What to do · Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Montenvers train, Mer de Glace and ice cave
Information
- From
- €51 per adult
- Duration
- 3 h 30
- Season
- All year except November; gondola and cave from 19 December 2026
- Who it's for
- Everyone; the cave is not wheelchair accessible
- With a dog
- On a lead; take care on the cave's metal staircase
What it is
The Montenvers train is a small red rack railway that leaves Chamonix, next to the SNCF station, and climbs in about 20 minutes to Montenvers station, at 1,913 m. It has run since 1908, in summer and in winter. At the top you have the Mer de Glace in front of you, the massif's great tongue of ice, wedged between the Dru needles and the Grandes Jorasses. It is the other essential excursion in the valley, and the one that copes best with a day of high cloud.
From the arrival station, a gondola goes down towards the ice. At the bottom a few flights of metal stairs remain to reach the ice cave, at 1,760 m, a tunnel dug anew every year inside the glacier. Along the way, signs mark how far the ice reached in different years: it is the most striking part of the visit, because you see with your own eyes how far the glacier has dropped. At the top there is also the Glaciorium, a hall devoted to glaciers and climate change, and the old Refuge du Montenvers hotel, with a restaurant and bar.
Price and season
The Voyage Mer de Glace ticket, which combines the train, the gondola and the cave, costs €51.30 for adults, €43.60 for children aged 5 to 14 and over-65s, and €159 for the family ticket. If you only want the train round trip, to eat at the top or to walk, it is €32.10.
The train closes from 2 November to 4 December 2026 for maintenance, and the gondola and cave reopen on 19 December. In winter the last ascent is at 16:00. Check the website before you go: the hours depend on the season and the weather.
With children and with a dog
It is the easiest excursion in the valley to do with children: they enjoy the train and there is no altitude problem. The cave has stairs and is not accessible by wheelchair or with a pushchair; bring a baby carrier. The Glaciorium can be visited with help. Dogs may enter the cave on a lead, with care on the metal staircase.
Getting there
The train station is at 35 place de la Mer de Glace, behind the SNCF station. If you arrive by car, the free Biollay and Planards car parks are close by.
Tips
- Allow time for the steps Going down to the cave and back up takes a while and, on the way back, you feel it in your legs.
- Eat at the top The restaurant at the Refuge du Montenvers serves lunch with views of the glacier.
- Bring a coat It is cold inside the cave all year round.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Montenvers train cost?
€51.30 for the full ticket with gondola and cave; €32.10 for the train round trip only.
How long does the train take?
About 20 minutes from Chamonix to Montenvers.
Can I take a pushchair?
Not into the cave, which has stairs. Bring a baby carrier.
Is it open in winter?
Yes, except for the closure in November and early December.
With young childrenAs a familyWith teenagersWith a dog
Who runs it
- Compagnie du Mont-BlancVoyage Mer de Glace ticket: train, gondola and ice cave Visit their website
