The Aiguille du Midi Cable Car is a cable car that runs from Plan de l'Aiguille (2314m) to the Aiguille du Midi (3791m). You can reach the Plan de l'Aiguille midstation using the Plan de l'Aiguille Cable Car from Chamonix. Being at 3791 meters of altitude, it is an amazing access point for mountaineering and skiing but there are no runs or hikes possible from the Aiguille du Midi. The Plan de l'Aiguille midstation on the other hands gives access to the super popular traverse via the Grand Balcon Nord to Montenvers and the Mer de Glace and its Ice Cave. The Lac Bleu is also nearby and worth a visit.

The Aiguille du Midi is not just the end station of the cable car, it is proper mountain base which a lot of things to see and do:

• The Panoramic Mont-Blanc is a small gondola that crosses the Vallee Blanche and enables you to cross over to the Italian side and down to Courmayeur. This is an unforgettable ride with amazing high mountain views. 

• Step into the Void: a glass box sticking out from the mountain base with a thousand meter drop below your feet. 

• There are multiple viewing decks and bridges around the mountain station giving incredible 360 degree views of the mountains and valley below and across up to the Mont Blanc. There is a 32 meter long steel tube going around the central peak with viewing windows.

• There is a 4D Cinema playing a 12 minute film called the L'Oiseau du Cimes.

The Aiguille du Midi cable car is open most of the year. It is the highest and most popular mountain lift in France and you will need to reserve your slot ahead of time. Children below 5 years old are not advised to ride the cable car. Children below 3 years old are not allowed. The very impressive ground station in Chamonix-Sud has a ticket office, a gift shop and a little cafe. For exact operating times, ticket prices and to buy your tickets online, visit the official website.

The idea for the Aiguille du Midi lift goes all the way back to 1905 and remnants of an abandoned version of the lift still remain on the mountain today.In 1949, under the leadership of Dino Lora Totino, a new route was planned and construction started in 1951 on the locations that the lift operates today. For a ton more historical and technical information about this lift, you can visit the French Remontee-Mechanique website which has amazing historical pictures on how this amazing lift came to being.