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Vue from Aiguille du Midi
Mer de Glace, Chamonix (by rain)
Aiguille du Midi
Cog wheel train going to Mer de Glace
I have been looking into travel from Geneva to Chamonix via Martigny. I read that the train trip is very scenic but I am having trouble getting a costing on the sbb site.
I have visitors coming from Australia in December and this sounded like a good idea. Does anyone know the price please? Thank you
the two journeys are run by two different companies if i remember right and that is probaply why you have trouble finding out the price.
if i remember right then i think i paid around 50 swiss franc for the journey last year and yes, it´s a very scenic ride and worth all the money.
I didn't get other details like when you want to go. This is important as some sites can accept bookings only from 3-6 months in advance but there is a general site I think- I saw it while googling muyself as we plan are going on 2 cruises to Europe next yr in April & Mays this site is raileurope.com or something like that, just google train travel in europe & go from there, cheers!
A train ride from Geneva to Chamonix via Martigny involves three railway companies. From Geneva to Martigny you travel on an SBB train. From Martigny to Vallorcine you take a train run by the "Martigny Chatelard, now incorporated in the "Transport Martigny er Region" (TMR) . From Vallorcine to Chamonix it's the SNCF that runs the trains.
Normally the SBB site has no problem pricing trips that involve several companies. Otherwhise their site wouldn't be that usefull, as there are over 50 railway companies and a few hundred other public transport agencies in Switzerland. The SBB site can give your prices to stations on the TMR network, ans quotes 38,- for Geneve - Vallorcine in second class. But the prices for the SNCF part of this network are not in the SBB's database.
You can look them up on the SNCF site however, and they quote euro 7,90 for second class. So it appears that the 50, CHF someone else quoted would be correct. The ticket agent at the SBB station in Geneva will be able to sell you a ticket for the whole trip.
May I add that the train times betweeen Martigny and Chamonix can be be found in downloadable and printable form here
http://www.ter-sncf.com/rhone_alpes/carte_horaires/index.asp - use the interactive map or the drop down Lsite des Fiches Horaires (it's near the bottom) to find the right page.
The winter timetable will be published in Mid-September.
The Swiss and French trains do actually connect with each other at the border in Vallorcine, so no long waits.
I would just like to add to the suggestions here that you can write to the SBB on their 'contact us' to get the pricing sent to you on e-mail. The SNCF will definitely not have their December fares up yet. It is easy to just buy the ticket at the train station as no reserved seating is on these trains and they are not known for being crowded. I personally don't use 3rd party sites to buy train tickets because normally they add on some type of service fee to make their money ...
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"
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!
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.
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!).
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.
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