Lake Annecy, Megeve and Meribel
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7-18 September 2025 (12 days, 11 nights)We start and finish in Lyon. It’s our job to make life easy for you. Our hotel is right at the airport. Here’s all we require from you over the next 12 days. Eat, sleep, ride your bike, drink and repeat! We’ll take care of everything else. We’ve been travelling to France for almost 20 years. Lake Annecy is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. In fact, it’s our favourite. Which is why we have 4 nights here. It’s then on to the exploration part of the trip. We stay 5 nights in the ski villages of Megeve and Meribel. Riding Cols you may not have heard of. Along with a few TDF favourites. This particular trip is planned at a relaxed pace. Away from the mid-summer heat and high season crowds. We’ve deliberately created this tour in the style of a boutique trip. Small vans rather than a large coach, more time on the bikes and less time driving. 4 of our guides live in the Annecy region. Including coach, Silas Cullen who will share a 10-week training program leading up to this trip. Team Macchiato (non-riders) are very welcome. Chris, one of our guides, specialises in walking. He will have a good walk planned every day. The areas we are visiting are more aligned to activity which is why we see the off the bike agenda as being walking based. You can expect to be walking for 3 to 4 hours each day. Cyclists are also welcome to join the walking team if they want a day off the bike. Cyclists and Team Mac will work seamlessly together. Our Annecy team are very experienced at making this happen. No one will be disappointed. Be prepared for a fantastic hassle-free holiday with a few false flats thrown in. Look forward to seeing you in Lyon. |
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Lake Annecy Tour Details
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Tour InclusionsAccommodation
Amazing Cycling & Walking
General Cycling Tour Details
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The Tour Price Excludes
Bike Hire Options
The Tour Cost
The initial deposit is $2000.00 NZD per person. To be paid at time of booking. Full payment will be 90 days prior to departure. We suggest that have travel insurance in place when paying deposits and booking flights. ** Please note re: hire bikes. Insurance for the bike is not included. It’s simply not a thing in Europe. You are liable for any damage to the bike. Ride Holidays will offer an optional insurance kitty for all those who are hiring. It’s $150.00 (we will organise this closer to departure) per bike and you can opt in or out. For all those who opt in then we have a pool of $$ to use for any damage. Any unused $$ will be donated to our kid’s bike charity. |
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Lake Annecy Cycle Tour Itinerary |
Day 1, Sunday 7 SeptemberWelcome to Lyon. Welcome to France.Today is mainly an arrival day. Keep in mind that check-in time in France is generally 3pm. Our hotel is located at the airport. Literally you leave the airport and within 100m – you are on holiday. Late this afternoon we put all the bikes together. For those hiring bikes, they’ll be waiting for you in Annecy when we arrive tomorrow. Tonight, we are hosting a welcome dinner. We’ll introduce the team and discuss the days ahead. The chef has promised a regional meal. That’s French speak for using local produce to create a stunning welcoming dinner for us. Oh, there will also be champagne. Time to meet your travel buddies and settle into a great night of socialising. The most important message we want to get across at dinner is that we are flexible. Communication is extremely important, and we are happy to alter our daily plan to accommodate you. We really want to make sure you have a wonderful holiday. Thank you for joining Ride Holidays. Welcome to France. / Accommodation – NH Lyon Airport hotel
PS, La Vuelta is on while we are in France. It will become a nightly trend to pop down to the bar and watch the last hour or so. It’s more than likely that today’s stage will be in the high mountains. Tomorrow is traditionally a rest day. |
Day 2, Monday 8 SeptemberLake Annecy – ParadiseLet it begin!! We leave the city and head for the most beautiful lake on the planet. Which just happens to be surrounded by some reasonably large mountains. Our home for the next 4 nights is ideally located on the eastern side of Lake Annecy. Perfect positioning between the mountain range we plan to explore and the city (of Annecy) which is only 30 minutes away by bike path. The hotel has the most magnificent view and its very own private beach. If you feel like a day off the bike, this is the place to do it. There’s also an outside restaurant, so if it’s a nice day we’ll dine outside. Anyway, it’s about a 2-hour drive. We’ll probably stop for coffee. Patrick and the rental bikes will be waiting for us when we arrive. It’s a quick change into lycra before today’s orientation ride. Behind our hotel is a surprisingly tough but stunning climb. Col de la Forclaz. It seems the TDF rides up here most years as it showcases Annecy’s sheer beauty. At the top there’s a great café which has amazing views and actually pretty good coffee. There’s also the