Lac Blanc, Chamonix: Your Guide To The Easiest Lac Blanc Hike Route

30 Apr - Written By Aussies in the Wild

There’s no denying that the stunning Lac Blanc hike is one of the most popular day hikes in the Chamonix Valley, and for good reason. Not only does it boast breathtaking scenery of the magnificent mountain lake, but the remote yet easily accessible hiking trail to Lac Blanc allows people of all ages and fitness levels to experience some of the most spectacular panoramic views over the Mont Blanc mountain range in the French Alps.

The Easiest Hiking Route to Lac Blanc

Hiking Route to Lac Blanc Whilst there are several hiking options available, the easiest and quickest route to Lac Blanc is to start in the village of Les Praz de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc and take the scenic La Flégère Gondola ride and L’Index chairlift to the start of the trailhead, where it takes between 2-3 hours to hike out and back from Lac Blanc.

In this post, we discuss everything you need to know to complete the spectacular yet manageable Lac Blanc hike route from La Flégère and have an adventure of a lifetime!

We will cover:

1. Lac Blanc Hike from Flégère: Easiest Route Details

Lac Blanc Hike Route Overview

What to bring with you:

Lac Blanc Hike Map & Directions Overview

Getting to Les Praz from Chamonix Town Centre

If you have booked a trip to Chamonix Valley, then you are already killing it at life because this is hands down the most stunning travel destination we traveled to in France, and maybe even all of Europe. Yep, we know that’s a BIG statement to make, and soon you’ll discover why.

But first, let’s cover a few logistics so you can literally get there ASAP to see for yourself.

There are 4 ways to travel from Chamonix town center to Les Praz to begin your Lac Blanc hike.

1. By Car or Taxi

The quickest way to get from Chamonix resort town to Les Praz is by car, which takes only a couple of minutes. You can take a taxi which costs $12-15 or if able to, drive your own car. If you are driving, here are a couple of parking considerations in Chamonix resort town and at Les Praz.

Chamonix Resort Town Free Parking

If you are staying in the Chamonix resort town, many hotels include parking, but some do come at an additional cost. We couldn’t justify an additional 20 euros per night for our hotel parking and found two free 24-hour parking stations only a short walk, located just outside the village.

Les Praz de Chamonix Free Parking

If you are traveling by car to Les Praz, be mindful of the crowds and busy parking stations. Being such a popular hiking town, unless you plan on an early start, you will likely struggle to find a car spot with ease. Here are a couple of options to consider when planning your trip:

Parking La Flégère

Located at the start of the lower Flégère gondola station, La Flégère parking station is free of charge all year round and by far the most convenient option. So it should come as no surprise the car park is typically full by 8 am.

Unfortunately, we arrived at 10 am and learned the hard way. But don’t worry, our pain might just lead to your gain as we had to discover a couple of other free parking options nearby.

Alternative Free Parking Lots

Parking Paradis Des Praz

Golfers share this car park so it can also fill up relatively quickly.

Secret parking lot we found

After some struggle trying to find a car park, we found this parking lot, which was only a 5-minute walk to La Flégère lower gondola station.

TIP: Save our google maps with all of the Chamonix to Les Praz transport locations saved for your convenience!

If you are not traveling by car or simply don’t want the hassle of finding a car spot, the good news is there are alternative transport options to get to Flégère, Les Praz, which we’ll cover in detail now.

2. By Train

Traveling from Chamonix to Les Praz via train is another popular choice for travelers due to its convenience factor. With trains departing hourly, and a train journey time of a mere 4 minutes, the train service from Chamonix Mont Blanc station is arguably the best way to get to Les Praz-de-Chamonix, but is also the most expensive of all travel options, with tickets ranging between $14-26.

TIP: Weekend and holiday schedules can vary so it’s best to check the Chamonix Mont Blanc to Les Praz train timetable in advance to plan your trip and book your tickets.

3. By Bus

For all you budget-savvy travelers out there, this option will definitely be the most appealing to you.

The cheapest way to get to Les Praz-de-Chamonix is by direct bus which costs only $2 and takes approximately 7 minutes. Departing from Chamonix Mont Blanc Sud station and arriving at Chamonix Mont Blanc Les Praz Flégère, the journey is cheap, quick, and easy - I mean, what more could you want?

TIP: View the Chamonix Mont Blanc to Les Praz bus timetable and book your tickets online here

4. By Foot

If you’re about to embark on a hike to Lac Blanc, additional walking may seem like the less appealing option. However, if you are needing to up your daily step count or want to save some extra dollars, walking by foot is still very much another feasible option to get to Les Praz.

The 2.5km one-way journey from Chamonix to Les Praz will take approximately 30 minutes to walk.

Keep in mind that you can always take the train or bus on the return trip if you’re feeling pretty exhausted! And if not, be sure to reward yourself with a nice, cold beer when you do return, because you deserve it, you high achiever you!

