Summer vacation in Chamonix – visit the inside of a glacier, ascend to the highest observation decks, take easy mountain trails.
Chamonix is a world-famous ski resort and a Mecca for mountaineers who set out from here to conquer the highest mountain in the Alps – Mont Blanc. But besides skiing, there are plenty of things to do here in the off-season. The clean mountain air and excellent infrastructure for active sports attract people of all ages. And also, there are incredible views of the highest Alpine peaks, including Mont Blanc.
Chamonix Valley – the tourist heart of the French Alps
The Chamonix Valley stretches 16 km in the French Alps. At its center is the ski resort, considered the historical capital of skiing and mountaineering. The valley is ideally located on the border of France, Italy, and Switzerland. It is surrounded by steep mountain slopes, dominated by the highest peak of the Alps – Mont Blanc (4807 m).
Mont Blanc looms over Chamonix, sending cold tongues of glaciers Bossons and Mer de Glace down into the valley. The valley is famous for its ski slopes of various difficulty levels, where beginners can try themselves and professionals can enjoy skiing as well.
But it’s not just sports that bring tourists here from all over the world. Outside the ski season, you can go paragliding, ride mountain bikes, play golf, walk hiking trails in the mountains or along the valley on special paths laid along rivers and streams. You can also visit many attractions, and of course, ascend high into the mountains by lifts and mountain trains. Even if you are not planning to spend your vacation on ski slopes or mountain ascents, it will still be interesting to visit and relax in Chamonix.
What you absolutely must see in Chamonix
Basically, it doesn’t matter if you plan to do extreme sports or just stroll along the valley, there will be an interesting activity for any traveler in Chamonix. We came to Chamonix to walk simple trekking routes with views of Mont Blanc and to see the most interesting tourist attractions.
I recommend seeing the most interesting ones, because in Chamonix, it’s not just the mountains that amaze you, but also the opportunity to see glaciers, ascend to high-altitude viewpoints on funiculars, and take easy routes along the entire length of the valley.
Mer de Glace Glacier (Sea of Ice)
The Sea of Ice is the third largest glacier in the Alps. It begins near the north wall of Mont Blanc, absorbs two smaller glaciers, and ends at an altitude of 1,470 m (now probably higher, as it shrinks more each year). It is accessed by the toothed railway Montenvers, which was built in 1909.
Since then, an endless stream of tourists has wanted to ascend high above the valley to see this incredibly beautiful natural phenomenon. The glacier “flows” down the mountains as a beautiful ribbon winding between ridges and peaks, carving its way to Chamonix. At the upper Montenvers station, you get a panorama of the glacier, whose heart you can enter via an ice grotto.
To get inside, you have to cover part of the way by lift, and then walk down stairs. The walls of the grotto shine with different colors, a beautiful spectacle created by lighting, which makes the atmosphere inside the glacier magical and unreal.
The ticket for the Montenvers train also includes a visit to the ice grotto and the Glaciorium – a museum-installation telling about the Mer de Glace glacier.
Aiguille du Midi cable car – observation deck with a view of Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc (White Mountain) is located on the territory of two countries – France and Italy. From Chamonix, you can see its summit with the naked eye, if it’s not covered with a cap of clouds. But there’s a lift that takes tourists to a viewing platform located at an altitude of 3,842 m. This is the Aiguille du Midi cable car – the highest lift in Europe.
From the observation deck you get stunning views of the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps. And, of course, you will see Mont Blanc shining with its eternally white summit right in front of you.
The upper station of the Aiguille du Midi cable car is itself an interesting and unusual structure, as if sculpted from metal, glass, and rock. The observation decks and connecting bridges between different parts of the station are just as impressive as the views of the mountains and peaks around it.
From the upper station, climbers set out on their training hikes into the mountains or to ascend Mont Blanc.
From the Aiguille du Midi station you can ride the gondola lift above the Géant glacier. The lift takes you to the Italian side – the Pointe Helbronner station.
The slopes of le Brevent
If you want to stroll along mountain slopes with views of Mont Blanc, I recommend heading to le Brevent. This is a mountain lift located on the opposite side from Mont Blanc.
