The Grotte de Glace a Montenvers is a beautiful man-made ice cave cut out in the ice of the Mer de Glace glacier. It is truly spectacular and one of the main attractions in Chamonix drawing in thousands of people each year. The cave has light effects, sculptures and is surpisingly big. Mats on the floor of the cave will prevent you from slipping on the ice. There is a special little cabin lift that takes people from the Montenvers moutain station down closer to the glacier. The glacier is receding fast so they have had to install staircases that will take you further down to the entrance of the ice cave. This is quite a climb down and up again with some 450+ steps to be taken. 

The easiest way of reaching the Grotte de Glace is by taking the Montenvers mountain train which starts near the center of Chamonix and then snakes its way up the mountain to the Montenvers mountain station. This mountain station has a lot to offer including an amazing viewing deck of the Mer de Glace glacier, a snack bar, souvenir shop and the Montenverse mountain hotel. We got a detailed trail description for one of the most popular trails in the Chamonix Valley, the traverse from Montenvers to Plan de l'Aiguille. A visit to the ice cave can easily be made part of this trail. If you want to do the entire thing by foot then we also have a detailed trail description for a loop trail from Chamonix to Montenvers and back via the Buvette de Mottets and Chalet de Caillet snack bars.