If the Mer de Glace is on your list for the All Saints' break: the Montenvers site says the train is closed from 2 November to 4 December, and the ice cave is closed from 17 October to 1 November. Today the site shows it open 8:30 to 16:00. So this week is basically your last window to take the train up before December. Source is the official Montenvers Mer de Glace page, worth a look before you go since hours can change with the weather.

Small heads up for anyone coming in by rail. All four rail unions called a national strike for Thursday 5 November, so TGV, Intercites and TER (which includes the St-Gervais to Chamonix line) could all be hit. No list of cancelled trains yet. SNCF puts out the next day's plan from 5pm the day before, so check your train on the evening of the 4th on SNCF Connect or the TER Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes site. There's a pay meeting on the 3rd that could still change things. If you're flying into Geneva, the airport buses aren't SNCF so that route shouldn't care.

I want to go next summer as part of a bigger trip and wanted to know how many days should I give it. Is 3 days good for doing most of the stuff there without rushing? I want to do the cable car, train to the glacier, paragliding and maybe crossing on a day trip to Italy
Is it worth to give it more days if I don’t plan big hikes?

Bonjour à tous ! Je suis nouvelle dans un logement avec chauffage collectif et je ne connais pas très bien son fonctionnement.

J’ai remarqué que le chauffage est coupé pendant la nuit : est-ce que ce sera aussi le cas en hiver ? Pour le moment, les radiateurs sont seulement tièdes, je ne dirais pas qu’ils sont chauds. J’ai aussi constaté que celui situé à l’entrée de l’immeuble est pareil, donc cela ne peut pas venir uniquement de mon appartement.

En général, est-ce que ce sera comme ça tout l’hiver, ou est-ce que le chauffage sera un peu plus fort ?

Merci d’avance!

Montenvers train and Aiguille du Midi both close from 2 Nov according to the official lift pages. Lac des Gaillands and the Arve path are the obvious ones, but curious what locals do once the high stuff is snowed in. Bonus points for anything that isn't a skating rink in the shade.

Hi! Is the Cirque du fer a cheval easily accessible via public transport from Chamonix? Can't seem to find much information online about this. Would appreciate an estimate of the duration as well as mode of transport / connections needed!

Hi! I'm planning a solo trip to France in late June'27 (around 22 June onwards) and am planning to spend a 3-4 days in Chamonix to hike. However, I am slightly worried about the weather conditions then. Would there still be much snow on the hiking trails? Would the lakes (like Lac Blanc) still be icy? Would it be considered wet season? Hesitating here as it would be my first time solo hiking, so I'm worried for safety and also would not want to waste a trip all the way there just for the weather to be bad.

Would also appreciate some recommendations on hiking trails that are scenic but do not require any technical mountaineering. So far some I am considering are: Lac Blanc via Grand Balcon Sud, Grand Balcon Nord (Montenvers to Plan de L'Aiguille), Brevent, Aiguilette des Houches or Aiguilette des Posettes. What are the top trails you would recommend given that I will only be there for 3-4 days? I am also open to looking into other trails not listed here!

Would appreciate any advice, thank you!

Hi
We are a couple of hikers looking for at nice hiking trail close to Chamonix as we have hiked the majority of the most common once.
Do you think it is possible to hike to Mont Buet tomorrow (Thursday the 22nd of oct.)?
Or can you alternatively recommend any, out of the ordinary, hikes? We are looking for something longer than 15km. and preferably around 1.500-2.000 elevation.

Hey

I was thinking of doing a beginner off-piste course and an advanced off piste course – two weeks in total – in mid-to-late February, i.e., the school holidays. I've read that the normal slopes are not worth going into during the school holidays, but are the off-pistes spared from the masses of tourists?

I am trying to book one night at the end of my TMB next August 2027. We are unfortunately finishing our hike during UTMB week, and hotels have 3+ night minimum stays or are open to groups only. In fact, one hotel just emailed me back saying “We invite you to check our website again at a later date, when individual bookings may become available. However, please note that August is an extremely busy period in Chamonix, so the chances of finding availability for just one night may unfortunately be limited.”

Wondering if anyone here knows of a place that doesn’t show up on accommodation search engines that might have availability? Help! Thanks.

