If not renting a car, transportation to Chamonix is easy from the Geneva Airport via bus and train or shuttle. There are multitudes of shuttle services, often reservations are available through your hotel. Since we were 5 Folks, it was most cost effective to hire door to door service through chamonix-valley-transfers.com. 

Transportation in Chamonix

If staying at a local hotel, You’ll receive a carte d’ hote (Chamonix Guest Card) that provides FREE bus and train transportation throughout the Chamonix Valley: from Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet to Montroc le Planet. 

Take a look at the Chamonix Bus Schedule here>>

When riding the local bus, no one asked to see our carte d’ hote. We just walked on. 

However, when we took the train to start the Nid d’Aigle Glacier Loop we left from Chamonix to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet. The Ticket Agent asked to see our carte d’ hote AND our ticket for the Tramway du Mont Blanc. This happened again when we took the train from Chamonix to Montroc le Planet. The Ticket Agent asked to see our carte d’ hote. (The Ticket Agent is the person aboard the train that walks through the train as you leave your boarding station.)

With those two pieces in hand, you’re ready to hit the trail! We stopped to grab a sandwich before ascending the valley, but there were multiple options to purchase food at lift stations.

Multi-day Lift Passes

Purchasing a multi-day pass ahead of your tip online is a huge savings, and there are no limits to day use. In your receipt email for a multi-day lift pass, you’ll receive a QR code that allows you to print your card at the stations (Aiguille du Midi was the closest to us).

You will need to reserve a departure time slot for a few key locations: 

• Tramway du Mont Blanc
• Train du Montenvers
• Panoramic Mont-Blanc: Aiguille du Midi Departure time

Here’s the link to purchase lift passes with Mont Blanc Natural Resort>>

Cable Car / Chair Lift / Cog Trains Transportation Schedules for Chamonix

You will need to reserve a departure time slot for a few key locations: 

• Tramway du Mont Blanc
• Train du Montenvers
• Panoramic Mont-Blanc: Aiguille du Midi Departure time

Starting or ending your hike with a Chair Lift is a great way to save the legs. Purchasing a multi-day lift will give you unlimited access and the freedom to move up and down the valley. Take a look at my hike options here>> with details on the lifts used for each.

Lift timetables available here>>

Hint: Time the ending of your hike with the last lift down so you don’t have to hike down to the valley floor. I’ve read horror stories of folks missing the last lift down, and spending hours hiking back in the dark. Because of that, I always packed my headlamp.