Tour du Mont Blanc Day 1: Gondolas, Glacial Lakes, and a Grand Beginning

/ La Tour Argentiere Les Praz/

Tour du Mont Blanc Day 1: Gondolas, Glacial Lakes, and a Grand Beginning

Our clockwise Tour du Mont Blanc adventure began today, Saturday, July 12th, and what a start it was! The day was filled with anticipation, breathtaking landscapes, and the satisfying ache of a day well-hiked. [3 minute recap]

Morning Rush and a Ride to the Sky

The day started in the charming town of Les Praz, Chamonix. With sandwiches and a well-deserved treat packed from the delightful Aux Petits Gourmands bakery in Chamonix, we set off. A pleasant and very quiet mile-and-a-half walk along the river to the Flégère gondola.

The gondola ride itself was an experience, just opening it was BUSY, skyrocketing us up the mountain and delivering us directly to the heart of the high Alps. Stepping out, the views were instantaneous and absolutely fantastic. Across the valley, the majestic Mont Blanc massif stood proudly, a constant and awe-inspiring companion for the day.

The Balcony Trail, Busy Bees, and a Lakeside Lunch

From the top of the gondola, we began our hike on the famed Grand Balcon Sud trail. The path was incredible, but we were definitely not alone! It's peak season on the TMB, and the trail was buzzing with fellow hikers from all over the world.

Our main objective was the iconic Lac Blanc. While the refuge there was busy, we found our own slice of paradise nearby at the stunning Lacs des Chéserys. With Mont Blanc reflecting in the lake, we sat down to enjoy the sandwiches we'd brought. It was a perfect moment of tranquility amidst the popular route.

An Ibex Encounter and the Long Descent

Just when we thought the views couldn't get any better, the mountains offered another gift. We had a fantastic, up-close moment with a wild ibex, and then another! We felt so lucky to see these magnificent creatures navigating the rocky terrain with such ease.

Then, the descent began. And what a descent it was! Most of our day was spent heading down, descending over 4,200 feet through the Col des Montets and into the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve. Our knees definitely felt it, and we felt a pang of sympathy for the hikers we saw tackling that same steep path in the opposite direction with heavy packs.

A day 2 view of our descent on Day 1 - steep switchbacks as we came down into du Col des Montets

Arriving in Argentière

As we descended into the valley, we were greeted by the most adorable, traditional French-Swiss alpine homes. The charm of Argentière was the perfect welcome after a long day on the trail.

We finally reached our destination for the night, the Hôtel la Couronne. The room was lovely, with beautiful mountain views right from our window. A session in the hotel's hammam and sauna was the perfect remedy for tired muscles, followed by a delicious three-course meal. It was the perfect way to end an unforgettable first day.

Day 1 by the Numbers

Here's a look at the stats from our first day on the trail. A challenging but incredibly rewarding start to our TMB journey!