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Escape to Chalet Heron - Chamonix

The Perfect Alpine Getaway

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Chalet Heron is a beautiful 17th-century 3-story farmhouse full of rustic charm that invariably captures the hearts of those who visit. Located in the middle of nature but only a 5 min drive away from the Chamonix center, it’s an ideal setting for a relaxing and peaceful stay. The Chalet’s beautiful, large garden provides ample privacy and ability to enjoy outdoors, whether sunbathing, BBQ, picnics, playing games or building snowmen. The Chalet has 3 completely independent, full-floor, standalone and fully equipped apartments with their own entrances.

Apartments 2 (middle-floor) and 3 (penthouse) are available to rent and you can rent one or both, subject to availability, at the same time. Renting both is particularly useful if you have a large group that requires up to five bedrooms, or are traveling with friends / relatives but prefer some privacy and distance from each other every now and then. Apartment 1 (bottom-floor) is unoccupied, not available for rent and largely works as a storage unit.

  • 3 full-floor standalone apartments

  • Peaceful location

  • Breathtaking views

  • Perfect for families

  • Short drive to all Chamonix ski areas

  • Walking distance to restaurants

  • Free WiFi

  • Free parking & easy access

Apartment 2

Apartment 2 with three bedrooms and two bathrooms is spacious with over 100m2 of indoor space covering the entire 2nd floor of the Chalet. It has a large balcony that enjoys sunshine throughout the day and a separate terrace with dining table to enjoy outdoor breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The apartment has its own entrance and is completely independent from the two other apartments in the Chalet. The apartment is heated with efficient and modern electric heaters as well as a new, wood burning stove. The Chalet comes equipped with a Wifi providing high-speed Internet access. There is a charming pond within 2-minute walk from the Chalet with a picnic area for an easy and walkable excursion.

Apartment 3

Apartment 3 with two bedrooms and two bathrooms is spacious with over 100m2 of indoor space covering the entire top floor of the Chalet and comes with a large balcony that provides incredible views of Mont Blanc and Aiguille du Midi. The apartment is airy with almost 4-meter room height at the highest point and was fully renovated in 2020. It has its own entrance and is completely independent from the two other apartments in the Chalet. The apartment is heated with efficient and modern electric heaters and has a fully fitted kitchen. The Chalet has a Wifi providing high-speed Internet access. There is a charming pond within 2-minute walk from the Chalet with a picnic area for an easy and walkable excursion.

Features & Facilities

The Sleeping Arrangement

Apartment 2 has three bedrooms and two bathrooms while Apartment 3 has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. We provide all linen and towels for your stay.

Perfect for Families

Chalet Heron is the perfect base for family holidays, be it summer or winter. With close access to plenty of activities, and a large garden to run around in, there is ample entertainment. We are happy to advise on an itinerary of activities for the week. (Its worth noting here that the chalet isn’t suitable for parties or late night gatherings…)

Where to Eat?

The chalet is in walking distance to two restaurants, the Courte Paille and the Rocky Pop. The supermarket SuperU is just a 2 minute drive away but you can also place an order online and they will deliver it to the Chalet. The kitchens in both apartments are fully equipped and have everything you need for catering. We also partner up with the Chalet Kitchen who deliver delicious meals to the door.

Local Knowledge

We are very happy to share our knowledge of the conditions, the trails, the ski runs etc… We have plenty of maps and guide books we are also happy to lend out. If you would like to hire a mountain or a bike guide, we have plenty of great people we can put you in touch with.

Entertainment

There is free wifi throughout the chalet, as well as a flat screen TV. There is also a small library of books and plenty of board games. We have a huge garden for building snow men and igloos in the winter, or for sunbathing and playing in in the summer.

Getting Around

It is easiest to visit Chalet Heron with a car, but there is also a bus stop a convenient 5 mins walk away and a train station 10 mins walk away. The first buses start around 6:30 am and the last one comes back around 11pm. These link you to all the main areas in Chamonix. In the summer it is easy to cycle along the bike paths into Chamonix. If you come with a car in the winter, be sure to the have winter tyres and chains. If you are looking for car rental, we recommend Rhino Car hire at Geneva airport.

An Unbeatable Location – The Chamonix Valley

Chalet Heron is located in the middle of the Chamonix Valley, with easy access onto the main road. Weather and conditions permitting, it is five minutes drive to Les Houches, ten minutes to Brevent/Flegere and the Aiguille de Midi lift, fifteen minutes drive to the Grand Montet and twenty minutes drive to Le Tour. The chalet is also a short drive to St Gervais/Les Contamines and Courmayeur Italy. Verbier is a fifty minute drive with easy access to its resorts.

Chamonix has captured the hearts of many since the first explorers arrived in this mystical valley in 16th Century and carries on doing so today. It is a great holiday destination for all generations at any month of the year with unlimited activities and unbeatable access to stunning terrain. It also boasts a top line-up of festivals and parties, a good shopping scene and cafe culture and some great restaurants.

