GREAT ALPINE LAKES Bike Tour (September 2-6, 2025)

The three largest lakes in the Franco-Swiss Alps provide the backdrop for this exceptional 5-day Bike Tour. First is Lake Geneva, the largest (580 km²), straddling France and Switzerland, bordered by famous and charming towns, surrounded by the Jura Mountains to the north and the Alps to the south, and dominated by the magnificent Mont Blanc.

Next, Lake Annecy, the smallest (27.6 km²), the jewel of Haute-Savoie, with its crystal-clear waters, bordered by green mountain ranges and the charming town of Annecy to the north.

Finally, Lake Bourget, the jewel of Savoie, the largest glacial lake in France. A unique and preserved natural space, where mountains plunge into its turquoise waters, it is renowned for its water sports, whitefish and grayling fishing... Not to mention Aix-les-Bains and its thermal baths !

On this Bike Tour, we will have some small climbs, but no steep gradients, just nice hills to climb to discover the landscape on the other side...

... and obviously some descents to catch our breath, in pretty natural settings, like here in the middle of the vineyards on the edge of Lake Léman.

Our Lake Léman tour is a 180-km, 2-day itinerary, mostly flat, exclusively on cycle paths and small country roads. It begins in Geneva !

On the first day, we cycle along the southern shore, the French part of the lake, passing through pretty villages like Yvoire...

...until we reach Montreux, at the western end of the lake. Montreux, internationally renowned for its jazz festival, its beautiful hotels and residences overlooking the lake. An ideal place to spend the night and have dinner on a terrace by the water...

On the second day, we cycle along the north shore, entirely in Switzerland, passing through Lausanne and pretty little towns like Morges and Nyon, and crossing vineyards, with the Alps and Mont Blanc as a backdrop...

... until we return to Geneva for a stopover. We'll enjoy a stroll and dinner by the lake to immerse ourselves in the local atmosphere, where Genevans and tourists from around the world mingle.

The third day, between Geneva and Annecy, is entirely in open countryside, still with the Alps as a backdrop. The landscapes change as soon as we leave Geneva, crossing the Geneva hinterland, where well-kept villages follow one another, surrounded by plowed fields.

Shortly after the border, the valley suddenly narrows at the mouth of the Écluse Pass, dominated by Fort-L'Écluse (13th century). Listed for its natural and picturesque interest, the site has a military architecture : casemated tower, bastions, ammunition chambers,...

Then the valley widens again, our Bike Tour continues to Annecy from village to village, in a rural setting and across fields.

Annecy, the pearl of the Alps, nestled in the Alpine valley, annexed to France in 1860.

Annecy is best known for its old town, built at the foot of the castle, on the banks of the Thiou and the Vassé Canal, with four medieval pedestrian streets and many traboules. Strolling and dining in the old town is a must...

Fully navigable, Lake Annecy attracts countless tourists with its stunning natural setting, numerous small beaches, and 11 marinas. The lake tour by bike is a lovely 37.3km ride, passing by the beautiful sites of Menthon-Saint-Bernard Castle, Talloires Abbey, Duingt peninsula,...

Leaving Lake Annecy, the road climbs slightly towards the Bauges massif, with a high point at the Col de Leschaux, at an altitude of only 900m !

Crossing the Bauges, a limestone massif in the Prealps culminating at 2,200 m, between Haute-Savoie and Savoie. Regional natural park of 856 km² and 64 communes, created in 1995. Very rich fauna (many mammals, 117 bird species) and flora. Former stronghold of nail making and silverware, more traditionally a land of dairy farming.

With some beautiful bridges to cross the canyons created over time by erosion in the limestone massif. Here is the Bridge of the Abyss.

The descent from Cusy reveals an exceptional panorama over Lac du Bourget, facing the Dent du Chat and the reliefs of Bas-Bugey.

The Gorges du Sierroz, close to Aix-les-Bains, upstream from a dam. A superb canyon with picturesque waterfalls. A place of pilgrimage following the drowning of Queen Hortense's friend in 1813. The first natural site to be listed as a national heritage site in Savoie, in 1911.

A popular holiday destination during the Belle Époque for princely and wealthy families, it is now one of the most renowned spa and lake resorts in France. Awarded the Ville Vélotouristique label in 2011 !