From its upper station at 2,525 m, you get wonderful views of the entire massif. On this side of the Chamonix Valley are some of the best hiking trails. Along the trails, you can see beautiful mountain lakes and Mont Blanc reflected in their clear water. The routes are not difficult, as they do not go higher than 2,500 m and there are no steep elevation changes.
You can walk trails against the backdrop of the tallest Alpine peaks, cycle the numerous bike paths, and return by the La Flégère gondola lift back to the Chamonix valley.
If you don’t want to go hiking, you can simply sit in the restaurant at the le Brevent station, enjoying the panoramic view of Mont Blanc and the glaciers Bossons and Mer de Glace.
Where to stay in Chamonix
About a hundred hotels and more than four thousand apartments have been built in Chamonix. The city attracts with its abundance of restaurants and cafes. There are shops, a sports complex, swimming pools, and saunas.
The Chamonix Valley includes settlements and villages: Argentière, Montroc, Le Tour, Vallorcine, which also form a single tourist infrastructure. Note that there is free transportation between these towns.
If you want to be close to the main entertainment, it’s worth booking accommodation in the center of Chamonix. But if you stay in neighboring villages, you can save on accommodation, as hotels and guesthouses there are a little cheaper. The season also affects prices: from December to March, hotel rates in Chamonix are the highest. In the off-season, you can get a double room for as little as 80 Euros and up.
Book accommodation in the Chamonix Valley
- Eden Hotel, Apartments and Chalet Chamonix Les Praz — gorgeous apartments: a well-equipped kitchen-living room, three bedrooms, and three bathrooms. And an incredible view of Mont Blanc from the balconies.
- Big Sky Hotel & Spa — a very nice hotel for a family vacation. There are plenty of entertainments for kids: a children’s room, arcade machines. A cool pool with Jacuzzi and sauna. Live music in the evenings. The restaurant has interesting and delicious cuisine. The hotel has a shop where you can buy or rent ski equipment — very convenient.
- Hotel Les Lanchers — great location: you can walk to the center or ride buses that run regularly. The view from the windows is impressive! Pets are allowed. Good value for money. The breakfasts are hearty and delicious.
How to save money in Chamonix?
First of all, you can save by buying a MONT BLANC MultiPass, which covers all lifts. For example, the cost of a pass for one day is 72 Euros, for 2 days – 87 Euros, 3 days – 101 Euros. Detailed price and schedule information can be found on the website www.chamonix.com.
This way you can use any lift, take the toothed railway, mountain trams, and whatever you can fit into a day (excluding the gondola to Pointe Helbronner).
You should keep in mind that in one day, you can usually visit no more than one or two places.
A free bus runs through the Chamonix Valley, with which you can reach any point you need. When checking into a hotel, ask the administrator to provide you with a card for this bus. You can also get such a card for 10 Euros at the Chamonix town hall or at the tourist office. The Chamonix municipality introduced this to preserve the environment. It’s also a good opportunity not to drive your own car throughout the valley or look for parking.
By staying in an apartment, you can save on food. There are many supermarkets in Chamonix where you can buy everything you need to cook your own meals. Restaurant prices range from 10 to 20 Euros per dish.
How to get to Chamonix
- The nearest airports to Chamonix are Geneva, Milan, or Turin. From Geneva, a bus company Swisstours runs to Chamonix and costs 10.28 Euros.
- From Milan and Turin, you can take a train to Aosta. There, transfer to a bus to the town of Courmayeur (on the Italian side of Mont Blanc). Then take the bus running between Courmayeur and Chamonix, passing through the Mont Blanc tunnel. The total cost of the whole trip from Milan to Chamonix is about 45 Euros. Buses and trains run throughout the day.
- Car rental – the best option for those planning to travel in the Alps for a long time. You don’t have to stop just at Chamonix – you can explore other corners of the French and Swiss Alps.
Useful articles and links:
- Ruta-del-Cares – the most beautiful hike in the Picos de Europa mountains
- Wild camping in Europe – where you can and where you can’t spend the night in a tent
- Dolomite Alps – trekking along the most beautiful routes
- 10 warm routes for a winter hiking trip
Car rental – Rentalcars.com
Travel medical insurance – HotlineFinance
Hotel and apartment bookings – Booking.com
