Getting to Chamonix: Easy Access to the Alps
I went on a snowboarding trip to Chamonix, France, for four days from January 27th to 30th.
It was my first time snowboarding in Europe—something I’d had on my bucket list for ages! I’d never snowboarded outside Japan before, but as someone who loves the sport, I really wanted to experience the European Alps at least once.
Choosing a ski resort was tough, but I settled on Chamonix because of its huge ski area and super easy access—just one hour from the airport by car! There’s a direct flight from Bristol to Geneva, and from there, I booked a shared van that took about an hour to Chamonix.
I went with Alpine Fleet for the transfer because they had more departure times than the regular bus—perfect in case my flight got delayed. Actually, my flight landed on time, but I got a message saying the Alpine Fleet van would be running 30 minutes late. No big deal though—it gave me the perfect excuse to grab some canapés and a cappuccino while I waited. A little pre-dinner snack never hurts!
It was raining and the traffic was heavy, but the driver kindly offered to drop everyone off directly at their accommodation for a small tip. Lucky me, I got dropped right at my hostel door! (Should’ve tipped him, but I was out of cash—oops.)
Staying Hostel : The Best Way to Meet People When Travelling Solo
I stayed at Auberge de Jeunesse HI Chamonix, a chilled-out hostel with a great atmosphere. Since I was travelling solo, I wanted a place where I could meet people to snowboard with—and a hostel seemed like the perfect choice.
Also, the hostel offered a special price for The CHAMONIX Le Pass(lift passes for all Chamonix ski resorts)—just €26.5 for one day! It was such good value, especially considering Chamonix is a pretty pricey resort and the pass usually costs around €70. Definitely a big plus for anyone staying there.
I grabbed dinner at the hostel right after checking in (you’ll need to pre-book it, by the way), and honestly, it was surprisingly good—soup, a main, and dessert, all for just €15. I had a really nice time having dinner with the people at my table—there were five of us—and we got chatting straight away. I ended up meeting two guys who were also snowboarding, and we clicked instantly. I joined them on the slopes the next day!
They mostly spoke French but switched to English easily, which made things simple. After dinner, we enjoyed live music at the hostel pub until midnight (though I snuck off early—I needed to save energy for the next day).
Chasing Powder at Grands Montets
The next morning, it was snowing, so we knew the visibility at the top wouldn’t be great. But we were after fresh powder, so we skipped the lower slopes and went straight to Grands Montets—even though the staff suggested Les Houches.
There was a bus stop right outside the hostel, making it super convenient to get to the mountains. Plus, we managed to get seats on the bus, which was a bonus. When we got there, we saw loads of people-it looked like everyone had arrived at the same time!
The snow was fresh, which made snowboarding even more fun! I was surprised to see my new friends had packed their own lunch and ate outside instead of heading to a restaurant. I usually take a break inside to warm up for an hour or so, but I decided to follow their style. To my surprise, I didn’t feel that cold, even while eating outside. Plus, the sun came out while we were eating, so it felt like the right choice.
One thing I noticed—there weren’t as many on-mountain restaurants compared to Japan. But there were outdoor tables around, and not just us—loads of people were sitting outside having their lunch too. I usually like to warm up inside for a bit, but eating outdoors with the fresh mountain air and sunshine was actually lovely.
They loved going off-piste, which was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I had so much fun exploring hidden routes with them. It being my first time there, I had no clue where to go, so I was super grateful they showed me around.
Bluebird Day at Flegere: Views for Days
Day two was absolute magic.
It had snowed overnight, but we woke up to blue skies and fresh powder. We decided to head to Flegere, though we didn’t know if the lifts were running until around 11 AM. Luckily, they were!
Even the gondola ride up was breathtaking, and the views from the top? Unreal. My legs were already aching from the day before—definitely feeling the burn—but my heart was so full, I couldn’t stop smiling. The excitement totally made me forget about the muscle pain!
Fluffy snow, mountains all around, and clear skies—it was an absolutely perfect day.
This is exactly why I wanted to snowboard in the European Alps—the scenery is something else. Compared to Japan, the slopes felt steeper, with more rocky areas and exposed peaks. Most of the runs were definitely advanced or expert-level.
Because of the snow conditions, the regular slopes were closed, so we had to go down a long off-piste tree run. It was way harder than I expected—but so much fun!
For comparison, my favourite resort in Japan is Hakuba-Happo-One in Nagano. It’s beautiful too but with more gentle slopes and beginner-friendly runs.
Cosy French Dinner: Tartiflette Heaven
That evening, I treated myself to dinner at LE MONCHU—a super cosy, wooden restaurant right in town.
I’d booked a table at 5:30 PM before my trip (good call—there was a queue when I left around 7 PM). I tried Tartiflette for the first time, and wow, it was incredible. Melted cheese, bacon, potatoes—all the good stuff. Of course, I couldn’t skip dessert either!
The vibe was warm and welcoming, and the staff were lovely. Highly recommend if you’re after classic French mountain food.
Night Snowboarding at Touchet Night Fever (Spoiler: Not My Thing)
Later that night, I checked out Touchet Night Fever at Les Houches, a night snowboarding event.
I’m usually not a fan of night snowboarding because it’s exhausting after a full day. But it was my last night, so why not?
Honestly… it wasn’t for me. The slope was way too gentle, and it was mostly for beginners and kids.
And the lift? Let’s just say it wasn’t snowboarder-friendly. It designed for skiers, and it was super hard for snowboarders to use. I failed twice, and the lift operator looked a bit fed up with me. On my third try, he sighed and said, “This is your last try.” No pressure, right?
I somehow managed to stay on, but I had to use so much arm strength just to keep my balance. My arms were already dead from the day, and halfway up, I lost control and fell off. Well… at least it was an experience!
On my way back, I almost missed the last bus because I misunderstood the bus stop for the transfer. But luckily, the driver waited for me. Close call!
Final Thoughts & Tips for Chamonix
Every evening, I hung out at the hostel pub, which always had live music—mostly jazz. Such a great atmosphere to wind down after a day on the slopes.
If you’re planning a trip to Chamonix, my tip would be: don’t stress about rushing out early. The high lifts usually don’t open until 10 or 11 AM, so take your time, grab a good breakfast, and enjoy the vibe.
All in all, Chamonix gave me everything I hoped for—fresh snow, insane views, and new friends. Already itching for my next snowboarding adventure!
Would you snowboard solo in Chamonix? Let me know in the comments!
Leave a Reply