The French Alps - France 2014 - page 1215

By Lift: Gondolas (téléphériques) climb mountains all along the valley, but the best
one—Aiguille du Midi—leaves from Chamonix. Though sightseeing is optimal from the
Aiguille du Midi gondola, there are more hiking options from the Le Brévent and La
Flégère gondolas.
The lift to Aiguille du Midi is open summer and winter (short closures possible in
May and June, longer closures late Oct-early Dec). The télécabines on the Panoramic
Mont Blanc lift to Helbronner (atop the Italian border) run only from about mid-June to
mid-September, and even then only in good weather. (The lift on the Italian side of the
mountain,fromHelbronnerdowntoLaPalud,isclosedthrough2014.)Otherarealiftsare
generally open from January to mid-April and from mid-June to late September. Because
maintenance closures can occur anytime, verify schedules for all lifts at the TI.
Chamonix Activities at a Glance
▲▲▲ Aiguille du Midi Gondola The valley's most spectacular and popular lift,
taking you to magnificent views at 12,600 feet. From here you can ride the cute
télécabines over the Alps to the Italian border and back, take Chamonix's greatest
hike to the Mer de Glace (from the halfway-up stop at Plan de l'Aiguille), or just
enjoy the views.
▲▲▲ Train to Montenvers Cogwheel train to the Mer de Glace, an eight-mile-
long glacier where you can walk inside the glacier, admire jagged mountain peaks,
have lunch with a view (or sleep) at the Montenvers hotel, and hike to the Aiguille
du Midi lift (though the hike is best done in the other direction).
▲▲▲ Le Brévent Gondola Second-most-spectacular lift from Chamonix, allow-
ingaccesstothemountainrangeontheoppositesideofthevalleyfromMontBlanc
(closed late April-mid-June and Oct). Get off halfway at the Planpraz station for the
Grand Balcon Sud hike to the La Flégère lift, or go all the way to Le Brévent for
sky-high views and a restaurant.
▲▲▲ La Flégère Lift Starting point for hikes to Lac Blanc and to the Grand
Balcon Sud trail back to Planpraz (on the Le Brévent gondola). Refuge-Hôtel La
Flégère, at the station, offers drinks, snacks, and accommodations, all with a view.
Arve Riverbank Stroll Several trails allow a level walk or bike ride in the woods
betweenChamonixandLesPraz.Seeparaglidersmakedramaticlandingsandenjoy
mountain views outside Chamonix to the sound of the Arve River.