Monthey
Monthey is 115 km from Geneva Airport, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes by car via the motorway along the Swiss shore of Lake Geneva and up the Rhône valley, all within Switzerland. The main town of the Valais Chablais lies at the mouth of the Val d'Illiez, where the road and the mountain railway climb to Champéry and the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil. AirportsTransfers.ch drives you straight there or on to your chalet in the valley.
- Distance from GVA: 115 km
- Drive time: about 1 h 20
- Border crossing: none on the usual route via Lausanne
- Best for: business in the Chablais, access to Champéry, Morgins and the Portes du Soleil
- Getting there: A1 and A9 via Lausanne and Montreux, then across the Rhône
From Geneva Airport to Monthey
The usual route follows the A1 and A9 along Lake Geneva past Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux, then into the flat Rhône valley. The car leaves the motorway in the Aigle area and crosses the river into Valais to reach Monthey. An alternative route along the French south shore of the lake exists, but it is slower and involves crossing the border twice. On winter Saturdays, traffic heading to the ski resorts can slow the last part of the journey.
Monthey is served by regional trains and by the mountain railway that climbs from Aigle through Monthey to Champéry. Combining these from the airport involves changes, which is tiring with skis and luggage. A direct car is the more comfortable option for most visitors heading into the valley.
The town and its character
Monthey has a pleasant old town around its castle, arcaded squares and a covered bridge over the Vièze river. It is also an industrial town, home to a large chemical production site that has shaped its economy since the early twentieth century, which brings a steady flow of business visitors. The town is famous in the region for its carnival, one of the liveliest in French-speaking Switzerland, with parades, satirical floats and costumes filling the streets for several days.
Restaurants serve Valais specialities such as raclette, dried meat and rye bread, alongside the wines of the Valais and the Vaud Chablais.
Gateway to the Val d'Illiez and the Portes du Soleil
Above Monthey, the Val d'Illiez climbs towards the Dents du Midi, the jagged peaks that dominate the Chablais skyline. The valley's villages, Troistorrents, Val-d'Illiez and Champéry, give access to the Portes du Soleil, a vast cross-border ski area linking Swiss and French resorts. Morgins, reached by a road from Troistorrents, is a quieter family resort connected to the same domain. In summer, the valley is popular for hiking, mountain biking and the thermal baths at Val-d'Illiez.
Many skiers transfer directly from Geneva Airport to these villages; Monthey is the last town of any size on the way, useful for shopping and services.
Business in the Chablais
Engineers, auditors and visitors to the chemical site and other companies in the area often fly into Geneva. A chauffeur by the hour (minimum two hours) can link Monthey with Aigle, Bex or Martigny and bring visitors back to the airport the same day. Companies can book fixed-price transfers and receive invoices. Hotels in Monthey are mainly practical, business-oriented establishments.
Skiers and families staying higher in the valley should note that the roads to Champéry and Morgins climb steadily and can be snowy in mid-winter; your driver will be equipped for the conditions, but it is worth giving the exact chalet address when booking, as some lie on narrow side roads. Saturday is the main changeover day in the resorts, so a Sunday or mid-week arrival is usually calmer. If you travel with a large group and lots of ski bags, a Sprinter keeps everyone together in a single vehicle.
Day trips from Monthey
- Champéry: a mountain village with traditional chalets and the Portes du Soleil
- Saint-Maurice: an abbey founded in the sixth century, one of the oldest in the West
- Bex salt mines: guided tours through underground galleries
- Chillon Castle and Montreux: on the lakeshore, half an hour away
The Rhône valley also offers cycle paths, vineyards and the lake at Le Bouveret, with a miniature railway park and a water park, both popular with families.
Booking with AirportsTransfers.ch
Our online booking gives you a fixed price per vehicle before you pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The chauffeur tracks your flight, waits in arrivals with a name board and doesn't charge for delays. Take an E-Class for up to three passengers and three bags, an S-Class for business, a V-Class for families with up to seven passengers, ten bags and skis, or a Sprinter for groups and teams. Child seats are fitted on request, and skis and snowboards must be declared at booking. You can add a return journey and request an invoice. Contact our 24/7 line at +41 78 346 56 77, by phone or WhatsApp.
