France - Walking holiday in the French Alps ➤ From Aravis to Lake Annecy
This very special walking tour takes you around the most spectacular areas of the Aravis Mountains and to four of the most authentic villages: Grand Bornand, Chinaillon, Clusaz and St Jean de Sixt. You will also discover Talloires, close to the beautiful lake and town of Annecy.
During the trip, you can enjoy the truly magnificent scenery of the Aravis Mountains and the stunning views of the Aaravis massif while hiking along beautiful trails over lakes and in valleys.
The Aravis Mountains are part of the French Pre-Alps between the Beauges massif to the south and the Bornes massif to the north. Located in the very heart of Haute Savoie, close to Lake Annecy, Megève and Mont Blanc, the Aravis is without doubt one of the most charming mountain regions in France. The area is full of tradition, mountain people and is a dynamic place that has managed to keep up with the times while retaining its history.
The tour ends with the arrival at Lake Annecy, one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the Alps. The perfect end to a wonderful walking holiday in France.
Highlights of the tour
- The authentic villages of Grand Bornand, Chinaillon, Clusaz and St Jean de Sixt
- The magnificent French Alps
- The stunning arrival at Lake Annecy - one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the Alps
- The good food and friendly hospitality in the hotels
Itinerary See all daysClose all days
You arrive in the authentic village of St Jean de Sixt, where you'll check into your first hotel and then have time to look around. The hotel has a swimming pool, so a dip in the pool is also an option.
Hotel (example): Hôtel Beau Site***
Your first day's hike in the French Alps starts slowly with the hike to the Confins plateau. You have two options:
1. A circular walk via theTête du Danay (1731moh), past the Mouilles de la Perrière where you'll have a great panoramic view of the Aravis Mountains to the east as well as Mont Lachat de Chatillion and the Bouchet Valley.
Walking time: approx. 6 hours
Distance: approx. 13 km
+790 / -720
2. A longer walk via Pointe de Beauregard, past the lake Lac de la Ferriaz and then a descent towards La Clusaz via Le Plan.
Walking time: approx. 5-5.5 hours
Distance: approx. 13 km
+750 / -680
Hotel (example): TBA
You hike on the high saddles of the Confins plateau and finally reach the Bouchet valley below the very summit of the Aravis - Pointe Percée (2750moh) and Pointe du Roulletaz (2077moh). The trail leads you on over Borneronde and over the Annes Pass (1721moh) - where it is really delicious to have lunch at the mountain hut. You then hike down to the small village of Chinaillon.
Walking time: approx. 6 hours
Distance: 15km
+800 / -850
Hotel (example) Hôtel La Crémaillère***
Note: Today it is also possible to walk a slightly shorter route: approx. 5 hours, 14km, +600/-650)
From Chinaillon you hike up to the Guillery huts and then to the Col de la Colombière (1607 m.a.s.l.). From the pass you can choose between two routes:
Pointe de Balafrasse: from here you hike up to the heart of the Bargy mountain range, first to Lake Peyre and then to the Balafrasse Pass and to Pointe de Balafrasse (2296 m), from where you can enjoy the picturesque views, before descending the same way to Chinaillon.
Walking time: approx. 5,5 hours
Distance: 13km
approx. +/-1000 m
La tête d'Auferrand: you hike up to the summit of Tête d'Auferrand (1,981m.a.s.l.), which lies just below the rugged peaks of Pointe de la Botte. You continue along the ridge combe des Fours before hiking down to the Aufferand farm and Chinaillon.
Walking time: approx. 5 hours
Distance: 13km
approx. +/-700 m
Hotel (example): Hôtel La Crémaillère***
Today you hike the Aiguille verte ridge (2000moh) to Lake Lessy. The view from the Aiguille verte to the top of the Aravis (Pointe Percée) is breathtaking. Then you cross the Forclaz pass and go down to the village of Mayse, where you will find huts where it is possible to buy snacks and drinks while the sheep graze around you. The stage continues with an ascent to the Planay Pass between Roc des Tours and Roc de Charmieux and then descends to Mouilles, Tannaz and Grand Bornand.
Walking time: approx. 6,5-7 hours
Distance: 18km
+1070 / -1450
Hotel (example): Hôtel Les Glaïeuls**
Note: It is possible to take a shorter hike today. This version takes about 4-5 hours (+470 / -650)
You start the day with an early transfer (18km) to Montremont (850 m.a.s.l.).
The first hike is via the Nantets Pass (1,426 m) down to the bottom of Tourette, and you'll soon be able to enjoy the view of the beautiful Annecy Lake in the heart of the mountains. From here, hike down to the base of the Dents de Lanfon via the path that runs alongside the lake. From here you walk to Talloires near the lake.
