Expeditions to France

"Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again."
Henri Cartier-Bresson (French photographer 1908-2004)

"Just want to let you know that everything went perfectly on my trip home from France and hope the same was true for you. I have just finished loading my photos onto the computer and I am THRILLED with many, many of my pictures. I really enjoyed the trip and spending the time with you. Merci beaucoup." I.S. (Ohio)



ANNECY (French Alps) and the RETOUR DES ALPAGES (Return from Alpine Pasture), plus CHAMONIX (Mont Blanc, Aiguille du Midi) and LYON
Dates: October 10-20, 2008 - 11 days/10 nights
Price: $3,125 (land arrangements only, based on single occupancy).
Arrival: October 10, 2008 in Lyon. You will need to depart the USA on October 9th in order to arrive in Lyon the next morning. From Lyon St Exupery Airport, you will take either a coach or the train to Annecy (Detailed directions will be provided once we know your air schedule).
Departure: October 20, 2008, from Lyon.

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 its parks from Spring to Fall. October will be the perfect time to enjoy its autumn colors.

We'll spend delightful hours exploring the old city, its medieval arcades and castle, its cobblestone pedestrian walkways, enjoying its open-air markets and sidewalk restaurants, and take a cruise on the pure and clear waters of Lake Annecy.

One day each October, the rich cultural heritage of the Alps is celebrated in the streets of Annecy old town with the Return from Alpine Pastures of the dairy herds coming back to the stables for the winter. In the morning, presentation and demonstration of regional crafts, sampling of delicious traditional food, musicians and yodlers, folk dancing, turn the city into a huge fair of everything alpine. Local farmers display and sell their regional products, produce and home-made specialties.

Then in the afternoon come the cows adorned with flower wreaths, flocks of geese, sheep, goats, donkeys, horses, parading through town with their herders dressed in colorful costumes. The sounds of alpen horns and cowbells fill the air and can be heard for miles around. As years go by, this festival which was local originally has become a huge affair of national scale, bringing in folk groups from France alpine regions as well as Switzerland.

It is an extraordinary celebration worth recording, so be ready to enjoy it with all your senses and to take hundreds of photographs.

We'll spend five days in Annecy, then take the train for a two-day visit in Chamonix, tucked away at the foot of Europe's highest peak, the Mont Blanc (15,771ft). Chamonix is France oldest ski resort and the first host of the Winter Olympics in 1924.
Taking the second highest cable car in the world we'll discover stunning views of the Alps chain from the summit of the Aiguille du Midi (about 12,600ft).

We'll then travel to Lyon where we'll spend three days. Settled in the heart of the Rhone Valley, between the rivers Rhone and Saone, Lyon is a city older than Paris. The old historic quarters (Old Lyon) with its traboules - semi-secret passageways unique to Lyon - will be of much interest to us as it is rife with historical and architectural gems and very photogenic.

During our stay in Lyon, we'll take a side trip to the medieval city of Perouges, perched on top of a hill, and very charming with its cobblestone lanes, fortress church and picturesque houses. Hours spent there will take us back to the Middle Ages.

Lyon is known as the French capital of gastronomy, and a farewell dinner in the convivial atmosphere of a traditional "Bouchon" restaurant will give us a culinary experience worth remembering.



Expedition Cost: $3,125 (land arrangement only, based on single occupancy).
Reservations: A $1,000 per person deposit is required to secure a place on our expeditions, which can be paid via Paypal or by check (preferred). The balance is due at least 60 days prior to beginning of expedition.
Group Size: minimum 3, maximum 6. Under 3 sign-ups, the expedition may be cancelled, or a small-group supplement of $300pp added to the cost.

Expedition Cost includes:
Hotel accommodations in 2- and 3-star hotels; ground transportation to the various sites visited; all breakfasts, 7 meals (lunch, dinner as scheduled in itinerary that will be sent to you); entrance fees (Castle of Annecy, Palais de l'Ile); Annecy Lake cruise; cable car to Aiguille du Midi; train from Annecy to Chamonix to Lyon; services of expedition leader.

Cost does NOT include:
Airfare to/from your home city and Lyon, transfer by train or coach from Lyon airport to Annecy and taxi from Annecy train station to hotel, transfer from Lyon train station to Lyon hotel (within walking distance), taxi or shuttle from Lyon hotel to Lyon Airport, alcoholic beverages, meals not indicated in itinerary, items of personal nature and incidentals, luggage porters, mandatory travel insurance, entrance fees not mentioned above, passport fees, gratuities.

NOTE 1: American and Canadian nationals do not need visa to enter France. Other nationals should check with their French consulate. You need a valid passport.

NOTE 2: Please try to book a flight arriving in Lyon as early in the morning as possible. That will facilitate your transfer either by coach, train or TGV (High Speed train) to Annecy (about 2 hours) and give you more time to rest upon arrival in Annecy. From the USA, most airlines have connections to Lyon through their European hubs.

For complete details, see our General Information page.

To register for this expedition go to the Registration page.