Chamonix is one of the most beautiful villages in the French Alps! While we only had enough time to make a day trip to Chamonix from Annecy, we made the most of it on a scenic hike through the mountains. Here’s everything you need before your visit, the Grand Balcon Sud trail, and what makes it the best easy hike in Chamonix France.
About the Grand Balcon Sud Hiking Trail
Chamonix is a year-round adventure town in Southeastern France at the foot of Mont Blanc. To get the most out of your day, you’ll want to arrive as early as possible.
There are some amazing Alpine style hotels around town if you’d like to spend the night to hit the trails early. Some of the most popular options are Auberge du Bois Prin, Le Hameau Albert, and Hotel Du Clocher.
We arrived in Chamonix just after 8am. It was surprising to see the main parking lot near the Flégère Gondola already full, even during the middle of summer. Thankfully, we found a place to park just a few minutes away at this free lot. Know that parking fills up fast all over town if you’re planning to drive.
After some research, we decided on the Grand Balcon Sud hike. It’s known for being one of the easier ones in town and has amazing views of Mont Blanc across the valley. Honestly, this was one of our favorite hikes we did during our summer in the French and Italian Alps!
The official name of the trail is Grand Balcon Sud: Flégère – Plan Praz. What makes it unique is that it’s actually a one way path. You’ll need to ride up the Flégère gondola and hike to the Plan Praz. The lift will bring you back down right into the Chamonix town center.
While it might sound complicated at first, it will all make sense once you get to the start of the trail. We left our car near the Flégère gondola and then took the bus back to the parking lot to end the day.
The Best Easy Hike in Chamonix France
Let’s be clear about one thing. This is one of the easiest trails you could hike in this part of the Alps.
With that said, it’s not a flat path by any means! If you compare it to all the others from the top of the gondola, it is definitely less challenging.
We really enjoyed it as active hikers and the views were unreal. Still, towards the end of the trail to the Plan Praz Gondola it gets quite steep. The last section of the path has a gradual incline with uneven and loose rocks.
The All Trails app says it’s 5.3 km with 346m elevation gain. It took us about 3 hours with stops, but experienced hikers could definitely do it faster.
We recommend taking your time to enjoy a picnic lunch and get plenty of photos. You can read more detailed info on the Grand Balcon Sud trail here.
Our Day on Grand Balcon Sud in Chamonix
Before you can get out on the trail you’ll need to buy your tickets for the Flégère gondola. The weather had called for sun and clear skies, but we would find a different scene at the top.
Luckily, the clouds were moving quickly, and we chose to head out on the path instead of waiting around. After only about 10 minutes of hiking, the views completely cleared up!
If you take one thing away from this article, it should be the exact direction to go on Grand Balcon Sud. Start by heading up from Flégère and then hike to the Plan Praz Gondola to ride down.
This will give you immaculate views on this easy hike in Chamonix. We couldn’t believe how beautiful the mountain peaks were along the way. It was also wild to see snow on the top of Mont Blanc in the summertime. Hey, it is the 2nd tallest mountain in all of Europe after all!
You can do this trail in reverse. However, know that this way you will have to constantly turn around to see the spectacular Mont Blanc summit views by going this way.
We stopped about halfway through this Chamonix hike to dig into our picnic. Our lunch included sandwiches, chocolate, nuts, and apples for fuel on the trail.
There is a large, open valley in the middle of Grand Balcon Sud that had lots of room to spread out and relax. This was the perfect lunch spot compared to the rest of the path, where it’s a bit tight to pass others.
As always, make sure you bring more then enough water and layers! The trail is up in the mountains above town, so expect the weather to be cooler than the temperatures say online for Chamonix France. It’s also good to have a windbreaker and something waterproof to wear.
We wore proper hiking shoes, and were so happy we did. Even though it’s classified as an “easy hike in Chamonix,” there are loose rocks and sections when you’ll be climbing over boulders.
Gondola Down to Chamonix France
After the final uphill climb to Plan Praz Gondola, we watched the paragliders take off before heading down to town. Read more about Paragliding in Chamonix here if you’re interested in trying out this extreme sport!
You’ll find full restaurants bars, and bathrooms at the top of both gondolas. If you have the time, stopping in for a drink with views of Mont Blanc is a must!
Once we were finished, we rode the Gondola down and strolled right into Chamonix center. The town was exploding with energy in full swing during mid-July.
There are countless cafes and eateries to enjoy after your hike. A couple of our favorites are Moody Coffee Roasters and Josephine Restaurant.
While we only went on a day trip to Chamonix, we wished we had at least a night or two in town. Below we share more tips about Chamonix to help plan your own visit.
Planning a Day Trip to Chamonix France
- The hiking season goes from late June until September. Keep in mind, there can be snow almost any time of year up at high altitudes in the mountains. Be sure to double check the conditions.
- Aiguille du Midi is the most popular viewpoint on Mont Blanc. You’ll need to book your Gondola tickets well in advance to guarantee a spot.
- The closest airport to Chamonix France is Geneva Switzerland. It’s a good idea to pre-book a direct shuttle if you’re planning to take public transport. Find the exact times for SWISSTOURS and Alpytransfers here.
- Renting a car is the best way to get around the area. We use this company to compare the prices and find the cheapest deal. Also, consider adding Chamonix into a larger France itinerary. Annecy France is one of our favorite lake towns to explore in the French Alps!
Have any questions about our day trip or want to share another easy hike in Chamonix France? Let us know in the comments.
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
