Destination Guide: Vallorcine
Vallorcine is a village made up of several hamlets at the far end of the Chamonix Valley, just four kilometres from the Swiss border. This little village of just over 400 inhabitants is a real alpine hideaway, so much so that we like to call it Narnia! If you're looking for peace and quiet and authentic alpine charm Vallorcine has it in bucketloads.
Vallorcine also offers direct access to the pistes of Le Tour/Balme ski area with the fast and efficient bubble lift. There is a range of cross country skiing pistes around the village and a small alpine ski area with two drag lifts called La Poya.
You can also go ski joering (skiing with a horse pulling you along) in Vallorcine, at Le Buet end of the village or if that sounds too active, take a very pleasant ride in the horse drawn sledge. Over the col in Le Tour you can enjoy some time sledging with our gorgeous furry friends the husky dogs.
Back in the village centre, the Residence Vallorcine Mont Blanc has a free open-air ice rink that the whole family can enjoy in the afternoons and evenings. The residence also offers snacks and hot drinks at the little outdoor mazot.
Life happens at an altogether different pace in Vallorcine, but there are just enough amenities to make it practical and not too many to turn it into a full-on commercial resort. You must visit the village Post Office-cum-bar, the teashop/mini supermarket and we can recommend heading to the Gite Bellevue near Le Buet for an aperitif, a meal or a takeaway platter of homemade food.
You can also hire skis and snowboards from the Sanglard sports shop located in the Residence Vallorcine Mont Blanc or the ski hire shop at the bottom of the lift.
In summer, Vallorcine has become a Mecca for mountain bikers, with the super-steep purpose-built down hill run, complete with modules to really test your biking skills. There are also bike paths through into Switzerland where you can go to the outdoor pool in Les Marecottes, or even down to Martigny town (and hop on the train back to Vallorcine).
There is also a wide choice of sport climbing and bouldering to be done around Vallorcine and you even go canyoning in Barberine right on the Swiss border. If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, you will love the walking, especially around the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve of the col des Montets and the pretty hamlet of Trelechamp.
Vallorcine really is the Chamonix Valley’s best-kept secret…just don’t tell everyone.
Vallorcine activities and things to do
• Book an Evolution 2 guide and go snowshoeing in the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve from the col des Montets, or canyoning at Barberine in the summer
• Take the train all the way through the Chamonix Valley to Vallorcine and meander along the short riverside walk to eat at La Ferme des Trois Ours restaurant and farm shop (the train is free from Servoz to Vallorcine with a carte d’hote card given to you by your accommodation provider)
• Ski down the Foret Verte piste from Le Tour through the pine trees to Vallorcine village and have lunch at L’Arret Bougnete at the train station, before catching the lift back up
• Enjoy night time cross country skiing one night a week during the school holidays on a 1km circuit that is lit with garlands for a rather magical altnerative to nordic skiing in the daylight
• Every Monday during the school hols take part in a sledging race behind the Tourist Office. Starts at 17:00 and there'll be vin chaud and apple juice offered too!
• Book yourself in for a bit of pampering at the Cinq Mondes spa at the Residence Vallorcine Mont Blanc - a massage, a facial, a manicure...the choice is yours
• Go walking around the waterfalls of Barberine and visit the ‘Maison de Barberine’ countryside museum during the summer season
Vallorcine useful links
- Welcome to Vallorcine – discover all you need to know about the Chamonix Valley’s best-kept secret
- ESF Vallorcine - the official Ecole de Ski Francais website for the Vallorcine branch where you can reserve your lessons online
- Barberine Museum - lots of historical information on Vallorcine and life as it used to be. Open in summer and by request i winter
- Residence Vallorcine Mont Blanc - top class self catering accommodation with services in the heart of Vallorcine
- Bellevue Alpine Lodge - offering cheap lodgings, head by for an convivial aperitif and a meal, or pick up the take away 'menu du jour' to eat at home
- Sanglard Vallorcine - book online with this special link and save up to 50% when you reserve your ski and board hire in advance
