Best of Chamonix

Ringed by chiseled peaks, the small village of Chamonix lies in the heart of the French Alps. During the summer, hikers, mountain bikers, and climbers pass through town en route to fabulous trails crisscrossing the mountain valleys, while winter brings skiers to the snow-covered slopes with views of Mont Blanc. Even if you’re not here for adventure, Chamonix has plenty to offer, and its elegant old-world hotels are perfect for unwinding amid the pure mountain air.  

You can go trekking with a guide, who will take you to some spectacular parts of the Alps — like France’s largest glacier, the so-called Mer de Glace (“sea of ice”) perched on the north side of Mont Blanc. You can also arrange a more thematic excursion led by a historian who’s also a mountain guide. You can learn all about the Alps on a walking tour that includes a visit to the cemetery of Chamonix, where illustrious climbers have been buried, including Edward Whymper, Maurice Herzog, and Lionel Terray. Chamonix can be visited in a one-day tour from Annecy, with a trek included. But if you want to immerse yourself in the soul of this Alpine village, it’s better to stay at least a night or two.