geneva mont blanc tour

Welcome to the most exciting day tour to Chamonix there is!

Enjoy Geneva's only open-top-bus day excursion to Chamonix, with a guided commentary in 8 languages. The retractable glass roof means you enjoy unobstructed views of the stunning mountains and glaciers of Chamonix as they rise up to the summit of Mont-Blanc.

Highlights:

• Discover more with the sightseeing commentary available in 8 languages in Geneva and throughout your journey to Chamonix
• Enjoy your experience with a retractable glass roof bus allowing unobstructed photos of Mont Blanc and the stunning Chamonix panorama
• Ascend the Aiguille du Midi, Europe's highest cable car, and a man made wonder of the world, for spectacular views of Mont-Blanc.
• Ride the Montenvers rack and pinion railway up to the Mer de Glace glacier and explore the amazing ice caves

From Geneva to Mont Blanc: 3 Best Ways to Get There

Written by Diana Bocco Updated Jan 20, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Chamonix is one of the most appealing winter destinations in Europe , attracting tourists from all over the continent.

Although Chamonix is in France, the closest airport to the town is in Geneva, Switzerland , so it makes sense to arrive there if you're coming from overseas. From Geneva, a number of transportation and tour options can get you to Chamonix.

Chamonix sits right at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and a popular destination for hiking, climbing, skiing, and snowboarding .

No matter why you're heading to the mighty mountain or when, we have a list of the best ways to travel from Geneva to Mont Blanc.

On This Page:

• From Geneva to Mont Blanc by Bus
• From Geneva to Mont Blanc by Tour
• From Geneva to Mont Blanc by Train

1. From Geneva to Mont Blanc by Bus

There are a number of buses making the trip between Geneva and Chamonix, with most of them leaving from the airport. Bus journeys aren't as scenic as train rides, but they're cheaper, and you'll find many direct options .

The journey should take about two hours and 10 minutes but can easily take much longer in bad weather or busy traffic conditions — this is especially true during high season and in winter, as snow and ice can create treacherous road conditions and slow down traffic almost to a halt.

Your fastest option is via long-distance bus company FlixBus , which has direct buses that leave from the Geneva Central bus station and arrive in Chamonix one hour and 25 minutes later. Buses run several times a day, with the first one departing around 8:30am. These are comfortable buses with free Wi-Fi, outlets to charge your electronics, and refreshments on board.

Alpybus runs a high-frequency transfer shuttle between the Geneva Airport and Chamonix — it's more convenient than a large coach, but it will cost you close to what you would pay for a train ride, which is a lot more picturesque. You can save more money if you choose a shared shuttle rather than a private one.

On the positive side, the Alpybus shuttles offer door-to-door service to your hotel or a major dropoff point in Chamonix. In winter, they can also drop you off at popular ski resorts in the area.

During high season, it makes sense to get a ticket in advance, especially if you want to depart at a certain time. If not, you can always buy your ticket directly at the airport, but keep in mind that if the bus you want is sold out, you'll have to wait at least an hour for the next one.

2. From Geneva to Mont Blanc by Tour

If you are interested in a sightseeing visit to the famous mountain, a Chamonix and Mont Blanc Day Trip from Geneva tour is your best choice. This 10-hour tour gives you a chance to experience the best of the area without having to worry about timetables and transportation — plus you'll have access to skip-the-line tickets, so you don't waste time waiting in line to access the most popular sights.

The tour departs at 8:30am from the Geneva Bus Station, where an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional guide will meet you and give you a quick introduction to the area and its natural wonders while you board and get ready to depart.

You will then drive through picturesque Alpine landscapes on your way to the village of Chamonix, a winter sports resort town. After 90 minutes, you'll arrive at the charming resort town, located right at the foot of Mont Blanc.

Once you arrive, you'll have a direct view over the mighty mountain, towering right behind the town and visible from everywhere. Spend the next hour exploring, discovering the foot of the mountain and the surroundings.

Your tour guide will quickly walk you to see the Statue of Balmat and Saussure, two of the first three people to climb Mont Blanc in the 18 th century. Next, you'll stop by the statue of doctor Michel Gabriel Paccard, Mont Blanc's first-ever summiteer.

