HOW TO EXPLORE ANNECY IN 48 HOURS

If fairy tales are make-believe then Annecy will make you think otherwise!

Lake Annecy has been on my list of MUST-DO places to explore ever since I moved to France and have heard a countless number of times how wonderfully alluring it is. Needless to say, I needed to discover it for myself!

Once again in August faced with yet another French bank holiday (I’m definitely NOT complaining!), we booked our train tickets to head down south to spend three days enjoying southern French sunshine, mouth-watering cuisine and clear crystal blue waters. It goes without saying that after a day I felt I had been there for at least a week!

Handy tip: If you want to explore the old town of Annecy and have it all to yourself… Rise with the sunshine!

August being the peak season of les grandes vacances hotels and hostels in Annecy seemed to be booked out. We chose to stay in what seemed to be the only hostel in Annecy… The Annecy Hostel. Ideally located within 10 minutes walk to the old town and 15 minutes from the train station, they offer discounts at the bar for guests, a vibrant and lively atmosphere with helpful staff and at $28 a night for a dorm room bed it was ideal for a budget traveller.

Our first day we woke up at the crack of dawn to explore and take some photos away from the late morning tourist rush.

We biked around the old town savoring the tranquility, stocking up on fruit and snacks from the local market before embarking on our adventure.

We were advised NOT to take our heavy city bikes for a 40km ride all the way around the lake by both our hostel and the guy who rented the bikes to us! Unfortunately, given the high season, there were virtually no bikes left for rental and we really didn’t have a choice. Going against all advice, we took our chances.

The bike ride is easy for the first half with clearly marked lanes and a relatively flat path. The first 20km went by in a breeze as we admired villages scattered sparsely around the lake nestled within the mountains.

Upon reaching Verthier we were undecided as to whether to do a hike. The classic hike is to La Tournette which is at 2351m and estimated to take around 4 hours from Verthier. You can also start your hike from Talloires or alternatively get a shuttle bus from Doussard or Talloires to Col de la Forclaz and hike the rest of the way.

We decided to take the 2 hour hike up 1150m to Col de la Forclaz starting at Verthier. Unable to resist an unbelievable view at the top, we commenced our climb through the forest trail.

The first 200m or so were steep after which we took breaks every 30 minutes or so until we got to the top. It was so rewarding and we took a well-deserved lunch at one of the restaurants overlooking the lake. The view was spectacular! We could see the whole lake and the paragliders added a scenic touch.

Getting back on our bikes again we knew the next 20km would be challenging and were pre-warned by our hostel that most people ride back the same way they came.

We could feel our legs starting to tremble and the bike seat becoming more and more uncomfortable. By this time we were committed and there was no going back! We peddled the next 20km taking breaks to go for a cold swim until we reached the dreaded hill, taking a pit stop in the nearby town Talloires.

Finally spending a good 30 minutes going uphill, it was refreshing to be able to cruise it for the rest of it going down.

At the finish line, it felt like we had completed our own mini iron woman. A 40km bike ride, 1150m climb, a swim and 12.5 hours later we made it!

Handy tip 2: If you want to ensure you have a bike during peak season either reserve in advance or make sure it is the first thing you do when you arrive! Our bike rental shop had 300 bikes and we were lucky to have one as a group had just bought 5 bikes back!! The one outside the station offers a discount for those arriving on an SNCF train.