chance of jumping off the cliff. (Paragliding is not covered by your travel insurance.) We roll back down the other side and finish with a lap of the lake. September is very much still swimming weather so feel free to pack your togs. The total ride is only 60km but that includes 800M of climbing. A nice gentle start to your holiday. Team Mac – actually, let’s rename you - Team Walk for this trip. There’s a fantastic walk that starts just behind our hotel. Cascade d'Angon is only a 3mile loop but it will take a couple of hours. You pass through meadows and the village of Les Mouilles before arriving at the magnificent waterfall that is Cascade d'Angon. The views from the lookout at Pont des Fées are special. A really nice walk to start your trip and an example of what will be on offer every day. / Accommodation – Beausite Talloires Lake Annecy
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Day 3, Tuesday 9 SeptemberCol de la ColombiereIf yesterday was the entree, today is the main course. Col de la Colombiere is the region’s highest profile TDF climb. The most direct route from our hotel is only 36.4km to the top (1700VM). Yes, it’s Hors Category. Meaning, fun but bad. The actual climb from Le Grand Bornard is only 12km at 6%. That’s pretty much a walk in the park. Just ask Warren Barguil and Fanny Leleu who hold the KOM and QOM’s (26min 55secs and 33min). I think by day 3 I need to warn you of the Silas factor. He struggles to accurately describe gradients and has been known to lie (a lot). You have been warned. Still, I can assure you that every day will be special. Getting back to the day. For those who want more than 80km then we’ll have plan B, C and D extensions up our sleeve. That’s the beauty of having local guides. For those not wanting to ride the whole way, we’ll always have a support vehicle in and around you. Simply put up your hand when you’ve had enough. On a sobering note, you will see quite a few war memorials on the ride. We’ll stop for a moment of reflection at the Nécropole Nationale des Glières. This honours the site where 25 French were killed in WW2. Their bodies were left on the banks of the stream, where the bike path which we will be riding now stands. / Accommodation – Beausite Talloires Lake Annecy
PS, lunch is a BBQ at the top of Colombiere. Yes, it’s a thing. And you are worth it!! Team Walk will also focus on Colombiere as we see the BBQ with the cyclists as being important. There are quite a few walks to choose from and Chris (guide) is a local to this region. By day 3 he’ll have a better idea of fitness levels. |
Day 4, Wednesday 10 SeptemberRide like a localIt’s not my intention to scare you. Please keep in mind that we’ll have plenty of support around you. There will always be cappuccino, latte and espresso ride options. However, we see today as being a good challenge. It’s perfect timing with the rest day coming up tomorrow. From our hotel, we take the bike path to the southern end of the lake (hopefully the bike café is open for coffee) before climbing up Saint-Eustache which offers amazing switchbacks and stunning views. The climb takes you to the top of Leschaux and eventually up Montee du Semnoz. The road sign here states 13.5km at 6%. That doesn’t sound too bad. We’ll have a picnic lunch at the top before descending back towards the old town of Annecy. We have a garden bar in mind for a nice refreshing beer or glass of wine. It’s then only a short 10km along the bike path back to our hotel (and it’s private beach). In all seriousness, the idea being for the first couple of days that we don’t do a lot of VM over 6-7%. We save the nasty stuff for later in the trip when you’re a bit more battle hardened. Today really is one of those days where the local guides are worth their weight in gold. You will sleep well. Good night. / Accommodation – Beausite Talloires Lake Annecy
PS, Team Walk - at the top of Semnox there’s a fantastic walk - Le Crêt de l'Aigle. When the weather is clear you can see all the way to Le Mont-Blanc. There are a number of distances to choose from and Chris will factor that into the plan. The idea being that you finish your walk as the cyclists arrive for lunch. |
Day 5, Thursday 11 SeptemberRest DayWe see today as being ideal for a down day. Annecy has a lot more to offer than Megeve and Courchevel so spending some time in town would be a good idea. The other point I’d make is that the next 5 days offer some reasonably lumpy cycling. Today would be a great chance to give back to your legs (and bottom). On that note, it would be easy for us to arrange massage. For those people who find it impossible to rest, you could simply hop on your bike for a flat 40km around the lake on the bike path. Or feel free to ride up Forclaz again. I have no doubt that Patrick and Paul will be looking for a longer ride so feel free to join them. Also, keep in mind that you are staying at one of the most beautiful hotels on the planet. You literally have a private beach. Generally, at this time of the year the temperatures will run into the mid-20s so still very swimmable. There is zero wrong with not cycling today. Zero. For those who want to experience French cooking, there’s a local lady we know who offers a cooking school like no other. We’ll drop you off at her house mid-morning. You’ll cut, slice, boil and simmer until lunch is served (including a local wine of course). This is limited to 5 people so let me know as we’ll need to book this nice and early. You’ll be back at the hotel by mid-afternoon for a nap. Late this afternoon we will offer shuttles into Annecy for those wanting to do a spot of retail. There are a few bike shops to check out. Each has their own French Alps jersey. Or you could just buy another bike. (It’s been done before.) Tonight is a free evening, so we see the majority of you staying in Annecy for dinner. / Accommodation – Beausite Talloires Lake Annecy
