Expeditions to France


DISCOVER THE OLD CITY OF LYON and CELEBRATE THE RETURN FROM PASTURE FESTIVAL in ANNECY (FRENCH ALPS)



DATES: October 06-14, 2019 - 9 days/8 nights
PRICE: $ 3,295 (land arrangements based on double occupancy).
ARRIVAL: October 06 in Lyon. You will need to depart the USA on October 05 in order to arrive in France the next morning.
DEPARTURE: October 14, from Lyon.
DEADLINE: May 31, 2019 (after that date, call or email to check availability and price).

"If you would like to walk through a Thomas Kinkade painting, then you will love visiting Annecy with Carole. Our summertime trip gave us wonderful views of the canal with swans, old prison, and flowers at almost every doorway and window! Lots of photo opportunities. We loved Annecy so much that we'll go back!"
Laurie Adams (Annecy participant)

We'll start our journey in old Lyon for three days. Lyon, a city older than Paris, in the heart of the Rhone Valley, is often bypassed by travelers, yet so much worth the stop. Founded in 43BC, it was the Roman capital of Gaul (called Lugdunum). We'll explore the "traboules" - semi-secret pedestrian passageways unique to Lyon, joining two parallel streets and dating from the Roman era - and stroll leisurely in the Vieux Lyon (old Lyon) rife with historical and architectural gems.
We'll also go and photograph the many "trompe l'oeil" murals that abound in Lyon - beautiful optical illusions hiding ugly walls - very clever and magnificently done.

Lyon is also known as the French capital of gastronomy - it is the home of gourmet chef Paul Bocuse - and a dinner in the convivial atmosphere of a traditional "Bouchon" restaurant will give us a culinary experience worth remembering.

Then a train ride will take us to Annecy. Located in the northern French Alps, in Haute-Savoie, about 50 miles south of Geneva, Switzerland, Annecy is known as the Venice of Savoy. A well-deserved title for this medieval city built around a 14th Century Chateau and whose center is criss-crossed with small canals and streams running out of Lake Annecy, the purest in Europe. Annecy also wins all ornamental contests with its amazing flower beds found throughout the city and in its parks from Spring to Fall.

We'll spend delightful hours exploring the old city, its medieval arcades, its cobblestone pedestrian walkways, its castle and old prison, enjoying its open-air markets and sidewalk restaurants. We'll also enjoy an excursion by boat on the pure and clear waters of Lake Annecy.
It is in this picturesque and scenic setting that the Return from Pasture Festival takes place, enlivening the streets of Annecy with parades of flower-adorned cows, flocks of geese, sheep, donkeys and the delightful sounds of cowbells, Alpen horns and harmonicas. The heart of Annecy truly become a huge open-air alpine festival theater, filled with Alpine musicians, dancers and artists, farm animals of all kinds and Alpine food tasting, giving us great opportunities for action and people photography. As years go by, this festival which was local originally has become a huge affair of national scale, bringing in folk groups from French and Swiss Alpine regions. This is an extraordinary celebration full of life, joy and good humor, so be ready to enjoy it with all your senses and to take hundreds of photographs.

For a magnificent view of the Alps and the Mont Blanc, we'll go on an excursion to Chamonix and take the cable car ride to the Aiguille du Midi, a 12,602 Ft peak in the French Alps. A panorama unique in the world, over the French, Swiss and Italian Alps awaits us at the top (weather permitting), with a view on the Mont-Blanc, France's highest peak, at 15,771 feet.

Expedition Cost: $3,295 (land arrangement only, based on double occupancy). Cost for single room accommodations: $3,495.
Reservations: A $1,000 per person deposit is required to secure a place on our expeditions, which can be paid via Paypal (there's a 3% fee additional) or by check. If you wish a single room or are a single person who cannot be paired with a roomate, the cost is $3,495. The balance is due 90 days prior to beginning of expedition.
Group Size: minimum 2, maximum 6. Under 4 sign-ups a small-group supplement of $350 p.p. will be requested.

*Expedition Cost includes:
3-star hotel accommodations in Annecy Old Town and in Lyon ; all breakfasts, 5 meals (lunch, dinner) taken with the group (as indicated in itinerary that will be sent to you); coach transfer from Lyon airport to city; train from Lyon to Annecy; round-trip train from Annecy to Chamonix; coach transfer from Annecy to Lyon airport; metro transportation in Lyon; entrance fees (Castle of Annecy, Palais de l'Ile, Annecy Lake day cruise, Chamonix cable car); services of expedition leader.

Cost does NOT include:
NOTE: American and Canadian nationals do not need visa to enter France. Other nationals should check with their French consulate. You need a valid passport.

For complete details, see our General Information page.

To register for an expedition and make a payment, go to Registration