Precipitous splinters of carved ice and hewn rock soar high above the snow-dusted valleys of Haute-Savoie in southern France to form the glacial peaks of Mont Blanc—the highest summit on the European continent outside of the mighty Caucuses, and member of a gigantic massif that encompasses sweeping panoramas of Italy, Switzerland and the serrated tips of the central Alps. Since time immemorial, Blanc’s colossal topography has been a veritable mecca for winter sportsters; Europe’s answer to the pistes of Canadian Whistler and the birthplace of the modern Winter Olympic Games. During the summer, resort towns like Chamonix and Les Houches that cluster around the mountain’s base transform into hiker havens, acting as jump-off points for ambitious climbs along the Voie Royale and La Traversée trekking routes to the icy summits above. For a taste of adventure without the strain, ask your Mont Blanc tour guide for information on the famous Aiguilles de Midi cable car, providing stunning alpine views as it soars to more than 3,840 metres above sea level!