Is the Le Brévent Hike One of the Best Hikes in Chamonix?
On our first full day in Chamonix, we opted for a shorter hike as the weather was unfortunately overcast and foggy. Despite knowing that the views would not be perfect, we decided to take the gondola lift up to Planpraz and then follow the steep hike up to the top of Le Brévent, which affords stunning views of the glaciers surrounding Mont Blanc. If only the weather had cooperated, this would have been an absolutely stellar hike and I deeply regret not taking the cable car back up for some photos on a clear day before we left Chamonix. Regardless, if you have three days in Chamonix, visiting the top of Le Brévent is a must as it gives you an incredible appreciation and perspective of not only the entire Chamonix Valley but of the Tour de Mont Blanc itself. On top of Le Brévent, you will delight in panoramic 360-degree views of it all and it will truly blow you away, even in the clouds.
Hiking Le Brévent in Chamonix: What You Need to Know
To reach the start of the hike, you have a few options. You can hike the entire thing which would take roughly five hours one way or you can ride the cable car to Planpraz (the station is located walking distance from town) up to 2000 m/6,562 feet, and then begin your hike up to Le Brévent at 2525 m/8284 feet. Once on top of Le Brévent, the options are endless as you connect up with the Tour de Mont Blanc and can hike from there toward Lac Blanc or Les Houches. For us, we simply went to admire the incredible panoramic view of Mont Blanc.
We purchased our tickets and learned after the fact that it is most economical to purchase a multi-day gondola pass. You can purchase 1,2, 3 or 6 day passes on the Mont Blanc MultiPass which covers all 8 areas in the Mont Blanc Massif(opens in new tab). It is a great deal and a must-have as you will certainly want to visit the famous Mer de Glace and the Aiguille du Midi while you are in Chamonix. Best of all, it is unlimited so you can hop on and off taking time off your hike or else just ride the gondola up to get some photos if the weather is nice.
Le Brévent Hiking Routes and Trail Options
For our hike, we chose to do the route on the lefthand side of the map. Some hikers go behind Le Brévent to continue along the Tour de Month Blanc while others continue on towards La Flégère and Lac Blanc. Unfortunately, our timing was off as they were updating the Flégère gondola so we were not able to easily reach Lac Blanc from Chamonix. Instead, it was a full day of hiking (which ended up being the best hike of our entire trip).
Map Le Brévent of courtesy of Chamonix Mont-Blanc Tourist Office.
Hiking from Planpraz to the Top of Le Brévent
We rode up in the clouds to the top of Le Brévent wishing the clouds would magically roll away but it was not meant to be. Although the photos don’t do it justice, it was spectacular and I could only begin to imagine how utterly breathtaking the view must be on a clearer day. A view of Mont Blanc and all her glaciers dancing down the side of the Alps.
On top of Le Brévent, at the first gondola stop.
We got off the gondola at Planpraz, snapped a few photos and began our steep hour and a half hike straight up to Le Brévent. As my calves burned, I started to wonder if it was really worth the effort given the mediocre day. I imagined sitting down in beautiful Chamonix(opens in new tab) enjoying a coffee or relaxing at our hotel. But I am never one to give up and quit a hike, regardless of the weather. So I persisted.
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What the Le Brévent Trail Is Like
The hike became steeper and steeper as we worked our way up to the top. There weren’t many others on the trail given the cool, cloudy day.
Reaching the Summit of Le Brévent
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Reaching the Summit of Le Brévent
After passing through some snow, we reached the very top of Le Brévent where we could see forever.
If only the sun had come out. But atlas, it didn’t.
I had promised to come up again on a clear day before we left just so I could see it in all its glory. But I was just too tired to do it again after all the hiking. I guess it leaves yet another reason to go back to Chamonix again. There is always a reason.
Author’s note: All of the above content is solely mine, and human-written. The bottom content from here down is AI-assisted using my above content and human-edited for accuracy. Latest update August 2026.
Le Brévent Among Chamonix’s Best Hikes: How It Compares
Chamonix is home to dozens of trails ranging from gentle valley walks to serious alpine ascents. Le Brévent stands out as one of the most rewarding half-day or full-day hikes in the valley for one simple reason: the view. At 2,525 m/8,284 feet, it gives you a complete, face-on panorama of Mont Blanc and its glaciers that few other vantage points in the valley can match.
For context, the other hikes most frequently mentioned alongside Le Brévent include Lac Blanc (a stunning glacial lake at 2,352 m reached via the Flégère gondola or on foot from Chamonix), the Grand Balcon Sud trail (a traverse that links Planpraz to La Flégère and is considered one of the classic valley walks), and the Grand Balcon Nord (the trail above the Mer de Glace with close-up views of the glacier). Lac Blanc is often cited as the single most beautiful hike in Chamonix, and it connects directly to Le Brévent along the high ridge, which is why doing both in one big day is a popular goal for fit hikers.