Im planning on going to chamonix in mid November for 3 days- i know majority of the skiing activities is closed but im not bothered about skiing does anyone have any recs? And if the weather is usually good around 15th November

hi!! i’m coordinating a trip for myself + 5 family members. we’ve skied a lot in the US and this is our first Europe trip.

we tend to go all-out local and/or luxury for dining. we have a few that don’t love skiing and would want things to do / places to see while they rest.

i’m mostly concerned about our off days - what’s best to try around Chamonix downtown or even up on the mountain while skiing.

secondly, christmas day roast? is that a thing?
nye dinner? anywhere near the liveliness?

open to any suggestions!! we’re staying up north in Chamonix, won’t have a car. i’ve already booked le monchu and akashon.

thank you :)

Moved to Argentière recently and time to get winter tires installed. Every place google finds seems either sketch or permanently closed or on vacation or something else.

Anyone have a quick recommendations where to go in the valley?

Also, is it better to order tires myself and have them shipped to my place and bring them to the install or order through the tire shop directly?

Merci!

We have a 11 month old and a 1 and half infant visiting Chamonix. Wanted to check if they’re allowed to board the train and visit Mer de glacé

I only see information that says ticket is free for kids under 5 years.

For final night on TMB, we cannot try to book La Flegere until January 5,2027, so what are you all doing as back ups? Any specific Hotels in Chamonix? Les Praz?

Bonjour les Annéciens/Annéciennes,

Avec mon ami Noé nous avons créé un site pour répondre aux besoins que nous avions qui sont d’avoir un site complet pour trouver notre refuge, gîte ou cabane.
Certains sites référençant ces lieux sont déjà existants mais nous souhaitions ajouter quelques fonctionnalités et nous nous sommes dis que cela pourrait être utiles à d’autres personnes.

refugesdesalpes.fr

Carte interactive complète des refuges, cabanes, sentiers, webcams et transports en montagne dans les Alpes françaises.

Votre retour critique pourrait nous être d’une grande aide et vous pouvez directement le faire sur le site via le bouton en bas à gauche,

En espérant que cet outil puisse vous servir,
Bonne journée à tous,

Noé et Amaury

I’m hoping someone with experience in the UTMB system can help me understand something about the race in Chamonix in 2027.

I recently finished the Kodiak 100K and was absolutely overjoyed to learn that I placed first in my age group! I also received a message congratulating me on the achievement, which was such an exciting surprise.

Here’s where I’m a little unsure. Does placing first in my age group at Kodiak, as a UTMB World Series Major, mean I’ve earned an automatic entry into the CCC race in Chamonix, France, in 2027? Or does it simply give me an opportunity through the lottery?

I’m still relatively new to this sport and learning how the UTMB qualification process works. I’m thrilled at the possibility, but I also don’t want to get ahead of myself if I’m interpreting the message incorrectly!

If you’ve qualified this way or have experience with the process, I’d be so grateful if you could share what I should expect and what steps I need to take next.

Thank you so much! I’m incredibly grateful for this trail-running community, the opportunities this sport brings, and all the people who make this journey so special.

Bless in health,

Rhonda 💛

The larches (mélèzes) are turning gold, the trails are quieter, and the light is gorgeous... but the days are short, the high cols can get their first snow with little warning, and many lifts and huts are closing or on reduced schedules.

I'd love to hear how locals and regular visitors approach this in-between season:

• Which low or mid-altitude walks do you find best in autumn (larch spots, balcony trails, valley loops)?
• How do you layer for cold mornings that turn into warm sunny afternoons? Do you carry a proper insulating layer even on a "nice" day?
• Do you carry a headlamp by default now, given how early the sun drops behind the ridges?
• Any sources you trust to check conditions before heading out (Météo-France mountain bulletin, local webcams, the tourist office, etc.)?

Happy to hear about gear that earns its place in the pack at this time of year too, and about spots that are better in October than in July. Thanks, and enjoy the colours!

Hi, will there be any cable cars open on the 17th of october? Specially thinking about Planpratz and Flegere

I'm about to purchase my annual pass for chamonix and looking for a second who wants to save about €800 of your buying an annual pass but haven't had one in the last 3 years. The cost is less than €1000 for the annual pass and must be purchased by October 19

DM me if you're interested for more details