The 5 Best Chamonix Day Trips From Geneva [2024 Reviews]

While Geneva is undoubtedly a beautiful city with tons of things to do, if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the metropolis for a day, I have just the thing.

A day trip to Chamonix nicely balances Alpine adventure with serene landscapes, and as it’s just a short drive from the city, there’s no reason not to! Whether you’re looking for thrilling outdoor activities or something more relaxing, you’ll find it all right here.

While you could take a bus or drive yourself out there, the best way to go about seeing this magical place is by taking one of the top Chamonix day trips from Geneva! I’ve detailed them all right here, so let’s get started!

Best Day Trips To Chamonix From Geneva

Chamonix and Mont Blanc Day Trip from GenevaChamonix Mont-Blanc Full Day Guided TourChamonix and Mont Blanc Private Day Trip from Geneva
editors choice
Location:Geneva Bus Station, 1201 GenevaRue des Alpes 1, 1201 GenèveHotel pickup and drop-off included
Start:8:30 AM8:30 AM8:30 AM
Duration:10 hours8 to 9 hours9 hours
Includes:Air-conditioned vehicle, Cable car ride to summit of Aiguille du Midi (if option selected), Train ride to Montenvers (if option selected, caves included but the opening is NOT guaranteed)Air-conditioned vehicle, Cable car (if full option selected), Mountain train (if option full selected)All taxes, fees and handling charges, Fuel surcharge, Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Tickets to Aiguille du Midi and Montenvers included

Tour Information & Booking

Tour Information & Booking

Tour Information & Booking


Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Chamonix Day Trips From Geneva Tours For 2024

  1. Chamonix and Mont Blanc Day Trip from Geneva
  2. Chamonix Mont-Blanc Full Day Guided Tour
  3. Chamonix and Mont Blanc Private Day Trip from Geneva
  4. Chamonix and Mont-Blanc Independent Day Trip from Geneva
  5. Chamonix and Mont Blanc Guided Day Trip from Geneva

Chamonix Day Trips from Geneva Tour Reviews

1. Chamonix and Mont Blanc Day Trip from Geneva

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 10 hours
  • Departure: Geneva Bus Station, 1201 Geneva
  • Departure Time: 8:30 AM
  • Includes: Air-conditioned vehicle, Cable car ride to summit of Aiguille du Midi (if option selected), Train ride to Montenvers (if option selected, caves included but the opening is NOT guaranteed), Skip the line tickets, Guide if more than 10 people or driver guide for small groups

If you’re on the hunt for a completely comprehensive Chamonix experience, look no further than this first tour. The Chamonix and Mont Blanc Day Trip from Geneva is a fantastic sightseeing excursion that’ll immerse you in the heart of the French Alps with a fantastic guide to lead the way!

If you’d like to see all of Chamonix’s most iconic sites in one, smoothly-organized day, this should be at the top of your list. Meet up with your guide and the rest of your group at the Geneva Bus Station located in the center of the city, where you’ll board a comfortable, climate-controlled vehicle (usually a coach).

Set off on a scenic drive from Geneva while you kick back and relax, enjoying the views from the big windows, as well as plenty of room to stretch out. As you drive along, your guide will fill you in with some historical, cultural, and geological information of the surrounding area and of Chamonix, so you have a bit of background before arriving.

The itinerary will change a bit depending on the time of year you’re traveling, though you can expect stunning natural landscapes all year round. Upon arrival, you’ll have time for a guided tour in the charming Alpine village of Chamonix, where you’re literally sitting right at the foot of the towering Mont Blanc!

I recommend adding on the option to take the Aiguille du Midi cable car, which (again, depending on weather conditions) gives you some of the best views of the Alps – sometimes even views of the iconic Matterhorn!

If you aren’t scared of heights or simply want to conquer your fears, try the “Step Into the Void” glass box, which was thrilling but a ton of fun to partake in! We took plenty of photos before heading to the Ice Sea by mountain train until the lovely Montenvers station for incredible panoramic vistas.