The largest natural glacial lake and the deepest located entirely in France, has numerous beaches along its shores, leisure centers, and tourist attractions. Alphonse de Lamartine made it famous with his poem "Le Lac" (1816) dedicated to the woman he loved.

The Lac du Bourget bike tour is 50 km long with an elevation gain of 600 m concentrated on the climb to the Col du Chat, where the view of the lake becomes increasingly spectacular as you gain altitude.

Cycling down from Col du Chat, let's stop at Hautecombe Abbey ! A long history since its construction by Cistercian monks in the 12th century... Necropolis of the House of Savoy and the kings and queens of Italy, destroyed then rebuilt in the baroque troubadour style... Despite the annexation of Savoy to France by Napoleon III in 1860, it still belongs to the private foundation founded by Charles-Félix de Savoie (1765-1831) !

Summary

GREAT ALPINE LAKES 5 days, 4 nights

Geneva ↠ Montreux ↠ Geneva ↠ Annecy ↠ Aix-les-Bains ↠ Aix-les-Bains

390 km in 5 days, or an average of 78 km per day, and an elevation gain of nearly 3,000 m in 5 days, or an average of 600 m per day : it's not that much ! Especially considering the steep slopes that generally characterize Alpine roads.

The 3 Lakes Tour alone takes 3.5 of the 5 stages by bike : first, Lake Leman, with the 1st day between Geneva and Montreux via the south shore, between Switzerland and France, and the 2nd day returning to Geneva via the north shore, through the vineyards and facing the Mont Blanc massif ; then Lake Annecy on the morning of the 4th day, a flat 37 km route, passing by the Talloires Abbey ; finally, Lake Bourget on the last day, with its dark waters, more rural setting, and passing by the Hautecombe Abbey and Chanaz, the little Venice of Savoy !

The transition between the lakes is via pretty secondary roads, amidst hills and cultivated fields, with the magnificent Alps as a backdrop : the 3rd day between Geneva and Annecy via the Geneva hinterland, the famous Fort-L'Écluse and Haute-Savoie; and the afternoon of the 4th day between Annecy and Aix-les-Bains via the beautiful Bauges massif and the Pont du Diable.
Good physical preparation is necessary, but one thing is certain : touring these three great lakes via the waterfront cycle paths and secondary roads crossing vineyards, fields and villages close to the lakes, with a backdrop of forest landscapes and majestic mountains, often crowned with eternal snow, is magical ! Staying in premium hotels with dinner by the water in Montreux, Geneva, Annecy, and Aix-les-Bains is also a must !
In any case, it's the reward for the day's effort on the bike. But is it really an effort to cycle along these lakes, with breathtaking views, taking in a breath of fresh air, stopping whenever you want to admire the panorama, etc.?

Not at all ! So don't hesitate, sign up !

HIGHLIGHTS

* The 3 lakes (Léman, Annecy, Bourget), giants with beautiful blue waters and lively banks, always very clean and dominated by pretty mountains

* The exceptional setting of greenery and mountains throughout the Bike Tour, with the chain of the Swiss, French and Italian Alps passing before our eyes, with the Mont-Blanc massif, the most beautiful of all, but also the other massifs vying for beauty

* The crossing of small towns and villages, along the lakes, between the lakes...
* The Abbeys (Talloires, Hautecombe) with great architecture and history along the cycling route
* Geneva, Montreux, Annecy, Aix-les-Bains : the chic, elegant lakeside towns, with their beautiful residences and their thermal baths, where it is always good to stay...
* The wine and gastronomy of this region are unique !

Forget the stress of everyday life, take a little break to spend a few days in fabulous landscapes !

Route Map

D1-D5 Genève - Aix-les-Bains (390km).png

D1 Geneva - Montreux via the south shore of Lake Léman (89,6 km) Switzerland

D2 Montreux - Geneva via the north shore of Lake Léman (92,2 km) "

D3 Geneva - Annecy (72,8 km) France

D4 Annecy - Aix-les-Bains via Lake Annecy tour (76,3 km) "

D5 Aix-les-Bains - Aix-les-Bains via Lake Bourget tour (58,6 km) "

THE BIKE GUIDE

* The bike guide is responsible for leading and managing the group throughout the different stages of the Bike Tour. He/she speaks several languages, including English.

