Discover Chamonix, the Adventure Capital of Europe

Discover Chamonix, the Adventure Capital of Europe

Chamonix.jpg

Chamonix can rightly be called the adventure capital of Europe. It's the main centre of the Houte-Savoie region of South-East France. The first-ever winter olympics was held here in 1924 so it's no surprise that it's a playground for winter mountain adventures as well as summer activities. From anywhere in Chamonix the huge glaciers, peaks and granite spires are visible and are at an almost stones throw distance. Looking to the south up to the Mont Blanc Massif, you'll see the Aiguille du midi peak, Mont Blanc peak itself and the imposing Glacier du Bossons. Many mountaineers claim that modern mountaineering was born here in Chamonix due its immediate access to the mountains – a claim that’s hard to deny form standing anywhere in town!

But it's not just the extreme activities or winter sports that make Chamonix such an incredible place. Set in a long, steep and green valley, surrounded by meadows, rivers and forests, Chamonix is a playground for hiking, biking, horse riding, golf, rafting and many other activities. It's a place you have to see to believe!

On the Tour du Mont Blanc trip with Active Adventures, you'll spend your first two nights in Chamonix, enjoying fine food and wine and training the legs on a hike to the Mer de Glace ('Sea of Ice'). 

This is the Glacier des Bossons, seen from Chamonix. There is a hiking trail that you can take to the Chalet du Glacier des Bossons, where you have exceptional views back down the valley and also across and up to the Glacier. 

An Active Adventures group, led by Andy Prill and Jean Marc Vaillant. All smiles at the beginning of their Tour du Mont Blanc adventure. The bronze statue is of Jaques Balmat, a famous Chamonix mountaineer, showing Horace Benedict de Sassure (known as the 'founder of alpinism and modern meteorology') the route up to the summit of Mont Blanc.

Ready to take on the challenge? Have a look into our Mont Blanc Hiking Tour.

 

Explore Adventures in this Destination

Related Posts

Epic and Adventurous: The Best Hikes in Europe

Alpine meadows, rugged coastlines, volcanic moonscapes, hospitable villages, and waterfalls…

Damon's Kilimanjaro Climb on the Active Travel Adventures Podcast

In this episode of the Active Travel Adventures podcast, our…

Hike, Bike and Paddle Croatia - Active Travel Adventures Podcast

Looking to explore Croatia in an active way? Listen to…

W Trek Patagonia – Everything You Need to Know

Calling Torres del Paine National Park a dramatic landscape is…

Podcast: Kit Parks Tell Us all About her Dolomiti Adventure

Kit Parks, from Active Travel Adventures, tells us everything about…

Podcast: Kit Parks Interviews David and Tina About their Ecuador Adventure

Kit Parks from Active Travel Adventures interviews David and Tina…

Podcast: Kit Parks Interviews Dave and Tina About their Galapagos Land and Sea Adventure

Kit Parks from Active Travel Adventures, Dave and Tina discuss…

Keeping Up With Our New Zealand Guides

You’ve heard us say it before, and you’ll hear us…

Northern Patagonia vs Southern Patagonia - How to Choose

Planning a trip to Patagonia but can't decide whether to…

Hiking Iceland: The Best Day and Multi-day Hikes

Iceland is a hiker's paradise. Its vast wilderness calls to…

Dolomites Hiking Guide: Best Hikes in the Dolomites

 

Ahhh the Dolomites! Arguably one of the most stunning mountain…

Travelling to Ecuador and the Galapagos During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Notice anything different about this picture? Look closely - there's…

Top 5 Open Destinations to Visit in 2022: Where Can Americans Travel?

The light at the end of the tunnel is finally…

Best things to see on the West Coast of New Zealand

The West Coast of New Zealand's South Island is a…

Hike or Bike the Paparoa Track

The Paparoa Track crosses 55km of the Paparoa National Park,…

The Eight Best Things to Do in the Dolomites, Italy

Pictures of the towering rock monoliths of the Italian Dolomites…

Top five things to do in Grand Teton National Park

Found yourself in Wyoming with your hiking boots? Here’s some…

The 12 Best Day Hikes in Utah

Utah is not only famous for having some of the…

Multi-Day Hike Packing-List for New Zealand

You and some mates have 4 (5 at a stretch)…

Discover Rakiura National Park, on Stewart Island

 Where is Stewart Island? 

