The Best Hiking in France? Head to Chamonix!

Maybe you’ve been to Chamonix during the ski season and pitted your nerve against the resort’s challenging runs and adrenalin-fuelled off-piste, but none of that will prepare you for the exhilaration of hiking its dramatic landscape in the warmer months.

Hiking in France is big news in the summer months, and nowhere are the trails as awe-inspiring as Chamonix. The bustling mountain resort, set in a steep valley with Mount Blanc towering above it, was actually a mecca for climbers and hikers long before it became a ‘ski’ resort. And today, climbers and hikers still come here throughout the summer months to take on the challenging, awesome terrain.

Here are just some of the trails you could discover while hiking in France’s Chamonix Valley.

Mer de Glace

One of the highlights of hiking in France’s Alpine region in the summer is the glaciers. You can set of in the heat of a summer day and be walking on snow in the afternoon. The Mer de Glace (France’s longest glacier) is great for this. A valley glacier to the north of the Mont Blanc massif, the walk is steep but manageable for anyone of reasonable fitness.

If you’re feeling lazy there’s a train which will take you up to Montenvers Station and shorten the trek, otherwise you can do a loop which will take around four and a half hours to walk. There are places to stop along the way for drinks and refreshments so you don’t need to do it all in one go if you don’t want to.

Bossons and Taconnaz Glaciers

For a mind-blowing hiking experience, take the trail from the valley floor up to the point where the Bossons and Taconnaz glaciers meet at 2600m. This awesome display of the power of these moving rivers of ice, plus the stunning views, will be well worth the trek.

Stop off at the Glacier des Bossons Chalet, with its views of the Bossons glacier and the ice pinnacles of the Plateau des Pyramides, for lunch or a drink.

Ascension du Buet, le Mont Blanc des Dames

If you want to do some really extreme hiking in France then head to the high altitude route of the Ascension du Buet. It will depend on the weather conditions whether you’ll be allowed up here, but on a bright sunny day you’ll feel like you’ve reached the top of the world.

This is the highest point of the Aiguilles Rouges massif and the views of Mont Blanc and the Valais Alps are quite simply jaw-dropping. But be warned, this steep trail is for experienced hikers only.

How to Get To Chamonix

Getting to Chamonix couldn’t be easier in the summer, with regular flights running between the UK and Geneva on a selection of budget airlines. The quickest way of getting from the airport to Chamonix is to book a transfer with Shuttle Direct before you set off.

Tip: If you’re travelling with mates we offer a great group transfer option or, if you’re working to a tight budget, why not try a shared group transfer from the airport to Chamonix?

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re planning a holiday to go hiking in France, with a range of affordable transfers, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport of your choice swiftly and safely.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.