Mer de Glace

A trip to the heart of the French Alps: the Montenvers - Mer de Glace railway is an unmissable experience for those visiting Chamonix. The Montenvers rack railway, which connects Chamonix to the Mer de Glace glacier, is one of the most iconic attractions in the French Alps. This historic red train, active since 1908, offers a suggestive journey of about 20 minutes along a route of 5.1 km, climbing up to 1,913 meters above sea level. During this visit you will find: • Breathtaking views: During the climb, you can admire spectacular views of the Mont Blanc massif, the Aiguilles de Chamonix, Les Drus and the Grandes Jorasses. The landscape is a real natural spectacle, especially on clear days B. • The Mer de Glace glacier: Once you arrive in Montenvers, you can see the largest glacier in France, about 7 km long. It is a fascinating place, although in recent years it has suffered a significant shrinkage due to climate change. • On-site attractions: In addition to the view of the glacier, you can visit the Ice Cave, carved every year in the heart of the Mer de Glace, and the Glaciorium, an interactive museum dedicated to glaciology and the history of the glacier. • Accessibility and comfort: The train is suitable for all ages and perfect for families. The departure station is located in the center of Chamonix, easily accessible on foot or by public transport. Useful tips: • Duration of the visit: Consider at least 2-3 hours to fully enjoy the experience, including a visit to the cave and the museum. • Clothing: Even in summer, bring a jacket with you: the altitude and proximity to the glacier make the air fresh. • Seasonality: The train is operational all year round, but weather conditions can affect access to some attractions such as the cave. It is a perfect combination of history, nature and adventure, capable of enchanting young and old. If you love the mountains, photography or simply want to experience a piece of alpine history, this train trip is an absolute must.

To the glacier viewpoint by train then by gondola to the glacier. Also suitable for smaller children. The glacier melts quickly and the experience in the glacier is special. 💜The speed of the ice melting is shown in the video. Buy ticket on internet⭐️

Beautiful and wonderful. Please protect our glaciers, it’s so sad to see they are melting so fast. They are the resources that give us fresh water. And it’s the nature that we have to protect in every aspect. Loved to be there and I am sure that you will enjoy too.

Such a beautiful place, an interesting and also sad fact is that the height of the glacier is marked starting from the 70's and it is clearly visible how fast it is melting and sliding down the valley at the same time. It's a sight that's worth to visit at least once in a lifetime.

Magnificent and impressive glacier located in the French Alps. The atmosphere showcases the grandeur and power of nature, making a trip to Mer de Glace a must see when in the area.

The amount of glacier knowledge you will gain on this visit and the beauty you will see is what makes this worth it. Just don’t think about all the stairs and enjoy the journey.

Didn’t find it very exciting or educational. However in a clear day it would be well worth the views. I think my favourite part was the gondolas. Probably perfect for families and kids as it’s more safe than the winter sports

Bittersweet experience. I went up to the top station of the rack railway thinking I would enjoy the scenery and the views from the high ground above Chamonix and the valley, and it was certainly worth it. However, I was very negatively surprised that tunnels are continually being made into the glacier to allow tourists access. I am surprised that in the current context of rising temperatures and lack of snowfall, no measures are being taken to mitigate the disappearance of the glacier, but that on the contrary, they are constantly drilling holes in it in order to continue charging tourists for entry. It is very sad that economic exploitation prevails over the conservation of the site.

Beautiful ice caves after taking a cog train up the mountain. It's a little bit of a walk to go down to the ice caves, but totally accessible as there are metal stairs and railings. The ice caves are neat, with different areas great for taking pictures such as ice chairs, bars, and such. A fun area to explore for a few hours.

Beautiful place we took the Montenvers train from Chamonix and reached the mer de Glace only to know that they closed early due to olympic light activities. The views at the top were gorgeous!! The 20-minute train ride was one of the beautiful rides !!

The Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) is the largest glacier in France, 7km long and 200m deep and is one of the biggest attractions in the Chamonix Valley. To access the Mer de Glace and the Ice Cave in Chamonix, take the train of the Montenvers from Chamonix town center (Gare du Montenvers). The 20 minute train ride is relaxing, but once you reach the top, you'll have to take a cable car down & continue to climb down about 400 steps to see the ice cave.

Visited on a Wednesday, early January 2023. Cute little red train, with big windows takes you to the top. From there you take a gondola down to the bottom, from there walk to glacier. Extremely beautiful.

A must see. Bring water and a jacket for inside the cave. Squeeze this into your multi-pass. This 1,913m glacier will have your jaw dropping from this unique sites. Allow for enough time to enjoy this beautiful place.