* He/she is your first interlocutor for all subjects related to cycling (itinerary monitoring, small repairs,...).

* He/she carries the first aid kit and, if necessary, activates external services (insurance, mechanical repair, rescue,...).

* Always with the group, he/she regulates cadence so that everyone arrives at the end of the stage. But each one is free to ride with the group or solo, to meet the group later in the day or in the evening at the hotel.

* He/she facilitates check-in and check-out in hotels, restaurant orders, border crossing procedures, access to tourist sites.

THE RENTAL BIKE, with accessories and adapted to your route

Our rental bike package includes :

* Touring Bike adapted to your route (Premium brands, according to

availability : Giant Revolt, Giant Escape, e-Urban 6.5, Explore, Entour...)

with rear rack to attach panniers

* 40L Rear Panniers (2 x 20L Panniers)

* Helmet

* Bike Lock

* Repair Kit, Spare Tubes, Pump & Tools

* Take the bike in Geneva and leave the bike in Aix-les-Bains

OBS. : If you intend to bring your own bike, please let us know and Dream Sports Adventure will compensate you for the value of the bike rental, noting however that the transport (air, trail,...) of your bike requires special packaging and can easily cost more.

Accomodation

Comfortable single, double, twin suites with breakfast included and personalized customer service

Premium Hotels, Spas and Resorts by the lakes...

Cycling Stages

Day by day, discover each stage of the Great Alpine Lakes Bike Tour, through the amazing landscapes of the Alps overlooking Lakes Léman, Annecy and Le Bourget... And think no more : sign up for this top experience !!

Local Gastronomy

Both in Switzerland around Lake Geneva (2 days) and in France through Savoie (3 days), many culinary specialties are vying with each other in terms of flavor and know-how, with some very good local wines to harmonize and make our Bike Tour even more memorable !

Swiss Food

Swiss cuisine is hearty and high in calories, thanks to the mountainous nature of the Swiss Confederation, its long and harsh winters, and its rural roots. Recipes use simple local ingredients (mushrooms, fish from lakes and rivers, poultry and game, dairy products, butter and cream, fruits and vegetables). And the food is very good, in any case !

Cheese Fondue (Lake Léman)

Let's start with the famous hard cheese dish (Gruyère) that melts with white wine in a fondue pot and is eaten hot with bread. First described in 1699 in a Zurich manuscript, the current recipe was first described in a cookbook from the Zurich School of Home Economics in 1885. Cheese fondue would therefore be a specialty of Swiss origin, much to the dismay of its French neighbors !

Raclette (Lake Léman)

A typical Valais dish made by scraping half a wheel of melted cheese over its surface near a heat source, accompanied by potatoes, pickles, pearl onions, and Fendant as a drink. The old name for "roasted cheese," a dish eaten in the mountainous regions of Switzerland since the 13th century, was replaced by "raclette" in 1875. Another specialty apparently of Swiss origin, whose French neighbors also claim origins !

Perch Fillets (Lake Léman & Savoie)

A small, shoaling freshwater fish that thrives in oxygenated waters, found in abundance in Lake Geneva and Lake Annecy. Very delicate flavor. Usually served fried and accompanied by fries.

Plate-cooked Whitefish Fillet with Citrus (Lake Léman)

Fish from Lake Geneva, whose fishing is controlled. The fish fillet is cooked between two plates over a pan of hot water! Cooking is quick, the flesh is not damaged, and the fish is tender, with no risk of overcooking.

Smoked Féra (Lake Léman)

Wild fish from Lake Geneva with a refined flavor, characterized by lean flesh and a slightly amber color. Lake Léman residents and Savoyards love it !

Malakoff (Lake Léman)

Cheese fritter, a Vaudois specialty. Named after Fort Malakoff, which defended Sevastopol during the Crimean War (1853-56), during which soldiers of the Swiss Legion fried slices of cheese in a pan or simply warmed them around a campfire in the trenches. This tradition was continued by soldiers from Geneva and the Vaudois coast after their return from the war, and was now accompanied by bread and many pitchers of white wine !

