Home > Three Lake Cycling: Geneva, Bourget & Annecy

Three Lake Cycling: Geneva, Bourget & Annecy

A vélo le long du Lac du Bourget 7
Although taking place in the Alps, this cycling tour takes place on easy terrain This cycling tour links the three most important lakes: Geneva, Bourget, and Annecy View of the village of Seyssel Riding by the lake du Bourget's shore on a traffic-free route Wandering along the canals in the old town of Annecy Take a break in Chanaz as you cycle at your own pace on your self-guided cycling tour The elephants in Chambery

Cyclomundo offers guided and self-guided cycling trips in the French Alps, click here to see the French Alps regional page.

  • Self-guided trip: Starts any Friday or Sunday from April through mid-October 2024.*
  • 5 nights/6 days
  • Daily mileage: From 46 km (29 miles) to 66 km (41 miles) (a challenging route is also available).
  • Trip starts from Geneva and ends in Annecy. Geneva is serviced by low-cost airlines such as Easyjet.
  • Accommodation in 2-star, 3-star & 4-star properties
  • Level: 2/3 (Easy/Moderate) (a challenging route is also available).

*Starting on another weekday possible for groups (must be 4 or more at time of booking and departure)

 

A vélo le long du Lac du Bourget

Three Lake Cycling: Geneva, Bourget & Annecy

  • Level
  • PriceFrom 775 euros
  • DAY5 nights / 6 days

More info: Receive detailed hotel list, bike specs, and route description

More infos BOOK NOW !

Description

Sizzling scenery, mesmerizing mountains, and luscious lakes!

Do you love cycling and exploring new areas by bike, but think the Alps are beyond your reach, because of - you know - climbing all those mountains? Are you more of a leisure cyclist than an avid “col”-climbing animal?

Then look no further, this trip is for you!

This unique bicycle tour in the French Alps makes it possible for leisure riders to experience the captivating cycling of the Alps without the hill hassle. Linking the three major lakes of the area (Lake Geneva, Lake Bourget, and Lake Annecy), the cycling routes essentially follow river paths, such as along the Rhône and Isère rivers, taking in historic villages, stunning natural scenery, lush meadows and valleys, and picturesque peaks along the way.

Pack your swimsuit in case you can’t resist the call of the lake (or all three lakes)! A refreshing swim is the best way to cool off after a day of biking. Come and cycle the entrancing Alps and capture some Alpine magic along the way!

 

Itinerary

D1Arrive in Geneva (Friday or Sunday)

 

Arrive in Geneva at your leisure and check in at your hotel. Take time to discover this stylish city on your own. It’s a gem of international organizations, finance, and culture, meshing Old World with New, and is a delight to explore. The crescent-shaped Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) provides a marvelous treat for your eyes and plentiful photo fodder. Dinner is at leisure.

Since Geneva is the culinary capital of Switzerland, you’ll find a variety of restaurants and eateries sure to please every palate.

D2Geneva or Gaillard — Seyssel (Saturday or Monday) 61 km/38 miles, 680 meters/2,230 ft of climbing or 70 km/43 miles, 740 meters/2,425 ft of climbing

 

Meet our local rep in the morning for the bike outfitting and itinerary briefing. The highlights of your route include cycling along the famous Rhône River, admiring the views over the charming wine-making villages of Dardagny and Satigny, and frolicking around forts. Conquer the westernmost point of Switzerland by bike at the village of Chancy and then cross the border into France.

Be sure not to miss the Fort de l’Ecluse, an elevated fort founded by a Duke of Savoy. He built it out of a striking rock formation, one which forms a natural entrance of the Rhone Valley into France between the Vuache hills and the Jura. Your home for the night is in Seyssel, a small “double-town” on the Rhone that lies in both the Haute-Savoie (Upper Savoy) and the Ain departments.