Where is Stewart Island?Stewart Island is situated…

Top things to do in Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Aspiring National Park is a hiker's paradise and a…

Podcast: Annie Allen talks with Kit about her 'Dolomiti' adventure in the Italian Dolomites

 

Most awesome active adventure“This trip was perfect, just the right…

Podcast: Linda Cohen Dickens talks with Kit about her 'Tour du Mont Blanc' adventure

 

My Mont Blanc Circuit“This trip not only provided an upfront…

Podcast: Stan Jacobson talks with Kit about his 'Annapurna Sanctuary Trek' in the Himalayas

 

5 Stars x 3“I rated this as 5 stars, "Excellent,…

Podcast: Jackie Nourse, Jason Waitkins, and Monica Aranguren all discuss solo travel

 

Spectacular!“Yes, the Dolomiti landscape is spectacular and this trip brought…

Podcast: Christine Jenkins talks about her experience on our Dolce Vita trip in the Italian Lakes District

 

Best Trip....EVER“No regrets. Not one bad thing to say. Jo…

Podcast: Sue Brickey and Rick Pope talk with Kit about their 'Chinchilla' adventure (Part II)

A varietal overview of Bolivia

“Such a diverse opportunity to experience…

Things to Do in Glenorchy - the Gateway to Paradise

Situated at the end of the road, there’s only one…

Discover Fiordland National Park - Things to See & Do

The largest of New Zealand’s fourteen national parks, Fiordland National…

Things to Do in Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park was formed after local conservationist Perrine…

Video: Safari Adventures in Africa

Come on a journey with us to the wildest place…

Video: How to pack for a three-day hike

Lynette, our client services rock star gives you a step…

Video: Highlights of our Iceland Adventures

Have you been to Iceland yet? At Active Adventures we…

Video: Highlights of our Elegant South 'Kakapo' trip

A short look at some highlights from our comfort-focused Elegant…

Video: Mont Blanc Circuit

Our 'Tour du Mont Blanc' trip is a challenging hiking…

Video: Ben Lomond in Queenstown

A challenging hike to beautiful vistas above Queenstown and the…

Video: Punakaiki

Famous for its 'Pancake Rocks', Punakaiki is also host to…

Video: Nelson Lakes National Park

This section of our Ultimate South Island trip is an…

Our Favourite Hikes on the West Coast of New Zealand

The West Coast of the South Island is a unique…

Things do Do in Queenstown for Non-Adrenaline Junkies

The first thing that probably comes to mind when you…

New Zealand Glaciers You Can Easily Hike To

Many travelers to New Zealand are familiar with our two…

Things to Do in Christchurch, New Zealand

Christchurch, the 'Garden City', is where the majority of our…

Things to Do in Auckland: Explore New Zealand's City of Sails

Auckland, known as the 'city of sails', was recently voted…

Peru's Rainbow Mountain and the 'Camino del Apu Ausangate' Lodge to Lodge Trek

The beautiful coloured striations of Rainbow Mountain in Peru's Andes…

Hike Peru's Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Constructed by the Incas over 500 years ago, the Lares…

Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: Your Ultimate Guide

One of the most popular hikes in South America, Peru’s…

Inca Trail vs. Lares Trail: How to Get the Most out of Your Adventure

As you plan your trip to Peru and to Machu…

Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu

Considering a bucket list trip to Machu Picchu but unsure…

How to Get to Machu Picchu: Everything You Need to Know

So, the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Machu Picchu is beckoning your…

The Best Way to Explore the Galapagos Islands

There are dozens of tour companies out there offering Galapagos…

Video: Okarito Lagoon

The sleepy hamlet of Okarito is close to the sizeable…

Video: Siberia Experience

On our Classic South Island New Zealand trip, we fly…

Video: Franz Josef Glacier and Township

'Glacier country' - the west side of Aoraki/Mt Cook National…

Video: Ultimate South Island Adventure trip

The 'Rimu' is our signature New Zealand trip. 14 days…

Video: Patagonia Hiking Adventure

Patagonia is a mystical land of glaciers, mountains, and often…

Video: What to Pack for a 2 Week Adventure Vacation to New Zealand

Lynette from our office talks you through what you'll need…

Video: Switzerland: Why I keep coming back

This video was shot in Switzerland on the Bovine Trail…

Video: Classic South Island Adventure

Our Classic South Island Adventure is 8 days of action-packed…

Video: New Zealand Adventure Tours

Want to know what travelling in New Zealand with us…

Video: Ultimate South Island Adventure Highlights

Our signature New Zealand trip is 14 days of hiking,…

Video: Our Guest Kilo's Ultimate South Island Adventure

Follow our guest, Kilo on his 14-day epic journey around…

Video: Highlights of our Ultimate Dolomites Adventure

Follow travel blogger Gareth from Tourist2Townie on his Ultimate Dolomites…

Video: Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

Experience what it's like to trek in the Annapurna Region…

Travel to Nepal: Everything you need to know

We're big believers in the journey being just as important…

Is it safe to visit Nepal?

There is nothing more exciting than planning a new adventure…

The Full Guide to Nepal’s Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

Celebrated for its amphitheatre of giant granite peaks, the Annapurna…

Hiking in Nepal: Multi-Day Treks

To hikers and trekkers from all over the world, the…

Nepal’s Everest Base Camp Guided Trekking Tour Itinerary

A trek to Everest Base Camp is a ‘bucket list’…

Learn About Lukla and its World Famous Airport

Lukla is found in north-east Nepal and sits at 2,860m…

Things to Know About Iceland Before You Go

Has Iceland been recently added to your bucket list? No…

When is the best time to visit Iceland?

