Lakes & Mountains in the French Alps

The French Alps during the summer offer you some of the most breathtaking scenery you'll ever see. From exploring the heights of the mountains and swimming in beautiful, pure lakes, a summer holiday in the Alps is not easily forgotten.

Read on and see the Alpine resorts with the best access to views of the lakes and mountains, and how you can make the most of your time there with various associated activities that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Lake Annecy

Chamonix

The traditional resort of Chamonix is located at the foot of Europe's highest mountain at 16,000ft, Mont Blanc, making it an excellent location to stay for access to breathtaking views of the mountains. The Aiguille du Midi cable car from the resort centre can take you up 3777m to the highest cable car station in Europe where you will get the closest look at the Mont Blanc that most people can see. Also available is a range of hiking trails with something for everyone, whether you are an expert walker or someone newly getting into hiking. You will see various pretty lakes at different altitudes, making Chamonix an incredibly popular destination for hikers.

There are also several paths for mountain biking at different skill levels in the Chamonix Valley, with downhill mountain biking sites accessible from several ski lifts. Chamonix has a range of shops to rent mountain bikes from, meaning it's easy to give it a try.

Samoëns

The undiscovered village of Samoëns allows you to easily access the Grand Massif region. It's also the only resort of its kind in France to be known as a 'Historic Monument', with the village still home to many of its old buildings, some even medieval. By making use of mountain lifts you can go walking in the mountains and find some incredible views, with it possible to see Mont Blanc once leaving Samoëns. Closer to the village, just a few minutes away, is the Lacs aux Dames, two lakes with a leisure centre and a play area for children, making this an enjoyable day out for all the family.

Les Deux Alpes

An excellent destination for mountain lovers, Les Deux Alpes is a rarity in Europe as it's open for skiing in the summer throughout May and June. After that in July and August, Les Deux Alpes' ski area becomes a park for those who want to enjoy some high-altitude mountain biking. It is one of the largest bike parks in the Alps, with 91km of runs. Les Deux Alpes is also a great starting point for hiking, which the tourist office can help with by providing you with their guide on some fantastic hikes. Locally there is the La Buissonnière Swimming Lake near the entrance of the resort, which is open from June to September and also has a children's play area.

Tignes

The original of the Tignes villages, Tignes le Lac is located right by the lake giving you a very short distance to enjoy various watersports activities. For mountain activities, you can access several ski lifts that will take you to the Tignes Val d'Isère Bike Park, where you can enjoy several mountain biking trails from July through August. You can also find a range of hiking routes in the mountains. Tignes le Lac also has a free bus service that can take you to Tignes Val Claret, from which you can take a funicular to the Grande Motte slopes, where you can take part in summer skiing.

Lake Annecy

Lake Annecy has come to be known as the purest lake in Europe, after 50 years and counting of preservation. It's thanks to this fact that the water quality is so amazing, and stunning to look at. In Annecy you are spoiled with many summer activities, including water activities such as swimming, water-skiing, sailing and boat trips that highlight the amazing views of the lake and its surrounding mountains and villages. You can also enjoy mountain activities, such as different hiking and mountain biking routes with fantastic views.

You also have the chance to learn about the culture and history of Annecy with museum tours, guided walks and other cultural activities.

Resorts to stay near Lake Annecy

Below are some of our team of French Alps specialists' top picks of mountain resorts that are within driving distance of Lake Annecy. If you want to make the most of exploring the mountains in the summer, but also see the renowned pure water of the beautiful Lake Annecy, then staying at these resorts is a perfect idea, as they will give you the full lakes and mountains experience.

Finally, an extra experience for those driving to the Alps via the A43 motorway in France, there is the beautiful Lake Aiguebelette that can be seen whether you are just passing through or are stopping and want to take a walk around. There are several paths that will take you around the lake and grant you stunning views of its amazing emerald colour, kept by preservation efforts such as banning motorboats. This is a lovely prelude before going to see the nearby lakes and mountains at your resort of choice.

We're Peak Retreats, the award winning specialists in the French Alps. If you're interested in experiencing all the lakes and mountains of the French Alps have to offer, or would like further advice, call 023 9283 9310 or email reservations@peakretreats.co.uk to speak to our friendly team and find your perfect summer holiday!

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