If you’re an outdoorsy traveler then Chamonix, France needs no introduction, as it is one of Europe’s best sporting playgrounds surrounded with some of the world’s most fantastic scenery. Chamonix is the famous resort town in the French Alps at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest European mountain west of Russia.
This destination holds a special allure for mountain climbers among other extreme sportsman’s. So strong is the allure that it has been described as “the death-sport capital of the world”, since it is a base for almost all types of extreme outdoor activities like ice climbing, rock climbing, extreme skiing, paragliding, rafting, and canyoning. But their more passive activities counterparts are not left behind. Hiking, biking, and nature watching are some of the other popular activities performed here.
Naturally, since Chamonix is located in the French Alps, it is extremely popular during the winter. Famous for its winter sports, Chamonix is also credited with hosting the First Winter Olympic games in 1924. Obviously, you are going to find there the ubiquitous skiing and snowboarding, but while in Chamonix, you may want to try your hand at one of the many other winter activities available in this town. Whether its ice climbing, husky sledding, glacier walking, or cross country skiing, among others, you will have a unique outdoor experience while enjoying nature at your own pace.
But what about the summer time? Is it still as interesting as during the winter? Chamonix is still as active and interesting as in the cooler months. During the summer months, Chamonix is a mecca for alpine mountaineers, drawn to the area to take over the challenge of climbing the north, west, and south-west faces of the Dru, the Frendo Spur on the Aiguille du Dru, the north face of the Grandes Jorasses and the massive climbs on the south side of Mont Blanc. Traversing the Alps and reaching to the summit of Mont Blanc are also popular during summer. Also, with over 600kms (400 miles) of marked trails in the valley, walking here can be as short as a single afternoon walk or as long as a multi day hike.
Chamonix is also a popular destination for mountain bikers. This place has seen its popularity significantly increase within the mountain biking and general biking community. With Mont-Blanc as its impressive backdrop, the Chamonix valley is definitely a great place for mountain biking as the different and varied terrains suit bikers of all levels; from a leisurely cycle around some of the lower level trails encircling the valley floor, to an extreme and exhilarating downhill mountain biking.
And lets not forget this is France – famous for it’s good food and restaurants. So, after an energy filled and active day, the best thing to do is have a good dinner at any Chamonix restaurants and spend a relaxed night. Everything you need to charge your batteries to tackle another day of extreme sports and outdoor activities.
If you’re interested in getting to know more about this destination, you can find more information at My Destination Chamonix.
Images 1, 2, and 3 from Flickr’s Creative Commons.
