From the Aravis to Lake Annecy

For moderately experienced to experienced walkers who have already completed day hikes involving 4 to 6 hours 30 minutes of walking and elevation gains of + 600 to +1100m.
Most days offer 2 options.

No main luggage to carry: you carry only a small daypack with your packed lunch and belongings for the day. Your luggage will be waiting for you at your accommodation each evening.
Luggage is transported by the hotel or by taxi. 1 piece of luggage only, weighing a maximum of 15 kg per person.

7 days, 6 nights

Accommodation

Accommodation in 2* hotels or equivalent; in 3* hotels in St Jean de Sixt and Le Chinaillon, and a well-located 3 or 4* hotel in Annecy.
Half board, except in Annecy (bed and breakfast).

Hotel ratings

In France, increasing numbers of hotels and guesthouses choose not to have an official rating, including establishments that were still rated one or two years ago. This does not mean their quality has declined—far from it. Many guesthouses offer charming rooms.
If, for example, we specify a comfort level of “3* or equivalent”, this means that the establishment may not have an official rating, but offers a level of comfort comparable to a 3* hotel.

This is a self-guided trip, without a guide; we provide a digital travel pack that
includes: access to our smartphone navigation app, a list of your accommodation,
any vouchers required and all the information you need for your stay to run smoothly.
If you wish, we can send a printed travel pack with maps and route notes for a supplement of 35 € per pack. For requests made less than 45 days before departure, or for travellers outside France, we will make the pack available at the first hotel.

Available for groups of 2 people or more.
Suitable for motivated children aged 11 and over who are confident walkers.

Start

On Day 1 in the afternoon in St Jean de Sixt

Finish

On Day 7 after breakfast or in the afternoon after the walk, in Annecy.

By train

Travel by train to Annecy, then continue by local coach or taxi to Saint-Jean-de-Sixt. Check current rail times on SNCF Connect and coach connections with Alpbus before booking.

By car

You can leave your car in the car park behind your first accommodation for the duration of the walking trip and return to collect it by bus or taxi. Please notify the hotel in advance and leave your keys with them in case they need to move your vehicle. You can also reserve a garage at the hotel.

To return from Annecy to Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, check the current local coach connection or arrange a taxi in advance.

By plane

The nearest airport is Geneva Airport.
Here are the various options for travelling between the airport and the walking trip:
Outbound, from Geneva to St Jean de Sixt:
By taxi from Geneva Airport to St Jean de Sixt: fare available on request, depending on your arrival day and time

• By train / bus from Geneva to Annecy, then by taxi:
  • From Geneva Airport to Annecy: by train or bus (some buses are direct); journey time 2 to 2½ hours; www.sbb.ch
  • From Annecy railway station to St Jean de Sixt by taxi
• By train / bus from Geneva to St Jean de Sixt; only available in July / August:
  • From Geneva Airport to Annecy: by train or bus (see above)
  • From Annecy railway station to St Jean de Sixt by bus: Alpbus

Return, from Annecy to Geneva: by bus / train or taxi

Lake Annecy is one of the cleanest lakes in France. There is an admission charge for the beach in Talloires (between 2 € and 3 €), while beach access in Annecy is free.

Member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR)

Since 2012, Grand Angle has been a member of ATR, the leading association for more responsible tourism. We design our trips – on foot, by bike and on snow – to encourage everyone to discover the world in a different way: with curiosity, respect and kindness.

As a member of the board of directors since 2018, we actively help the sector develop more meaningful practices. In practical terms, we focus on:

• Transparency in our practices and pricing
• Respect for our partners and local communities
• Protecting the environment on every trip

We also share the values of the Traveller’s Ethical Charter, which encourages everyone to take simple steps to protect the places they visit and create opportunities for meaningful encounters.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle has been recognised as a Travelife Partner, an international label that certifies our responsible environmental, ethical and sustainable management practices, both within our company and in our work with partners and the organisation of our trips.

This label, the second level of a rigorous international certification scheme, recognises our concrete actions to support responsible tourism. We are actively working towards the next level, Travelife Certified, in line with our sustainable development policy

Equipment

In this section, you will find links to products from our partner Alpinstore, a French online retailer specialising in outdoor equipment, based in Annecy.

To carry your belongings

• A comfortable 30 to 50 L backpack with a hip belt to carry your personal belongings and picnic lunch during the day
• A bag for luggage transfers: a backpack, a travel bag in good condition or a suitcase that is not too bulky. Only one bag per person, with a weight limit of 15kg

Read our magazine article on how to pack your hiking backpack.

For hiking

For maximum comfort, choose a layered clothing system: warm base layers (leggings + top), such as “Carline” or “Capilene” (hollow fibres that wick away perspiration) + a sweatshirt or fleece jacket + a mountain jacket and overtrousers with a waterproof, breathable membrane (such as Gore-Tex or equivalent) for bad weather. As a general rule, except in hot climates and countries, avoid cotton, which holds moisture close to the body (and takes a long time to dry), and choose suitable synthetic fabrics instead.

• Hiking boots with ankle support, a well-treaded sole, a supportive heel counter and good waterproofing
• Comfortable hiking socks (at least 3 pairs)
• A fleece
• Comfortable walking trousers (quick-drying technical fabric)
• Comfortable technical shorts
• Technical T-shirts or base layers (quick-drying fabric)
• A long-sleeved shirt
• Walking poles (telescopic), very important for making walking easier. Discover all the benefits of walking poles in our dedicated article or how to choose your walking poles

Please note: synthetic technical clothing performs very well. New merino wool clothing is also available; it performs very well, is comfortable to wear and has the added benefit of resisting odours from perspiration!

For your picnic lunch

• Your eating kit: a plastic bowl, container or plate, and cutlery (spoon, fork, knife)
• 1 or 2 water bottles (a total capacity of at least 1,5 L) – required –; an insulated flask for winter

For protection from sun and rain

• Sunscreen (high protection)
• Sunglasses
• A hat, cap or bucket hat
• A rain poncho or a waterproof jacket, such as a softshell or Gore-Tex jacket, and possibly waterproof trousers

After your walk

• A pair of trainers or running shoes for the evening
• A change of clothes and underwear
• A toiletry bag and a small towel
• Swimwear and a towel for the wellness facilities
• A small first-aid kit: personal medication, surgical masks, hand sanitiser, plasters, sterile dressings and a bandage, gauze, disinfectant, arnica pellets and aspirin, etc. (Please note that this list is not exhaustive and should be adapted to your own medical needs.)

Find these tips in our article #"What to pack for a hike".

This list is intended as a guide and should be adapted to your trip and the season in which you travel.

St Jean De Sixt tourist office: 0450027014
Annecy tourist office: 0450450033
Compagnie des bateaux Annecy: 0450510840 / https://www.bateaux-annecy.com/

Gastronomy

You can combine fine dining and hiking on this trip.
In Talloires, l’Auberge du Père Bise and l’Abbaye de Talloires are among France’s most renowned restaurants. In Veyrier, chef Yoann Conte, who took over from Marc Veyrat, has a fine-dining restaurant on the lakeshore (2* in the Michelin Guide).
Prices are generally very high, and reservations are essential!

A valid national identity card or passport.

I.G.N 1/25000 TOP 25 maps 1:25000 No. 3430 ET La Clusaz and 3431 OT Lac d’Annecy.