Activity Reviews in Chamonix

Read reviews of the best Chamonix activities

No trip to Chamonix should be complete without a visit to the legendary "Mer de Glace", the longest and arguably the most impressive glacier in the Chamonix valley.

Find loads of top tips and local insights in our Chamonix Sights Reviews.

Autumn Day Trip : Cycling Lake Annecy

A gentle bike ride around the shores of Lac d'Annecy

This autumn has been one of the best I can remember in my many years in Chamonix - crisp bright days, sunny blue skies, spectacular colours… and it’s still warm enough (just) to swim in the lake!

Chamonix Activity Report: 12th October 2009

A large glacier is surrounded by trees and rocks

Chamonix Activity Report: 12th October 2009

Autumn is well and truly on us now and the trees are a blaze of russet and golden hues. With the exception of a couple of fairly miserable days at the end of last week, we're still enjoying some pretty beautiful weather. Whilst the temperature has noticeably dropped in the morning, I haven't had to scrape my car windscreen yet but you can tell that it won't be long. It's currently about 4 degrees first thing but then it was still getting up to a very pleasant 25 degrees down the valley last week if the temperature reading in Passy is to be believed. It certainly felt very warm and humid as we popped down for a quick trot around the lake last Wednesday evening.

The Chalet Buvette de Caillet Hiking Circuit

Hiking Circuit : Chalet Buvette de Caillet

The Chalet Buvette de Caillet Hiking Circuit

A half-day hike that begins and ends in Chamonix centre

It’s been such a beautiful week here in Chamonix that it was a crime not to go exploring, so we headed off to the Caillets chalet on the way up to the Mer de Glace.

Chamonix Activity Report: 26th September 2008

A sign on a wall that says chemin des chosalets

Chamonix Activity Report: 26th September 2008

Temperatures continue to drop, traffic's becoming less and less and the cloud blanket in the valley feels like it's here to stay. Plenty of free tables in Chambre Neuf, Le Pub opening up later, Choucas closed, Cham Sud a ghost town. Flégère's shut, riding Le Tour feels like a distant memory and the Bellevue closes Sunday (26/9). It's almost October - Cham is quiet. People are downloading trailers for ski movies and re-reading trip reports and season diaries from last year. There's a nice feeling of expectation in the air as things begin to line up for winter.

Chamonix Activity Report: 21st September 2010

The sun is shining through the clouds over the mountains

Chamonix Activity Report: 21st September 2010

There is some great weather around the valley at the moment, however it is a lot cooler as soon as the sun goes away and it's beginning to feel a lot like Autumn has arrived. A few more lifts closed this weekend and the last of the main lifts will close this weekend at Les Houches and Flegere.

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Visiting the Animals at Parc de Merlet

Alpine Animal Park in the Mountains

Location: Les Houches

With a couple of grey days on the weather forecast we were wondering what to do with our day off, so we headed up to the Parc de Merlet in Les Houches.

Mountain Biking in Les Houches

two mountain bikers looking at the view in les houches

Mountain Biking in Les Houches

Scorchio! Riding the Les Houches Downhill trails

Sunshine and dust on the Les Houches DH mountain bike trails.

Chamonix Activity Report: 28th June 2009

A large waterfall is surrounded by trees and rocks

Chamonix Activity Report: 28th June 2009

We've had another great few days here in Chamonix with temperatures rising along with a lot of humidity. Thursday and Friday had some big storms in the late afternoon, which helped cool things down for a bit and a great help for the Cross and 10km runners on Saturday with slightly cooler air but it was all change for those running in the full marathon today with high temperatures and humidity.

Chamonix Activity Report: 4th June 2007

A snowy road with tire tracks on it and a fence in the background

Chamonix Activity Report: 4th June 2007

Yippee! Summer has returned! Our last update was a little bit doom and gloom after a week of continuous rain, but that is now a dim and distant memory as the sunshine and pleasant temperatures have returned. Flip flops and shorts are back out with a vengeance…..well, except for that little blip last Monday when we seemed to skip a couple of seasons and found ourselves back in the middle of winter as 15cms of snow settled on the town! But apart from that, the summer is here.