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Day 6, Friday 12 SeptemberHotel to hotel…Riding from one set of digs to another is always rewarding. It’s very relaxed. Neither is there a TDF race schedule to worry about. You literally have the whole day to go from A to B (via the top of C, D, and E). There’s a good chance that some of you will only spend a couple of hours in the vehicles….and I’m talking about over the whole 12 days. Home for the next 2 nights is the beautiful ski town of Megeve. Our hotel is described as a modern chalet in the mountains. This particular chalet has all the mod cons and is highly recommended by Andre Agassi who is one of your local guides. (Patrick) Most importantly, it’s very Velo friendly. Maybe we should chat about today’s ride. Remember how yesterday was a rest day? Today certainly isn’t. There are 3 small Silas blips we need to ride, Col de Marais, Col de la Croix Fry and Col des Aravis. You are welcome to choose one, two or all Cols. I rode this route a few years back and I remember it vividly. Total ride distance from hotel to hotel is only 80km. In the small print, 2200VM. But you do have 1500m of downhill which pretty much makes todays ride – flat as!! It's not all about the food. Yes, it’s all about the food. Lunch is a picnic on top of Aravis. I fondly remember the fruit tart we had up there a few years back. Tonight, we could visit the hot pools at the Palais Megeve. There are certainly worse things to consider. Yes, we are 100% athletes. See you there. / Accommodation – Novotel Megeve Mont Blanc
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Day 7, Saturday 13 SeptemberBeing a Tourist!!Megeve is surrounded by world class mountains. The majority of which have beautifully engineered roads that itch to be cycled. The plan this morning is to ride. This afternoon, we put the lycra away and become tourists. There are a lot of climbs to choose from and by day 7 we’ll know what individually makes you tick. We’ll have different plans for all of you. Those who want to be challenged will ride up Col des Saisies, another French ski resort which transforms into a cycling paradise come summer. The top of the climb is only 25km from our hotel. And a very modest 800VM. A puppy dog by tomorrow’s standards. This afternoon we suggest you jump on the Mont Blanc tramway which is only a couple of km down the road from our hotel. It’s the highest cogwheel train in France and slides through the valleys to the various ski resorts. The other option is a cable car and a walk. The great thing about France is that at the top of each mountain there’s always a café. Always. Or you simply may want to chill out this afternoon. Totally up to you. We’ll have various plans in place. If it’s the tram, then we’ll need to book tickets in advance as it’s very popular. Dinner is up to you as it’s a free night however, this caught my eye - maybe we should go here? Brasserie Bacchante prides itself on its craft beer. With a catch ... and I quote … “Organic craft beers made by two children from the village.” Ahhh, ok, let’s go and see what all that’s about. I’m sure it’s perfectly fine. /Accommodation – Novotel Megeve Mont Blanc
/ Meals included – Breakfast (Lunch and Dinner are own arrangements) |
Day 8, Sunday 14 SeptemberQueen stage – says SilasSilas does have a habit of exaggerating. However, in this particular case, he’s right. He describes today as 10 / 10 scenery wise. With a couple of blips. Which is why today will be our Queen stage. We leave Megeve and head deeper into the Alps. Riding Sexy Saisies for a 2nd time. (Different route to yesterday though.) Lunch is at the beautiful Beaufort (sorry) before the 2nd climb of the day up Cormet de Roselend. If you only want 1 Col, you’ll jump on your bikes at lunch. As Silas describes – Roselend is 10/10. Yes, it’s not easy but the best things in life aren’t. We’re talking 20km and 1200VM at 6%. There’s a lake at the top which according to RH myth makes you look 5 years younger if you have a quick dip. We’ll see. Getting back to the total mileage. From Megeve to Bourg-Saint-Maurice we’re talking 85km and 2400VM. But there’s 2600m of descending. That’s another predominately downhill ride. Our day concludes at Bourg because the last 50km isn’t pleasant. It follows a motorway and there’s also another massive climb so let’s not do that. The last 3 nights in the Alps are in what I’d describe as France’s # 1 ski resort town, Meribel. High in the mountains and surrounded by the best skiing and in my humble opinion, the best bike path on the planet. And that is exactly why we are here. Tomorrow, we ride Loze. / Accommodation – Hotel La Tarentaise, Meribel (Superior rooms)
