Autumn in the Alps: Hike in the Foothills of the French Alps

Hosted by

Madhuwant

Guided trip
Join this short and sweet getaway to conclude the European summer in style! An exciting hike awaits you in the thickets of the Corsuet Forest in the foothills of the French Alps. Breathe in the crisp mountain air as you enjoy the refreshing views of glacial lakes, rolling green hills and snow-capped peaks all at once. And then unwind at a cute French bistro while taking in the meandering canals and ornate bridges of the dreamy town of Annecy, or maybe soak in a therapeutic thermal bath of enchanting Aix-les-Bains. WHY GO? It’s not often that you get the chance to hike the beautiful French Alps when the weather is just right. The blazing summer months have come to an end, but snow hasn’t blanketed the mountains yet. The leaves have started to turn, but the foliage is yet to shroud the forest floor. There is a nip in the air, but not enough for a jacket. Folks, it is now or never! Come and witness the largest glacial lake of France in all its glory. Switch off from your busy city life and immerse yourself into the Corsuet Forest, or as the Japanese like to call it, indulging in shinrin-yoku. And if you still miss the urban life, there are always the quaint towns of Annecy and Aix-les-Bains to take you right back to civilization, albeit at a gentler, more relaxed rhythm. Best of all, it’ll all only take a weekend. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS? Hiking in Corsuet Forest: Situated in the outskirts of Aix-les-Bains and on the foothills of the French alps. Corsuet forest offers several lookouts over the Lac du Bourget and the Massif des Bauges. From up there, you also have an incredible view of the beautiful town of Aix-Les-Bains and Lac du Bourget. Discover Aix-les-Bains: Riviera of the French Alps in an unspoilt rural region in the heart of the Alps and situated on the shore of the largest natural lake of glacial origin in France, the Lac du Bourget, this town is a major spa town and also has the largest freshwater marina in France. Aix-les-Bains along with Annecy is one of the most beautiful towns in France. Lac du Bourget: Stretching 18 km, Bourget is the largest natural lake in France, surrounded by viewpoints & stunning peaks of the French alps.  This lake, which has inspired the greatest poets and as aptly stated by the famous poet, Balzac - Nowhere could one find such perfect concord between water, mountains, earth and sky. Bourget also offers visitors an array of water sports and bathing opportunities. Hiking the Circuit des 3 Croix de: Loosely translates to “The circuit of the Three Crosses”. This trail takes you along the ridge to 3 epic viewpoints over lake Annecy, with a massive cross marking each spot. We can also view the other iconic mountains including Baron & Mont Veyrier across the lake, and the tall la Tournette peak. This trail offers one of the best views/difficulty ratios of the Annecy hiking trails. Discover Lake Annecy: One of Europe’s Purest lakes and provides one of France’s most spectacular settings, with the steep wooded and snow-capped mountains rising majestically above the stunning yet peaceful turquoise waters of Lake Annecy combining to make it an unforgettable view. Lake Annecy is also the base for a wide range of sporting activities and cruises across the lake, including being famous for its paragliding activity as winds are generally gentle and air conditions are perfect. Discover Annecy: Popularly also referred to as “Venice of the Alps” , Annecy is one of France’s most beautiful town’s with its flower-decked canals crossing the medieval old town. Clustered at the foot of its imposing castle are historic buildings and churches such as the fortress of Palais de l’Île, Notre-Dame de Liesse and the St. Claire Gate. Fun Facts: - Queen Victoria used the pseudonym “The Countess of Balmoral” – during her regular visits Aix-les-Bains in the late 19th century. - Annecy is also known as the European capital of outdoor sports due to its lake and strategic location to the Alps which makes it a favorite spot for both, winter and summer sports. The trip price includes: - TripLeader (Me) - Local English speaking guide for the entire duration of the trip - 2 nights shared accommodation in Aix-Les-Bains (mix of twin & quadruple share) with breakfast included. - Public transportation for the entire trip from the meeting point (excludes flights & taxi's) - Guided French alp forest hike in Aix-Les-Bain - Guided 3 crosses hike in Annecy - Access to a dedicated WhatsApp group for this event to connect with other TripMates, coordinate arrival options & stay in touch - Access to a shared Google photo album where you can share & view all amazing pictures & videos from the trip (link to google photos album in the WhatsApp group description) All group expenses will be managed using Splitwise, so please have the Splitwise app downloaded prior to your trip to make it easy to track & settle any group related expenses incurred during the trip. A bit about me: I am Maddy, a Kiwi Indian living presently in Berlin, having moved here in May last year with my partner from Sydney. Having lived in 5 countries & traveled to just under 40 countries covering 4 continents featuring numerous solo trips and creating new friendships along the way, I can say with a lot of assurance, that you are going to have a great time on my trips. On my trips, I am looking to mix up Urban exploring with Nature hikes & trails to give a more complete travel experience.
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Trip Itinerary
1

Aix-les-Bains

Day 1-3
Day 1: Get to accommodation in Aix-Les-Bains and meet the TripLeader (me), the local guide and the rest of the participants on this amazing trip. Day 2: Enjoy breakfast and start our hike by 9 AM. Today we will be hiking in Corsuet forest which offers great views of Lac Du Bourguet and the French alps. After we are done by the hike, we walk along beautiful Lac Du Bourguet (largest natural lake in France) and cool down by taking a dip and possibly also try our hand in some water sports activities (optional) and check out the thermal baths (optional) in Aix-Les-Bains. We finish the day with dinner (optional) in a place carefully picked by our local guide.
2

Annecy

Day 3
Day 3: Enjoy breakfast and check out of our hotel by 8 AM. Today we are off to Annecy by train, one of the most beautiful places in France handpicked by the local guide. We will be hiking the "circuit of the three Crosses” starting from Annecy train station. The trail takes us along the ridge to 3 epic viewpoints over lake Annecy, with a massive cross marking each spot. The hike finishes in the cute little village of Sevrier from where we catch a bus to get to Annecy to spend some time exploring this beautiful town and lake Annecy, which provides one of France’s most spectacular settings. Once we are done with this, we head to Annecy train station and onward to Geneva / Lyon airports to head back home.
Trip Summary
Accommodation
Hotel
3 days trip
Aix-les-Bains, Annecy
Transportation
Train
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