Highlights
- See the vineyards of the Rhône Valley and sample their incredible wines
- Enjoy views of Lake Annecy from your luxurious room at Abbaye de Talloires hotel
- Take to the skies for a panoramic helicopter ride over Mount Blanc
- Sample delicious fondue and wine at a long-standing local restaurant in Chamonix
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Lyon, Guided Foodie Tour, Dinner at Atelier des Augustins | Lyon |
| Day 2 | Discover the Rhone Valley: Wineries & Chocolate | Lyon |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Annecy, Explore the Cuisine & Culture of the French Alps | Annecy |
| Day 4 | E-Bike Adventure in Bauges Natural Park | Annecy |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Chamonix, Historic Cemetery Tour, Alps via Helicopter, Fondue Fun | Chamonix |
| Day 6 | Aiguille du Midi Cable Car, Mer de Glace Hiking Excursion & Picnic | Chamonix |
| Day 7 | Depart Chamonix |
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Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lyon, Guided Foodie Tour, Dinner at Atelier des Augustins
Welcome to France! Your flight lands in Lyon, the country's third most populous city. Banked by the Saône and Rhône Rivers, the compact city center is known for its traboules (hidden passageways), the UNESCO-listed Old Town, and a wealth of gorgeous architecture. Upon arrival, you'll check in at the 5-star Villa Florentine. This former convent features tastefully decorated rooms, a wellness area with a heated pool and heated lounge chairs, and a terrace with panoramic city views. Take a moment to regroup, then you're off to learn more about Lyon's cuisine and culture via a foodie tour!
Your private tour starts in Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse market, an indoor space with fresh produce, meats, and restaurants. Named after the "Pope of French gastronomy," chef Paul Bocuse, the market is considered the hallmark of French cuisine, and you'll have a chance to learn more about its history as you stroll, stopping for tastings and snacks at various vendors. Meet the chefs and try dishes like quenelle (souffle with pike) or desserts such as coussin de Lyon (chocolate and marzipan). Finish with a walk to the city center and a lesson in confectioneries and Chartreuse liqueurs.
Tonight, enjoy dinner at the Atelier des Augustins, a fine dining establishment located in Lyon's lively 1st arrondissement. The restaurant focuses on a "surprise menus" theme created under chef-musician Nicolas Guilloton, featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients and perfectly paired local wines. After dinner, take a sunset stroll around town before returning to your hotel.
Day 2: Discover the Rhone Valley: Wineries & Chocolate
After breakfast, meet your guide and travel south, following the Rhône through the incredible Côtes du Rhône vineyards. Arrive at Tain l'Hermitage, a small city at the bottom of the famous Hill of Hermitage, a granite outcrop that is part of the Massif Central, and begin with a tour of the award-winning Cave de Tain winery. Discover the history of the vineyard, as well as the ins and outs of their winemaking process, followed by a tasting of some of their top-producing wines.
Time permitting, you'll also be able to make the short hike to the top of the Hill of Hermitage, taking in the panoramic views across the valley, then head into Tain l’Hermitage's city center for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, it's time for some sweet treats as you visit the Valrhona chocolate factory and its Cité du Chocolat (Chocolate City). Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the chocolate manufacturing process, learn more about Valrhona's history, and take a virtual tour of their chocolate workshops. All of this will, of course, be accompanied by samples of delicious chocolate.
End the day with a visit to the northernmost region of the Rhône Valley, where the steep hills and terraced vineyards make for gorgeous and lush scenery. Visit a family estate and see their wine production, then taste five of the varietals produced there. Your driver will then return you to Lyon, where you can take advantage of some of your hotel's amenities or explore more of the city on your own.
Day 3: Transfer to Annecy, Explore the Cuisine & Culture of the French Alps
You're off to the lakes and mountains of the French Alps today, departing Lyon in the morning with your private driver and heading to Annecy, an Alpine town that sits along the pristine waters of Lake Annecy. Known for its cobbled streets, winding canals, and picturesque Vieille Ville (Old Town), this outdoors-focused village is considered the jewel of the Haute-Savoie region. You're sure to agree as you drive into town, taking in the pastel-colored houses, glittering lake waters, and serene mountain ranges.
