Nid d'Aigle (Eagle's Nest) via Mont Blanc Tramway
The highest rack railway in France hauls you to a rocky perch where glaciers spill down toward Chamonix and the full Mont Blanc massif fills the horizon. On a clear morning the silence is absolute, broken only by the creak of ice.
The Ride Up
The Mont Blanc Tramway departs from Le Fayet station on the edge of Saint-Gervais and climbs through larch forests, alpine meadows and bare granite in about 75 minutes. Each bend reveals a wider slice of sky until the tree line vanishes entirely.
At the Nid d'Aigle terminus you step out onto a boulder field at 2,372 m with the Bionnassay Glacier curling below you like a frozen river. It is the starting point for serious alpinists heading to the Goûter Hut and the summit of Mont Blanc itself.
What to Do at the Top
A signed walking loop around the terminus lets you peer into crevasses from a safe distance and photograph the seracs up close — no crampons required. The light is best between 9 am and 11 am before afternoon cloud builds.
Hardy walkers can descend on foot to Bellevue (about 45 minutes) through wildflower meadows and catch the cable car back to Les Houches, turning the excursion into a rewarding half-day traverse.
Practical Tips
Book tickets online at least a day ahead in July and August — the tramway sells out by mid-morning. Bring a warm layer even in summer; the temperature at the top can be 15 °C cooler than the valley.
The tramway runs from mid-June to mid-September and again for a short winter ski season. Off-season the terminus is inaccessible, so plan accordingly.
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