Cycling holiday, 3 lakes in the French Alps

Day 1Arrival Day Geneva

We recommend direct flights Oslo – Geneva. After arrival in Geneva, transport to the hotel is on your own. We recommend taking some time for a city tour. Geneva is a city where the old is nicely blended with the new, and is truly a joy to explore. The crescent-shaped Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) is simply beautiful! From the airport to the hotel on the first day is only a short taxi ride.

Geneva is considered the culinary capital of Switzerland, so you will find a large selection of restaurants and eateries that are guaranteed to please every palate.

Day 2Geneva - Seyssel

You meet our local representative in the morning for a brief briefing on the itinerary and cycling equipment. Highlights of the route include cycling along the famous Rhône River, as well as great views of the charming villages of Dardagny and Satigny. A lot of wine is produced here. You will also see several medieval fortresses along the way. Eventually, you pass the westernmost point in Switzerland, located right by the village of Chancy. You then cross the border into France.

One of the sights of this day is the fortress Fort de l'Ecluse, built by the Duke of Savoy. He built it in a rock formation that forms a natural entrance to the Rhône Valley, into France between the Vuache Mountains and the Jura. The hotel you stay at tonight is located in Seyssel, a town situated in both the Haute-Savoie (Upper Savoy) and Ain departments.

Day 3Seyssel - Aix-les-Bains

The views on today's bike ride, with the 14 peaks of the Bauges mountain range on one side, and Mont de la Charvaz and Col-du-Chat on the other, are simply stunning! Steep cliffs rising straight out of the water, surrounded by the beautiful mountains. Lake Bourget (Lac du Bourget) is the deepest lake in all of France. The lake used to have a great diversity of fish. This included the now extinct Bezoule, a freshwater whitefish that lived at muddy depths between 70 and 80 meters, which disappeared in the 1960s.

The cycling route then continues past the impressive medieval castle Château de Montverran in Culoz. Built on a mountaintop in the year 1316 and which, in more recent times, inspired the composer Sergei Prokofiev.

Eventually, you will arrive in the spa town of Aix-les-Bains, which was known for its baths as far back as the Roman Empire. You will still be able to see the Roman ruins, mighty!

Day 4Aix-les-Bains - Saint-Hélène-sur-Isère

Today the tour goes through the heart of Savoy to Chambéry, a town rich in art and history. The old town of Chambéry is one of the most remarkable in France. Along the way, you also pass Château de Miolans, built in the 11th century, and the 9th-century Sarasin Fort, as well as the beautiful Isère River. This area has been inhabited ever since the Neolithic era, approximately 10,000 years BC!

Day 5Saint-Hélène-sur-Isère - Annecy

Today's stage takes you to Grésy-sur-Isère, via Albertville, the town that hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics and has developed into an important industrial center. Albertville also includes the medieval city of Conflans, where the buildings date back to the 14th century.

You pass the mighty Beaufortain and Bauges mountain ranges as you cycle towards the stunning Lake Annecy (Lac d'Annecy).

The Aravis mountain range reigns over Europe's cleanest lake! Here you will find several mountain roads with hairpin bends famous from the Tour de France, among others.

The town of Annecy, located on the northern shore of Lake Annecy, resembles Venice with canals cutting through the old town.

A walk in the old town is a must. Very cozy with many small bridges, restaurants, and narrow alleys.

Day 6Departure Day

You enjoy a relaxing breakfast before checking out of the hotel. There are good public transport connections to the airport.

The program is preliminary; changes may occur. Expa Travel AS reserves the right to adjust for any currency changes or typing errors.

The program is preliminary; changes may occur.