Via Ferrata de Charamillon, Les Contamines-Montjoie
The via ferrata above Les Contamines-Montjoie is the Mont Blanc region's best-kept adventure secret — a thrilling series of iron rungs, ladders and suspension bridges bolted into limestone cliffs at around 2,000 metres, with the entire Beaufortain massif spread out below you. No prior climbing experience is needed, just a head for heights and a hired harness.
The Route and the Thrills
The Charamillon via ferrata offers two circuits: a shorter introductory route (about 1.5 hours) suitable for teenagers and first-timers, and a longer, more exposed circuit (around 3 hours) that includes a 25-metre suspension bridge swaying above a vertical drop — genuinely exhilarating.
The route is equipped throughout with steel cables, iron staples and wooden platforms, making it safe for anyone with basic fitness. The crux section involves a near-vertical ladder climb of about 15 metres that delivers an enormous sense of achievement at the top.
The approach walk from Les Contamines village takes around 45 minutes through flower-filled meadows and passes the 17th-century Notre-Dame de la Gorge chapel, a Baroque gem that is worth a stop in its own right.
Practicalities and When to Go
Via ferrata kits (harness, helmet, lanyard) can be rented from sports shops in Les Contamines and Chamonix for around €15–20 per day; guides are available through the Bureau des Guides de Chamonix if you prefer a led experience.
The route is open from late June (once snow has cleared) to mid-October. Morning starts are recommended to avoid afternoon thunderstorms — a serious hazard on exposed metal equipment.
Les Contamines-Montjoie itself is a beautifully preserved traditional Savoyard village, far less commercialised than Chamonix, with excellent local restaurants and a weekly market on Saturday mornings.
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