Chamonix Activity Report: 20th September 2009

A man standing on a rock with a mountain in the background

Chamonix Activity Report: 20th September 2009

Today is the last day of opening for the Brevent gondola, the last of the main Chamonix valley lifts still in operation. However, Les Houches remains open till next weekend and the Aiguille du Midi and Montenvers train continue operating into November, with a short 2 week break in October for the train. You can find a full list of lift opening & closing dates here >>

Chamonix Activity Report: 20th August

An image of a hiker, a dog and a horse in a meadow in Chamonix Mont Blanc

Chamonix Activity Report: 20th August

Hiking with Hounds : Dog-Friendly Walks in the Chamonix Valley

The French are known for their love of dogs and here in Chamonix they are in their element with so much open space to run around in. They are welcome in most bars, many restaurants and their presence is very rarely frowned upon anywhere.

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view across Mont Blanc Massif into switzeland

Chamonix Activity Report: 10th June 2012

Mountaineering with the Alpine ARC'ademy in Chamonix

The alarm clock isn't supposed to sound this early at the weekend (unless there was a big overnight dump) but after a 7am warm-up cycle ride into Chamonix with a backpack full of crampons, ice screws & prusik knots I soon felt wide awake.

Road Biking on Classic Cols

Road Biking on Classic Cols

Tackling some of Chamonix & Haute Savoie's classic road bike climbs

Chamonix isn't as synonymous with road biking as some of the other areas of the French Alps. Whilst the Criterium du Dauphine Cycling Race regularly passes nearby, the valley doesn't conjure up images of the Tour du France the same way as names like Alpe d'Huez or Col du Gallibier. Still, that doesn't mean there's no tarmac to ride on and no cols to conquer, or at least climb, perhaps make that grovel over.

Road Biking up to Plaine Joux, Passy

A short but challenging cycle up to a beautiful plateau

Today we set out to do a ride that is practically on our doorstep but that I’ve never yet attempted - Montée de Plaine-Joux. A 15km climb from the nearby town of Passy up to a wide plateau that overlooks the valley.

Chamonix Activity Report: 18th May 2012

Chamonix Activity Report: 18th May 2012

Location: Chamonix

Hello again! So after a little interseason breather we’re back and looking forward to summer. Skis and boards have been relegated to the cellar; ski clothes have been given a (long overdue!) wash and packed away and we’ve even ventured out of the valley for a week or so to see what’s going on outside of our bubble. Having returned with 20kg of cheddar, Branston pickle, Marmite, sweet chilli sauce and ginger beer, I now feel refreshed and ready to embrace the coming months (which if I’m honest, are by far my favourite months of the year in Chamonix).

Chamonix Activity Report: 14th July 2005

A man climbs a climbing wall in front of a crowd

Chamonix Activity Report: 14th July 2005

Yesterday saw the much-anticipated finals of the World Climbing Championships (Coupe du Monde d'Escalade) with competitors from (as the name suggests!) far & wide. There was a heavy European presence – sadly no-one representing GB – and a good handful from further afield such as USA, Canada, Hong Kong & Australia

Chamonix Activity Report: 12th August 2008

A group of people holding umbrellas in front of a church

Chamonix Activity Report: 12th August 2008

It's not all blue skies, green pastures and snowy peaks up here in Haute Savoie country. Sometimes, for instance, the skies are grey. And sometimes, god forbid, it rains.

Chamonix Activity Report: 8th October 2007

I've dug my flip flops out again this week. Now whilst there may be very little sensation remaining in my toes once I've cycled to work in the morning; come the afternoon, it's been flip flop-tastic! As is so often the case, October is presenting us with some truly glorious autumnal weather. As the valley begins to shed its leaves for another year, the blaze of colour at the moment is just amazing. There are crisp piles of fallen leaves everywhere just begging to be scuffed through, and even though it has been more years that I care to admit since I last played…..I just can't help but collect conkers at this time of year!