spa stands at about 1,226 metres, less than 300 metres from the slopes, and is listed from €128; La Couronne, in the village, from €80. The valley's other areas are compared in where to stay in Chamonix.

For meals, distinguish between the mountain restaurants, which close with the sector that serves them, the restaurants in Argentière village, and those in Chamonix. Their 2026 hours and prices have not been verified by our sources.

Possible disappointments

• The wind. The upper lifts often close because of wind, and that is precisely the part that justifies the trip.
• The historic cable car. It is announced as closed this season.
• The panorama without skiing. With the works and the uncertainty about operations, it is not a guaranteed panoramic outing.
• Crowds. Full car parks and queues during the holidays and on fresh-snow weekends.
• Resellers. Be wary of "skip-the-line" or "weather-guaranteed" passes, and never buy a named pass from a private individual.

For a more panoramic and easier day, see Le Brévent or La Flégère. All our skiing pages are in the Skiing section.

Sources

Sources: Compagnie du Mont-Blanc (Grands Montets ski area, timetable and site status page, 2026-2027 price announcement), Chamonix Tourist Office (Grands Montets ski area, Chamonix Le Pass 2026-2027 prices, Argentière hotel pages), Chamonix winter 2026-2027 press kit, Skiresort (Grands Montets page).

The number of runs by colour, the car park's capacity and rates, mountain restaurant hours and free skiing for under-5s are not established by the sources. A third-party guide contradicts the official lift pass price, and we quote both. Research carried out on 27 October 2026.