Lac Blanc Hike: A View of Mont Blanc Like You've Never Seen Before

Lac Blanc is a small alpine lake in the vicinity of Chamonix-Mont Blanc (Haute-Savoie) in the south-east of France, close to the borders with Switzerland and Italy. It is located in the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve, known for its big population of Alpine Ibex. Lac Blanc is on the route of the last stage of the Tour du Mont Blanc route at an altitude of 2340 meters.

The best time to do the Lac Blanc hike is during the summer months, July until September, when the route has little snow and the weather is usually good. Outside these months, the logistics get more complicated because many of the hostels and mountain huts on the route are closed. If we had to recommend a more specific time, it would be the second half of August and the first half of September. During this period, the number of trekkers and mountaineers is lower, the weather is usually quite pleasant and the light is perfect for taking photographs of the Mont Blanc Massif.

What do you see when you’re looking across the Chamonix Valley? There are 11 main mountain summits and a whole bunch of side peaks, cols and ridges. With 4808 meters / 15,744 feet (the exact measured height has changed in the past years) the highest peak visible is Mont Blanc. It's the white bulky mountain you can spot at the right side of the panorama. Some of the spiky peaks in the center of the view are the Aiguille du Plan, Aiguille de Blaitière and Aiguille du Grépon, all around 3500 meters high. One of the most famous peaks among alpinists is the Dent du Gèant, the pointy peak just left of the dip in the massif. Finally you’ve got the Grand Dru, another iconic pillar in the Mont Blanc massif. Below is the complete panorama, as shown from Lac Blanc.

Lac Blanc is, as the crow flies, close to Chamonix. Fortunately, getting to Chamonix is quite easy. Chamonix is located only 103 kilometers away from Geneva International Airport, the second-largest airport in Switzerland. There are several transport options for you to get to this beautiful city depending on where you are departing from.

By Plane: Flying is the most convenient and fastest way to get to Chamonix. Geneva International Airport is the closest airport, and it has more flight options available from more destinations than any other airports. From Geneva, you can take a direct shuttle from the airport to Chamonix.

By Car: If you are in southern France, or just across the border from Chamonix in Italy or Switzerland, it is fairly easy to drive there. Locally there are plenty of options yo park your car whilst you are trekking.

By Train: There is a train station right in the center of town. Traveling to Chamonix by train isn't necessarily the easiest or fastest option, but it is definitely the one with the least impact on the environment. On your way to Chamonix, you will have to change trains a few times along the way. The silver lining is that you are allowed to carry more luggage without additional charges.

By Bus: Coach or long-distance buses are another option to get to Chamonix. The good thing about these buses is that they tend to be quite cheap and are more environmentally friendly than flying.

Lac Blanc itself is perched high up on the southern edge of the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve. The closest place to start your journey to the lake is the lower station of the La Flégère cable car at an altitude of 1100 meters. You can get here by taxi or train (get off at Les Praz-des-Chamonix). There are basically three ways to go up. Most people opt for the gondola to Refuge de la Flégère and start hiking from there. You could take a chairlift further up (the Index lift) so the hike doesn’t have any climbing anymore. From the top of this lift it’s a fairly flat hike of 3 km to Lac Blanc. Purists may consider gondolas cheating and hike from Les Praz all the way to the lake. Whatever your style, the epic views remain the same.

Yes, you can get to Lac Blanc on foot as it is part of the Tour du Mont Blanc route. Thanks to the gondolas and chairlifts it’s easier than you might think after a first glance at the map. The most interesting hiking is higher up and you save quite some time by taking the gondola to La Flégère. There’s a vast network of trails that cross various nature reserves like Aiguilles Rouges, Passy and Vallon de Bérard. At Bookatrekking.com we plotted a great trek that focuses on the great views towards Mont Blanc and the many peaks around it. Lac Blanc is the absolute highlight of the trek.

Chamonix is the outdoor capital of Europe and you notice this the moment you enter town. Everybody looks like they’re on their way to some kind of adventure, whether it’s hiking, biking or mountaineering. Outdoor enthusiasts can keep themselves busy on the trails, glaciers, MTB routes and even rivers for an entire summer. What if you are not really into adventure sports? Well, there are other ways to enjoy the mountains around Chamonix. There’s a big network of gondolas taking you to spectacular places without having to raise the heartbeat for a second. You can take the cable car to one of Mont Blanc’s most famous peaks, Aiguille du Midi at a whopping 3842 meters! It’s as close as most will get to the summit of Mont Blanc. Some experiences are more implicit, like enjoying the local Savoyan cuisine in one of the great restaurants in town. Tartiflette, Fondu Savoyarde or Gratin de Crozets anyone? If you’re into mountains, Chamonix will sort you out.