Chamonix, France - Mountain Town for Adventurers
This week, I’m lounging on the French Riviera reminiscing about my last adventure in France in the stunning mountain town of Chamonix. I’ve heard about this iconic ski resort for decades, but never had the chance to visit. Well, all my dreams came true including one of the most gorgeous hikes I’ve ever been on. This week, I share my tips for visiting Chamonix as well as the Tour du Mont Blanc hike.
Hiking Gear
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Chamonix, France
Chamonix, actually named Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, is located 99km from Geneva in the heart of the Alps bordering Switzerland, Italy and of course France. It has an elevation of 3396′ which seems low until you look up and see the tallest peak in Europe, Mont Blanc. This town is famous for winter skiing as well as summer hiking and rock climbing; everyone in town seems active, fit and ready to take on the world. The food is incredibly delicious with a hint of Swiss fondue influencing the delicious French cuisine.
HOW TO GET THERE
The best way to get to Chamonix is by private car from Geneva; it’s fast, convenient and you can travel when you want. However, if you are price conscious, you can also check out the FlixBus which offers limited travel times between Geneva and Chamonix. Note: Geneva is NOT the cheapest airport to fly into, you may want to consider Milan which has a bus that takes around 4hr to Chamonix.
WHERE TO STAY
There are lots of great hotels in Chamonix, and I’d recommend staying in the heart of the city as close to the walking zone as possible. You are expending so much energy during the day on the mountain, that you don’t want to walk too far at night to have dinner. We stayed at the 4 star Hotel Morgane and it was fantastic. Ample sized rooms, great breakfast, and very friendly staff.
WHAT TO EAT
Ok, this is France, on the border of Switzerland and Italy. Honestly, you cannot go wrong! My favorite meal was at Josephine. We started with shared salads which gigantic and so yummy, and then we moved on to Fondue and whole branzino (Mediterranean Sea Bass). Make sure to sit outside, but UNDER the awnings; weather in the mountains is so unpredictable, and you don’t want to get drenched by a summer squall. We also enjoyed the high end restaurant Atmosphere, and make sure to book ahead and ask for a table on the river.
WHERE TO SHOP
Every shop is geared towards outdoor activities. From Helly Hansen to North Face and Patagonia, you can find everything you need. Although you can buy all the name brands, make sure to check out these independent sport shops.
A MUST DO
A must do while in Chamonix is the QC Terme Spa. What an incredible spa and an incredible value; the daily entrance fee was only 48euros, and it included outdoor and indoor pools, cold plunges and foot soaks along with a salt room, waterbed room, infrared sauna bed room and a crazy face exercise relaxing room. Again, QC Terme Spa is a must when traveling to Chamonix.
This week’s YouTube video: Hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc
The whole point of traveling to Geneva, Switzerland, and Chamonix, France, was to hike part of the Tour du Month Blanc. This is a 3 part series as I hiked 3 days. Make sure to subscribe, and give this video a thumbs up if you liked it! Enjoy 🙂
Travel Resources for You
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