French Alps Family Road Trip: Chamonix to Annecy

The French Alps in summer are a revelation. Strip away the ski lifts and the snow, and what remains is a landscape of staggering variety — high-altitude glaciers, turquoise lakes, medieval abbeys, wildflower meadows, and market towns where the cheese counter alone justifies the drive. We spent two weeks road-tripping through the heart of it as a family of four, and it delivered on every level.

This guide covers the full itinerary, from the vertigo of the Aiguille du Midi at 3,842 metres to the golden sunsets over Lac d'Annecy, with practical tips for doing it all with children aged 9 and 13.

Bookings: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a booking, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank You!

The Itinerary at a Glance

Our trip covered three main areas over roughly two weeks:

Week 1 — Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (5-6 days): The headline act. Cable cars to impossible heights, glacier visits, epic hikes, a first paragliding flight, and some of the best mountain scenery on the planet.

Mid-trip — Saint-Gervais & Megève (3-4 days): The hiking heartland. Family-friendly trails through alpine meadows, mountain lakes, ridgeline walks at 2,400m, and spectacular drone footage.

Week 2 — The Lakes & Savoie (3-4 days): The cultural counterweight. Lac du Bourget, the Abbaye de Hautecombe, hiking above Lac d'Annecy, and the Savoyard charm of Annecy and Chambéry.

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc: The Mountain Capital

Chamonix needs no introduction — it's the birthplace of alpine tourism and home to some of Europe's most iconic mountain experiences. But what surprised us was how well it works as a family destination.

The Aiguille du Midi

Standing at 3,842 metres on the glass floor of the Pas dans le Vide, looking down through your feet at a glacier a kilometre below, is an experience that defies description. Book the Aiguille du Midi cable car — we took the first cable car at 8 am and had the panoramic terraces almost to ourselves for the first hour. The Mont-Blanc summit, the Grandes Jorasses, the Vallée Blanche — it's all there, spread out like a relief map in blinding white.

Mer de Glace

France's largest glacier is reached by a heritage rack railway — a delightful journey in itself. The ice cave carved into the glacier is fascinating for children, and the markers showing past ice levels turn the visit into an impromptu climate science lesson.

Le Brévent

For the best frontal view of Mont-Blanc, take the cable car to Le Brévent (2,525m). The panorama from the summit is arguably even more impressive than from the Aiguille du Midi, because here you're looking at the whole massif rather than standing on it.

Paragliding

A tandem paragliding flight over the Chamonix valley was one of the trip's highlights. Flying above glaciers with nothing but a fabric wing overhead is the kind of experience that rewires your sense of what's possible.

For the full guide to Chamonix's mountain experiences:

Hiking Around Saint-Gervais & Megève

Once you've done the big-ticket attractions in Chamonix, the surrounding valleys offer some of the best family hiking in the Alps — with fewer crowds and a different character.

Saint-Gervais Highlands

The trails above Saint-Gervais climb through green alpine meadows to hidden mountain lakes, with the Mont-Blanc massif as a permanent backdrop. Guided hiking tours are available if you'd like a professional to lead you to the best viewpoints. We hiked to a turquoise lac at 2,256m and launched the drone five times in a single day — the aerial footage of the green valleys with Mont-Blanc behind was some of the best of the trip.

Megève Ridge Walks

The higher ridgelines above Megève reach nearly 2,420 metres and offer expansive 360-degree views. The terrain is open grassland rather than rocky scree, which makes it excellent walking for families. Late August wildflowers — particularly the pink-purple fireweed — lined every trail.

For detailed hiking routes and family tips:

The Lakes: Bourget, Annecy & Beyond

The transition from high mountains to lakeside is one of the great pleasures of a French Alps road trip. In just two hours of driving, you go from glaciers to turquoise water warm enough for swimming.

Lac du Bourget & Abbaye de Hautecombe

France's largest natural lake is a beautiful body of water, but its real treasure is the Abbaye de Hautecombe — a 12th-century monastery on a wooded promontory with one of the most ornate Gothic interiors in the region. The combination of the abbey's carved ceilings and a drone shot of its lakeside setting made this one of the visual highlights of the trip.

Lac d'Annecy

Often called the cleanest lake in Europe, Lac d'Annecy's turquoise water looks almost tropical against the alpine backdrop. Book a boat tour to explore the shoreline or hike above it on the slopes near La Tournette. The drone captured a golden hour scene over the Duingt peninsula that could have been a movie poster.

Annecy & Chambéry

Both towns are well worth exploring. Annecy's old town is a pastel-coloured maze of canals and cobblestones. Chambéry — the historic capital of Savoy — has the extraordinary Fontaine des Éléphants and one of the best covered food markets in France.

For the complete lake and culture guide:

Find the Best Place to Stay

Practical Information

Getting There

The easiest gateway is Geneva Airport (GVA), roughly 75 minutes from Chamonix by car. Lyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS) is an alternative if you're heading to the lakes first. Book a rental car — the Alps are best explored at your own pace, and many trailheads and viewpoints require a car. Compare flights to Geneva from your home city.

From Paris, the TGV reaches Chambéry in about three hours, or Annecy in just under four. Chamonix is reachable via regional trains from Saint-Gervais.

Best Time to Visit

July-August is peak season: the longest days, warmest weather, and all cable cars and mountain roads open. Book accommodation and the Aiguille du Midi cable car well in advance. June and September are quieter, with slightly cooler temperatures — ideal for hiking without the crowds, though some high-altitude cable cars may not be running.

Suggested Itinerary

Budget Overview

Packing Essentials

Hiking shoes with ankle support, layered clothing (temperatures range from 0°C at 3,800m to 30°C in the valleys), sun protection, rain jacket, reusable water bottles, and a good backpack. If you have a drone, the Alps are one of the most rewarding places in Europe to fly it.

More European Road Trips

Looking for your next family adventure? These destinations combine perfectly with the French Alps:

FAQ

Q: Is two weeks enough for a French Alps road trip? A: Two weeks is ideal for covering the Chamonix area, surrounding valleys, and the Savoyard lakes. You could do a shorter version (10 days) by cutting the lakes section, but you'd miss some of the trip's best moments.

Q: Can you do this trip without a car? A: Chamonix and Annecy are reachable by train, but the hiking trailheads, Lac du Bourget, and Megève area really require a car. We'd strongly recommend renting one.

Q: Is the French Alps expensive for families? A: The big-ticket items (cable cars, paragliding) add up, but accommodation is surprisingly reasonable outside Chamonix centre, and picnic lunches from supermarkets or local markets keep food costs down. Hiking is free, and it's the main attraction.

Q: What's the best base for exploring the French Alps? A: Chamonix is the best base for the mountain experiences. For the lakes, we'd recommend Annecy or the Talloires area on the eastern shore of Lac d'Annecy. Saint-Gervais is an excellent quieter alternative to Chamonix for families.