Get-away in the French Alps?

April 2, 2011 11:06 AM

Where should I go in the French Alps where I can spend a few days outdoors in late May?

I'm looking for a town in the French Alps with great scenery, a few trails to explore (flower-filled valleys!), and potentially a few day hikes. Somewhere near Chamonix might be nice because I want to see Mont Blanc. Does Chamonix itself have easy access to pleasant walks (difficult hikes are good too though I've heard it will still be wet and wintry in the third week of May). Hostels or cheap hiker's sleeping quarters are preferable; I'll be arriving by train from Italy and can speak French so that's not an issue. Thanks!

posted by la_rousse to Travel & Transportation around France (6 answers total)

Best answer: I went to Chamonix in early May a few years ago and found trails open everywhere. Wet maybe, wintry not, unless you are planning you are planning on doing peak ascents. Chamonix has a wide variety of accommodations and will be in a hiatus between winter and summer so rates should be affordable.
posted by Xurando at 11:42 AM on April 2, 2011

Annecy is a great base to explore the French Alps.
posted by essexjan at 11:43 AM on April 2, 2011

I stayed at a hostel in Interlaken two springs ago and found it to be a perfect place to use as a base camp. Cheap and swift busses were easily accessible and brought me right up into the Alps. Gimmelwald is nearby and known for its abundance of wild flowers. Here's a good map to give you an idea of how accessible the various peaks and mountain towns are to Interlaken. I'd suggest day trips to Lauterbrunnen and Murren (OMGBREATHTAKING!).
posted by HotPatatta at 12:04 PM on April 2, 2011

If you hop off the train just before Chamonix in Courmayeur on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif, the Val Ferret has some gorgeous hiking. You can walk between refugi (chalets) which are pretty much full service (dorm bed, breakfast and dinner including drinks) so you hardly have to carry anything. The trail here is part of the Mont Blanc Circuit which would take at least a of week to complete I would think, but at Val Ferret (and other places I'm sure) it's easy to get up into the alpine and do short segments of the trail betwen the huts. Refugio Bonatti is one name I remember; the other was a bit further up the valley.
posted by Flashman at 12:04 PM on April 2, 2011 [1 favorite]

Oops...I suggested a spot in the Swiss Alps. ::wince::
posted by HotPatatta at 12:05 PM on April 2, 2011

Best answer: Also, one of the cable cars up onto the Mont Blanc glacier goes from Courmayeur - that was a lot of fun: you can just stroll (once you pass through a gate thereby absolving anybody of any responsibility for what might happen to you) right out onto the glacier at something like 4000m
posted by Flashman at 12:09 PM on April 2, 2011