Chamonix is known for being one of the most extreme ski resorts in the world! But what if I told you that Chamonix gets more tourists in the Summer than in the Winter. What is there to do in the summer months? Chamonix offers a lot of great attractions, you can read about some of my favourites below.
Hiking
During the summer people flock to Chamonix to enjoy the mountain trails. There are many many hiking routes all around the valley and they range from easy to difficult but which is the best? We’ll if you ask me anything with lift access which give you a high altitude start point is always a winner. I think my favourite hike would be to Lake Blanc which uses the Flegere lift to start your climb. From the lift, you're able to do one big loop with stunning views the whole way. It is a very popular place in the summer and one of the highlights of the Tour du Mont blanc so I always enjoy getting the first lift up and attempting to be the first to the lake! It's also great to wait around in the evening for sunset as it offers one of the best photo opportunities in Chamonix but do be warned it's a long way back down to town and you will need a head torch.
You can find more details of the hike here - https://en.chamonix.com/chamonix-mont-blanc-valley/key-attractions/le-lac-blanc
Aiguille Du Midi
A must-do when visiting Chamonix. The Aiguille is a 3,842m (12,605ft) mountain where you’ll find Chamonix town centre sitting at the base. You can get a day pass and take the two cable cars to the top. Once you reach the peak you’ll find yourself sitting at the top of Europe surrounded by mountains in France, Italy and Switzerland with amazing views of the Mont Blanc. You’re able to free-roam around the top station with stunning views, a restaurant, cafe, museum and a gift shop. This is also the location for the step into the void which guarantees an excellent thrill experience. Once you’ve finished your experience at the top you can take the first cable car back down and walk in all directions to traverse the stunning landscapes.
Alpine Coaster
Located near Chamonix town the coaster is inside the Planard Amusement parc. The Amusement Parc is mostly geared towards kids but the coaster definitely offers a thrill experience for all ages. The coaster is 1,300m long and offers lots of twists and turns. It's definitely good fun for all the family and being close to town is also very convenient. The Coaster is not always open so check the dates and times here - https://www.planards.fr/en/info-schedules-contact/opening-schedules
Paragliding
Up there with one of the most popular activities in Chamonix. If you look up at any time in the summer months the sky will be filled with paragliders. You'll find most people take off from the Brevent and land next to the skate park or at bottom of the Brevent beginner's area. If the Brevent lift was ever to be closed the next favourite spot is the mid-lift at the Aiguille which is open all year round. There are many companies in the valley that offer tandem services but my personal favourite is Flavion Dummon at Alp Skills which you can find here - https://www.alpskills.com make sure you tell him I sent you.
Mer De Glace
A valley glacier located on the northern slopes of Mont Blanc Massif. It offers a stunning yet eye-opening experience of climate change. You can either take the Montenvers train up the valley or for the keen adventure, hike up, but do be warned it's a long and steep climb! A good idea is to take the train up and maybe have a nice hike back down. Once you reach the top you're able to visit the ice cave, restaurant, cafe, museum and shop. The Mer de Glace has a man-made ice cave that gets recut yearly, this is due to the glacier retreating up to 70m every year. You're able to take a gondola down to a lower level but due to the glacier retreating so fast new sets of stairs are continually added. There are nearly 600+ steps to get down to the ice cave now. You're able to experience the Mer De Glace and Aiguille Du Midi on the same day and there is a free connecting bus between the two experiences or you can take the short walk to the train station.
Merlet Animal Park
The park is based in Les Houches, the next town along from Chamonix, you're able to use the free bus service to get there. The Park is opposite Mont Blanc and a reservation is required at certain times of the year. The Animal Park is a 52-acre preserve and shelters more than 80 animals in their natural habitat, most notably the Ibex. The Park takes about 2 hours to go around and is an easy-going hike - there are self-guided or guided tours on offer. There is a lot of seating for you to enjoy the amazing views of Mont Blanc. You're also able to enjoy the onsite restaurant or bring a picnic to consume in the proper area, we don't want to entice the animals! The park is open in the summer from 30th April to 2nd October. Animals you can expect to see on your visit - Ibex, Sika Deer, Alpaga, Mouflon, Marmot, Chamois, Fallow Deer and many more…
Mountain Biking
Chamonix is renowned for being more hike friendly than bike-friendly but there are many trails and lifts that can be accessed in the summer season. The lifts are only open at specific times of the year for bikes, so it's always worth checking which lifts you can use before setting off. The Valley has two dedicated zones for lift access mountain bike trails, Les Houches and Le Tour - opposite ends of the valley. These two areas have specifically maintained mountain bike trails for all levels. Alternatively, you're able to access many trails down in the valley. Les Bois is just up the road from Chamonix, easily cycle and a new bike path has just been added to make life even easier to get there! It has a lot of great bike trails and also has a bike park with many fun features to tackle.
Notable
Chamonix is not a huge town, everything is very easily walkable and there are many bike paths. If walking doesn’t take your fancy the town also offers a free bus service which has many routes that can take you all the way up to Le Tour and Argentiere or all the way down to Les Houches
Check out my photos here - www.smonix.com/shop
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