EXPLORING CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC
Chamonix home of western Europes tallest mountain Mont Blanc.
WHAT TO DO AND SEE
THE TOWN
Set at an altitude of 1035 meters Chamonix isa resort town and the gateway to Mont Blanc. Mont Black is the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe's tallest mountain. Chamoinx is known for good skiing and cable cars that run all year round. Enjoy a bit of retail therapy or explore some of the side streets and mountain paths that can be accessed via foot. Use the park and ride service if you are driving to Chamonix.
MONT BLANC
The obvious draw to Chamonix is Mont Blanc, standing at 4808 meters it is 11th in the world for topographic prominence. The mountain is extremely popular for climbers and as such has been subjected to overcrowding during climbing season. Guided touring plays a key role to the tourism of the area, but also produces problems with inexperienced climbers getting into trouble and even dying from falls.
Mt Everest is Mont Blanc's parent peak and the White Mountain is just as beautiful and magnificent as the tallest on Earth.
REFUGE DU GOÛTER(3815M)
The most popular route for Climbing Mont Blanc, it is also the highest supervised refuge in France. 75% of all summit attempts for Mont Blanc start from here and hundreds of climbers base themselves here each season. Currently able to accommodate 120 people per night, there have been numerous accidents and deaths en-route to this mountain hut.
AIGUILLE DU MIDI
3842 meters tall and accessible via cable car. The Aiguille du Midi is a very popular tourist attraction that gets visitors close to Mont Blanc.
MER DE GLACE
France's Longest Glacier which has seen dramatic shrinking in the last few decades, with the glacier retreating you have to climb down many more stairs than previous years and signs show you previous levels. The glacier is accessible via mountain train and cable car, you can either hike on the glacier or in its tunnel under the ice.
WATCHING THE PARAGLIDERS
One of the more relaxing and fun things to do in Chamonix is to sit down and relax while watching the paragliders land after soaring from the mountains above.
LAC BLANC
A 5 hour round trip and reaching an elevation of 2350 meters Lac Blanc is a challenging hike that is rewarded with incredible mountain views and peaceful mountain lakes. When you reach the top take a rest at the mountain refuge before making your way back down.
GORGES OF THE DIOSAZ
Beautiful mountain gorges and waterfalls. Easy access as there are wooden boardwalks all around the site. It is only a 15 minute drive from Chamonix and we highly recommend it. To read more about the Gorges click here.
