Aiguille du Midi at Chamonix
After several months of planning Chamonix's lift company and tourist office have got it together amd launched a new lift pass that's valid on the ski pistes during the day, and in the resort's off-slope sports facilities too.
The new 'Cham'Val' pass allows anyone who buys a Chamonix Le Pass or Mont Blanc Unlimited lift pass valid for three days or longer receives a card that gives entry to Chamonix's swimming pool, ice rink, Alpine museum, the Espace Tairraz, the Maison de l'Alpage as well as the mountain museum (Musée montagnard) in Les Houches during the period the ski pass covers for a small additional fee of two Euros per day (up to a maximum of 30 Euros).
The pass is being trialled this winter by the Compagnie du Mont Blanc and Chamonix town hall to see if it leads to better and simpler usage of the resort's assets.
The pass can be bought in person in Chamonix at the Leisure Centre, the Espace Tairraz, the Alpine Museum and the Les Houches tourist office.
The pass is also being used as a test product to look at how Chamonix can better serve the predicted future growth of its "non-skier" and "part-time-skier" market during the winter season.