Sausage with cabbage (Lake Léman)

A specialty of the Canton of Vaud. A raw, smoked charcuterie product with interrupted maturation, prepared exclusively with pork, cooked rind, pork liver, and blanched cabbage, packaged exclusively in natural beef casing. Usually served with papet vaudois, a traditional Vaudois dish consisting of leek and potato papette.

Rösti (Lake Léman)

Potato pancakes mixed with cheese and onions. Made with raw potatoes in Zurich, its birthplace, but with cooked potatoes and bacon in Bern, where it inevitably became Rösti... This culinary specialty gives its name to the "röstigraben," which distinguishes the cultural differences between French-speaking and German-speaking Switzerland !

Cardoon (Lake Léman)

Cardoon is grown in Geneva, where cardoon gratin, a recipe dating back to the Middle Ages, is a specialty. Often compared to artichokes. Cultivated cardoon is distinguished from the wild form by the (almost complete) absence of thorns at the tips of the lobes. In Geneva, a persistent tradition holds that it was introduced by Huguenot refugees in 1685, but it was already being served there as early as 1566. It may have arrived as early as the 15th century, when Geneva was an important European fairground. A must-try.

Swiss Cheeses (Lake Léman)

Switzerland has had a strong cheese-making tradition since ancient times, and cheese consumption has been growing throughout Switzerland since the 19th century. Nearly 800 varieties of cheese are available, not including fromage frais, but also butter and cream, classic ingredients of Swiss gastronomy. Some cheeses are protected by a PDO : Formaggio d'Alpe Ticinese (Ticino alpine cheese), Berner Alpkäse (Bernese alpine cheese), Glarner Alpkäse (Glaron alpine cheese), Bloderkäse-Sauerkäse, Emmental, L'Etivaz, Gruyère, Raclette, Sbrinz, Tête de Moine, Vacherin Fribourgeois, and Vacherin Mont d'Or. Spoiled for choice !

Gruyère and Emmental (Lake Léman)

These two pressed, cooked cheeses made from cow's milk are often confused. However, Emmental, named after the Emme Valley (canton of Bern), has holes, while Gruyère, the "king of cheeses," named after Gruyère (canton of Fribourg), does not !

Bircher muesli (Lake Léman)

A composition created by Dr. Max Bircher-Benner in the 1900s for its dietary benefits, made from oats (or other grains) crushed in milk sweetened with honey and served with apple pieces. It became very popular in Switzerland after World War II.

Taillé with Greubons (Lake Léman)

A savory pastry from Geneva (and the cantons of Vaud, Fribourg,...). "Greubons" are the leftovers from the rendering of lard used to make taillé. Pork fat, cut into small pieces, is melted over low heat and filtered. The greubons are mixed with the ingredients for the pastry, which is then cooked over high heat. A sweet version exists, but is very rare.

Swiss Chocolates (Lake Léman)

Artisanal chocolate production began on the shores of Lake Geneva in the 18th century, but the international influence and export of Swiss chocolate dates back to the 1880s, driven by major brands (Cailler, Suchard, Favarger, Kohler, Sprüngli, Maestrani, Klaus, Peter, Lindt, Frey, and Tobler), when milk chocolate was discovered by Daniel Peter and dark chocolate by Rudolf Lindt. Praline appeared later. Switzerland is the world's leading producer and consumer of chocolate !

Bouchons Vaudois (Lake Léman)

Handcrafted from start to finish, according to an original recipe and exclusively by signatories of the Charter of the Vaudois Society of Patron Saints of Pastry Chefs, Confectioners, Chocolatiers, and Ice Cream Makers. In the original recipe, each bouchon is filled with a whole caramelized almond, whereas currently, crushed and caramelized almonds are mixed into the filling.

Wines and Vineyards (Lake Léman)

There are three main grape varieties, predominant in each region : Gamay and Pinot Noir for red wines, and Chasselas, the favorite of the white grape varieties and of all the vineyards of Lake Geneva. The Vaudois vineyard is the most renowned, notably thanks to the terraced vineyards of Lavaux, which stretch from Lausanne to Montreux and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. La Côte, in the Nyon region, produces a very wide range of white and red grape varieties.