D3Seyssel — Aix-les-Bains (Sunday or Tuesday) 46 km/29 miles, 430 meters/1,410 ft of climbing

 

The views on today’s ride – the 14 summits of the Bauges mountain range on one side, as well as Mont de la Charvaz and Col-du-Chat on the other – are some of the major highlights of this tour. Sheer cliffs seem to spring up magically from the water and the mountains surround you in protective peacefulness. Lake Bourget (Lac du Bourget) is the largest natural glacial lake and the deepest entirely within France. It was the only home to the now extinct Bezoule, a freshwater whitefish that fed at muddy depths of 70 - 80 meters (230 - 260 ft) and reportedly disappeared in the 1960s. Cycle past the impressive site of the medieval Château de Montverran in Culoz, which was built on a rock in 1316 and, in more recent times, inspired the likes of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev.

Pedal on to the spa town of Aix-les-Bains, which was known for its baths as far back as the Roman Empire. Today, you can discover the numerous Roman ruins that remain.

D4Aix-les-Bains — Sainte-Hélène-sur-Isère (Monday or Wednesday) 66 km/41 miles, 680 meters/2,230 ft of climbing

 

Today, you’ll pedal through the heart of Savoy to Chambery, a town of art and history. Located in a wide valley between the Bauges and Chartreuse mountain ranges, at the crossroads of ancient trade routes, the old-town section of Chambery is one of the most remarkable in France. Along the way, take in the ruins of the 10th century fortress, Chateau de Miolans, which overlook the rich wine-growing region of the Combe de Savoie valley (including the village of Chignin, with remains of the 8th century Sarasin stronghold and its 6 towers). The Isère River guides the route to Grésy-sur-Isère, a largely agricultural community that has been inhabited by man since the Neolithic Age.

D5Sainte-Hélène-sur-Isère — Annecy (Tuesday or Thursday) 57 km/34 miles, 320 meters/1,050 ft of climbing

 

Roll your way to Grésy-sur-Isère by way of Albertville, situated on the Arly River close to the confluence with the Isere River. Albertville hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics and has become quite an industrial center, but it also encompasses the medieval town of Conflans, whose buildings date back to the 14th century. The Beaufortain and Bauges mountain ranges will dazzle you as you cycle to the stunning Lake Annecy (Lac d’Annecy). The Aravis mountain range reigns over Europe’s cleanest lake; its heights are famous for the hairpin turns and steep bends in the Tour de France. The magnificent town of Annecy, nestled on the northern tip of Lake Annecy, might remind you of Venice, with canals cut through sections of the historic Alpine-style village.

Strolling around, you’ll encounter the Palais de l’Isle (a 12th Century prison on an island, it is now the town’s symbol), the Chateau d’Annecy, the 16th-century Cathedral of Saint-Pierre, and the 20th century Pont des Amours (Lover’s Bridge) made of iron.

D6Departure (Wednesday or Friday)

 

Have a relaxing breakfast, enjoy more of the sights and sounds of Annecy, and depart at your leisure.
Or, feel free to prolong the pleasure and choose to stay longer in Annecy in order to make the most of this extraordinary town and setting.

Booking & Prices

  • Option A
  • 5 nights in 2- and 3-star hotels (first hotel is in Gaillard, just 7 km/4 miles from the center of Geneva)

  • 775 euros per person in April and October. Single supplement is 270 euros
  • 795 euros per person in May, June and September. Single supplement is 280 euros
  • 825 euros per person in July and August. Single supplement is 290 euros
  • Option A+
  • 5 nights in 2-, 3-, and 4-star hotels. 

  • 920 euros per person in April and October. Single supplement is 295 euros
  • 955 euros per person in May, June and September. Single supplement is 315 euros
  • 990 euros per person in July and August. Single supplement is 335 euros

These prices include:

  • 5 nights’ accommodation as described above
  • Daily breakfast
  • 2 dinners (drinks are not included)
  • Meeting with our local representative
  • Luggage transfers
  • Marked maps and/or roadbook (paper and/or app)
  • Pre-loaded GPS unit (subject to availability) or navigation app
  • Assistance if necessary (you will be provided with our local rep’s mobile number)
  • All tax and service charges

These prices do not include:

  • Expenses of a personal nature
  • Travel insurance
  • Bicycle rentals. Hybrid bikes are available at the rate of 140 euros per bike. Gravel bikes are available at the rate of 155 euros per bike. Full-carbon racing bikes are available at the rate of 185 euros per bike. Electric bikes are available at the rate of 225 euros per bike. These prices include the drop-off fee for the bike’s return to Geneva.

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