Expeditions to France



HAUTE SAVOIE & THE FRENCH ALPS
This expedition emphasizes hiking, from easy to moderate.
Dates: August 27 - September 05, 2008 - 10 days/9 nights
Price: $3,350 (land arrangements only, based on single occupancy).
Arrival: August 27, 2008 in Lyon. You will need to depart the USA on August 26th 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: September 05,2008, 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.

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

We'll spend three days in Annecy, then take the train for a five-day stay 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 12,000ft). From there, we'll ride in the Panoramic Mont-Blanc gondola over the Giant's Took glacier to reach the Italian frontier at Pointe Helbronner and see high mountain as you've never seen it.

During our stay in Chamonix, we will take day-long hikes, accompanied by a professional mountaineer guide, to photograph spectacular mountain lakes and to observe mountain fauna.

An excursion by cog railway to the Sea of Ice and to the Ice grotto will provide unrivalled views of the Chamonix Valley and of the glacier.

We'll end our journey with one day and overnight in Lyon. Settled in the heart of the Rhone Valley, between the rivers Rhone and Saone, Lyon is a city older than Paris. We'll explore Old Lyon and its traboules - semi-secret passageways unique to Lyon - of much interest to us as it is rife with historical and architectural gems and very photogenic.

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



Expedition Cost: $3,350 (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 $300 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 and Hellbronner ride; Chamonix multipass; Chamonix guide fees; 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.