Raisinée (Lake Léman)

A dark brown, viscous preparation made from fruit juice, usually pear or apple. Used to make desserts (cakes, tarts), as an accompaniment to vanilla ice cream or crepes, and also as an ingredient in Fribourg Bénichon mustard !

Rioute (Lake Léman & Savoie)

A very dry and hard ring-shaped biscuit made from bread dough flavored with anise. These biscuits are served with pilgrims, threaded onto a stick carried over the shoulder. Also offered by godparents on Palm Sunday in Saint-Alban-d'Hurtières. To soften it, rioute is often dipped in a glass of red wine, preferably fruity, which the dry biscuit absorbs.

Omble chevalier (Lake Léman & Savoie)

Grilled in a pan or on a griddle, poached, steamed, cooked en papillote, or baked. The fish is cooked when the flesh is opaque. It is very common in large alpine lakes, where it is caught with nets at depths of 20 meters in July and August, when it feeds on perch fry. A must-try.

Atriaux (Lake Léman & Savoie)

Fresh minced pork, minced pork liver, parsley, and spices, all shaped into meatballs and wrapped in pork caul fat. Pan-roasted and served with a white wine jus, eaten hot or cold. Known in Geneva since the 17th century. An integral part of the traditional Saint-Martin menu in the canton of Jura.

Longeole (Lake Léman & Savoie)

Pork sausage flavored with fennel seeds. A specialty of the canton of Geneva and the French Genevois region, invented at the Pommier Abbey in Haute-Savoie. Protected by a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) since 2009. Usually served with potatoes in white wine.

Magland Sausage (Savoie)

Smoked sausage for cooking or eating dry, originating from Magland in the Arve Valley. Traditionally made on farms, with all the meat still attached to the pig's bones after cutting, as soon as possible after slaughter. The lean meat is thinly sliced with a knife, seasoned, and stuffed into casings. The sausages are then smoked for a few days. Most of the production is dried for four to five weeks after smoking and eaten like dry sausage.

Diot (Savoie)

Traditional Savoyard sausage. Plain, all-pork, smoked, with cabbage and Beaufort cheese, it is generally cooked with onions and wine from the Savoie vineyards, and served with tartifle (Savoyard potatoes).

Pormonaise or pormonier or pormonière (Savoie)

A variety of "green" or "herb" sausage. A cooked sausage made with all the cuts of meat that cannot be dried (heart, loins, throat, rind... and lung which gives it its name), spinach, chard, leeks, and various herbs, including carrots, kohlrabi and cabbage. Sometimes confused with cabbage sausage (Switzerland) or cabbage diots.

Prices

Prices 2025

PRICE PER PERSON

With a rental bike and accommodation in a double or twin room $ 2.175

With a rental bike and accommodation in a single room $ 2.620

Supplement for an e-bike (Electrically Assisted Bicycle) $ 75

If you intend to bring your own bike, please let us know and Dream Sports Adventure will compensate you for the value of the bike rental, noting however that the transport (air, trail,...) of your bike requires special packaging and can easily cost more.

* Fixed prices established in $ (USD)

** Payment by bank transfer directly to our account (amount converted into your local currency at the daily exchange rate)

The invoice for your purchase will be sent to you by e-mail after your payment.

Included

Accommodation in Premium hotels by the lakes, with breakfast (4 nights)
Rental bike with accessories from Geneva to Aix-les-Bains (5 days)
Permanent bike guide and coordinator

Not Included

Transport to Geneva and from Aix-les-Bains
Drinks, lunches and dinners
Eventual mechanical repair during the tour
Personal expenses
Private Travel insurance

CANCELLATION POLICY

Rescheduling or Cancellation by Dream Sports Adventure

Dream Sports Adventure reserves the right to cancel the package in case of insufficient registration, force majeure or any other valid reason, and in such circumstances will propose to reschedule according to availabilities or to fully refund the packages already purchased, without however giving entitlement to compensation.

Rescheduling or Cancellation by Customer

Rescheduling (according to availability) :

- Free of charge up to 45 days before the start of your package

- With 25% increase less than 45 days before the start of your package

Cancellation :

- Refund of 50% up to 45 days before the start of your package

- No refund less than 45 days before the start of your package