Is it possible to walk on a glacier in La Plagne in the summer?

One person stands on a rocky ridge with arms raised, facing a high-altitude landscape combining snow, rocks, and turquoise water under a partly cloudy sky.
The La Plagne Ski Area Blog

S'il est désormais interdit de marcher sur le glacier pour des raisons de sécurité et d'environnement, la haute montagne reste accessible. Grâce aux expériences Live 3000 et Aérolive, découvrez comment observer et comprendre ce sommet en mutation, sans l'abîmer.

Publié le 01/07/2026 par Marie

Summer skiing on the glaciers of La Plagne

a look back at a piece of history

The story began in 1978. At that time, La Plagne opened the Chiaupe glacier to an activity that was then unheard of in the Alps: summer skiing. Four ski lifts, one chairlift, a vast expanse of ice and skiers in the middle of July, at an altitude of 3,000 metres.

At the same time, an ice cave allowed visitors to venture deep into the heart of the glacier – a window onto an underground world of rock and ice.

Then, gradually, these activities came to an end:

  • Summer skiing ceased in 2005

  • The cave closed in 2017

  • The last lift ceased operating in 2023

Not because of a lack of interest, but because the glacier itself has changed. And this is precisely what brings us to the central question of this article: why can we no longer walk on the glacier today?

Glacier de la Chiaupe en 2017 : vaste étendue de glace et de neige s’étendant sur un versant montagneux, bordée de crêtes rocheuses sous un ciel bleu dégagé.

Receding glaciers…

and the need to protect a fragile environment

The reality is clear, and it is based on measurable facts.

  • Between 1952 and 2023, the Chiaupe Glacier retreated by around 300 metres. And its volume has decreased by 86 per cent.

  • The Bellecôte Glacier has lost nearly 99 per cent of its mass. Impressive.

This retreat is profoundly transforming the mountain.

As the ice disappears, it gives way to terrain that is often waterlogged, which accelerates the degradation of permafrost – the frozen ground that holds the rocks in place. The result is that boulders break loose because the permafrost fails to freeze, cracks appear, and the environment becomes unpredictable.

Walking in this area today poses a real risk, even for experienced people.

That is why La Plagne has made a clear decision: to return this part of the ski area to nature and withdraw all activities from the glacial zone, for safety reasons and out of respect for this fragile environment.

A photograph taken in 2021 showing the retreat of the Chiaupe Glacier in La Plagne.

A mountain that is changing…

and reinventing itself

The disappearance of glaciers is not just a loss. It is also the start of a transformation.

An environmental management plan now makes it possible to monitor the natural evolution of these areas:

  • The reappearance of alpine flora

  • The gradual return of certain animal species

  • The reconstruction of a high-altitude ecosystem

To raise awareness of these changes, La Plagne organises the annual ‘Glacier Day’, dedicated to understanding these changing environments.

The mountains are not disappearing: they are evolving.

Alpine rock rose, pubescent and Swiss
The reappearance of alpine flora
Live 3000 lack in La Plagne
The gradual return of certain animal species
Live 3000 in La Plagne
Restoration of a high-altitude ecosystem

Live 3000

getting close, without crossing the line

So, in practical terms, if we can no longer explore the glacier, can we still get close to this wild landscape? Yes. And very well, in fact.

The “Glaciers” cable car isn’t called that by chance: it takes you up to an altitude of 3,000 metres, into the heart of a spectacular landscape, just a stone’s throw from the glacier area.

It’s also the starting point for the LIVE 3000 experience:

  • An accessible themed trail

  • An exploration of rare and hardy high-altitude flora

  • Information boards to help you interpret the landscape and understand the surrounding glaciers and peaks

You’re not on the glacier itself, but facing it, in its shadow. And this distance changes your perspective.

Discover Live 3000
A woman holds a little girl in her arms on the terrace of Live 3000 in La Plagne and shows her Mont Blanc. The girl points her finger at the landscape. A snow-capped mountain peak dominates the background under a clear blue sky.

Aérolive

the glacier seen from the sky, at an affordable price

For an even more striking perspective, Aérolive offers the chance to get up close to the glacier, suspended in a secure, windowless cabin, and observe its contours at close quarters. From the air, the landscape reveals its full grandeur:

  • The traces left by the ice

  • The contrasts between rock and snow

  • The visible changes in the terrain

  • And in summer, depending on conditions, the route still takes you past snowfields and snow-covered expanses.

A unique way to appreciate how the mountain is changing.

More information
The image shows a red Aérolive gondola, open to the elements, with several people inside. Some of them are raising their arms in signs of joy or excitement. The gondola is set in a mountainous environment, with green grass visible outside. The atmosphere feels summery and cheerful.

So, can you walk on the glacier in summer at La Plagne?

No. But that’s not a limitation. It’s an invitation to discover the mountains and how they’ve changed.

Today, La Plagne offers a different experience: one that’s more contemplative and more educational.

At an altitude of 3,000 metres, the mountains remain spectacular, vibrant and accessible.

And sometimes, not setting foot on a glacier allows you to better understand what it really represents.

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