Embark on a Once in a Lifetime Adventure at Mer de Glace and Chamonix

There are a few places that you travel to which will ALWAYS be those MOST MEMORABLE places of all times. Mer de Glace is one of those places for us. Trust me when I say, you MOST DEFINITELY need to add this to your Bucket List! After traveling north from the Gorges du Verdon, we immediately head to Chamonix to add the Mer de Glace experience to our 2-week RV trip. 

Mer de Glace means Sea of Ice, which appropriately describes it to a tee. It is a glacier located in the Chamonix Valley in the French Alps of France and one of the most famous glaciers in Europe. (It’s even been featured in James Bond and The Bourne Identity.) There is also a museum, showcasing its history with information about how the glacier forms, grows and melts away over time.

When is Mer de Glace open?

Mer de Glace is open year-round, but there are certain days and weeks they close for upkeep. I highly suggest checking the schedule on their website before planning a trip to make sure it’s open that day. There are also two different schedules: summer and winter. Summer hours open earlier, from 8:30 am, and winter is a bit later at 10:00 am. And always make sure to check the times of the last train coming down. 

How long does it take to reach Mer de Glace?

The entire trip to Mer de Glace and back takes about 2-3 hours, depending on how long you stay inside the glacier and at the top of the mountain. The train ride up lasts about 20 minutes, the gondola ride is about 10 minutes, and the stairs can take between 15-45 minutes (again, depending on how many times you stop. I would plan at least 3 hours in total. 

How do you get to Mer de Glace from Chamonix?

Once you arrive to the cute ski town of Chamonix, you’ll find the Mer de Glace train station right at the center of the main area. When you drive into Chamonix, you’ll see it directly on your left as you drive in. Arriving at Mer de Glace is like a Trains, Planes, and Automobiles movie – except with Trains, Gondolas, and a whole lot of stairs! It takes 3 stages to finally reach the glacier, but each stage is pretty spectacular! 

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How much are the Mer de Glace Train Tickets?

Tickets for a round trip train ride, Gondola, and Glacier ice cave are €39.50/adult (14+) and €33.60/kids 5-14 years old as well as seniors over 65. Kids under 5 are free. You can purchase them online in advance or also at the train station. We bought ours directly at the train station and had no problems getting a spot. 

Mer de Glace Gondola

After you take the train ride up to the top of the mountain, you will then take the gondola ride back down into the valley. The views from inside the Gondola are spectacular, and it’s a fun, quick ride down (and back up on the return).

Mer de Glace Stair Hike

The final stage of reaching the Mer de Glacier ice cave is trekking down the stair hike. There are 540 steps from the gondola to the ice cave, so get ready for a workout on the way back up! But again, the views are incredible! And you will see signs along the way of where the glacier used to reach along the way, giving it the true impact of how much it has changed over the years. 

Inside the Mer de Glace Glacier and Ice Cave

Once you’ve reached the Mer de Glace Ice Cave, be prepared for lots of Wow’s and amazements. It truly is nothing like you’ve ever experienced before! (Unless of course, you’ve already been inside a glacier.) This was our family’s first time inside an ice cave – let alone a glacier – so it was like something out of a movie.

The ice is a gorgeous turquoise color, and they’ve carved out various “rooms” to explore inside the cave. They even have chairs to sit on, but remember they are ice, so you might leave with a wet bottom side. But the entire experience is incredible and a bit overwhelming – and like I previously mentioned… a bucket list experience!

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What to wear at Mer de Glace?

We visited in mid-April, so it was still pretty cold with snow on the mountain. We all dressed warmly in layers – sweaters, coats, hats, and mittens. The sun was also shining most of the day, so bring sunglasses to help with the glare. It’s always fun to play in the snow on the top of the mountain, so don’t forget your gloves and mittens. Coming from the desert, playing in the snow is a rare treat for us, so we had so much fun throwing snowballs and making a snowman. 

Exploring the town of Chamonix

After our visit to Mer de Glace, we spent some time walking around the town of Chamonix and getting a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants. Chamonix is a classic ski town with an elevation of 1,400 meters above sea level. It’s one of the highest cities in Europe with year-round skiing, making it a popular spot for both beginners and experienced skiers looking for ski lessons. It’s fun to walk around and see all the cute shops, restaurants, bars, and of course, tourist shops. (Yes, Mia just HAD to get this adorable husky dog.) And don’t forget a chocolate crepe for dessert!

Is there RV Camping and Parking in Chamonix?

Yes, there is RV parking in Chamonix – the biggest lot is located right as you enter the city. We parked our RV there and walked to the train station (about a 5-minute walk). There were lots of other RVs parked there too, which made us feel safer about it. And you can even park overnight, which is perfect for RVers who want to stay more than just a day.

There are also other RV camping sites to choose from, but they are farther away from the center. I highly recommend this one. 

And if you’re coming in a car, there are tons of parking spaces throughout the city, making parking convenient for everyone. 

Is Mer de Glace worth it?

Without a doubt, adding Mer de Glace to your list of destinations is 100% worth it! If you ask any of us what our favorite activity was during our RV trip, it was this one for all of us. It’s just one of those places that is unlike any other!