There are several options for the day's hike. From 4.5 to 6 hours and altitudes from +600/ -1000 to +850/-1270
From here you can choose to take the boat (circuit omnibus) to Annecy, or the local bus. Tickets are purchased locally and the boat's timetable must be checked on the day of the hike, as it does not run regularly throughout the season. It is also possible to hike onwards to Annecy.
We recommend exploring the many delicious restaurants in Annecy.
Walking time: approx. 4,5 hours (short route)
Distance: 10 km
+600/ -1000
Hotel (example): Hôtel Mercure City****
Note: If you choose to hike all the way to Annecy, this section is additional, no matter which route you choose for today's stage.
It's approximately 13 kilometres from Talloires to Annecy and you simply follow the lake around.
The journey is now over. You leave your last hotel in the morning. If you want extra nights after the tour, this is an option.
Price includes
- 6 nights in 2-4 star hotels
- Breakfast every day
- 5 evening meals (not in Annecy)
- Luggage transport between hotels
- Transfer from Thônes to Montremont
- Carefully elaborated route descriptions maps and other materials
- 24-hour local and international service hotline for the duration of the tour
- Access to the route in our GPS-app which works offline while you walk
- This is a packaged holiday and is therefore covered by The Travel Guarantee Fund - See which benefits this means for you - click here
- Transportation to France
- Possible bus ticket to Bluffy Pass
- Boat or bus ticket from Talloires to Annecy
- Dinner in Annecy
- Handling fee (€20)
Practical info
The price is based upon two people sharing. It is not possible to do this tour alone.
On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.
Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill in anything. Here's how:
- Choose your desired start date
- Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
- Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).
Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.
The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.
Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.
The flights to/from Geneva are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.
It works like this:
- You book your chosen holiday with us
- We confirm your holiday (usually within 48 hours)
- You arrange your transportation
Getting there
Here is a link for the perfect tool which will help you get an overview of how to get to the starting point of the tour: Rome2Rio
On this tour you will stay in hotels all the way. It will be 2-star hotels, 3-star hotel in St Jean de Sixt, Le Chinaillon and Thônes and 3- or 4-star hotel in Annecy.
The first hotel in St Jean de Sixt has a swimming pool. Lake Annecy is one of the cleanest lakes in France and there is a beach.
In the itinerary you can see examples of the hotels we mostly use on this trip. If there are no vacancies in the hotels when you book the trip, we will book hotels of equivalent quality.
Breakfast is included every day. Dinner is included for five days and is omitted in Annecy because there are so many choices there. It is also possible to opt for a packed lunch on the booking form.
Luggage transfer is included on this tour. Upon arrival at the first hotel you will be given luggage tags along with the rest of the welcome package. You fill out the luggage tags and put them on your bags where they will remain for the duration of the tour.
Your luggage is picked up from the hotel lobby around 9am every morning and will arrive at your next hotel at 6pm at the latest (often long before that). If there are any special exceptions to the luggage transfer you will be notified upon arrival.
Luggage transfer includes one bag per guest and the bags can weigh 15kg each.
You will recieve the following documentation
Upon booking
You recieve practical information about the tour in a digital format
One month before arrival
You recieve your hotel list and your voucher (hotel list is often supplied upon booking)
Upon arrival
You recieve the welcome package which contains the printed version of the road book, luggage tags, local specific vouchers and if you have rented bikes then they will also be delivered and fitted at the first hotel.
This tour has difficulty grade 3.
Grade 3
Walking in hilly or mountainous terrain, with longer ascents and descents. You will walk 5-7 hours a day. Requires good fitness and good health, but no technical experience. Requires good footwear such as trekking or hiking boots.
Read more about our Grading System
Here you can get an overview of the entire route and the elevation profile for each day. The data shows the data from the GPX-files related to the tour. Notice that the routes are sometimes updated, which means that there might be small variations.
Colors
Blue routes: The route as normal
Red routes: Variations/options (such as shortened or extended routes)
Travel Insurance In general we recommend that you are covered by a good travel insurance covering at least Medical Expenses, Illness, Personal Accident, Baggage and Repatriation. The customer is responsible to take the necessary travel insurance that covers these costs. Bering Travel, or our local partners, do not have any responsibility for our customers not being covered by a necessary travel insurance. You have to arrange your insurance in your home country.
Travel Insurance In general we recommend that you are covered by a good travel insurance covering at least Medical Expenses, Illness, Personal Accident, Baggage and Repatriation. The customer is responsible to take the necessary travel insurance that covers these costs. Bering Travel, or our local partners, do not have any responsibility for our customers not being covered by a necessary travel insurance. You have to arrange your insurance in your home country.
It can be hard to plan your trip according to the weather, but to give an idea of the local climate, you can see the data below:
We are members of the Travel Guarantee Fund (nr. 2529) and have all available insurances. This covers you regardless of your nationality. Read more about that here.
Call our experts on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Phone: +44 20 3936 1208
Or write to us at
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Phone: +44 20 3936 1208
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