Tourism office
by Martinewezel
The office doesn't only provides brochures and information about the several "must do" activities, but also they organize (English)guided day excursions by touring bus to Switzerland and Italy.
For instance to Aosta and the Lago Maggiore.
Also for a free map of the city, this is the place to go.
Location of the office: next to the church, at the "Place du Triangle de l'Amitié, 85"
Get most from Mont Blanc with Chamonix Experience
by sno_man
These guys do it all - from off piste & heli ski & snowboard to full on high altitude mountaineering - they are professionals of long and high standing.
The owner/founder is famous Himalaya veteran Russell Brice - spending every summer high on Everest with clients, he lives and works the rest of the year in Chamonix (well, Argentiere actually). If you want to ski, board or climb with the best, look no further.
They also have a very strong relationship with the Mont Blanc Helico - if anyone can squeaze you a booking when everyone's trying to fly into off-piste powder heaven, it's Chamonix Experience If you don't have all the gear, they can rent or sell it to you. Basics in winter include an avalanche transceiver (get new batteries!) and a probe and shovel but ask for a kit list for every trip - even if you know what you're doing - the Chaine de Mont Blanc is a seriously dangerous place if you're ill prepared!
Walk to Lac Blanc
by mplessers
On a clear day you have a superb view on the opposite side of the valley (including Mt Blanc). But the walk from telecabine "La flegere" to Lac Blanc is very poppular and (over)crowded on holidays and weekends.
We made an alternative walk, but I think it was even better nad less crowded then the normal path:
- Take the telecabine al the way to the top (Index)
- Walk down to Lac Blanc (only 100m drop) but on rough terrain (good shoes required)
- Have a break and look around, then continue to XXX lakes, and when arriving on the Tour Mt Blanc trail, walk to "La Flegere" and take the telecabine down.
Estimated time : 4-5 hours, medium walk due to difficult terrain near Index.
Provençal style food in the Alps
by firechick about Auberge du Manoir
If you are searching for more traditionally 'French' food (or what Americans normally think of as French food) then the Auberge will suit you. You will find Savoyarde cheese on the menu, but you will also find many other dishes that you can't find at the tourist restaurants in town, which serve mainly Alps style fondus, raclette and other heavy dishes. The food at the Auberge is heavily influenced from the south of the country - lighter and more varied in choices than many places in town, and creatively presented.
The Auberge fills up fast as it's small - I am not sure why it's only a 2 star hotel (it's really pretty). Anyhow, to me it felt like eating in a 4 star restaurant. I highly recommended eating here even if you don't stay here.
The set menus are really good value for what you pay (otherwise take the 'price per person' listing up a notch for items off the set menus). The food here is awsome - everything I had and everything which the people we were with had was excellent. The wait staff here is also super attentive and quick to respond to your requests.
Reservations recommended in high season (i.e. any time in winter or summer!).
Bosson Glacier
by robertgaz
The Bosson Glacier is the largest ice fall in Europe and is it incredibly steep and gloriously white. Apparently it is now retreating rapidly.
It was the site of a horrific Air India plane crash on the summit of Mont Blanc in the 1950's. One of the plane wheels took more than 20 years to travel to the bottom of the glacier and it is now on view to the public.