How to travel from Chamonix to Arcachon, France

The distance between Chamonix and Arcachon is around 694km (431 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus, then fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 30m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Chamonix to Arcachon by bus, plane, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out ArcachonChamonix if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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bus
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Bus to Geneva Airport, plane and train

Take the bus to Geneva Airport then fly from Geneva (GVA) to Bordeaux (BOD) then take the train to Arcachon.

  • Duration3h 30m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    €120($120)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

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3 x train
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Train

Take the train to Bellegarde then Paris Gare De Lyon and then to Arcachon.

  • Duration8h 30m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    €195($195)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

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bus
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train
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train
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Bus and Train

Take the bus to Albertville then take the train to Bordeaux St Jean and then to Arcachon.

  • Duration10hrs
  • Departsonce a week
  • Typical cost
    €185($185)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

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car
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Drive

Drive to Arcachon.

  • Duration8hrs
  • Distance845km (525 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Chamonix and Arcachon

There are several options for getting from Chamonix to Arcachon by bus, plane, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take the train which costs around €42 ($42) and will take around 11hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus, then fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €120 ($120).

The distance between Chamonix and Arcachon is around 694km (431 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 645km (401 miles)

It takes around 5h 5m to get from Chamonix and Arcachon by bus, plane and train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Chamonix to Arcachon is to take the bus, then fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 30m and will set you back approx €120 ($120).

The cheapest way to travel between Chamonix and Arcachon, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then take the train which will typically cost around €42 ($42) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Chamonix and Arcachon. It typically takes around 8h 30m and departs once daily.

There are no direct train services that runs from Chamonix to Arcachon. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains, Bellegarde, Paris Gare De Lyon, Bercy, Montparnasse Bienvenue and Paris Montparnasse 1 Et 2. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 8h 30m.

SNCF, Swiss Railways and TGV inOui run train services between Chamonix and Arcachon. Trains depart once daily and will take around 8h 30m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Chamonix and Arcachon. We recommend that you take the bus to Geneva Airport then fly from Geneva (GVA) to Bordeaux (BOD) then take the train to Arcachon. instead which will take 3h 30m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Chamonix to Arcachon. We recommend that you take the bus to Lyon - Saint-Exupéry Airport then fly from Lyon (LYS) to Bordeaux (BOD) then take the train to Arcachon. instead which will take 5h 5m.

The closest major airport to Arcachon is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD) (BOD) which is approximately 42km (26 miles) from Arcachon. Laleu Airport (LRH) (LRH) and Tarbes Ossun Lourdes Airport (LDE) (LDE) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Chamonix and Arcachon. The distance is around 845km (525 miles) by road and it will take around 8hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Chamonix to Arcachon is to take the bus, then fly and then take the train which takes, on average, 5h 5m and will usually cost around €115 ($115).

How do I get from Chamonix to Arcachon

Compare travel optionsbetween Chamonix and Arcachon

Transport options from Chamonix to Arcachon
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus to Geneva Airport, plane and train + 2 similar
3h 30m
€120($120)
4 times a day694km (431 miles)
Bus, Plane and Train5h 5m
€115($115)
once daily743km (462 miles)
Bus to Lyon - Saint-Exupéry Airport, plane and train6h 25m
€205($205)
once daily993km (617 miles)
Train
8h 30m
€195($195)
once daily1,187km (737 miles)
Bus and Train + 2 similar
10hrs
€185($185)
once a week1,234km (767 miles)
Bus to Lyon - Saint-Exupéry Airport, train11hrs
€42($42)
once daily846km (525 miles)
Bus to Bordeaux Saint-Jean, Train15h 25m
€61($61)
3 times a week966km (600 miles)
Drive
8hrs
€150($150)
on demand845km (525 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Chamonix and Arcachon

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Arcachon

The following major airports near Arcachon offer regular flights to various popular destinations within France and internationally.

BOD
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD)
International Airport
Distance
42km (26 miles) from Arcachon
LRH
Laleu Airport (LRH)
Domestic Airport
Distance
170km (105 miles) from Arcachon
LDE
Tarbes Ossun Lourdes Airport (LDE)
Domestic Airport
Distance
189km (117 miles) from Arcachon