4 Spots to Admire the Majestic Mont Blanc

You don't need the cardio of a champion to climb to 2,525 metres. From Chamonix, the gondola lift is your guide to Planpraz at 2,000 metres, then take the cable car to reach the terraces with the most cinématic views in the valley. Upon arrival, enjoy a coffee at the refreshment stand to take in the view: the massif in all its splendour, glaciers, and eternal snow. You feel tiny, and hear yourself saying "it isn’t real," and that's perfectly normal.

The world's most famous cable car whisks you up to 3,842 metres from the centre of Chamonix. The 20-minute ride is an exhilarating experience as the breathtaking scenery becomes more impressive with each ascent. At the top, the 360° view of the entire French, Swiss, and Italian Alps is unparalleled. The light is harsher, the air thinner, and those who dare might find themselves breathless as they "Step into the Void": a glass box suspended 1,000 metres above the ground, where you can walk (a quick forced smile for the photo). Feeling dizzy just reading this? Opt instead for "The Tube," a 32-metre-long steel tunnel encircling the central needle of the Aiguille du Midi. And yes, you can absolutely say you've explored the entire mountain range.

Trade the cable cars for one of the vintage carriages of the legendary little red cog railway to Montenvers. The journey from Chamonix, winding between fir trees and scree slopes along the mountainside, is pleasantly idyllic and leads gently to another legend of the valley: the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice), on the northern slope of the Mont Blanc massif. So no, at the terminus at 1913 meters, don't look for the schedule of the next boat departure – yes, we've been asked before… However, you can plan ahead for your tickets for the three on-site experiences. The Ice Cave, a blue and shimmering tunnel carved each year from the glacier. The Glaciarium, a crucial and essential witness to the climate changes of our time. And the Temple of Nature, now a museum, is considered the oldest mountain refuge in the Alps.

Thinking big without gaining altitude is the daily life of the valley's inhabitants who have Mont Blanc as their neighbour. From Chamonix to Vallorcine, passing through Les Praz and Argentière, reflected in shop windows or around a corner, it's everywhere. The giant demands crampons - and strong performance, but it also knows how to simply be admired, hands in pockets and nose to the wind.