Le Brévent is ideally suited to hikers who want big alpine views without committing to a full summit climb. The cable car to Planpraz removes the lower 600 m of vertical gain, making the summit accessible even for hikers with moderate fitness. That said, the push from Planpraz to the top is genuinely steep and takes roughly 1.5 hours of sustained climbing; do not underestimate it.
For more of my favorite Chamonix hikes, check out my other posts on hiking in Chamonix:
A Panoramic Hike Along the Balcon du Nord to the Mer de Glace(opens in new tab)
Unforgettable Hikes along the Tour de Mont Blanc: Hike from Col des Montets to Lac Blanc
Le Brévent Trail: Practical Facts Before You Go
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most beautiful hike in Chamonix?
Lac Blanc is widely considered the most beautiful hike in Chamonix, famous for its glacial lake reflecting the Mont Blanc massif. Le Brévent is a close rival for sheer panoramic scope: its 2,525 m summit gives a full 360-degree view of the valley, Mont Blanc, and the Tour de Mont Blanc route. The two can be combined into one long ridge traverse for fit hikers.
Is Chamonix a good place to hike?
Chamonix is one of the best hiking destinations in the Alps. The valley sits at the foot of Mont Blanc (4,808 m), Europe’s highest peak, and is ringed by glaciers, ridges, and well-marked trails ranging from easy valley walks to multi-day Tour de Mont Blanc stages. The gondola network makes high-alpine terrain accessible even for hikers who are not technical climbers.
How difficult is the Le Brévent hike from Planpraz?
The Le Brévent hike from Planpraz is moderate to strenuous. The trail gains approximately 525 m (1,722 feet) of elevation in roughly 1.5 hours, with the upper section becoming noticeably steep. Good hiking shoes or trail runners are essential. Hiking the full route from Chamonix town without the gondola adds several more hours and significantly more vertical gain.
Do you need a cable car to hike Le Brévent?
No, a cable car is not required. You can hike the full trail from Chamonix town, which takes roughly five hours one way. However, taking the gondola to Planpraz at 2,000 m is a practical shortcut that cuts the ascent to about 1.5 hours and is included in a multi-day gondola pass along with the Aiguille du Midi and Mer de Glace lifts.
Is it worth buying a multi-day gondola pass in Chamonix?
Yes, a multi-day gondola pass is absolutely worth it if you plan to use the lifts on more than one day. The pass covers the Planpraz and Le Brévent gondolas as well as the Aiguille du Midi and Mer de Glace lifts. You can purchase 1, 2, 3, or 6 day passes, and because the pass is unlimited, you can hop on and off as many times as you like, ideal for chasing good weather or heading up for a second attempt on a clearer day.
What other hikes can you do from the Le Brévent summit?
From the top of Le Brévent, you connect directly with the Tour de Mont Blanc and have several onward options. Fit hikers can continue along the high ridge to La Flégère and Lac Blanc via the Grand Balcon Sud trail, one of the classic traverses in the valley. Others choose to head behind Le Brévent toward Les Houches. The connections make Le Brévent a natural starting or finishing point for a longer alpine day.
Nicole, you’ve made my heart happy! Gorgeous no matter the weather.
janet
Thanks Janet! We are getting snow today! I can’t believe how early it is coming!
Just saw the weather report which is saying some places in the Chicago area may have 6″ of snow, with snow starting tonight. We’ll see how that goes. But after all, it is November.
This is a bit off-topic, but I remember after going to the Monastery in Petra, James and I didn’t even think of doing the High Place of Sacrifice because we were already so exhausted. Your penchant for hiking, and the fact that you do hike regularly, really pays off. This trip to Chamonix and your past hikes, including the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal, have certainly rewarded you with good health. I’m currently planning for a short trip somewhere in Indonesia or Southeast Asia in April 2020. I’ve been pondering to go somewhere with historical sites. But now I’m thinking if hiking would be a good alternative.
Yes, I did all of that in seven hours of hiking! I was so exhausted when I reached the top of the High Place of Sacrifice that I had no idea how I’d do the 45 more minutes walking to get out of Petra. It was really hot too and I only took a twenty minute break to eat my sandwich that day. I’m glad I’ve got my dad’s genes as he is an incredible hiker and I tend to still have the energy in me too. There are lots of excellent hikes in Indonesia. So I hope you do a hiking trip as I’d love to see the photos.
Like you I never quit on a hike. Gotta get to the top! But this one still looks worth it even on a cloudy day. Spectacular country.
Alison
Yes so true! I still have two more hikes from Chamonix and I’m saving the best for last because it was the most incredible hike of all. The photos turned out spectacular!
Dolomites first,,, Then return,,, s
Would LOVE to hike the Dolomites!
Even though the weather wasn’t good it still looks magical and you still saw some wonderful scenes! Any day in the mountains is better than a day at work! 😊
Yes indeed! My motto is “I’d rather be hiking”!
Such a beautiful area to hike. You picturea are gorgeous, inspite of of because of the clouds.
Thanks so much! Yes it is!
And you saw an ibex – even pretty up-close, it seems! Worth it just for that!
Yes we did! I saw a lot on the following hike too. Majestic creatures!