Welcome to the ultimate guide to the best time to…

Trek the Tour du Mont Blanc: Learn About our Guided Itinerary

Strap on your best pair of hiking boots – this…

Best Time to Hike the Tour du Mont Blanc

Thinking of joining us here in Europe for a bucket-list…

Hiking in the European Alps

A hiking & mountaineering dreamThe European Alps stretches across seven…

The best time to visit Tanzania

Tanzania is known for having some of the best safaris…

Hike the Rakiura Track

Although the Rakiura Track is a 29 km tramping track,…

Multi-Day Hiking in New Zealand: How to Plan the Perfect Trip for You

New Zealand has earned itself a reputation as one of…

Hike the Lake Waikaremoana Track

The Lake Waikaremoana Track, located within Te Urewera National Park,…

Hike the Kepler Track

The Kepler Track, in Fiordland National Park, is a 67…

How to Plan Your New Zealand Hiking Trip: An Easy 5 Step Guide

Not many travel companies will share these unbiased truths about…

Siberia Valley Experience and Lake Crucible

If there is one thing you can be sure about,…

Hiking Safety Tips for Tramping in New Zealand

Safety’s not as hard as you may think – New…

Hike Ben Lomond in Queenstown

Ben Lomond (45°00'24.06" south 168°36'54.76" east) is an attractive mountain…

Hike Mueller Ridge and Sealy Tarns

The Mueller Ridge hike from Mount Cook village, up past…

Best Day Hikes on New Zealand's North Island

Wherever you are in New Zealand, chances are you aren't…

The Best Day Hikes on New Zealand's South Island

Wherever you are in New Zealand, chances are you aren't…

Hike the Queen Charlotte Track

The Queen Charlotte Track offers a spectacular trip through the…

Hiking the Lakes in Nelson - Nelson Lakes National Park

Without a doubt, this is New Zealand's best kept hiking…

Hike the Heaphy Track

 

The Heaphy Track is known for its beauty and diversity.…

Hike the Routeburn Track

 The Routeburn Track, New Zealand 

The Routeburn trek is a 33km…

Hike the Abel Tasman Coast Track

The Abel Tasman Coast Track is a 51 kilometre (32…

Hike the Milford Track in New Zealand

The 53.5 kilometre (33.2 mile) Milford Track is one of…

The Complete Guide to New Zealand's 10 Great Walks

The "Great Walks" are generally regarded as New Zealand's premier…

Best Heli-Hike in New Zealand

Franz Josef Heli-HikeOn all of our summer South Island trips…

How to Prepare for a Hike: 8 Fitness Tips for the 50+ Explorer

“Am I too out-of-shape for an adventure trip?” It’s the…

The Ultimate 14 Days in Patagonia Itinerary

So you like to be active, huh? That’s totally cool…

Interesting Peru Facts

Are you about or thinking to head out to Peru?…

Huayna Picchu Hike: How Fit Must you be to Climb?

So you've made it up to Machu Picchu. After months…

Hiking Clubs USA

Hiking Clubs CaliforniaBay Area Jewish Singles Hiking ClubEight to ten…

Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Superlatives are inadequate to describe this outstanding one-day hike on…

Annapurna Base Camp Tips: Everything You Need to Know

Now that we’ve been running trips in the Nepalese Himalayas…

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Beaches in Peru

When someone mentions Peru images of idyllic mountain pastures, ancient Incan…

The Top 20 Things to Do in Peru

It probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise that…

Best Day Hikes in New Zealand

As a small island nation, New Zealand is an absolute…

Hike the Copland Track to Welcome Flat

The Copland Track is located south of Fox Glacier on…

Multi-day Hiking in New Zealand's Backcountry, and 8 Reasons to Go Guided

The team here at Active Adventures are an outdoorsy bunch!…

6 Inca Trail Tips to Make the Most of Your Machu Picchu Trip

My flight was booked! My dream of hiking the Inca…

Things to Do in Machu Picchu: How to Get the Most out of Your Experience

Although it's one of the most well-known archaeological wonders of…

Top 10 Views in New Zealand

With the help of our Facebook fans and with some…

The Seven ‘Wonders’ of the Galapagos: Best Things to Do and See

As individuals who thrive on adventure, we love to travel…

The Top 10 Things To Do in New Zealand

Are you planning a vacation in the land of the…

The Top Things to do in the Amazon Rainforest

Stretching 96,922 square kilometers across the country, the Amazon Rainforest…

Pisac Market and Hike to Pisac Ruins

The village is perched high in the mountains and surrounded…

Mustang Adventure 2018: Trip of a Lifetime for Body, Mind and Soul

When thinking about hiking in Nepal, a lot of people…

Top 10 things to do in Iceland!

Are you a keen explorer? In the market for a…

Replace Your New Year's Resolution with one of these Bucket-List Hikes

New Year's resolutions are notoriously difficult to stick to, most…