Inside a Swizz train coach, I occupy a window seat, through the pane my eyes graze over alps while images of Zermatt in the past occupying much of present in my mind. The affair with Alps continues from Zermatt to Chamonix (pronounced as Sha-mo-nee).
Geography: Chamonix is placed beautifully in the middle of french alps close to swizz border.
Language: French, English
Currency: Euro
Getting There: It's 2 hours from Geneva by bus. Mont Blanc express train is from Martigny in Swizz. It's about 2 hours fro another beautiful French town Annecy.
What's famous here: Mont Blanc, Aiguille Du Midi, Montenvers
My Story:
The 2 hour ride from Geneva to Chamonix din't seem like what clock showed. Along with me, some students from England were asking curious questions to a lady who's home is Chamonix. She works in Geneva and she visits Chamonix every week, who else is better to guide us about French alps.
she has descended Aiguille Du Midi 45 times. I have mentioned before that I have this disease of wanting to climb every mountain I see. I got inevitably inspired by her to trek Aiguille Du Midi. A big thanks to her.
At night 10 pm when I got down from the bus and looked around, I was stunned to see panorama of mountains circled around me. The ice caped peaks were still glowing in the dark. I had goosebumps within minutes of lading in Chamonix. Never before I have been beautifully intimidated by mountains as here.
I snuggled down into my bed in an old lovely Chalet hostel.
Sun rays were fighting its way to touch earth in the early morning fog as I sipped hot coffee sighting snow caped mountains from the dine table in hostel. The climate seemed perfect for my intentions.
However huge a mountain is when you view it from a distance your chin doesn't go up, but here in Chamonix you have to lift your chin up to check out the massif. I'm trying to shape your imagination to the best extent in saying that the mountains are very close to us and the vertical ascend is pretty steep.
After a chat with the hostel person asking for suggestions and things to do, tips and tricks of the place, i was all set to ascend the alps (again).
I reached the station of cable cars that can take me to Aiguille Du Midi. These are one of the highest cable car systems operating in world. We need to take 2 cables cars to reach the top. The first one covers 80% of distance and the second one, designed to just ascend very steeply in the final 20% of the climb.
Take a moment to realize that you are in one of the highest places on planet Earth.
You get a clear view of Mont Blanc from Aiguille Du Midi which is just right opposite to you.It is the highest peak in Europe.
I spent some hours in the top moving around the peak and experiencing pureness of such nature. There are no second thoughts, I will be trekking down to the bottom from here. It showed 3 hrs walk to Montenvers in the sign board. In minute weather changed and It had just started to snow very lightly.
Inhaling the adventure at every step, surrounded by massive massive alps I was in love with this page of my life. We get amazing views from the top, rivers can be spotted, roads and valleys from one of the highest mountain ranges, this is truly satisfying. I took a break where i could meet some fellow walkers, some of them told me that they were doing this for 5th, 7th time and I could really feel why people do this descend many times. This honestly is one of the best hiking paths that I have taken.
Through some snow, rocks, around boulders, mud and forest, I reached Montenvers. You get to see Mer de Glace, the largest glacier in Chamonix. There is also a museum which explains the formation of glacier and its life cycle.
The Grand hotel in Montenvers is running from 1880, so there's quite some things unique to this place. Train from Montenvers started from early 1900's, so it was a old historical track that i will be setting foot on. A tiny vintage train brings us down by giving fabulous views of the village. I was tired and hungry, I found a lovely restaurant to feed myself and spent some time looking around.
I raced back to hostel to refresh and was back on streets to feel the evening vibe of the village. Evening grew and lights were lit, silhouette of mountains descending on the valley.
The streets were graceful in escorting me from one to another and letting me discover its charming secrets. I found a pizza shop which had lovely benches out in the cold, and i couldn't resist to try it out. Back to chalet hostel, recollecting the unbelievable day, I slipped into sleep.
During my breakfast on the next day, my hostel guy told me that he will give me a card. If we stay in Chamonix, all the hotels and hostels can give us a card which is valid in Mont Blanc express till the french border(Vallorcine), it is free of cost. Mont Blanc express is a train that connects Martigny in Switzerland and Chamonix in France. It is one of the most scenic routes in the continent. We need to change trains in Vallorcine when the train crosses the borders of countries.
I took the train and was speechless at the sight of scenery.
Train stops in plenty of villages which presents vivid colors and images that does not fade in our minds for a long long time.
I got down in Vallorcine, walked around the village. I Walked back to Le Buet which is another village near Vallorcine. You never get tired of hiking because of the new friend that would you have made here, the nature.
I took Mont Blanc express back to Chamonix, it had started to rain a little. Chamonix is a perfect place that has something for everyone, from kids to the old people. From Skiing to hikes to treks to sightseeing, there is plenty to do and experience here.
From here I take a bus that goes to Lyon through Annecy.
Each place I go, takes a permanent place in my heart. Every place has its own special sunrise and sunset and it can be experienced only by being there.
Tips:
-UR
uday.s7@gmail.com
Geography: Chamonix is placed beautifully in the middle of french alps close to swizz border.
Language: French, English
Currency: Euro
Getting There: It's 2 hours from Geneva by bus. Mont Blanc express train is from Martigny in Swizz. It's about 2 hours fro another beautiful French town Annecy.
What's famous here: Mont Blanc, Aiguille Du Midi, Montenvers
My Story:
The 2 hour ride from Geneva to Chamonix din't seem like what clock showed. Along with me, some students from England were asking curious questions to a lady who's home is Chamonix. She works in Geneva and she visits Chamonix every week, who else is better to guide us about French alps.
she has descended Aiguille Du Midi 45 times. I have mentioned before that I have this disease of wanting to climb every mountain I see. I got inevitably inspired by her to trek Aiguille Du Midi. A big thanks to her.
At night 10 pm when I got down from the bus and looked around, I was stunned to see panorama of mountains circled around me. The ice caped peaks were still glowing in the dark. I had goosebumps within minutes of lading in Chamonix. Never before I have been beautifully intimidated by mountains as here.
I snuggled down into my bed in an old lovely Chalet hostel.
Sun rays were fighting its way to touch earth in the early morning fog as I sipped hot coffee sighting snow caped mountains from the dine table in hostel. The climate seemed perfect for my intentions.
However huge a mountain is when you view it from a distance your chin doesn't go up, but here in Chamonix you have to lift your chin up to check out the massif. I'm trying to shape your imagination to the best extent in saying that the mountains are very close to us and the vertical ascend is pretty steep.
 |
| My Hostel in Chamonix |
 |
| Village of Chamonix |
 |
| Village of Chamonix |
 |
| Village of Chamonix |
After a chat with the hostel person asking for suggestions and things to do, tips and tricks of the place, i was all set to ascend the alps (again).
 |
| On the way to Cable car station |
I reached the station of cable cars that can take me to Aiguille Du Midi. These are one of the highest cable car systems operating in world. We need to take 2 cables cars to reach the top. The first one covers 80% of distance and the second one, designed to just ascend very steeply in the final 20% of the climb.
Take a moment to realize that you are in one of the highest places on planet Earth.
 |
| Aiguille Du Midi |
 |
| Unbelievable Scene |
You get a clear view of Mont Blanc from Aiguille Du Midi which is just right opposite to you.It is the highest peak in Europe.
 |
| Mont Blanc |
Inhaling the adventure at every step, surrounded by massive massive alps I was in love with this page of my life. We get amazing views from the top, rivers can be spotted, roads and valleys from one of the highest mountain ranges, this is truly satisfying. I took a break where i could meet some fellow walkers, some of them told me that they were doing this for 5th, 7th time and I could really feel why people do this descend many times. This honestly is one of the best hiking paths that I have taken.
 |
| Trekking View |
 |
| Trekking Path |
 |
| From the top |
The Grand hotel in Montenvers is running from 1880, so there's quite some things unique to this place. Train from Montenvers started from early 1900's, so it was a old historical track that i will be setting foot on. A tiny vintage train brings us down by giving fabulous views of the village. I was tired and hungry, I found a lovely restaurant to feed myself and spent some time looking around.
I raced back to hostel to refresh and was back on streets to feel the evening vibe of the village. Evening grew and lights were lit, silhouette of mountains descending on the valley.
 |
| Valley |
 |
| Panorama of Mountains |
 |
| Picture perfect |
 |
| Village of Chamonix |
 |
| Village of Chamonix |
 |
| Village of Chamonix |
The streets were graceful in escorting me from one to another and letting me discover its charming secrets. I found a pizza shop which had lovely benches out in the cold, and i couldn't resist to try it out. Back to chalet hostel, recollecting the unbelievable day, I slipped into sleep.
During my breakfast on the next day, my hostel guy told me that he will give me a card. If we stay in Chamonix, all the hotels and hostels can give us a card which is valid in Mont Blanc express till the french border(Vallorcine), it is free of cost. Mont Blanc express is a train that connects Martigny in Switzerland and Chamonix in France. It is one of the most scenic routes in the continent. We need to change trains in Vallorcine when the train crosses the borders of countries.
I took the train and was speechless at the sight of scenery.
 |
| Route of Mont Blanc express |
Train stops in plenty of villages which presents vivid colors and images that does not fade in our minds for a long long time.
 |
| Vallorcine |
 |
| Vallorcine |
I got down in Vallorcine, walked around the village. I Walked back to Le Buet which is another village near Vallorcine. You never get tired of hiking because of the new friend that would you have made here, the nature.
 |
| Between Vallorcine and Le Buet |
 |
| Between Vallorcine and Le Buet |
I took Mont Blanc express back to Chamonix, it had started to rain a little. Chamonix is a perfect place that has something for everyone, from kids to the old people. From Skiing to hikes to treks to sightseeing, there is plenty to do and experience here.
From here I take a bus that goes to Lyon through Annecy.
 |
| On the way to Annecy |
Each place I go, takes a permanent place in my heart. Every place has its own special sunrise and sunset and it can be experienced only by being there.
Tips:
- Mont Blanc express train is a spectacular experience that can be taken from Martigny is Swizz to Chamonix in France.
- Cable car is good but while coming down i highly recommend you to trek down from the top.
- Take travel card from the hotel you stay, the travel is free in Mont blanc express till the France border.
-UR
uday.s7@gmail.com