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Day 9, Monday 15 SeptemberKing Stage – Col de la LozeIn 2019, we were literally the first group (in the whole entire wide world) to ride the brand-new paved path that links Courchevel and Méribel. It opened the day before we arrived. At 2,300m, the French created the 11th highest paved Col in France. And it was built purely with cycling in mind. Bless the French!! You can ride side by side, knowing that there’s zero chance of any vehicles. It’s that nice that in 10 years’ time your cycling buddies will be asking you “have you ridden Col de la Loze?” Alpe d’Huez will be sooo yesterday! You may remember Loze for being the deciding TDF stage in 2023. Pogi was absolutely destroyed by Vingegaard. I wonder who Loze will destroy today? Hmm. Suggest you follow the Silas Cullen training program (starts 10 weeks prior to the trip starting). Staying on the mountain means that you have the whole day to ride only 40km. Personally, I rank this loop higher than the worlds other sexy 40km loop – the Sella Ronda in Italy. It does involve a wee bit of climbing though … just over 2000VM. But you have the whole day. (You’ll be super fit by this stage of the trip.) The Whippets amongst us can choose to do it twice. Clockwise and anti-clockwise. 80km and almost 4500m of climbing. Please be warned, if you do this then we will name and shame you at dinner. You will also be tested for drugs. For the normal people, this afternoon we suggest you take advantage of the aquatic water park. There are numerous pools to choose, massage, etc. But also, slightly more challenging activities like an indoor surf wave, climbing wall, etc. / Accommodation – Hotel La Tarentaise, Meribel (Superior rooms)
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Day 10, Tuesday 16 SeptemberBut wait – there’s moreWork is underway to create yet another bike path close to where we are staying. One that will go higher than Col de la Loze. Struth – the French don’t do things by halves. Here in NZ, we struggle to have a bike path built down a flat street. In France they pick 2 mountains and say “let’s put a bike path in between those to peaks”. Wee wee. France, we love you. By September 2025, you’ll be able to ride your bikes from Meribel over Col de la Tougnete and down the other side to the town of Les Menuires. To say it will be epic is an understatement. Even our resident spy (Silas) is excited. The ride distance is actually quite short however we expect there to be a few tired legs. The vehicles will be waiting at Les Menuires (suggested lunch spot) for a lift back to the hotel. Or you can ride back. Keep in mind that today is really your last good ride day so make the most of it. We can’t give you any ride stats for today because they haven’t actually been released. The one fact I have is that Col de la Tougnète stands at 2400m. 100m higher than Loze which is the 11th highest paved trail in France. That makes it higher than Galibier, d’Huez, Tourmalet, etc, etc. I don’t need to go on. At the very least, we know the views will be awesome. Let’s dine together tonight. It gives us the chance to chat and compare Col de la Loze vs Col de la Tougnete. Or a chance to drown our sorrows. Cheers to you. / Accommodation – Hotel La Tarentaise, Meribel (Superior rooms)
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Day 11, Wednesday 17 SeptemberCoffee ride – Ahhh, time to relaxIt’s a 2-hour drive from Meribel to Lyon and our last night together. Almost exactly halfway is the town of Aix-les-Bains which sits on the shore of the beautiful Lac du Bourget. It’s only 30km around the lake, most of it on a bike path. We suggest that we ride, have lunch and then drive to Lyon. This afternoon we’ll help pack down the bikes. Here’s a quick snapshot of the Cols we’ve conquered. Col de la Forclaz, Col de la Colombiere, Semnoz, Col de Marais, Col de la Croix Fry, Col des Aravis, Col des Saisies, Cormet de Roselend, Col de la Loze and Col de la Tougnete. Team Mac (Team Walk) we see your list of walks as equally impressive. Ranging from 5km on day 2 to much longer walks like Col de la Loze. Silas will include a walking option in the training program. Most importantly, we stay in 3 of France’s most beautiful towns. Eating at magnificent restaurants while meeting new friends along the way. France is the # 1 tourist country in the world. It’s our job to show you why. Tonight is a great chance to celebrate and look back at our achievements while raising a glass of champagne. It’s how we started the trip and how we intend to finish. Cheers to you. / Accommodation – NH Lyon Airport hotel
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Day 12, Thursday 18 SeptemberLe End..Our tour finishes after breakfast. For some it's time to head home, while others will take some time in Lyon or head off to explore other parts of Europe. Our hotel is based at the airport however there’s also a TGV station within 500m. You can pretty much jump on a fast train and be in Paris before you’ve finished a cup of tea. (And a croissant.) Thank you for joining Ride Holidays. We really appreciate your loyalty and look forward to seeing you on our next adventure. Safe travels home. The team at RH ... |