Chamonix, Haute-Savoie – Alpine Town Beneath Mont Blanc

Glacial Valleys, High Peaks, and Long-Distance Routes in the Mont Blanc Massif

Chamonix is a high mountain town in the Haute-Savoie department in south-eastern France, set in the Chamonix valley beneath the Mont Blanc massif. Positioned close to the Swiss and Italian borders, it sits at around 1,035 metres above sea level and functions as a major base for alpine routes across the northern French Alps.

The town stretches along the valley floor beside the Arve River, with steep forested slopes rising toward glaciated peaks on both sides. Above the valley stand Mont Blanc (4,808 m), the Aiguille du Midi, and a chain of granite summits forming the highest section of the Alps. The setting is broad and dramatic, with glaciers visible from many parts of the town.

Chamonix provides extensive services including shops, supermarkets, accommodation, rail connections, and valley transport links. It serves as a starting or finishing point for long-distance routes and multi-day alpine crossings.

The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) passes through the Chamonix valley, linking the town with Les Houches, Argentière, and onward into Italy and Switzerland. The GR5 runs south of the valley via the Col du Bonhomme and Col de la Croix du Bonhomme and does not pass through Chamonix itself. Terrain ranges from valley paths and forest tracks to steep alpine trails and high passes with sustained ascent.