The seasons show very different faces of Chamonix. In the summer there is rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking whilst winter offers skiing, ski touring and ice climbing. No matter the time of year, it is never a problem staying busy in the Chamonix valley.
Student Activities
Seasonal Activities
Insted arranges a number of activities to facilitate the practice of spoken French. This gives students the opportunity to speak French and get real insight into the French way of life as well as the history and culture of Chamonix and the Haute Savoie region.
Activities organised by Insted
- An introduction course to avalanche and glacier awareness
- Trip to Courmayeur, Italia
- A discovery game in the streets of Chamonix where you get to know the town and its people
- Cinema nights with French films
- Visits to and lectures from local companies and organisations
- Visit to the Alpine Museum in Chamonix and other exhibitions in the region
- Visit to Annecy - known as "Little Venice" of the French Alps
- Day trip to a vineyard on Lake Geneva
- Cheese and wine tasting
Activities organised by the students
A group of students is organised during the course to arrange social events, excursions and other common activities after school hours. These activities include:
- Indoors climbing nights
- Dinners
- Theme parties
- Excursions to other ski areas such as Verbier in Switzerland
Other activities in Chamonix
Climbing
The Chamonix valley offers first-class rock climbing and the towering granite walls of the Mont Blanc range are well-known to climbers across the planet. Down the valley there are also many good sport climbing areas. In winter try ice climbing, an exciting sport where you use crampons and ice axes to climb frozen waterfalls of blue ice. Another hugely popular form of winter climbing is alpine climbing where high-altitude challenges are overcome to summit your peak of choice.
Indoor climbing
There are excellent indoor climbing walls for all levels in both Chamonix and the neighbouring village of Les Houches.
Mountain biking
Starting in April, many kilometres of fun trails along the mountainsides and valley floor can be explored by mountain bike. There are many places in Chamonix where you can rent a bike.
Paragliding
On virtually every good weather day you will see paragliders flying through the skies. There are many lift-accessed takeoff points and several schools can teach you how to do it. Insted recommends Les Ailes du Mont Blanc.
Canyoning
Explore the rivers, lakes and canyons in the Chamonix region. Several guided tours are available during summer.
Indoor gym, swimming
In the Richard Bozon sports centre (Centre Sportif Richard Bozon) you will find a gym and a water park / swimming pool. Chamonix also has bowling alleys, tennis and squash courts.
Hiking
High alpine lakes, green mountain meadows, wildflowers, birds, marmots, bouquetin and chamois – Chamonix is a hiker’s dream. From quick hikes during lunch and after classes to weekend-long backcountry camping adventures, the mountains surrounding Chamonix offer unlimited opportunity for total beginners to experienced backcountry trekkers.
Explore the Mountains
Mountain biking, trekking, with or without ropes, crampons and climbing gear. Equipment and planning all depends on what you want to do and where you want to go. There are few limits to the combinations available. It also depends on the season and current snow and weather conditions. From half-day excursions to classic tours taking days or weeks to complete, the level of difficulty and the duration is up to you. Choose to traverse great distances or focus on a high-altitude peak or couloir with a long, untouched powder run back to town. The common attraction remains the same: stunning views, high altitude and unspoiled nature.
The Haute Route and Mont Blanc
Starting in Chamonix and finishing in Zermatt, the Haute Route is a true challenge that takes four to five days to complete. During the hike you pass through many beautiful, unspoiled areas. In late spring and summer you might want to try to reach the summit of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps.