Chamonix/Mont Blanc vs. Berner Oberland

I've been to both and much prefer the Berner Oberland. There are maybe 3 or 4 good trails around Chamonix, but maybe 20 in the Berner. Chamonix has basically 2 parallel mountain ridges on each side, while the Berner has lots of different angles, and thus more variety. Berner has more cows and farmers and quaint towns.

I have also been to both , and would be hard pressed to choose . Since you have been to The Oberland , give Chamonix a visit . It is striking , and the French culture gives it an intimate charming ambience.

Chamonix/Mont Blanc has amazing hiking! The trails tend to be a bit more rugged than many I've been on in Switzerland. There are quite a few more places to eat out on the trail with better food than Switzerland - my favorite area to hike is on the west side of the valley surrounding Chamonix because of the views back to the Mont Blanc massif and the many valleys and glaciers on the other side of the valley. It's truly stunning. Heading up toward Lac Blanc from the Flegere gondola station is one of my favorite day hikes in Europe. There are MANY trails in this area...don't know what the first poster at the top means. We keep going back and have done 4 or 5 new trails each time.
You can also go hiking with a guide on the ice fields surrounding Mont Blanc...one of the great adventures in the alps IMHO.
The feel of this part of the French alps is just different than Switzerland...less pastoral. More rugged.
Check out this view...there is a mountain refuge just out of the frame to the left. Have a beer on the deck and pick your chin up off the floor with the views! Can't recommend it more highly.

I second Anita's response! I have been to both places and loved them for different reasons. My favorite BO hikes were those that had me walking through cow pastures and rolling green hills with the Alps in the distance-- what in my mind is quintessential Switzerland! In Chamonix, I chose hikes that were a little more challenging (more switchbacks, continual steep hills, etc) but made me feel like I was right up in the Alps (which I sure was).

So I guess the short answer is that in the BO, I felt like the Alps were a beautiful backdrop while in Chamonix I felt like I was hiking right among the peaks. Both wonderful experiences!

Hope you enjoy your trip :)

Look up the Val Gardena in Italy. Has an awesome lift system reasonably priced accommodations and amazing vistas. Plus the people are the best. We were there last June. Hiking was great.

Both are wonderful. But if it matters, France is cheaper than Switzerland.

lca,

I've been to both and found that the Berner Oberland and Chamonix have a somewhat different ambiance. As someone else mentioned, the terrain in the B.O. is not as steep so hiking in many of the usual places there is easier. I haven't hiked in the Chamonix area but the trails looked steeper and more challenging, and many of the hikers I encountered seemed to be geared up for more difficulty with ropes, carabiners and other paraphernalia.

"You can also go hiking with a guide on the ice fields surrounding Mont Blanc...one of the great adventures in the alps IMHO."

If you're hiking at higher elevations, be aware that the altitude can be an issue for some people. If you're not accustomed to strenuous activity at higher elevations, that could be a problem. Hikers at the higher elevations have likely acclimatized to the altitude, so can manage it.

I’ve been to both twice and like the Berner Oberland more. It just feels better to me, the geography that is. Much more open and the views from Murren, where we enjoy staying, is much more spectacular, much more mind blowing. We also enjoy the walking/hiking in the BO more than in Chamonix.

It’s funny, before we went to either, I started a thread asking posters their opinion of both to help me decide which one to go to. I got equal amounts of posts in favor of each place so it was no help. We only had time for one that time and we chose the BO. Next trip we went to Chamonix. While I like Mont Blanc more than the Jungfrau and Schilthorn, and we had some fun hikes and bike riding in Chamonix, the BO is by far my favorite. I like Murren much better than Chamonix, the views are better imo, and we found the transportation to various areas and trails easier.