Chamonix: mountain activities in the shadow of Mont Blanc

ByTravesía Pirenaica
Lac Blanc, Chamonix, France / Photo: Nicolas Cool (unsplash)
Lac Blanc, Chamonix, France / Photo: Nicolas Cool (unsplash)

Chamonix has long been a dream destination for mountain adventures and its setting is ideal for such a varied list of activities. Enjoy its spectacular views and renowned peaks in many different ways. Hiking, mountaineering, including Cosmiques Arête and Mont Blanc, mountain biking, road cycling, via ferrata, rock climbing and bouldering routes. Ideal for multi-activity holidays.

Practical guide

When to go?

Hiking, climbing and trekking in the Mont Blanc region of Chamonix is possible at any time outside of winter; many of the activities rely on the cable cars and other facilities which are generally open from mid to late June to mid-September.

Cities & Services

Chamonix Mont Blanc, Argentière, Vallorcine, Les Houches, Servoz, St Gervais, Passy, Les Contamines, Sixt, Sallanches.

Not to be missed

  • Mont Joly, Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles Rouges.
  • Bossons and Mer de Glace Glaciers
  • Petit Balcon Nord MTB
  • Cycle down the Col de la Forclaz.
  • Climbing in Les Gaillands.

The activities

We show you a wide range of activities available in the mountains surrounding Chamonix. With routes for different activities including hiking, climbing, mountain biking, road cycling, via ferrata, rock climbing, mountaineering and bouldering.

Hiking routes".

  • Classic excursions // Mont Joly / Le Prarion / Aiguillette des Houches / Montagne de la Côte / Lac Cornu and Lacs Noirs / Plan de l'Aiguille to Montenvers / Grand Balcon Sud: La Flégère to Planpraz / Aiguillette des Posettes / Lac Blanc from the Col des Montets / Mont Buet by the normal route /
  • Family routes // Lac des Ilettes / Lacs Jovet / Chalets Miage and Truc / Charousse / Lac du Brévent / Argentière via Paradis des Praz / Le Chapeau / Montroc-Col des Montets-Vallorcine / Vallee Bérard and le Rocher sur / Dinosaur footprints /
  • Routes to refuges // Refuge de Platé / Refuge de Tré-la-Tête / Refuge Moëde d'Anterne / Refuge Bel Lachat / Refuge du Lac Blanc / Refuge Albert Premier / Refuge de la Pierre à Bérard / Refuge de Loriaz /
  • Adventure routes // Pointe Percée / The Dérochoir and Désert de Platé / Aiguille du Belvédère / Mer de Glace Balcony Trail / Circuit Tré-les-Eaux / Loriaz to Emosson / Mont Buet along the North Ridge / Cheval Blanc /

Trail running".

The landscape, with its spectacular mountain scenery and ethereal views, offers the perfect playing field for this exhilarating sport.

Mountaineering

  • Champex to Le Tour
  • Grand Montets to Lognan
  • Aiguille du Midi to Helbronner
  • Petite Aiguille Verte
  • Aiguille Crochues
  • Aiguille du Tour
  • The Cosmiques Arête
  • Mont Blanc

Mountain bike

  • Les Contamines: Truc Miage Circuit
  • Saint-Gervais-les-Bains: Prarion Circuit
  • Pipeline descent: Saint-Gervais to Le Fayet
  • Tour des Ayères
  • Promenade de l'Arve
  • Route Petit Balcon Nord: Chamonix to Le Tour
  • From Montroc to Chamonix via the Arve
  • Col des Montets to the chocolate shops
  • Vallorcine-Col des Posettes-Le Tour-Montroc
  • Vallorcine to Martigny

Cycle touring

  • Chamonix to Sallanches
  • Col des Montets
  • Lake Emosson
  • Col de la Forclaz

Rock climbing and bouldering

  • Rock climbing // Les Gaillands / Index / La Joux / Les Chéserys / Aiguillette d'Argentière / Vallorcine Slab (Rocher de la Saix) / Barberine /
  • Bouldering // Col des Montets / Pierre d'Orthaz / Les Bossons / Le Coupeau / Le Médonnet

Via Ferratas

  • Le Mont, Sixt Fer à Cheval
  • The Rampart, Passy
  • Other routes in the Haute-Savoie // La Yves Pollet Villard, La Clusaz / La Roche à l'Agathe, Thônes /