Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Travel Forum

We are a family of 6 and will be staying in Les Houches during August. We want to spend most of our time doing day hikes in the Chamonix valley.We will be flying to and from Geneva. We don't know whether we will need a car to begin and end hiking routes and whether we will want a car to travel in the Chamonix area. we do not want to add unecessary expenses but do want to hike a lot and maximise our stay in the area. Please advise. thank you.

I stayed in Les Houches with my son a few years back, and we rented a car at Geneva Airport from Easycar.

That meant we didn't have to try to get around via public transport. However, my impression is that we would have got less out of our trip that way.

public transport is fairly good in the chamonix area.
there are local busses running up and down the valley all day long.you have quite a few good hiking routes that departs from Les Houches so you don´t need to do that much driving.

Probably too late for your trip but there are all kinds of van transfer services to go from Geneva to Chamonix. Search 'geneva airport chamonix transfer' on Google and you will see what I mean. They will take you to Les Houches just as easily as to Chamonix, so don't worry.

Once in town be sure to get a 'Carte d'Hote' from the tourist office or from your hotel or host, which gives you the right to free public transport in the whole valley.

There is a small 'Mulet' bus that travels around Chamonix town center, there is the SNCF train which goes up and down the whole valley from Les Houches to the border of Switzerland and there are buses from Les Houches to Chamonix, and then from Chamonix to Argentiere or various other stops on the way. The buses have a timetable that can be found here: http://www.chamonix.com/page.php?page=13&r=transport_in_the_valley&ling=en -- the main shortcoming is the night service is limited.

If you want to do a day-trip where it seems a car is best there is a Europe Car office in Chamonix center just across from the train station (though I recommend advance booking) and you could hire the car for 1-2 days if you felt you needed to.

The train station in Les Houches is not 100% convenient to the town center, as you have to walk uphill from the station, and Les Houches is a very long stretched out village along a main road -- so you should ask the hotel or chalet where you are staying how far they are from the train to know if this is a convenient option or not. The bus service runs up and down the whole village with several stops in Les Houches.

Hi

Instead of hiring a car you can try using on the airport trasnfer companies based in Chamonix. We have used GAT or www.geneva-airport-transfers.com

Relaible and very reasonably priced. Local transport whilst you are in the valley is very good and you can use the train system or busses to access local walks hike and activites.

Good luck and have fun

jason