From the crystal waters of Lake Annecy to breathtaking views of Mont Blanc, the Alps are a great destination for anyone who appreciates the beauty of nature. And if you're planning on heading into the Alps this year, you'd do well to consider a trip on one of Europe's great trains, the historic Mont Blanc Express.
This century-old mountain railway runs from Martigny in Switzerland, meandering up to the chic resort town of Chamonix and on to the French village of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, taking you past some exquisite alpine vistas along the way.
St-Gervais-les-Bains is a delightful spa town in the shadow of Mont Blanc, surrounded by glaciers, snow-capped peaks and lush green meadows. Alight here and you can spend your time bathing in natural, hot spring waters which run down from the Mont Blanc mountain range. These thermal waters have been attracting visitors to the town since the early 1800s, when a doctor discovered their therapeutic benefits and new hotels popped up to host the high-society holidaymakers.
The Mont Blanc Express will also carry you through the magical Trient Valley, with its rocky outcroppings, forests, wild gorges, and the incredible Trient Glacier.
Like other mountain train journeys in Europe, such as the Glacier Express, the Jacobite steam train and the Little Yellow Train, the Mont Blanc Express is popular with visitors as it allows you to easily visit several attractions and to appreciate the landscapes as you travel between them.
To help make your Alpine exploration easy and convenient, you can even buy combined tickets for the Mont Blanc Express and several of the region's attractions. Try a combined ticket for the train and the Zoo des Marécottes, where you can spot bears, lynx, foxes, deer and marmots in their natural habitat.
The Mont Blanc Express stops at several more popular tourist locations in Switzerland and the Chamonix valley along its route. One of the most frequently visited stations is in the centre of Chamonix, where you can hop on the Brevent cable car and ascend to 2525m for breathtaking panoramic views of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe.
The Mont Blanc Express runs from the early morning hours until the late evening and takes about two hours and fifteen minutes to travel the entire route. But you can spend an entire day travelling along the route, taking your time to alight at several of the charming alpine towns along the way.
You'll want to bring your camera with you to capture a day filled with spectacular views.
