Blogs from Chamonix, Rhône-Alpes, France, Europe

For the grand finale of my Alpine summer, there could only be one choice: the Tour du Mont Blanc. Stretching for around 170km (depending on which variants are followed) through three countries while circumnavigating the highest mountain in Western Europe, the route is one of the most famous multi-day walks in the world. Most people start and finish in the small town of Les Houches (7km down-valley from Chamonix) and take around 11 days, following the circuit anti-clockwise so as to finish along the Grand Balcon Sud - a high belvedere path following the northern flank of the Arve (Chamonix) Valley (through the mountains of the Aiguilles Rouge) offering endless views of needle-sharp peaks separated by the icy tongues of numerous glaciers, while heading straight towards the highest peak of them all. A wide array of ... read more

Got the "money shots" today with pictures. Will let the pictures do most if the talking. We did: - Train ride to Montenvers and Mer de Glace (which at one time was the largest glacier in Europe) - Telepherique ride to du Plan de l'Aiguille - that is only mid-point to what should have been our final destination but 60 mph winds would not all us to go to the top - maybe tomorrow. ... read more

Blog took a day off yesterday and so did we. Decided to just rest a bit - and just enjoy the views. The blogs will also be shorter as the internet speed reminds one of a dial-up modem. The pictures will need to be worth "1000" words. Today' hike was upstream along the Arve river that flow down this valley. Once you leave Chamonix you pass through a couple of small towns but most of the time you're in the forest, listening to the river, with beautiful views on both sides. It reminds one of Yosemite - but the mountains are much closer and bigger! OK at this point it took 30 min to upload one photo at low resolution. May try again later if not we'll share Chamomix pics when we get home next week☹️ ... read more

Another traveling day - and finally we are in the French Alps. Comfortable, quiet bus trip took about 1 1/2 hrs with great views the entire way. Only one stop in a small town. Lush green countryside - very neat and clean with very modern roadways and a number of tolls. The mountains began to surround us as we left Annecy and continued to grow on each side of the valley. Shortly before we reached Chamonix we passed the entrance to the Mont Blanc tunnel (it is about 7 miles long) that takes you under the mountain into Italy! If we continue up the valley passed Chamonix we'd be in Switzerland! We're on the very edge of France. Chamonix looks like it will be a very nice place to spend the week. On first glance you ... read more

June 10 I have visited Chamonix in February, and surely decided to return there in summer. I told Luda, we have to choose between Chamonix and Nice, which one do you prefer? She answered, let’s go to Chamonix. I replied, you’ll love the place. She did. It turned out that during our stay only two of the lifts would be working – Montenvers train and Aiguille du Midi lift. Others would start working from June 15, just after our leave. An unpleasant occurrence, but there were fewer people. Arrived in Genève, we wasted two whole hours in having a coffee and trying to find the baggage storage. The baggage storage within the station was out of service, and we asked an official for help. ‘It is between tracks number 4 and 5’. We were stupid enough ... read more