Chamonix, Annecy and Courmayeur, France

We did the Aguille du Midi in August 2019 and there was no need for boots or even plastic covers. I wore athletic shoes. As long as you’re not hiking and are just staying on the walkways up above, it is snow free. It was a very sunny day and beautiful up there.

Thank you. Was it very cold up there? Trying to travel light and trying to carry minimal heavy clothing. 😊

It's all very civilized. You hop on the cable car in Chamonix with your street shoes and ride up to the top, where you walk out onto the platform and look around. Wear your athletic shoes for comfort and enjoy the view. You're not going to be stepping into the void or venturing out onto the snow trails, which are ungodly scary and hazardous unless you are equipped for alpining.

Courmayeur is a boring place. I wouldn't waste a minute of my vacation there unless I had to change buses there for Aosta.

Don't take the bus to Courmayeur and miss what I found to be the greatest experience of all my times to Europe: the cable car route from Chamonix to Courmayeur!

Take the cable car up to l'Aiguille du Midi as you're already planning to do. Yes it can be chilly up there, even in August, but a light windbreaker should be sufficient unless you are going out hiking.

From l'Aiguille du Midi you take a second cable car to Helbronner, the peak at the French-Italian border. Fly over glaciers! https://en.chamonix.com/activities/practical-information-about-the-lifts/panoramic-mont-blanc-cable-car

From Helbronner, go down a third cable car to Courmayeur. https://www.montebianco.com/en

There, not only an awesome adventure, but there is your transportation from Chamonix to Courmayeur.

This sounds awesome. I’m kind of a wimp when I don’t have my two feet on the ground but did several other cable car rides in Switzerland a couple years ago. I googled this adventure but didn’t get that much info. So do I buy a pass at each section?

Can I buy ticket from Chamonix to Courmayeur?

How long does this trip take?

Can I walk around at each stop, get a cup of coffee or snack.

Can I do this one way trip to Courmayeur and back to Chamonix in one day?
What website to purchase ticket?
Do I need heavier clothing?
I am getting excited about doing this. Hope I don’t pass out in the process.
Thank you for this wonderful suggestion and I await your reply.

Looks like you can buy a ticket for the first two legs (Chamonix - Aiguille du Midi - Helbronner) here, one way or return: https://www.montblancnaturalresort.com/en/horaires-tarifs-aiguille-du-midi

Tickets for Helbronner - Courmayeur here, again one-way or return: https://www.montebianco.com/en/rates-skyway-monte-bianco

How long does it take? I recall it being about 3 hours. If you sort through those websites you may find more precise details.

There is time to stop at each peak. There is not much at Helbronner other than views, but L'Aiguille du Midi has quite a bit to do.

I’m not great with heights and for me, Aiguille du Midi was enough! I’m sure the additional part to Courmayeur is amazing but if you don’t love heights, i think it might be tough!

If you buy a Mont Blanc MultiPass, I am pretty sure the ride from Hellbronner to Courmayeur is covered (at least that is how I read the information I received when I just bought my pass).