If you’d like, you can also opt for the little gondola ride and a brief hike to the Ice Caves!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience


2. Chamonix Mont-Blanc Full Day Guided Tour

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 8 to 9 hours
  • Departure: Rue des Alpes 1, 1201 Genève
  • Departure Time: 8:30 AM
  • Includes: Air-conditioned vehicle, Cable car (if full option selected), Mountain train (if option full selected)

While there are plenty of parallels between the first tour on this guide and the Chamonix Mont-Blanc Full Day Guided Tour, this one is just a bit more condensed. If you’re already in Geneva, do yourself a favor and get out into the French Alps for a completely Alpine adventure!

This tour is the perfect respite from city life, with a well-designed curation of experiences and activities with pristine organization from a knowledgeable guide.

Lasting anywhere from 8 to 9 hours, it starts off at 8:30 am so you’ll be back in time for dinner while still taking advantage of a full day out into these postcard-esque landscapes.

In fact, I’d say right from the get-go, the journey out to Chamonix was incredibly serene, and I admittedly ended up falling asleep for a portion of the short journey! With big windows and padded seats, I would have been totally fine if the trip out there was even longer!

After our approximately 1-hour ride out there, we finally arrived in the stunning village of Chamonix, located right at the foot of the majestic Mont Blanc! We wasted no time once we were there, hopping on the Aiguille du Midi cable car to experience some of the most breathtaking views the Alps have to offer!

If weather conditions are on your side, you may even be able to catch sight of the Matterhorn, but rest assured, you’re going to have a great time, regardless.

After the ride, we took some time to leisurely stroll around Chamonix – I recommend checking out the local shops or grabbing some delicious French food while you’re there (coffee is also fantastic). After a couple of hours, you’ll meet back up with your guide and the rest of your group and head to the train station to do some more sightseeing.

The visit wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Mer de Glace glacier – the biggest in the whole country – by cogwheel train, before seeing the ice caves!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience


3. Chamonix and Mont Blanc Private Day Trip from Geneva

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 9 hours
  • Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
  • Departure Time: 8:30 AM
  • Includes: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Fuel surcharge, Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Tickets to Aiguille du Midi and Montenvers included

I know there are some people out there who are quite against the idea of going on tours, as they don’t want to get locked into something they aren’t interested in, or don’t want to go with people they don’t know.

Both of those reasons are totally valid, which is why private tours like the Chamonix and Mont Blanc Private Day Trip from Geneva is a great option for many people. You don’t have to worry about staying too long or too briefly at each site, nor will you be traveling with anyone you don’t know (aside from your guide).

Seeing as this is a fully customizable tour, your tour guide will actually come to your hotel to pick you and your party up as opposed to you congregating at a meet-up point.

Your guide doubles as your private driver for the day, and will pick you up in a comfortable car much easier to travel around in than a coach. I noticed that parking and navigating was much faster, allowing for more time to actually sightsee over spending it on the logistics of things.

Just like with the previous tour, upon arrival we went with our guide (it was just me and 3 other people in my party) and all went in the Aiguille du Midi Cable Car that lifted us all the way to the top of the imposing Mont-Blanc!

The 360 views you’ll take in are only accessible by foot, aside from the cable car – which is actually the highest in all of Europe! After taking photos and videos to our hearts’ content, we headed back down for a charming, delicious lunch before having free time to explore the village as we saw fit.

We fueled up on a hearty lunch and then got ready to head into the ice caves, lit up by a cool, ethereal blue, adding to its surreal beauty and mystery. Lastly, take the Montenvers cogwheel train up the Chamonix Valley for a calming ride that makes it feel like you’re traveling back in time.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience


4. Chamonix and Mont-Blanc Independent Day Trip from Geneva

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 6 to 10 hours
  • Departure: Geneva Bus Station, 1201 Geneva
  • Departure Time: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:45 PM
  • Includes: Air-conditioned vehicle, Aiguille du Midi cable car ride (if option selected), Mer de Glace train ride (if option selected), Skip the line ticket

Next up, is a tour quite different from any of the others I’ve covered in this guide, seeing as it’s completely independent. You won’t have a guide taking you around to each activity, though you do have a bus driver and a guide during certain portions of it.

