Annecy & the French Alps: A Guide Beyond Skiing
Annecy isn't just a ski gateway. Reach it in 2 hours from Lyon or 40 minutes from Geneva, dodge the summer crowds, and see the Alps without a lift pass.
Lyon & the Alps
Alpine lakes, mountain villages and Lyon, one of France's great food cities.
25 travel guides
Travel guides for Lyon & the Alps
Is Annecy Worth a Day Trip from Lyon or Geneva?
Geneva to Annecy is under an hour. Lyon is a 4-hour round trip before you've done anything. Here's the honest verdict on whether a day trip holds up.
Lyon to Annecy: Train, Bus, or Car
Direct trains take about 2 hours and cost €20-45. Buses are cheaper but slower. Driving is scenic until you hit Annecy's old town parking. Here's the honest breakdown.
Where to Stay in Lyon If Food, Walking, and Trains Matter
Picking the right area in Lyon changes your entire trip. Here’s how to choose based on food, walkability, and train access, without overthinking it.
Skiing in France: The Ultimate Complete Guide
Everything you need to plan a French ski trip: how the Alps and Pyrenees compare, how to pick a resort, when to go, what it costs, and how to get there.
How to Choose the Right French Ski Resort for You
A decision framework for narrowing 100+ French ski resorts to a shortlist: match skier level, budget, snow-sureness, and group type before you book.
Three Valleys or Paradiski: Which One Is Better?
Les Trois Vallées spans roughly 600km of piste versus Paradiski's 425km. Here's how the two biggest French ski areas compare on snow, price, and character.
Is Chamonix Worth It for Skiing? The Honest Verdict
Chamonix's Vallée Blanche is a 20km off-piste run from 3,842m, but its skiing suits few visitors. Here's who it's worth it for, and who should book elsewhere.
2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps: What's Confirmed
What's confirmed for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps (Feb 1-17, 2030): venues, transport upgrades, and what it means for skiers before the Games.
The Best French Ski Resorts for Beginners
La Plagne runs 78 of its 139 pistes as blue: here are six French ski resorts genuinely built for beginners, from nursery slopes to strong ski schools.
Skiing in France with Kids: The Complete Guide
A practical guide to skiing in France with kids: ESF ski school starts around age 3, plus family resort picks, equipment rental, chalets, and insurance.
The Best Time to Ski in France, Week by Week
French ski resorts can open as early as late November at altitude, and three staggered school zones drive crowds. Here's the best time to ski, week by week.
How to Ski France Without a Car: The Real Guide
Five rail gateway stations reach France's ski resorts by train and shuttle. Here's how to plan skiing in France without a car, so booking goes smoothly.
Getting to the French Alps: The Complete Guide
Geneva, Lyon, or Chambery: which gets you to your resort fastest, from a 60-90 minute Chamonix transfer to a 2.5-3 hour Trois Vallees drive from Lyon.
How Much Does a French Ski Trip Really Cost?
A real cost breakdown for a French ski holiday: flights, chalet vs apartment vs hotel, lift passes, rental, lessons, insurance, and food, by budget tier.
Do You Need Ski Insurance in France? The Real Answer
Ski insurance isn't legally required in France, but a season-long carte neige runs under 50 euros, covering the piste rescue that EHIC and GHIC don't.
Pyrenees or Alps for Skiing? An Honest Guide
I've skied both for years. Pyrenees peaks top out near 3,400m, 1,400m lower than the Alps, but cost less with far fewer crowds. Here's who should pick which.
Hiking in France: The Complete Guide to Choosing Your Trail
Which French trail actually fits you: GR20, GR10, over 115,000km of GR routes, or something gentler. A decision guide to regions, seasons, huts, and gear.
Tour du Mont Blanc: The Complete Guide to Hiking the TMB
What the TMB actually involves, realistic day-counts for average and experienced hikers, and why refuge booking (not fitness) is what makes or breaks the trip.
Is the Aiguille du Midi Worth It? Cost and Crowds, Honestly
Chamonix's cable car to 3,842 meters costs €60-83 for adults in 2026 and sells out on clear days. An honest verdict on cost, crowds, and who should skip it.
Booking Mountain Refuges in France: The Complete Guide
France has no single refuge booking system: deposits run about €30-50 a night. How CAF, TMB, and private huts work, and what to do if your first choice is full.
Mountain Sports in France Beyond Skiing: The Summer Adventure Guide
Canyoning, via ferrata, paragliding, climbing, and rafting: six French mountain sports from €50-150 per outing. Here's what each involves and where to start.
Paragliding in Annecy and Chamonix: A First-Timer's Guide
Lake Annecy is arguably the best tandem paragliding site in the Alps, with flights from €90-150. Here's how a first flight works and how Chamonix compares.
Via Ferrata in France: Best Routes and How Grading Works
Steel cables and iron rungs let you climb terrain that would otherwise need real climbing skill. Here's how France's F-to-ED grading scale works and where to start.
White Water Rafting in France: Best Rivers and How to Choose
From family-friendly Class I-II floats to full whitewater on the Ubaye, here's where to go rafting in the French Alps and how the difficulty classes actually work.