Next, you'll have the opportunity to join an optional part of the tour and take the Montenvers - Mer de Glace Train . The Montenvers Railway offers one of the most scenic rides in Europe, a mountain cog railway that crosses over viaducts, through rock tunnels, and alongside thick Alpine forests until it reaches Mer de Glace, the largest glacier in France.

Here, you can visit the Grotte de glace (Ice Cave), where a sculpted tunnel takes you right into the heart of the glacier.

Next, you also have the option to ride up the Aiguille du Midi cable car — the world's highest vertical ascent cable car — up the mountain. Once at the top, you can visit the Step into the Void skywalk, where a glass room with a glass floor puts you right over the snow-covered mountains at a vertigo-inducing altitude of 3,842 meters.

At the end of your adventure, the driver will bring you back to Geneva and drop you off at the original departure point.

3. From Geneva to Mont Blanc by Train

Trains offer a very scenic —though rather slow — journey. There is no direct line between the two points , and since you will be traveling through two countries, you'll have to combine two railway networks: the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and the French National Railway Company (SNCF).

Trains depart from the Geneva Cornavin station in the center of town and can take anywhere from two hours and 51 minutes to three hours and 25 minutes , depending on which trains you take and how long the wait is in between.

A more expensive but much more convenient option is the Leman Express commuter rail network, which started operating in late 2019. The train connects Geneva Cornavin station with the town of Saint Gervais-Les-Bains, covering the route in one hour and 45 minutes.

Trains run from very early in the morning, once per hour and cross through the Alpine resorts of Cluses (famous for its watch-making industry) and Combloux (a popular ski resort).

Once at the Saint Gervais-Les-Bains station, switch to the Mont Blanc Express for a 45-minute scenic mountain train journey to Chamonix. Alpine valleys, old stone bridges, and snow-kissed peaks in the background make this a stunning trip.

After arriving at Chamonix, you can take one of the highest cable cars in the world for spectacular views over Mont Blanc, the roof of Europe.

More on Switzerland

• Aargau region
• Basel region
• Bern Region
• Fribourg region
• Geneva region
• Graubünden region
• Jura & Three-Lakes Region
• Lake Geneva region
• Lucerne Region - Lake Lucerne
• Region Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein
• Ticino region
• Valais region
• Zurich region
• Avalanche course
• Bungee jumping
• Carriage rides
• Chocolate factory
• Competition
• Cooking course
• Creative workshop
• Cross country skiing
• Eating with locals
• Escape Game
• Escape Room
• Exhibitions
• Food & Drink
• Ice climbing
• Indoor amusement park
• Lift tickets
• Llama and alpaca trekking
• Monster Scooter
• Mountain bike
• Mountain tour
• Natural attractions
• Night sledding
• Paragliding
• Photo course
• SBB Day Pass
• Scenic flight
• Scenic train
• Ski touring
• Snowboarding
• Snowshoeing
• Stand up paddle
• Summer tobogganing
• Swiss Rail Passes
• Trail running
• Train ticket
• Travel preparation
• Via ferrata
• Virtual Reality Games
• Wakeboarding
• private car tour
• snowboard rental
• virtual travel companion

Travel from international and historic Geneva to idyllic Lake Geneva to Chamonix, at the foot of the massive Mont Blanc. The perfect combination of two neighboring cities in different countries awaits you.

Unfortunately, this offer is not bookable at the moment.

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From Geneva: Bustour Chamonix Mont-Blanc and Geneva incl. mini-train

About this offer.

Mobile ticket accepted

Use your phone or print out the voucher

Immediate booking confirmation

No booking fees

Meeting point

Bus Station Geneva, Place Dorcière, 1201 Geneva

Free cancellation

Full refund in case of cancellation up to 24h before start

8:00 h guided tour from Geneva

Travel in a comfortable bus

Ticket for the mini train in Geneva

City tour with a professional guide in Geneva

Food & drink

Ticket Aiguille du Midi

Ticket Mer de Glace

• Marvel at the massive Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe
• Enjoy free time in Chamonix to explore the mountains and the village
• Discover exciting stories during the guided city tour in Geneva
• Admire Geneva's old town on the pleasant mini train
• Discover sights such as the famous Jet d'eau and the Horloge Fleuri
• Explore the multitude of peace-building organizations based in Geneva

Description

Discover the Alpine town of Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc and the international city of Geneva during this varied bus tour. First, you will travel to Chamonix for 1:30 hours, where your guide will show you the most important landmarks. You then have the whole morning to discover the charm of the village and marvel at the massive Mont Blanc.

