Lac Blanc and Grand Balcon Sud day hike - French Mont Blanc TMB stage out of Chamonix

Equivalent to anti-clockwise stages 10-11 in Kev Reynolds’ TMB (Tour Mont Blanc) guidebook. This stage can be walked independently, not as part of the whole 11 day trek. Features a moderate 100m/500m elevation gain/loss, and spectacular and continuous views of the French side of the Mont Blanc. Total walking time of the full day hike as marked: 5 hours. Generally recommended from June to September, but check weather forecast and avoid in bad weather.
Cheapest summer hiking deal (for multiple Chamonix cable cars): https://www.chamsummerdeal.com/products/cham-summer-deal-1-day-ticket

1. Get to Téléphérique de La Flégère near Chamonix. Cable car info: http://www.montblancnaturalresort.com/en/horaires-tarifs-flegere
2. Buy the ‘Randonneur/Alpinist/Hiker’ ticket designed for hikers, which includes ascend of 2 sections and descend of one, and one you walk.
3. Take the cable car all the way up to L’Index station (2400m). Walk north-east on a relatively level trail to Lac Blanc (2350m), justly popular for Mont Blanc views reflected in the lake.
4. There are multiple trails descending to La Flegere (1850m). I marked on the map the least steep one.
5. You can finish at La Flegere and cut the hike short - use the cable car to go down to Chamonix. To continue walking, walk south-west along a relatively level TMB (hence the ‘balcon’) at about 1900m elevation. Planpraz (2000m) is reached after about 2 hours on this level section.
6. Buy another ‘Randonneur/Alpinist/Hiker’ cable car ticket for Le Brévent cable car (works approximately 9-16), info: http://www.montblancnaturalresort.com/en/horaires-tarifs-brevent . Go up to Le Brevent peak (2500m) for unparalleled views over Mont Blanc, then descend all the way down to Chamonix by the same cable car. The center of town is just a few minutes walk away, or use the free Chamonix bus if you need to retrieve a car from the Le Flegere cable car.

There are a couple of Refuges along the walk (see way marks), where you can get drinks and food or spend the night. All have great views, but check availability by phone or email (beds must be booked way ahead in July and August).