IMAGES: GETTY; ALAMY


From left: The village of Talloires on Lake Annecy; the old town of Annecy, with Mont Baron visible in the background


Water activities TOP FIVE


FREEDIVING Freedive in Lake Annecy with Planète Apnée, a venture launched in 2023 to tap into the sport’s growing popularity. There are sessions for beginners, as well as outings that will have you float over a shipwreck. planeteapnee.fr


TOUMO YOGA Inspired by a Tibetan method, this yoga class features breathing techniques and visualisation — plus controlled exposure to spring-fresh, icy-cold water in mountain streams above Le Grand-Bornand. masalayoga.fr


DAY ONE CYCLING & CITY LIFE


Morning To get a sense of the scale and beauty of the Annecy region, start with a cycling tour of the lake. Pack chocolate flapjacks from retro- style cafe Le Bar Roux d’Heure in Annecy town before picking up bikes from Roul’Ma Poule on Rue des Marquisats, a five-minute walk away. It couldn’t be better located, right opposite the beginning of the Voie Verte du lac d’Annecy — one of the oldest greenways in France. There’s the chance to complete a 26-mile, mostly flat loop around the lake; it takes around three hours to finish, but time goes by quickly as you pedal between beaches and small villages, and past gardens bursting with hollyhocks, bougainvillea and oleanders. instagram.com/lebarrouxdheure annecy-location-velo.com


Afternoon Lots of boulangeries surround the Jardins de L’Europe park at the water’s edge of Annecy town, so pick up a quiche and find a shady bench for a picnic lunch. Then, join a guided tour led by local enthusiasts of the old town. It’s a maze of medieval streets lined with arcades and arches, crisscrossed with canals and offshoots of the River Thiou. At its mouth, you can’t miss the Palais de l’Ile — built on a rocky island in the 12th century as the lord of Annecy’s residence, it’s since been a prison, court and mint. Now surrounded by cafe terraces and colourful canal-side houses, with window boxes filled with geraniums, it’s Annecy’s most picturesque spot. guidesannecy.com musees.annecy.fr


Evening Book a private dinner with Annecy Lounge Boat to feast on local charcuterie and cheese fondue as you cruise at sunset. It’s a good option for families or larger groups; the boats seat up to 12, and every seat offers tremendous views. Alternatively, hop on board a water taxi and head south to the shoreside village of Doussard, where the private pontoon of La Cuillère à Omble sets the scene for the seafood feast to come. This bistro sources char, pike, perch and more from Haute-Savoie’s three lakes and serves them on a terrace by the water. The restaurant is right by the Bout du Lac Nature Reserve, one of the lake’s last untouched stretches of shore, ensuring a tranquillity unmatched elsewhere. water-taxi.fr lacuillereaomble.fr


KAYAKING Spot pike and perch as you glide in a see-through kayak around Lake Annecy. Watersports specialist Gliss’cool is based in Angon, an easy paddle away from Talloires and Roc de Chère National Nature Reserve. stand-up-paddle-annecy. com


CANYONING Walk up streams, jump from waterfalls and abseil down the rock faces of pretty Angon canyon. As long as you can swim, you’re welcome — the guides will tailor the half-day experience accordingly. guides-grandbornand.com


WATER HIKING A gentle form of canyoning, this is ideal for children aged six and over. Walk through a river in La Sambuy, sometimes sliding down rocks, sometimes splashing into pools. terreo-canyoning.com


ALPINE 2024 23


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