September 1-10, 2012

We are very excited to announce our new tour to the French Alps this September. We had a wonderful time on our 2010 Alps tour and hope that you will join us on this one September 1-10, 2012.

We will be based in Annecy, a magical medieval town located on Lake Annecy in the Valley of Thones, at the foot of the French Alps. This part of France is extraordinarily beautiful, yet very different from other parts of France that we have been to.

We will be staying at the Splendid Hotel in Annecy for nine nights. The staff at this hotel is exceptionally accommodating and our hotel is perfectly located in the center of the medieval town, directly across from the lake. All of our rooms face the lake and have lovely views. The breakfast buffet each morning is served in a dining room with views of the lake and there is an outside terrace. Each morning there are choices of regional cheeses and meats, along with eggs, fresh breads, pastries, fruits, juices, and croissants.

I know you will love it and I can’t wait to take you there!! The food, the scenery, the town of Annecy itself, the mountains, the cheese (best in the country, maybe the world), the markets, the history…it is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. Early September is great for the weather, too!

Program Itinerary

Day 1/Sat Sept 1 – Welcome to the Alps! We will meet you at the Geneva airport and transfer you by coach bus to Annecy less than an hour away. Check in the Splendid Hotel, our home for nine days and nights. You will have free time to explore Annecy before our “Orientation and Happy Hour” on the hotel terrace. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner of regional specialties for the group in old Annecy at Chez Mamie Lise.

Day 2/Sun Sept 2 - This is market day in Annecy. The beautiful regional products and crafts are set up along the Canal de Thoui. Wander this medieval town called the “Venice of France”. Visit the Castle Prison, situated in the middle of the canal and shaped like the prow of a boat. This site is one of the most photographed of all the monuments in France! At noon we will embark the “Libellule” for a two hour boat cruise with gourmet lunch on Lac Annecy.

Day 3/Mon Sept 3 – Today we will drive through the magnificent Alps to reach Chamonix. From Chamonix we will take the cable car to the very top of Mont Blanc (White Mountain), the highest peak in the Alps at nearly 16,000 feet above sea level. Enjoy breathtaking views and later, we will visit the charming town of Chamonix, famous for being the site of the first winter Olympics. Dinner on the canal this evening at L’Esterel: Tartiflette!

Day 4/Tue Sept 4 – Today we will drive to the charming village of Yvoire, located on the bank of Lac Leman (known to the Swiss as Lac Geneve!) on the Franco/Swiss border. Now ranked as “Four Flowers”, the village represented France in 2002 at the European level and received the International Trophy for Landscape and Horticulture. Visit the Labyrinth – Garden of the Five Senses
In the heart of the village. The castle’s former kitchen garden has been restored in medieval style and transformed into a spot of rest and dream: a plant labyrinth changes with the seasons. Immerse yourself in a universe of colors, scents, sounds and textures. We will have lunch as a group at one of the charming restaurants famous for the fried perch. Always delicious!

Day 5/Wed Sept 5 – Today we will walk through the Gorges de Fier and tour the Chateau de Montrottier. The Fier River has carved out this magnificent gorge, one of the natural wonders of the Alps! The footbridge…If you dare! Walk through a spectacular canyon via a footbridge 252 m long, suspended 25 m above the river. Venture deep into the giant gorge with the River Fier flowing at its base. The Chateau de Montrottier, located just above the Gorges de Fier, is a fine example of medieval military architecture dating from the 13th Century. From the château’s tower you will have a panoramic view of Mont Blanc. Dinner in old Annecy at L’Etage: Raclette!

Day 6/Thu Sept 6 – Today we will visit the “Jardin des Secrets”! We will begin our visit with a special lunch prepared just for us and served in the garden. Afterwards we will have a guided tour of this mysterious, magical place. Our guide will be one of the three daughters in this family of 5 artisans who have created a paradise that will astonish you. High in the mountains, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, you will discover an exotic world that is at the same time in sync with nature and incongruent in its setting.

Day 7/Fri Sept 7 – “Tasting Day in Annecy” Today we will discover Alpine delicacies: Alpine cheeses, liqueurs, chocolates, and of course, wine. We will visit a cheese specialist who will explain the different regional cheeses, how they are made and the fascinating stories that go along with their history, a chocolate maker, Meyer, whose family has been making chocolates since 1985 and a wine and liqueur cave where you can taste some very original creations made with various Alpine herbs and flowers!

Day 8/Sat Sept 8 – Today we will enjoy a scenic drive around Lake Annecy, stopping at the lakeside village of Talloires to enjoy lunch. The Alpine town of Talloires is known as one of Europe’s premier resorts. Talloires was founded by a community of Benedictine monks in the late Ninth Century. Often considered to be one of the most beautiful sites in the world, the village of Talloires proudly claims to have more Michelin restaurants and hotel stars per capita than any other community in the world. After a stop at Talloires we will continue on to the Chateau Menthon St. Bernard. The castle has 105 rooms on four levels where you can admire beautifully furnished rooms, in particular the Countess’s Bedroom, 13th century kitchens and the great hall, decorated with pictures and antique furniture from Louis XIII and Louis XIV, and a Gobelins tapestry. The library contains ancient manuscripts written on parchment with painted illuminations from monks of the Middle Ages.

Day 9/Sun Sept 9 - Yes, it’s market day again. Annecy is a destination village and you will have more time to take advantage of the traditional regional market in the morning…or sleep late and take a walk beside the lake. At the market purchase something for a picnic beside the lake. This evening we will have our Bon Voyage Dinner: Fondue

Day 10/Mon Sept 10 - Today is departure day. We will drive the group to the Geneva airport for departure flights.