The big one: Europe's adventure-sports capital, at the foot of the highest mountain in Western Europe. Paragliding over glaciers, a cable car to 3,842m, via ferrata on the Aiguilles Rouges, and the trailhead of the Tour du Mont Blanc — all reachable on a single charge cushion from a Sallanches Supercharger 15km short of town.
This is a dedicated adrenaline trip, not a scenic detour. Chamonix is the birthplace of alpinism and the closest thing Europe has to an adventure-sports capital: tandem paragliding launches straight off the valley's ridgelines, a cable car climbs to 3,842m in twenty minutes, and via ferrata routes cling to the Aiguilles Rouges opposite Mont Blanc. It's also a genuinely world-class hiking and mountain-biking valley beyond the thrill activities — the Tour du Mont Blanc (170km, three countries) starts right here, and the lift network doubles as a bike-park network in summer.
Meudon-la-Forêt → Chamonix is ~613km, ~5h50 via the A6/A40 (Trippy/Travelmath route data, essentially the same as the well-documented Paris–Chamonix run). Real range at 97% SOH means one charging stop is required each way — the trip doesn't clear on a single charge.
Real, researched 2026 prices — this is the one trip where the "treat yourself" line item of the budget isn't optional, it's the point.
| Activity | Real price (2026) |
|---|---|
| Aiguille du Midi cable car, round trip (3,842m) | €60.20–83 adult depending on season |
| Tandem paragliding — from Planpraz/Plan de l'Aiguille (~15–20min flight) | from ~€270 (XXL long flight) |
| Tandem paragliding — launched from the Aiguille du Midi itself | from ~€390 |
| Via ferrata des Evettes (Aiguilles Rouges), guided, per person in a group | ~€83–110 (guide + gear; lift pass extra) |
| Tandem skydiving over Mont Blanc massif (Mont Blanc Skydive, incl. helicopter approach) | price on request, historically €300+ range for high-altitude Alpine jumps |
Sources: Aiguille du Midi pricing via ascensionmontblanc.fr / tourismattractions.net; paragliding pricing via checkyeti.com listings for Kailash Parapente; via ferrata pricing via chamonix-guides.com / yumping.com; skydiving via montblancskydive.com.
Long driving day — leave early. Charge once on the A6/A40 corridor, then top up at Sallanches Supercharger before the final climb into the valley. Arrive with enough daylight for an easy valley walk to shake off the drive; save the big activities for full days.
Morning up the Aiguille du Midi (arrive early, queues build fast; book your time slot online ahead). Come down mid-afternoon for a tandem paragliding flight over the valley — Planpraz or Plan de l'Aiguille launch sites give great glacier views for less than an Aiguille du Midi launch. Treat-yourself day, budget accordingly.
Option A: guided via ferrata des Evettes in the Aiguilles Rouges, reached via the Flégère gondola, facing Mont Blanc across the valley. Option B: hike or bike a section of the Tour du Mont Blanc trailhead out of Les Houches — even a half-day out-and-back gives a real taste of one of the world's classic long-distance trails, and the lift-served bike network around Les Houches/Chamonix is genuinely excellent in summer.
Slow morning, market or lake stop if time allows, then the long drive home with the same charging pattern reversed.
Sources: montourdumontblanc.com and chamoniarde.com on the 1992 bylaw and reserve-bivouac74.fr requirement; en.chamonix.com on motorhome aires; campingchamonix.com and en.chamonix.com campsite listings on pricing.
Bike travels loaded inside the car per the Car Camping & Bike Guide — no roof or hitch rack, no range penalty. Chamonix's lift network (Les Houches, Brévent, Grands Montets) converts to a serious lift-served mountain bike park in summer, and there's flatter valley-floor riding along the Arve for an easier day between the big-ticket adrenaline activities.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tolls (A6/A40, round trip) | ≈ €55–65 |
| Charging (Sallanches Supercharger + en-route stops) | ≈ €40–55 |
| Lodging (free aire some nights, paid campsite €13–25/night others) | €40–80 |
| Aiguille du Midi ticket | ≈ €60–83 |
| Tandem paragliding (one splurge flight) | ≈ €270–390 |
| Food (mostly self-cooked, one restaurant meal) | ≈ €50–70 |
| Total (with one big adrenaline splurge) | €500–700 |
This is the most expensive trip in the series by design — it's the dedicated adrenaline destination. Skip paragliding and it drops to roughly €230–320.