Lake Annecy & Chamonix by train - 5 days from £649

Accommodation

Hotel Mandallaz (3-star)
4 nights. This comfortable hotel in the town of Annecy offers a bar, breakfast area and lift. Guest rooms are comfortably furnished and all have private facilities, TV and telephone.

Itinerary

Day 1: UK/Annecy

Embark Eurostar at the elegantly restored St. Pancras or Ebbsfleet for your journey to Lille, from where you’ll take the French TGV high-speed train southward to Lyon. Sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery as the TGV cruises effortlessly at speeds of up to 186mph. From Lyon you’ll travel by local train via Aix-les-Bains towards the beautiful Alps and picturesque Annecy.

Days 2 - 4: Annecy

One of the most charming and attractive towns in the Rhone, Annecy is built on a maze of canals. The traffic-free old town is lined with cafés and restaurants and boasts cobbled streets and stone bridges. Boats sail past on the calm waters of Lake Annecy while the spectacular Alps loom over the town.

Explore this delightful area by train, travelling to the mountain grandeur of Chamonix with its superb location under the awe-inspiring gaze of Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc. Take a memorable trip on the tramway to the spectacular Mer de Glace glacier, literally a ‘sea of ice’ and France’s longest glacier. This natural phenomenon is a spectacular swathe of ice cutting through the countryside, snaking its way towards striking snowcovered mountains above.

Uncover more hidden gems on our optional excursion as you visit the picturesque lakeside walled town of Yvoire, situated on the banks of Lake Geneva. With a church dedicated to St. Pancras that dates from the 11th century and remains of the former castle, ramparts and fortified gateways, Yvoire’s past has been miraculously preserved for future generations to enjoy. From this idyllic town you can take a relaxing boat trip to the Swiss city of Geneva, whose ancient Old Town is a maze of sloping cobblestone streets and alleyways filled with cafés, boutiques and historic landmarks at every turn.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Annecy/UK

Following breakfast take your transfer to the station and start your return journey through the heart of Europe back to the UK.