Mont Blanc Multipass | from £60 (1 day) | £110 (5 days) during Summer 2020 available locally with a choice of durations, includes Aiguille du Midi and Mer de Glace. Reductions available for children aged 5-14, families and seniors 65 yrs and above.
Here is a selection of suggested walks
Route 1 | To top of Brévent then walking the Grand Balcon Sud to Flégère
The Grand Balcon Sud path is on the sunnier side of the Chamonix valley and this walk is above the tree line so perfect for admiring some of the most spectacular views in Europe. You look across to the Mont Blanc Massif and the Aiguilles Rouges peaks and this walk can be done in both directions with lifts at either end, helping your calves on the way up and your knees on the way down.
Take the Brévent-Planpraz lift up to the mid-station at 2000 metres. Directly ahead is a restaurant but follow the path to the left and you will pick up signs for the Grand Balcon Sud and La Flégère.
The trail drops downwards to start with, twisting through boulders covered in thick bracken and wildflowers and whilst there’s a bit of up and down to contend with, this hike ambles fairly gently along a path that once passed through old grazing pastures.
Small streams run alongside the path and there are many places where you can stop to admire the views, take the perfect photo or stop and enjoy a picnic lunch. Listen out for the whistling marmots, they’re well camouflaged but you’re never far away from them up here.
The actual walk itself probably only takes a couple of hours but you can walk down to Chamonix from Flégère through the trees and maybe stop at the Chalet de Floria. This walk is perfect if you want high mountain views but don’t want too much climbing
You can of course do the walk in reverse from Flégère to Planpraz and fly down instead of taking the lifts as Planpraz is a popular take-off zone for parapents and paragliding. It’s worth sitting down and watching the take-offs even if you chose not to fly.
Route 2 | La Jonction hike for stunning views of the Bossons and Taconnaz glaciers
This is a day walk but hugely rewarding as you walk on the path overlooking the searcs, ice pinnacles and crevasses of the glaciers on either side.
Take the chairlift from the top of the Bossons village to 1,425m and stop at the terrace of the café at the Chalet de Glacier des Bossons for an impressive view over the glacier.
Just before you reach the chalet you will see La Jonction path on the right which winds its way up through the woods. After about 40 minutes the trees open up to reveal some wonderful mountain scenery.
The hiking trail is fairly clear and just below the Chalet des Pyramids, you can look down through the larch trees into the actual crevasses of the glacier.
As you continue hiking up the forest gradually thins out and the path is more of a zig zag with Mont Blanc and the Taconnaz glacier on one side the Aiguille de Midi and Bossons glacier on the other. After about an hour you are above the trees and you reach a large grassy ridge, perfect for a rest and maybe a picnic. When you are ready, return the way you came.
You can go on another hour up to La Jonction at 2,589 metres but recommended for experienced hikers only and if you are acclimatised to the altitude, the weather is good and you have plenty of water as the altitude is very dehydrating.
Route 3 | Up the Flégère lift in Les Praz and walk to Lac Blanc
This is one of the most famous walks in Chamonix and is one of the hiking highlights of the Tour de Mont Blanc. The beautiful mountain peaks are reflected in the clear waters of the lake and the surrounding nature reserve means that you are likely to see marmots and ibex.
Set in the heart of the Aiguilles Rouges, this beautiful lake offers an extraordinary vantage point over the Chamonix Aiguilles, Les Drus and the Verte.
The Lac Blanc path ascends from the Flégère cable car and climbs in zig zags up to the lake. There is often snow in to July on the surrounding ground and it will feel very high Alpine adventure.
You emerge at the lake and can stop at the Refuge du Lac Blanc where you can enjoy something to eat or drink. The mountain refuge was destroyed by an avalanche and re-built in the 1990’s and is a popular stop over with walkers on the Tour de Mont Blanc
Take the walk around Lac Blanc to appreciate the many different perspectives of the Mont Blanc Massif and some of the most beautiful alpine colours which change as the summer goes in to autumn.
This hike is not particularly long or technical and can be done by anyone with a reasonable level of fitness but there is no shade so sun glasses and a sun hat are recommended if it is sunny.
Day 4 | Grand Balcon Nord hike walking from the Mer de Glace with views of Mont Blanc
First take the train from Chamonix to the Mer de Glace at Montenvers and enjoy the views of the glacier and the south west face of the Dru.
Leave the station with the Grand Hotel de Montenvers on your right, following signs pointing out the trail to Le Signal. This route is a variant to the Grand Balcon Nord and takes you to the wonderful Forbes Signal viewpoint and worth the extra effort.
You follow a zig zag path behind the station, with views over the Mer de Glace and towards the Grands Jorasses. The sharp spike of the Aiguille de la Republique, famous in many mountaineering photos is clearly visible above you and the path heads steadily up for around 45 minutes.
At the top, Forbes Signal is marked by a signpost and many cairns. This point is named after the Dr Forbes from Scotland, who discovered many of the principles of the movement of glaciers by placing rocks on the ice and measuring them. To this day it is one of the finest viewpoints over the Mer de Glace.
The hike then takes you along a path past the old stone avalanche barriers above you which then dips down with some steep bends to re-join the main Grand Balcon Nord hiking trail.
Continue heading towards Mont Blanc, following signs for Plan de L’Aiguille on a gentle undulating path. The final stretch is uphill to the Plan de l’Aiguille and the mid station of the Aquille du Midi lift. If it’s a clear day and you have time, head up to the top of the Aiguille du Midi.
Finally, to get back to Chamonix just take the lift down.
Route 5 | Up the Le Tour gondola then chairlift for walk to Col de Balme for breathtaking views over Switzerland. Lots of Marmots!
This is a gentle and pleasing walk offering spectacular views down the Chamonix valley. Walking to the Col de Balme is considered a Chamonix Classic walk and a good one at the start of the week.
Take the bus from Chamonix up to Le Tour and take the gondola up for the start of the walk. This hike starts by walking along an easy, wide track through high flower meadows and cows and the gentle sound of their cow bells. You’ll have iconic views of the entire Chamonix valley and Mont Blanc at all times.
This track follows the gentle slopes of the mountain and showcases the amazing view of Mont Blanc straight down the valley. From here you really appreciate the magnitude and size of Mont Blanc, something not always seen from Chamonix itself. The area is full of flowers from early summer well into August with many wild orchids and late blooming gentians in autumn.
Continue hiking and following the signs to the Col De Balme and the stone built Refuge du Col de Balme. Near the refuge is the stone on the border, with the Swiss and French sides marked, good for photos and wonderful on hot days and the col catches all breezes.
Continue up behind the hut on a smooth and easy path and after about 20 minutes descend to your left, following signs to Charamillon. Open meadows continue to offer spectacular views and you can stop at Les Ecuries de Charamillon for drinks or lunch.
Continue down to the Charamillon mid-station and then down on the lift to Le Tour and the bus back to Chamonix.
Walks are subject to lift opening/closing dates and weather conditions. There are a wide range of walks in the valley, mid and high mountain.
Local Walking Maps are available locally.
