The French Alps are an ideal location for an Alps road trip if you are coming from the UK, like we did. Annecy is a mere 8 hour drive from Calais so you will be there before you know it.
This Alps road trip itinerary through France will slowly take you closer to the Mont Blanc massif, at each stop you will get a glimpse of the incredible mountain range.
Begin in Annecy for a laid back start to your road trip, soaking up the gorgeous lake and French culture in the old town. Get up high enough in the mountains surrounding Annecy and you will see your first glimpse of Mont Blanc in the distance.
The French Alps, nestled in the South West of the country are home to some of the highest peaks in Europe, including Mont Blanc at a height of 4,808 metres. This region is also renowned for its world-class ski resorts with nearly 5,000 miles of ski slopes.
But if you’re visiting in the summer, there are also thousands of kilometres of hiking trails taking you to some of the best views in the French mountains.
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Planning Your Alps Road Trip
When is the best time to visit the French Alps?
Winter is a very popular time to visit the Alps in their snowy conditions, although less so in a campervan. While this road trip is best done in the summer, you could still do some of it in the winter if you want to be there in the snow.
If you visit in the winter you will need to bear in mind that hiking trails won’t be open unless you are experienced hiking in snow, a lot of mountain passes are also closed during the winter months due to the conditions and you need to meet legal requirements to drive in winter.
If you don’t plan to drive your own vehicle, the best airports to fly to for this road trip would likely be to Geneva, which is only a 1 hour drive from Annecy.
Locations for your Alps Road Trip Itinerary
Week 1: Annecy
Annecy, located in the North of the French Alps is sometimes referred to as the ‘Pearl of the French Alps’ or the ‘Venice of the French Alps’. With a canal running through the picturesque old town, a castle on the hill overlooking the turquoise lake and surrounding mountains in all directions, it is truly a picture perfect place to visit.
Lake Annecy is also referred to as the cleanest lake in Europe due to strict environmental regulations since the 1960’s, so it’s the perfect place to enjoy. We personally think some of Austria’s lakes must give it a run for its money but we did love our time relaxing around the lake.
What to do:
- Stroll around the lake shore and find somewhere to get in for a swim in the turquoise lake.
- If you want to cover even more of the lake, hire a bike and cycle the 42km bike path around the lake.
- Rent a pedal boat or a rowing boat to see the lake from the water or sit back and relax on a cruise.
- Wander the cobbled streets of Annecy and photograph the picturesque canals and flower baskets.
- Enjoy a meal out or some drinks in the old town. We will warn you though, out of 30+ countries we’ve travelled to in Europe, Annecy had the most expensive beer!
- Walk up to the castle on the hill for a great vantage point over Annecy old town.
- Visit the castle that inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping beauty, Menthon-Saint-Bernard Castle and admire the views over the lake.
Week 2: Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, also referred to as simply Chamonix is a mountain resort at the foot of Mont Blanc. If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting the Alps, Chamonix will blow all of your expectations out of the water. It's an absolute must-visit for an Alps road trip.
While many people might know Chamonix as a place to take to the snowy slopes, it’s a perfect destination all year round with an abundance of hiking trails to explore as well.
What to do:
If you pay for one activity on your French Alps road trip, let it be this one. Ride the Aguille du Midi cable car up to 3842m and take in the panoramic views of the snowy scenery.
This is the closest you can get to Mont Blanc without actually climbing it and is an incredible view. You can even watch in awe at the mountaineers who are taking on the highest peak.
Either on your ascent or descent from Aguille du Midi you should get off at the mid-station Plan d’Aiguille and do the short walk to Lac Bleu.
From Chamonix train station, take the scenic Montenvers train to Mer de Glace, the largest glacier in the French Alps. You should take the cable car and the stairs down to the ice caves. It’s really interesting and informative to see how much the glacier has retreated over the years, and it really hits home the effects of climate change.
Lastly, admire the Mont Blanc massif from the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve on the opposite side of the Chamonix valley. An amazing hike to do here is the hike to Lac Blanc, we’ll tell you more about this on the following page.
Activities and travel tips
Activities
Chamonix is a great place for those seeking the more adventurous activities. It’s a popular location for paragliding and is there anywhere better to give it a go than next to Mont Blanc? If that’s not thrilling enough for you, there is also the option of skydiving!
Chamonix is home to an extensive network of mountain biking trails, so whether you bring your own or opt to rent a bike in Chamonix, it’s a great way to take in the alpine scenery.
Accommodation
There’s lots of choice for accommodation depending on what level of luxury you would like on your Alps road trip. Hotels and B&B’s are always an option and you will be spoilt for choice for rooms with incredible views.
If you are looking to travel the French Alps on a budget then a road trip either in your own campervan or renting a van might be a cheaper option and staying overnight or wildcamping are well tolerated in France. You can find our overnight spots and campsites on our free French Alps road trip map.
If you’re looking to head off even more into the wilderness, there are many mountain huts across the French Alps that you can go and stay in, often for free and completely legally. These are run by the mountain club and you can find out more about them on France Montagnes Mountain Refuges.
Driving tips
France has many toll roads, on their motorways, known as "autoroutes," which are primarily managed by private companies. You can pay for these tolls at the stations along the way.
The cost varies depending on the distance traveled, vehicle type, and specific routes but we have found the toll roads in France to be quite expensive so we usually try to avoid these. You can use apps like Waze for an estimation of how much the tolls will cost on your route.
In France, winter tyres are mandatory in designated mountainous areas from November 1 to March 31. In regions where winter tyres are not required, drivers must carry snow chains and these must be used where road signs indicate that they’re compulsory.
French Alps Road Trip Map
Access our free Google Maps with all the locations you need for your French Alps Road trip - French Alps Map.
If you’re looking for a more extensive road trip guide for the Alps including more detailed information about places to visit, make sure to check out our full Alps Road Trip Guide and Map. Our Alps road trip map includes a road trip route for up to 3 months road tripping across 6 countries in the Alps!
Happy road tripping!