If you’re on a tight budget but still want the full “Chamonix” experience, make sure to check out the Chamonix and Mont-Blanc Independent Day Trip from Geneva tour.

This tour varies quite a bit, as it’s up to you which activities you’d like to add to your itinerary. Choose from either a half-day or whole-day tour, with various start times to make it easier to fit into your schedule.

Regardless of the option you select, you’ll meet at the Geneva Bus Station where you’ll board your vehicle and set off on a 1-hour ride to Chamonix!

We decided on the full-day tour to make the most of our time there, and I have to say, if you’re looking to save some money this really is the biggest bang for your buck. Take some time to venture around the actual village of Chamonix on your own, which feels like something between

The Sound of Music and some kind of medieval fairytale. If you did select the full-day tour, you’ll then climb up the summit of Aiguille du Midi in a cable car with breathtaking 360 views of the Alps and glaciers around you!

Speaking of glaciers, you’ll also get to ride the old train up to the famous Mer de Glace glacier, which felt like we’d entered another planet. This tour was a wonderful balance of different activities and forms of transportation, making it feel like we’d gone back to another era.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience


5. Chamonix and Mont Blanc Guided Day Trip from Geneva

Tour Highlights:

  • Duration: 8 to 11 hours
  • Departure: Pl. Dorcière, 1201 Genève
  • Departure Time: 8:00 AM
  • Includes: Live commentary on board, Local guide, Coach round trip, Cable car ticket to Aiguille du Midi (depending on option), Mountain train to the glacier

Last but certainly not least, is the Chamonix and Mont Blanc Guided Day Trip from Geneva, which lasts anywhere from 8 to 11 hours. If you’re looking for a day trip that balances thrills with calm beauty, you’re in for a real treat with this one.

This must-do experience does a great job of showing off the Alps, complete with professional local guides who know the area like the back of their hands!

The tour starts off with you meeting your tour guide and the rest of your group at their tour offices, where they’ll have to check your passport as you are crossing the border from Switzerland over to France.

Everyone was super nice and friendly as well as organized, making the check-in process smooth and quick so we could board the bus and head off. Our coach for the day was spacious and comfortable, with padded seats, big windows, and a nice sound system to hear our guide’s commentary as we traveled.

After about an hour of driving we were in Chamonix, where we breathed in the fresh Alpine air and had time to stretch our legs with a guided Chamonix walking tour of the village! Afterward, we had the opportunity to go back to particular points that interested US, as well as enjoy a mouthwatering lunch.

After regaining energy with a delicious meal, we took the cable car up to Aiguille du Midi where you’ll hopefully get to see the Matterhorn!

If you’re feeling particularly daring, you can even try the “Step into the Void” glass box over a huge drop – if you dare! Finally, sit back and soak in the views with the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc railway where you’ll get to see the famous Mer de Glace glacier!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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The Chamonix and Mont Blanc Day Trip from Geneva is our Editors Choice for the best Chamonix day trip from Geneva

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Shayanne DeCastro

Shayanne is a freelance writer, wine snob and marketer based in LA, California. Describing herself as a nomad, she has lived in many different cities including Boise, Idaho and Seattle, Washington as well as Guadalajara, Mexico. She is forever on the move. Being an extremely active person, she loves to snowboard, skateboard, and ski. She enjoys sharing her love for active sports with others through her “how to” sports guides as well as food and wine reviews. Her love for wine and good food shines through every paragraph. While she travels, Shayanne loves to try new restaurants and wineries.  If there is a winery or good restaurant in your town, you will probably meet her one day.
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