Check in at the Abbaye de Talloires, a luxurious hotel on Lake Annecy that was once an abbey. Featuring 37 rooms and suites, all of which offer breathtaking views, you'll find yourself immersed in centuries of history here. You can relax in your elegantly decorated rooms, visit the wood-paneled, cozy atmosphere of the spa, or have a great meal at their gourmet restaurant during your stay, but right now, you'll want to drop your bags and head back out for a privately guided tour of what is a true legacy in Annecy: their culinary heritage and culture.
The cuisine of the Alps is closely linked to the Savoyard gastronomic culture, and Annecy is no exception. Meet your private guide and set out on foot, wandering the cobblestone streets of old Annecy. You'll visit places that showcase regional cuisine, stopping first at a cheesemaker's shop, where you'll sample cheeses such as Beaufort, Reblochon, or Abondance, accompanied by refreshing Savoyard wine. Continue along the banks of the Thiou canals, passing by the emblematic Palais de l'Île monument and stopping to try charcuterie, wines, and locally made beers. Afterward, return to your hotel to rest up for tomorrow.
Day 4: E-Bike Adventure in Bauges Natural Park
Take advantage of the spectacular scenery of the French Alps today with a privately guided e-bike tour along Lake Annecy. Meet your guide in the morning, and after a safety and equipment briefing, you'll hop on your bikes and make your way into Bauges Natural Park, which encompasses more than 200,000 acres (81,000 ha) and features craggy mountains, Alpine meadows, and an abundance of hiking and biking routes.
Traverse the well-maintained trails, making your way to the Semnoz plateau, which overlooks the western shore of the lake. You'll be traveling at an incline, but the e-bikes make it a relatively easy ride regardless of fitness levels. At the plateau, break for lunch and bask in the panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains, as your guide shares insight into the legends and history of the region. Take a leisurely ride back down and return to your hotel in time for dinner.
Day 5: Transfer to Chamonix, Historic Cemetery Tour, Alps via Helicopter, Fondue Fun
Your next destination is the city of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (or just Chamonix as the locals call it), a resort town sitting at the base of Mont Blanc, a looming mountain massif that is Europe's highest peak. Chamonix is known for its outdoor activities, which include world-class skiing, mountaineering, and hiking. Depart Annecy via private transfer, making the scenic one-hour drive and checking into your accommodations at the Hôtel L'Heliopic. This luxury retreat offers spacious chalet-style rooms, with amenities that include a ski shop, arcade, library, and a spa with an indoor pool, hammam, and sauna.
After regrouping at the hotel, learn more about the region's mountaineering history with a private tour of Chamonix's historic cemeteries. Start at Chamonix Cemetery, where your guide will discuss the illustrious mountaineers who perished on Mont Blanc and are now interred here, as well as the more unknown souls who were part of the history of the Chamonix Valley. Continue to the English Cemetery, a final resting place for other mountaineers, and gain a better understanding of the different personalities of the mountain society and their impact on the world.
After the tour, it's time for some high-flying fun as you take to the skies for a panoramic helicopter ride over Mount Blanc. This incredible 30-minute adventure showcases the immense power of the mountain as you crest the summit and zip across the craggy peaks. End the day with a fondue dinner at Monchu restaurant, a local establishment with a long tradition of creating fabulous food, then return to your hotel and take advantage of the spa, pool, or a drink at the on-site bar.
Day 6: Aiguille du Midi Cable Car, Mer de Glace Hiking Excursion & Picnic
Your final day in France involves another Alpine summit as you meet with your private guide in the morning and make your way to the Aiguille du Midi cable car, which transports you from central Chamonix into the high mountains, ascending more than 12,000 feet (3,842 m). Disembark at the top and enjoy the endless views from the terraces, then ride back down to the halfway point, where you'll hop off the cable car for a second time to hike along the trail to Montenvers.
This easy 2.5-hour trek takes you along giant boulders deposited by glaciers long ago, with mountain views all around you. Along the way, you're likely to see curious marmots perched on the rocks, sounding the alarm at the "stranger danger" with a shrill whistle. Stop for a picnic lunch, then stop to see the Mer de Glace glacier and the impressive peaks of the Drus and Grands Jorasses. Board the famed red railway train at Montenvers, riding in comfort back to Chamonix.
Day 7: Depart Chamonix
Enjoy a leisurely morning amid the clean mountain air of Chamonix. At the designated time, your driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport where your departing flight awaits. Au revoir!
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