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Walking Weekend Short Breaks in The French Alps – Aravis / Annecy
Fully Supported Walking Weekends – Alpine Hiking in France
Our Walk Weekender breaks in the Aravis / Annecy region of the French Alps give you great walking and hiking through stunning mountain scenery, plus the perfect base to relax and unwind after a long day in the hills.
Everything is taken care of, you just need to turn up at Geneva and we’ll take care of the rest.
With a short airport transfer of just 1 hour, superb Alpine walking with lots of circular routes and add-on options for all fitness levels, beautiful landscape, great weather… it will amaze you how much quality hiking time you can fit into a long weekend break with Walk Weekender.
Our Dedicated Walking Base – Lake Annecy / Aravis Mountains
The Lake Annecy – Aravis region is a fantastic destination for Alpine walking… there’s a huge number of trails covering a wide range of terrain easily accesible throughout the region.
From the woods, winding streams and meadows of the valley floors, through pine forest and Alpine pasture, on up towards craggy limestone peaks, you’ll find walking to suit all levels of experience and fitness.
Walks can be anything from 5km – 20km long, with an ascent from a few hundred metres up to 1500m or more for the biggest full-day routes. Aim to be walking from roughly 09.00 – 15.00 / 16.00, with lunch out at a café or with a picnic.
We can help with route choice, plus supply maps / guides and a GPS , but walking and navigation are undertaken independently on each day.
Thursday to Monday Walking Weekends – Short Breaks in the Alps
Our 4-day walking weekends in the Aravis / Annecy region have a very short airport transfer and the full support of our team at the Aravis Lodge, giving you the most time in the mountains possible over a short break.
You’ll stay at our base, the Aravis Lodge, a home away from home in the centre of the traditional Alpine village of Saint Jean de Sixt.
As well as a continental breakfast, you’ll find comfy facilities and dedicated service from our resident team.
Contact us if you’d like more information about other walking and hiking routes in the area.
Walking Weekend Itinerary – 3.5 days walking stunning Alpine trails
On each day of a walking weekend break, you’ll head out after breakfast at the Lodge.
Lunch can be taken at cafés / restaurants along the walk route, or a packed lunch can be provided for longer / more remote routes.
After each walk, there’ll be time back at the Lodge to relax before heading out to your choice of dinner locations (neither lunch nor your evening meal are included in the package price).
Thursday – Arrival
You arrange your own afternoon flights to Geneva Airport. Geneva is well served with flights from the UK – see full details on travel options here >>>
Our airport pick-up is at 18.30 – transfer to your base is only 1 hour, getting you to your hotel by approximately 19.30.
Friday – Danay to Les Confins and La Clusaz
A beautiful first-day walk giving amazing panoramic views of the region, which really help set the scene for the rest of the weekend.
A winding ascent of the wooded mountain of Danay leads to a spectacular viewpoint, and then an easy descent through pasture back to the ski resort of La Clusaz.
Walk distance = 12km with total climbing of 400m
Saturday – Lac de Lessey loop to Le Chinaillon
A bigger walk with more ascent, starting and finishing in the old village of Le Chinaillon, and passing via the high farming hamlet of Mayse, the Alpine lake of Lessy, and a spectacular ridge walk to the grassy peak of the ‘Aiguille Verte’.
Walk distance = 9km with total climbing of 950m
Sunday – ‘Balcon des Aravis’
Another longer walk, but with more horizontal distance covered… starting from the remote Col des Annes, traverse the head of the Bornand valley to the high mountain refuge of Grammusset beneath imposing Pointe Percée, the highest point in the region.
Follow the base of the Aravis chain beneath another half-dozen combes and peaks, back to a pick-up at Les Confins.
Walk distance = 16km with total climbing of 450m
Monday – Croix Fry – Colomban – Departure
A final shorter walk to stretch the legs out… an easy ascent from Le Croix Fry to the viewpoint of Croix de Colomban, looking back down on the valley of Thônes.
Traverse and descend back to La Clusaz via the plateau of Beauregard.
Walk distance = 9km with total climbing of 300m
Return to base, pack, shower and change before departing for Geneva Airport. Transfers leave base at 13:00 (for flights departing after 16.00).
The Aravis Lodge – A Perfect Walking Base
The Aravis Lodge is set it up to cater to all of your walking holiday needs, so make yourself comfortable and think of it as your home away from home.
The hotel has 18 ensuite bedrooms – most rooms are 2-person twin / doubles, plus there are also four larger family rooms, which sleep up to 4 in twin / double beds along with an adult-sized bunk bed.
It also has a pleasant, sunny lounge with comfy sofas, a smaller TV room with English satellite TV and DVD player, and a cosy licensed bar.
The bar has local Mont Blanc draught beer on tap, along with a wide range of spirits, bottled beers and soft drinks.
On the basement level you will find a fully equipped gym and fitness room, with CV and weights machines – in case you haven’t had enough exercise already.
The modern sauna and massage room always seem to be much more popular! Massages must be pre-booked in advance of your stay – please contact us for more details once you have booked your trip.
The Aravis Lodge – Breakfast for Walkers
All Walk Weekender breaks include a hearty continental buffet, served from 07:30 each morning to set you up for the day’s walking.
The Aravis Lodge – Evening Meals
Your evening meal is not included in the package price of your 4-day Walk Weekender break, in order to give you the most flexibility.
However, there are plenty of dinner choices locally to suit all tastes and budgets. These range from traditional and modern French restaurants, an Italian pasta restaurant, a pizza takeaway, cafés, as well as a small supermarket just across the road from the hotel for snack, salads, picnic items, fresh crusty baguettes, local specialities etc.
Dates and Prices for Walking Weekend Breaks – Aravis / Annecy
Our walking weekend breaks are available in the Aravis / Annecy on certain fixed dates each summer >>>, on a Thursday – Monday 4-night basis. These breaks are available to book for groups of 2 or more, starting at only £445pp, based on 2 people sharing a twin / double room.
Solo walkers are also welcome to book on any of our ‘Classic’ weekends, subject to there already being a minimum of 2 other guests booked onto that break. Please contact us >>> to confirm availability and pricing.
For trips on other dates, longer stays, or holidays with a different start / end day format, we can arrange custom walking packages for groups of 6 or more. See here for more details of our custom trips for clubs and groups >>>
Discounts for groups of 6 or more on our ‘Classic’ breaks are available… see here for more details >>>
Walk Weekender ‘Classic’ Packages Include
Ensuite Accommodation at the Aravis Lodge, Saint Jean de Sixt
Airport Transfers from Geneva – pickup at 18:30 for arrivals
Airport Transfers to Geneva – leave resort at 13:00, for flights scheduled to depart from 16.00 onwards
Continental breakfast – hearty, plentiful, walker-friendly food
The dedicated service of our professional, friendly team
Not Included in the Package Price
Flights – arranged independently. See here for full details >>>
Café / restaurant / picnic lunches whilst out walking – bought directly
Evening meals – plenty of great local options
Drinks from the Aravis Lodge bar – tabs charged on departure
Interested in a ‘Classic’ Break in the Northern French Alps?
If you’d like to join one of our Walk Weekender breaks, just send through our booking form here >>>… we’ll be in touch by email shortly to confirm your reservation.
If you have any questions about any aspect of our walking holidays, our package, accommodation or the areas we operate in, just send through an enquiry form here >>>, call us on +44 845 557 5983 or email info@walkweekender.com
Looking to book a Walking Break in the Northern Alps?
Just email us at info@walkweekender.com , call us on +44 (0) 845 557 5983 or