For those who prefer a less energetic break, the chalet’s location has a variety of graded walks nearby that offer superb views. And the tranquillity of the chalet’s location provides the perfect opportunity to wind down after the day – reading a good book on the terrace with a glass of wine in hand as the sun lights up the snow-covered mountain tops in a glorious pink!

Skiing, Lift passes & Kit rental

The Chamonix Valley is divided into five main resorts, Les Houches, Brevent/Flegere, the Aiguille de Midi, Le Tour and the Grand Montet.  Les Houches, the closest to the chalet, is great for piste skiing, and ideal for children and beginners. Brevent/ Flegere is south facing, so sunnier and has something for every level of skiers. The Grand Montet is probably the best ski area in the world for advanced skiers. It is north facing and holds great snow. Le Tour is brilliant for all levels of skiers. The Aiguille de Midi lift is for off-piste itineraries only, including the famous Valleé Blanche run. The VB is a must if you are an intermediate skier or higher. We can put you in touch with guides for the day.

You can either buy the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass which covers all these areas (as well as Courmayeur in Italy and St Gervais) or you can buy the cheaper Cham Le Pass which just covers Brevent/Flegere, le Tour and the bottom of the Grand Montet.

Cham Le Pass is fine for beginner/intermediate skiers; advanced skiers should get the Unlimited pass. The Cham Le Pass does not include Les Houches though, so a complete beginner might prefer to get Les Houches only.

You can read all about the options and the different resorts, as well as pre-order lift passes here. If you pre order lift passes you can get them sent to the chalet so they will be waiting for you when you arrive. The address is 147 Chemin de la Georgeanne, Les Houches, 74310.

For kit rental we would recommend Concept Pro in Chamonix. They have good kit, easy parking and a great service. You should book before you arrive.

Ski School, Instructors and Guides

If you would like to hire a ski instructor or book into ski school, we recommend you do so through Evolution 2. 

They have a great selection of ski instructors and ski lessons that you can join. They also have the Panda club for the little ones, which is based at the bottom of the Grand Montet ski area. Get in touch with them directly for more information on prices and availability, but make sure you don’t leave it till the last minute to book the lessons as they get really booked up in the high season.

For ski schools in Les Houches get in touch with the ESF, who run clubs based at the Prarion lift.

Evolution 2 also offer a number of fun non-skiing activities, these include Husky-Riding, Snow-Shoeing, sledging and evening excursions to mountain restaurants etc… Have a look on their site for more information.

If you would like to hire a guide for the Vallée Blanche or other backcountry days, as well as any summer guiding, we recommend you get in touch with Adventure Base. They have a great selection of IFMGA guides who know the valley well and will ensure you have a great time in the mountains.

Mountain Biking, guides and rental

The mountain biking around the Chamonix Valley is incredible. It is a great place to bike with breathtaking views around every corner and amazing terrain.

Generally it is quite steep and rocky, so downhill or enduro bikes are more suitable for this area but you can do some nice cross country trails too.

The biking is good from around June till end of November. There is lift access biking from Mid June – Mid Sept and the rest of the time you have to pedal up.

Most of the biking is done on the hiking trails, so in the high season you have to respect the hikers and it can sometimes get a bit complicated. The hikers tend to be prioritised over the bikers and some of the hiking trails are now forbidden for biking on. Nonetheless there is still plenty of great biking to do.

A little further afield there are other great options for day trips. It is one hour to Aosta where they have the Pila lift with dedicated bike runs as well as a great shuttle service. Morzine and Les Gets are also an hour away with downhill tracks. Verbier is 45 mins away with a mix of downhill and enduro trails. The Sion Valley opens up unlimited options for day trips.

If you would like to hire a bike here you can do so at Zero G. Evolution 2 also have bike guides.

Hiking & Trail running

Chamonix Valley is the most magical place to hike and trail run. The conditions are good from May – Dec (depending on snow coverage) and there is a lifetime’s worth of trails to explore.

It is handy to use the lifts in the summer to access the higher terrain and stunning views.

There are a number of trail running events going on throughout the summer, starting in June with the Mont blanc Mountain Marathon weekend, which has races from 10km – 80km and finishing in August with the Mont Blanc Ultra Trail. Booking onto a trail running event is a great way to see the valley, and a brilliant incentive to get fit! You can book onto the Mont Blanc Marathon events following the link above. Other good races include the Trail du Fiz, the Passy Triathlon and the Trail des Aiguille Rouges.

Festivals & Events

Chamonix is known for its outdoor activities and healthy lifestyle, but we all need a bit of music & culture every now and again so luckily there are some great parties and festivals dotted throughout the year.

The unlimited festival takes place in April and is put on by the ski brand Black Crow. It is five days of dance music in a variety of exciting locations with stunning views.

In July France celebrates its ‘Fête de la Musique’. All the bars have an all night licence and move their sound systems into the streets. It is quite an impressive evening.

At the end of July Chamonix puts on the Cosmo Jazz festival, a week of high altitude Jazz which is so impressive and must not be missed.

There are several interesting and varied museums worth visiting in Chamonix and the surrounding area including the history of Alpinism in the valley in the Musée Alpin, an exceptional collection of crystals in the Espace Tairraz, dug from the surrounding mountain range

Restaurants and Bars

A French resort at heart, Chamonix prides itself on great cuisine, but not just French. There are a number of top restaurants and a pretty good night scene.