2. Flégère to Lac Blanc Hike Guide

Step 1: Getting to the Lac Blanc Trail Head from La Flégère

La Flégère Gondola to La Flégère Mid-Station

Starting from the village of Les Praz, the Flégère gondola flies over the Chamonix golf course and takes you to the Flégère mid-station, elevated at 1877m. From here, you have the option to begin your hiking journey to reach L’Index upper station by foot, which should take about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

We naively took this option as we gave our athletic abilities more credit than credit was due. The rocky, zig-zag climb has an adventurous feel, but we will warn you - it is steep and at times challenging, winding in and out of rocks. There was a lot of huffing and puffing but ultimately the views and natural wildlife we encountered outweighed the short-term pain.

So if time and fitness are on your side, and you have decent ankle-supportive shoes, you may choose to extend your hike and reach the start of the Lac Blanc hike trail from here.

If you are up for the challenge, you can hike 1 hour from Flégère mid-station to reach L’Index and begin the Lac Blanc trail.

L’Index Chairlift from La Flégère Mid-Station to the Upper Station

If you are short on time or wish to proceed with the least strenuous route, the easiest way to access Lac Blanc is to take the L’Index chairlift from Flégère mid-station to the upper station, which takes several minutes. From here, you will begin a 1-hour hike out to the lake.

Not only is this option the easiest route as it eliminates a huge amount of climbing and time involved to reach the lake (you are welcome), but the L’Index chairlift offers some of the most spectacular views of the Mont Blanc Massif, particularly on the ride back down. So even if you are not an avid hiker, the chairlift ride alone will be enough to make your jaw drop.

Flégère to Lac Blanc Tickets, Rate & 2023 Timetables

Purchasing Your Tickets

You have the option to purchase your tickets on the day of your hike at the lower La Flégère gondola station. Alternatively, you can skip the lines and take advantage of cheaper online pricing by purchasing your Lac Blanc e-tickets at least 3 days before you plan to use them.

• E-Ticket Flégère (Middle Station): Les Praz > Flégère, prices from €22,00
• E-Ticket L’Index (Upper Station): Les Praz > Index, prices from €35,00

PURCHASE YOUR LAC BLANC E-TICKETS HERE

TIP: When purchasing your tickets, we suggest double-checking that your planned route is accessible at the time or whether another route is recommended based on weather conditions.

You can refer to the Mont Blanc Natural Resort website for weather updates, interact with their live chat function, or check with the lift station staff at La Flégère lower gondola station.

Flégère Ticket Rates & 2023 Timetables

You can view the latest 2023 Flegere to Lac Blanc Timetables & Ticket Rates here.

Step 2: Lac Blanc Hike from L’Index

Once you are at the top of L’Index, you will follow marked signs along the Lac Blanc hiking trail. Expect 1 hour and 10 minutes of walking ahead of you before you reach the stunning Lac Blanc (although it only took us about 45 minutes).

Apart from the initial descent, the Lac Blanc hiking trail from L’Index is rarely flat, with many boulders to navigate and step over. I (Loz) found my bottom on the ground more times than my feet. Let’s blame the distracting panoramic view of Mont Blanc Massif for my clumsiness. However, if you are generally coordinated and careful, you shouldn’t have a problem!

At certain points along the trail, you will find metal steps and railings to assist with the more challenging sections. Despite the trail consisting of mostly uphill or downhill paths, fortunately, none of them are too long, making it relatively bearable to reach Lac Blanc from L’Index.

TIP: On the hike out to Lac Blanc, the epic views of Mont Blanc will be behind you. Don’t worry too much about trying to get photos at this point as you will have plenty of photo opportunities on the return hike.

Step 3. Lac Blanc & Return Trip

Once you reach the stunning Lake, you’ll soon understand why the Lac Blanc hike is a hugely popular day hike in Chamonix in the summer months. The crowds significantly increase at this point, so the earlier you reach the lake the better!

If you’re lucky to have perfect weather conditions (clear skies and no wind), you’ll be able to see the picture-perfect reflection of Mont Blanc off the Lake. Although we had sunny skies, there was too much wind for the reflection to emerge. Nonetheless, we were still blown away by the natural beauty.

At Lac Blanc, you will find a lower and upper section of the lake. If you still have the energy, you can take a short walk to the upper lake to escape the crowds and enjoy the spectacular views over the lower lake and Mont Blanc Massif.

Alternatively, you can take a short walk around the lower lake and take rest on one of the large boulders to photograph the lake and have a snack, which is exactly what we did.

If you are in need of food or the bathrooms, not to worry! There are two restaurants at the lake so you can relax and recharge before embarking on the descent back to L’Index.

Lac Blanc Return Hike

The return hike from Lac Blanc to the lift stations is mostly downhill and at times quite a steep climb down high, rocky alpine.

Whilst it requires some concentration not to slip, this section of the Lac Blanc hike was notably my favourite part of the hike as you are faced with the spectacular view of Mont Blanc!

Now is your time to really take in the beauty that surrounds you and snap the ultimate photographs!

After about 1 hour of walking, following the marked signs on your way down, you’ll return to L’Index upper station or further along, Flégère mid-station to take in the epic views on the ride down!

3. Frequently Asked Questions