Your guide will meet you at your hotel on the morning of your tour and lead you to the Aiguille du Midi cable-car station. From here, you’ll take one of the longest cable-car ascents in the world, rising almost 3,000 m (10,000 ft) above Chamonix in two stages.
At the summit, you’re greeted with panoramic views of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps, and the skiers, hikers or climbers taking on the mountain’s steep slopes.
Once you’ve had some time to absorb the scenery, you’ll go inside the large summit station. It hosts several permanent exhibits on the history of the mountain range and the adventurers who have tried to conquer its peaks, primarily Mont Blanc. After having a look around, you’ll return to Chamonix on the cable car and make your way to the cog railway station.
This rack-and-pinion railway, which opened in 1909, takes about 20 minutes to make the journey to Montenvers, from where you can view the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice), France’s largest glacier. It flows for 7 km (4 miles) down the northern side of Mont Blanc and moves about 90 m (295 ft) each year, its surface heavily scarred by the immense pressure of the movement.
You’ll stop for lunch before making your way, with your guide, down more than 400 stairs to the man-made ice cave that’s carved out of the glacier every year.
During your descent, your guide will share the history of the glacier and point out the markers that show how far the ice has retreated in recent decades. The small ice cave at the bottom is illuminated inside and contains a series of displays, as well as ice sculptures.
After making the ascent back up the stairs, you’ll return to Chamonix on the cog train and your guide will escort you back to your hotel.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our France specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Hiking near Mont Blanc with picnic lunch
Get out onto the trails and into the mountains around Chamonix on a full-day privately guided hike. You鈥檒l ascend into the high meadows for panoramic views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding peaks, and return via another route passing a quiet mountain lake.
