Mont Blanc 3-day itinerary

Take the world's highest vertical ascent cable car from Chamonix (1,035m) to the Aiguille du Midi summit station at 3,842m — a rise of 2,807m in under 20 minutes. Step out onto the narrow ridge terrace and you're standing at the same elevation as Mont Blanc's shoulder, with the 4,808m summit visible a kilometre away and the Chamonix valley shrinking to a toy-town below. On clear days you can see across into Italy and Switzerland simultaneously.

Descend from the Aiguille and take the historic Mont Blanc Express rack railway from Chamonix to Montenvers station at 1,913m, which overlooks the Mer de Glace — France's largest glacier at 7km long and 200m deep. An ice cave system is carved annually into the glacier surface accessible by gondola. Signage at the viewpoint marks how far the glacier has retreated since 1820 — the markers descend steeply, making the effects of glacial retreat viscerally visible.

Return to Chamonix town for the evening — the pedestrianised centre is lively with mountaineers, trail runners, and tourists. Watch the alpenglow turn Mont Blanc's flanks deep pink and orange from the terrace bars on the Rue du Docteur Paccard around 8–9pm in summer. Chamonix has excellent restaurants ranging from fondue and raclette specialists to creative Alpine cuisine. The Micro Brasserie de Chamonix brew craft beers on-site and serve them with charcuterie boards.

Take the bus to Le Tour village at the head of the valley and ride the chairlift to 2,196m, then hike the TMB trail to Col de Balme at 2,204m — the border point between France and Switzerland where the path crosses a grassy saddle. The panorama from the col encompasses the entire Chamonix valley, the Mont Blanc massif, and the Swiss Trient Valley below. This section of the Tour du Mont Blanc is considered among the most beautiful and is achievable without previous mountain experience.

Descend from Col de Balme into Vallorcine on the Swiss side, a quiet village with a small church and local café, then return by Mont Blanc Express train through the Chamonix valley. Stop at Argentière to view the Argentière Glacier from the road — the second largest glacier in the Mont Blanc massif with its distinctive blue seracs. A 20-minute trail leads to a viewpoint platform directly above the glacier's snout.

Take the first stage of the Aiguille du Midi cable car to Plan de l'Aiguille (2,317m) and walk the easy 30-minute trail to the Refuge du Plan de l'Aiguille. Mountain huts in France serve hot food and cold drinks on their terraces — this one faces directly across at the Aiguille du Midi and catches the last evening sun at 8pm in midsummer. The final descent back to Chamonix by cable car as the valley lights come on is one of the great Alpine experiences.

Cross into Italy through the Mont Blanc Tunnel by bus or car to Courmayeur, then take the Skyway Monte Bianco cable car to 3,466m at Punta Helbronner on the Italian ridge of the massif. Unlike the French approach, this side reveals the Grandes Jorasses, Dent du Géant, and the full Italian flanks of Mont Blanc — a completely different perspective on the mountain. On clear days the views extend south across the entire Po Valley to the Apennines.

Courmayeur itself is a beautifully preserved Italian mountain town with an atmosphere quite distinct from French Chamonix — slower, more elegant, built around a pedestrian centre of stone buildings and Italian café culture. Drive or take the local bus up Val Ferret, the valley running east from Courmayeur directly beneath the Italian face of Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses. The TMB trail runs through this valley and offers easy flat walking amid extraordinary glaciated scenery.

Return through the tunnel to Chamonix for a final evening in the Alps. Book a table for traditional Savoyard fondue — a communal pot of melted Beaufort or Comté cheese with white wine and kirsch, served with bread cubes and charcuterie. Chamonix has several specialist fondue restaurants on the side streets behind the main square. As the evening cools, the outdoor terrace heaters come on and the Mont Blanc massif fades from pink to deep grey above the town.