Campervan in Chamonix Review

Champervan owner, Sarah McKearney, has rigorously restored a couple of VW Combi's which are fitted out with an original vintage interior and feature all the ingenuity of the famous Westfalia design. This means they can comfortably sleep four people with a double bed downstairs and another in the pop-top roof and are equipped with a cooker, fridge and sink.
The vans also come with a kettle, pots & pans and table & chairs for dining al fresco. Please note a flower for your hair is not included..

Having picked up the hire campervan from Passy on Friday night, the first night saw Belle camped up at the foot of the Mont Blanc in Chamonix before setting off for adventure the following morning.
So with a campervan loaded with hiking gear, CCR on the stereo and a 100km daily limit (yes there are a few T&C's..) we set off in the direction of Sixt Fer a Cheval which is a one hour drive from Chamonix or just 45 minutes from Morzine.

Sixt Fer a Cheval has been labelled one of the most beautiful villages in France, however the true beauty is the Cirque du Fer a Cheval, a stunning national park just a few kilometre's past the village itself.
This site attracts over half a million visitors every year and has a number of walking itineraries available to explore the dramatic cliff scenery.

Arriving in time for lunch we set up the picnic table with a view onto the Lord of the Rings-esque backdrop and got stuck into a hearty lunch.
Setting off from the entrance to the park we slowly made our way around the circular walk that takes you to the Bout du Monde (literally the End of the World) and back again, the walk takes a couple of hours at a leisurely pace but be prepared for neck ache as you will constantly be looking skyward.
We were back in time for a well earned cup of tea before moving on to find a open campsite, there is a campsite just minutes from the Cirque but is only open during summer months.

Fortunately Samoens has a campsite that is open all year round and have the luxury of heated shower blocks, very necessary even in September. The night was fresh with a clear starry sky but the campervan kept the heat in and under a decent duvet, sleep came easily.

Having the kitchen at the foot of your bed means a cup of tea in bed is almost compulsory but before long the sun was shining, giving a warm glow through the orange hessian curtains, and breakfast outside was calling.
Fuelled and ready to go we set our sights on new heights above the village of Samoens and left Belle behind for a hike in the forest.

After a steady climb on the southern side of Samoens we emerged through the trees into a clearing that was doused in sunshine and loaded with some magic sized mushrooms. If anyone knows what type of mushrooms we're looking at in the picture, please feel free to leave a comment.

We got back to Belle with enough time to brew up one last cup of tea before getting back behind the wheel and drive back to Passy.
Driving the VW bay window van is amazingly easy and surprisingly good fun, with the wide steering wheel and the 4 speed gearbox you pootle along at a relaxed pace with a grin on your face and not a worry in the world...

Chamonix campervan key facts

• The restored VW T2 combis are insured and come with full break-down cover
• Campervans are available to hire from €75 per night with a minimum of three nights stay
• Daily limit of 100km per day
• Champervan offer Geneva airport pick-ups for those flying in
• Suggested tours include the Chamonix Valley, Aosta Valley in Italy or around lakes of Annecy and Leman