Can you visit Chamonix this summer? We look at the options for travel from Aug 09 onwards...
Lockdown in France ended in May
The lockdown in France that started on 03 April was eased back from early-May. Restrictions have been cut back regularly, as cafes and restaurant terraces opened, first outdoors and then indoors. Most indoor cultural, hospitality and sports centres were allowed to go back up to full capacity from June 30.
The vaccination rate in France has increased significantly and the country has been vaccinating at a faster rate than the UK since June. The country passed 60 million on July 10 and 70 million on July 26.
Will you need to quarantine if you visit France?
As of June 09, fully vaccinated people have no restrictions on entry to the country and no quarantine. All that is required is proof of vaccination and a completed 'déclaration sur l’honneur' (found on this page).
Non-essential travel to France from the UK is not allowed for unvaccinated travellers, although travel for certain essential reasons is possible, with a 7-day quarantine on arrival.
Do I have to quarantine on my return to the UK?
The UK’s new 'traffic light' started on 17 May. France is currently in the ‘Amber’ category, which means that all double-vaccinated travellers are not required to quarantine on arrival back to the UK. Non-vaccinated travellers need to quarantine for 10 days on return to the UK (which can be reduced to 6 days using the 'Test and Release' programme). Full information is available here.
What is the 'Pass Sanitaire'?
Since July 21, the 'Pass Sanitaire' - delivered digitally by the TousAntiCovid app - is now required for entry to museums, sports centres, cinemas and amusement parks where more than 50 people gather at a time.
From August 09, it has also been used by cafes, restaurants, shopping centres, hospitals and for long-distance train journeys. It does not apply to 12-17 year olds until September 01. It does not apply to children under 11 years old.
People are required to show proof of either vaccinations, a negative test within the last 48 hours or proof of a positive test within the last 6-12 months. You can upload your UK vaccinations to the app using your NHS QR code.
When did the lifts open in Chamonix?
The Aiguille du Midi cable car opened from May 19, operating with a 50% max capacity to start, then 65% from June 09 to 100% by the end of June. Wearing a mask is still compulsory.
The 'Step into the Void' feature also opened on May 19 and the Tramway du Mont Blanc opened on June 12.
The century-old Montenvers track has been improved, bringing forward work that was originally planned for autumn 2021. The renovations took place from May 02-23, focussing initially on a 600 metre section of track. The line reopened on 29 May.
Visit Chamonix this summer
Chamonix is an amazing place to visit in summer. There are so many activities for every age group, ranging from hiking to mountain biking, parapenting to white water rafting.
To find out more about summer holiday options in Chamonix, please contact the Ski Weekend team. We have a flexible booking policy – please get in touch to discuss your requirements.