Our favourites are:

Munchies – Swedish owned but with an Asian, fusion food style – very trendy –04 50 53 45 41

Cap Horn – French owned but again an Asian fusion food style – classy.

Satzuki – Informal Japanese bar offering delicious Sushi – run by Japanese.

Courte Paille – a French chain of grill restaurants and just a few minutes walk from Chalet Heron. They do good steaks and fast service.

Casa Valeria – a genuine Italian restaurant with friendly service.

Where to go for Apres ski?

The bars around the train station are sure to entertain, either Elevation, Moo Bar or Chambre 9 if you are looking for a rowdy apres ski scene. For later head down to the Rue du Moulin to the Chamonix Social Club or the Caves.

Activities for Kids

The Les Houches ski area is a short 5 mins drive away, and has great terrain for kids.

Other child-friendly winter and summer activities include:

The pool – A great 25m indoor and 50m outdoor pool with a slide

The Ice rinks – An indoor all year ice rink in Chamonix and an outdoor winter ice rink in Les Houches

The Park Merlet – Open summer only and home to chamoix, marmottes, bouquetins etc…

The Montenvers ice caves – Summer and winter head up to the Mer de Glace and explore the ice caves

The Chamonix adventure park – Summer and winter Luge and other rides

The Gaillands Acro Park – Summer and Autumn, a great Go Ape style adventure

Husky Riding – Available in the winter through Evolution 2.

These is just an idea of activities available, there are plenty of other adventures to go on.

A Bit of History…

Chalet Heron was originally built in the Grand Bornand Valley in 1841 and was dismantled in the 60s to be rebuilt in Chamonix Valley.

The stories goes that the previous owner, author and passionate sailer Danielle Romatet, was out walking in the Grand Bornand Valley with her partner one day when they came across a beautiful farmhouse and its owner.

They remarked on how wonderful the farm was, and the farmer offered to sell it to them. They refused as they wanted to live in the Chamonix Valley.

The farmer explained it would be easy to dismantle the house and move it to Chamonix, so they did! And their friends bought and moved the next door farmhouse, which they still live in next to us.

We later named it Chalet Heron after the two white herons that nest in the lake below the chalet.

What People Say About Chalet Heron

We had a great time ‘en famille’ at Chalet Heron. The apartment is charming and the location is perfect.

Lowri CookOctober 2016

Hi Rhiannon, we have left Chalet Heron. Feeling sad though, I found the chalet and surroundings so healing and special, hard to say goodbye! Thank you so much for everything, including sharing this unique place you have with others! It was wonderful. All the best,
Hilde

Hilde KroesMay 2018

Nous avons passé quelques jours merveilleux! L’aménagement intérieur du chalet Héron est superbe: le cachet d’un chalet ‘à l’ancienne’ avec un équipement moderne et confortable. Quel bonheur après une journée de ski : une tasse de thé chaud et on imagine être resté au sommet, blotti dans un refuge 3 étoiles…

TomApril 2018

Very nice chalet and amazing host. Lots of local tips which were really useful! We really enjoyed our stay.

DarioFeb 2018

Chalet is fantastic, everything you need with easy access to the chamonix valley. We hired a car and skied les contamines which was also a short drive. I would highly recommend Rhiannon& Jim’s chalet.

RyanJan 2018

We loved this cozy and beautifully furnished mountain chalet! Wonderful views, comfortable beds, good location for accessing Chamonix. Rhiannon and Jim were very nice and helpful hosts. We’d love to stay here again – definitely recommend!

KellyJune 2017

A five star find in the Chamonix Valley…. Chalet Heron is an absolute gem of a place to stay. It has an amazing history, charm, all the facilities you need and caring owners who want their guests to have a great time. We stayed for a week in June 2017 and didn’t want to go home. The location just outside Les Houches is secluded and peaceful yet you’re only a few minutes walk to the village and 10 minutes from Chamonix on the bus. We spent a couple of days just lazing around in the garden reading books from the library (excellent John Steinbeck collection) and the rest of our stay hiking and biking in the surrounding mountains in glorious sunshine – bliss! Thank you for a wonderful holiday and making us feel so welcome.

SusanMay 2017

Get in Touch For More Information!

How To Find Us

Chalet Heron is just over an hours drive from Geneva airport. The easiest way to visit us is by driving or by renting a car which you can do at Geneva airport – we recommend Rhino rentals. Alternatively you can get a transfer bus up from Geneva and then use the bus and train system. We recommend Mountain Drop Offs for airport transfers.

In order to find us head to the Courte Paille restaurant in Taconnaz. Drive into the car park and then go down the road called the Chemin de la Georgeanne. The road bends around to the right and Chalet Heron is at the end of the road.

The address is 147, Chemin de la Georgeanne, Les Houches, 74310 for those using Sat Nav.

There will be a signed parking space, and then you walk around to the left of the building toward the front door. We have a key box on the door and we will send guests the code at the point of booking.