About this tour
A nine-hour excursion from Lyon that combines guided exploration of Annecy's medieval Old Town with an evening fondue dinner aboard a private lake cruise. Your driver collects you early from your Lyon accommodation and deposits you with a local historian who unpicks the city's Alpine heritage, leading you past Renaissance arcades and along the canal network that earned Annecy its 'Venice of the Alps' epithet. After the walking tour, you'll board a boat for Savoyarde fondue whilst drifting across Lake Annecy's waters, finishing with time to browse local producers before returning to Lyon.
Highlights
- Private driver collection from your Lyon base
- Historian-led walk through Annecy's Old Town architecture
- Canal-side exploration of medieval streetscapes
- Fondue Savoyarde dinner on private lake cruise
- Free time browsing local food shops post-lunch
- Wheelchair and pram-friendly throughout
What to expect
You'll be collected early and driven to Annecy's compact centre, where your guide meets you for a two-to-three-hour walk through Renaissance passages, lakeside promenades and narrow alleys flanking the Thiou Canal. The guide contextualises the architecture and local history without padding the route. By mid-afternoon you'll head to the mooring where a private boat awaits. You'll eat melted cheese with bread and charcuterie aboard whilst cruising the lake's perimeter—straightforward fondue, nothing theatrical. After returning to shore around early evening, you have an hour or so to explore the producer market and artisan shops before your driver takes you back to Lyon.
Good to know
Wear comfortable walking shoes for the Old Town section. The fondue works best with an appetite built up by morning wandering. All facilities are wheelchair accessible, and prams navigate the wider canal paths easily. Bring cash for local food purchases—some smaller producers don't take cards.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.