In the afternoon, the bus will take you back to Geneva. There you continue with a guided tour of the city's most famous sights. These include the impressive Jet d'eau and the colorful flower clock "Horloge Fleuri". Afterwards, learn all about the history of the city on a tour through the narrow streets of Geneva on a mini train. Your varied excursion ends back at the bus station in Geneva.

Practical information:

• The mini-train is not available in January and February or in bad weather.

Swiss Activities Tip

Make the most of your free time in Chamonix and take the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi. In just 20 minutes, you will reach the gates of the mountain at an altitude of 3842 m. From there, a breathtaking view awaits you with 360-degree panoramic views of the Swiss, French and Italian Alps. Children under the age of 2 are not allowed on the cable car.

Important Information

• Bring: weather-appropriate clothing, good shoes, food and drink
• Bring your passport (you will be crossing the border between Switzerland and France)

Meeting Points

From CHF 153

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Spanish, English, Chinese

This tour takes you from Lucerne to Grindelwald to the "Top of Adventure". There you can expect a walk over a dizzying 40 m long suspension bridge that leads along the cliffs. More details

Sail by boat on the deep blue Lake Lucerne, observe the majestic alpine panorama and float through the Alps by cable car. This guided tour to the Rigi leaves nothing to be desired. More details

Duration: 7 hours

booked 7 times

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Full-Day Guided Tour from Geneva to Chamonix Mont Blanc

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• WiFi on board
• Private transportation
• Bottled water
• Guided visit of Chamonix Mont Blanc, the most beautiful alpine city
• But we will offer you multiple lunch options, of all budgets to make your gastronomic experience in Chamonix unforgettable.
• Place des Nations, Pl. des Nations, 1202 Genève, Switzerland The specific meeting point in the square will be under the BROKEN CHAIR. The Broken Chair is a monumental red wooden sculpture, 12 metres high. I will be wearing a black vest with a Swiss flag on the chest.
• The meeting point is the Place des Nations (Place des Nations). It is also possible to pick up passengers from their accommodation. I will be wearing a black vest with a Swiss flag on the chest.
• Geneva Airport, Route de l'Aeroport 21, Le Grand Saconnex, Geneva 1215 Switzerland
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Place des Nations Or, you can also get picked up See departure details
• 1 Place des Nations Stop: 20 minutes See details Pass by Rochers des Fiz
• 2 Chamonix Stop: 6 hours See details Pass by Aiguille du Midi Le Pas dans le Vide
• You'll return to the starting point

