Aiguille du Midi Cable Car
The cable car that climbs from Chamonix to 3,842 metres in two sections, with the Step into the Void glass box, Mont Blanc close enough to touch and glacier views in every direction.
France
Chamonix
Chamonix is the Alpine town at the foot of Mont Blanc where mountaineering began, and it still delivers some of the most dramatic scenery in Europe within a short walk of the high street.
This guide covers the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi at 3,842 metres, the cogwheel train to the Mer de Glace, the Brévent and Flégère lifts that face the massif, the summer gondola across the glacier to Italy, tandem paragliding, dog sledding, the Lac Blanc hike and the ski areas that open from late November to mid-December. It also matches you with a hotel, from a Relais and Chateaux country house to a simple bed and breakfast by the station, because in a long valley the right address saves hours.
Don't miss
Aiguille du Midi Cable Car
The cable car that climbs from Chamonix to 3,842 metres in two sections, with the Step into the Void glass box, Mont Blanc close enough to touch and glacier views in every direction.
Montenvers Train and Mer de Glace
A historic cogwheel train climbs from the middle of Chamonix to a balcony over the Mer de Glace, the longest glacier in France. Add the gondola down toward the ice and the cave carved into it each year. The train reopens 5 December and the ice cave on 17 December 2026.
Chamonix and Mont Blanc Day Trip from Geneva
A guided day trip by coach from Geneva to Chamonix with panoramic views of the Mont Blanc massif and free time in town. A simple way to see the valley without a car, and it works in any season including November.
Brévent and La Flégère Lifts
The two lift systems that face Mont Blanc across the valley: the Brévent cable car above town and the Flégère gondola from Les Praz. They are closed in the off season, with Flégère due to open on 28 November and Brévent on 12 December 2026 for the ski season.
Things to do in Chamonix
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Montenvers Train and Mer de Glace
A historic cogwheel train climbs from the middle of Chamonix to a balcony over the Mer de Glace, the longest glacier in France. Add the gondola down toward the ice and the cave carved into it each year. The train reopens 5 December and the ice cave on 17 December 2026.
Brévent and La Flégère Lifts
The two lift systems that face Mont Blanc across the valley: the Brévent cable car above town and the Flégère gondola from Les Praz. They are closed in the off season, with Flégère due to open on 28 November and Brévent on 12 December 2026 for the ski season.
Panoramic Mont-Blanc Gondola to Italy
A summer-only gondola that glides from the Aiguille du Midi across the Vallée Blanche glacier to Pointe Helbronner on the Italian border. It is closed now: this season ended on 28 September 2026 and the lift reopens around mid-May 2027, dates to be confirmed.
Skiing in Chamonix
Alpine skiing in the shadow of Mont Blanc, from the steep, high-altitude runs of Les Grands Montets to sunny Flégère and the Brévent. The season usually starts mid-December, with the first lifts scheduled for 28 November 2026 if snow allows.
Tandem Paragliding over Chamonix
A tandem flight with a qualified pilot, gliding down toward the valley with Mont Blanc in front of you. Take-off is from Plan Praz, so flights depend on the lift and the weather, with the Planpraz gondola closed until the ski season.
Dog Sledding in Chamonix
A winter ride behind a team of huskies through snowy forest and valley trails, with the mountains above. Several local operators run rides, and the season depends on snow, so check dates and conditions with the operator.
FreeLac Blanc Hike
Chamonix's best-known day hike: about two hours from the top of the Flégère gondola to a mountain lake that mirrors the Mont Blanc massif. It is a summer and autumn walk and is not possible right now, with the lift closed and snow on the high ground.
4-6 hoursDetails →
Chamonix Town Centre
The pedestrian-friendly centre of Chamonix, a lively Alpine town under Mont Blanc with the Arve river, a statue of the first summit climbers, bakeries and mountain shops. Free to wander and open year-round, including in the November lull.
2-3 hoursDetails →
Chamonix and Mont Blanc Day Trip from Geneva
A guided day trip by coach from Geneva to Chamonix with panoramic views of the Mont Blanc massif and free time in town. A simple way to see the valley without a car, and it works in any season including November.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Le Hameau Albert 1er
Chamonix centre
A Relais and Chateaux country-house hotel with a Michelin-starred table, a heated indoor and outdoor pool and a spa, a few minutes from the station and the lifts. It is closed from 1 November to 4 December 2026, so it suits ski-season and later bookings.
Check rates →Hôtel Le Morgane Chamonix
Aiguille du Midi, central Chamonix
A contemporary hotel on the avenue de l'Aiguille du Midi with balconies in every room, a spa, an indoor pool and a bistro, a three-minute walk from the Aiguille du Midi cable car. Check its November dates, as the booking page shows a seasonal pause.
Check rates →Hôtel Les Aiglons Chamonix
Aiguille du Midi, central Chamonix
A family-friendly four-star hotel on avenue de Courmayeur with a heated outdoor pool, hot tub and spa, an Italian restaurant and an on-site ski shop, three minutes on foot from the Aiguille du Midi cable car.
Check rates →Hotel Eden Chamonix
Les Praz de Chamonix
A three-star hotel in Les Praz, at the quiet northern end of the valley, with chalets and apartments for groups, a restaurant and bar, a playground and the Flégère lift about five minutes on foot.
Check rates →Mont Blanc Lodge
Chamonix centre, near the station
A small bed and breakfast with free continental breakfast, a one-minute walk from Chamonix station and three minutes from the Montenvers train, a simple budget-friendly base for lift-hopping.
Check rates →Chamonix guides
First Time in Chamonix: What to Book, When Lifts Run and How Long to Stay
A first-timer's guide to Chamonix: which lifts to book ahead, what is closed in November, when the ski season starts and how to plan two or three days under Mont Blanc.
Where to Stay in Chamonix: Neighbourhoods and Our Five Hotels
Where to stay in Chamonix: the central lift quarter, quiet Les Praz and a luxury country house, with five hotels across budgets and seasonal closure notes.