• woyas 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The BEST Geneva Tour What a wonderful time we had with Augusto! From pickup to drop off, we were learning everything we had to know about Geneva. Augusto is personable, knowledgeable, and incredibly thoughtful. Do not miss his tour. Thank you for making our day so special! Read more Written January 26, 2024
• Safari318182 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent Tour Really enjoyed our tour with Augusto! We were picked up at our hotel and had a fantastic day learning about Geneva. Augusto was very knowledgeable and a great tour guide. Highly recommend! Read more Written October 25, 2023
• MCMay40 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful Tour of Geneva Our trip in Europe started with two days in Geneva and we chose to begin with “Geneva, Complete Tour”. Augusto picked us up in front of our hotel, in a clean, comfortable car for our private tour. I am limited to how much I can walk, so Augusto tailored the tour. We saw all the amazing sights of the city and he shared history, religion, and geology insights -- with Augusto often making the conversation show how much we knew about the subjects - but didn’t realize. Nice to have such an insightful guide who made conversations so comfortable. Around every corner, every turn there were experiences! It’s easy to see he loves what he does as he shares his city with others. We walked in old town and by late morning we were ready for lunch. Augusto made us a reservation at the oldest restaurant in old town - wonderful! Then we leisurely walked back to our hotel. Our first day in Europe (Geneva) could not have been better. Thanks Augusto! Read more Written October 15, 2023
• Ash K 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Don’t miss this tour- put it on your “must do” list. Augusto’s your was a huge hit with my family including my teenager. He took our family as tourists and left us as friends- packing all the detailed knowledge about Geneva; the tour was easy pace stroll, visiting old monuments, churches and scenic overlooks. We learned about cultural and historical information through Augusta’s excellent memory and understanding of the area. Augusto is kind, funny and a great storyteller. This tour is a must do for anyone coming to Geneva for the first time. Read more Written July 24, 2023
• Elodie B 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Brilliant. Excellent! Augusto and his knowledge of Geneva definitely deserves a 5 stars. Great encounter and tour experience. Thanks a lot. Read more Written July 23, 2023
• 877jimp 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Go out of your way for this tour with Augusto Augusto was wonderful and truly loves what he does. He has encyclopedic knowledge of the history and culture of Geneva, Switzerland, and most of Europe as well. I was fortunate enough to be the only person for this tour, and he personalized the entire tour for me with style and grace. Five star reviews are very rare and Augusto has them straight across the board! Keep the good work, my friend. My best, Dr. Jim Read more Written June 3, 2023
• Guide41761556262 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An outstanding guide Augusto Gortaire is an outstanding guide. He is very pleasant, humble, and fluent in at least English, Spanish, and French . My wife and I spent with him memorable long hours consisting of a well crafted , in-depth Geneva tour. Augusto is a scholar of Geneva’s history; immeresed in the social,economic and educational foundations , especially regarding the complex religious aspects of the city, all without being judgemental, He has very high IQ and EQ , which in turn fits visitors from many backgrounds. Next visit to Geneva - Augusto will be our guide again!!! Read more Written May 24, 2023
• Randeeza 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Very informative tour It was small group of four . Augesto was very friendly. He gave very important details about GENEVE . He was helpful cooperative. Answers all questions with smile . I really recommend this trip for any one who visits Geneva Read more Written April 28, 2023
• Craig L 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent 🇨🇭Augusto was magnificent! Took us to places and areas we would possibly otherwise miss and explained sites and destinations with deeper knowledge, had we gone at it on our own. Read more Written April 4, 2023
• ShelleyNJ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful Semi-Private Tour I had one day to spend in Geneva and booked this tour as it seemed to cover a lot of ground with a semi-private format. This totally exceeded my expectations! Augusto was a wonderful guide and provided just the right balance of education and entertainment. Geneva has such a rich history and he brought it all to life, along with seeing views and famous sites. Highly recommended! Read more Written April 3, 2023
• L346IBmarcb 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Experience Augusto was very friendly and interested in creating a great experience for us. Much of the tour was walking through "Old Town" and Augusto filled every moment with interwoven stories of how various locations and monuments fit into Geneva's history. He also made sure to give us overall landmarks from which to navigate on our own and made suggestions about other sites we could visit, shopping, restaurants, etc. Read more Written March 14, 2023
• Arinolaab 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best experience in Geneva My original plan was to Ski in Geneva but due to some unforeseen reasons I couldn’t and I opted for a tour. I would say the tour was much more than I expected. Augusto was extremely pleasant and took me around Geneva in the comfort of his car. He knew so much about the history Geneva and explained in clear details. He took a lot of pictures and videos for me upon request. I only spent 2 nights in Geneva and I would say I definitely had fun and I know a lot about Geneva now. I had good conversations with Augusto and I learnt a-lot from him. I learnt about UN, WHO and other international bodies. The tour was value adding and when I left Geneva I felt fulfilled. I highly recommend him!!! Read more Written March 6, 2023
• charlier003 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles AMAZING Augusto was amazing! This was the best tour I have ever had! Not only brilliant, but kind and so sweet to my 9 year old daughter - it was just me and her. I could not recommend this with him more. I could not say enough kind words. BOOK BOOK BOOK! Read more Written January 18, 2023
• Sotiri G 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Absolutely worth it! Brilliant experience. I went with my sister and we found the that Augusto gave us a in-depth understanding of the history of Geneva. Would thoroughly recommend! Read more Written December 4, 2022
• Nitish P 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing tour of Geneva! Augusto and the tour was amazing. His passion for the city, it's history and his genuine desire to connect and form meaningful relationships really came through. I highly recommend his tour. Read more Written October 20, 2022

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