Super holiday in the French Alps

[BigTim]

Hi folks

As many of you have advised us on holidays I thought I'd let you know how we're getting on- it's too hot to do much else apart from laze in the shade.

We're having a super caravanning holiday in the French Alps.

This year for the first time we avoided the autoroutes and travelled on the excellent, low trafficed, scenic N roads and made excellent progress. We started off at Dunkerque and had a couple of nights at Chateau Gandspette. The on to Camping de Lac Liez near Langres for 3 nights. Final stretch to Camping Les Iles De Passey, we did use the autoroute for the last bit. We stayed at Les Iles for 2 weeks. It was a bit rough and ready but had lots of shade and was very cheap at 16_/nt with electricity. It has a lake with a public beach just outside the site gate and we swam and paddled there a couple of times. The lake, also, had views of the Mont Blanc range - well and truly snow capped and very photogenic. The site was about 15 miles from Chamonix and we bought a Mount Blanc Multipass (93_ for 4 non consecutive days - OUCH but we could pick the good days out of 15 days validity) which enabled us to travel on 8 cable cars, telecabines, trains, etc up Mont Blanc and the surrounding mountains.

On 13 August we moved on to Camping De Lac Bleu on Lake Annecy as we have a small Zodiac inflatable. We drove over from Passey to check out the sites first and were able to book a lakeside pitch at Lac Bleu. A bit pricier at 30_/nt but fantastic views and Zodiac is bobbing on the blue lake waters 10 metres from our awning!!

The weather on Lake Annecy has been consistently hot - 30+ so grateful for lake breezes. At Passey we had similar temperatures but a couple of days rain. Unfortunately Cary has strained her back helping lift the Zodiac outboard so she's having a restful day today. Otherwise a brilliant time. We have another week to go before a 2 day back up to Dunkerque for the ferry.

VIVE LA FRANCE! VIVE LA CARAVANNING.

PS For those of you may remember our troubled Continental motoring history both car and caravan are behaving impeccably.

Best wishes

Tim

 

[KeithJ]

Hi Tim

Glad to hear you are having a great time, with some good weather, and that the Sorento is behaving well!! Weather here is not bad at the moment, but a long way off 30 degrees!

Keith

 

[Queenie1]

Hi Tim. How envious are we that you are at Lake Annecy. We were there for two weeks in May. Wonderful place. Out of interest, are you finding it really busy there? We're thinking of going back for next August but weren't sure that we'd find it too madly busy. You sound as though you're having a great holiday!

Helen

 

[BigTim]

Hi Helen

Yes this is a lovely area. We have a super pitch here right on the front at Camping Du Lac Bleu. The site was very full when we arrived on 13/8 but it is now emptying slowly - a few more spaces each day. The site is big enough for all although we have had a few nights when groups of noisy teenagers have congregated on the shore in front our pitch - usually go by 11.00pm - there does not seem to be any attempts by staff to enforce any sort of curfew!

The area is generally busy - but not unbearably so. We took the omnibus boat around the lake for the whole day yesterday. We went from Doussard to Annecy and stayed for a couple of hours - town was very busy as it was market day. We fled back on to the boats for the afternoon breaking our journey at Menthon and Doussard. It was busy on the boats during day but quieter at the beginning and end.

We have'nt driven much whilst here but we drove over Col de Forclaz on eastern side and then along shore through Annecy and back down western main road. Annecy itself was VERY busy and it took a while to get through. The main western road is very busy day and night but this is not really disturbing on our pitch - bearable background even at night.

We've certainly not found it unbearably busy although we are no lover of crowds.

The weather has been VERY hot. 30-35C throughout our stay. Only one shower yesterday and another one night. Thankful for lake breezes and our lakeside position.

Hope this helps

Tim

 

[Gumbo]

Thanks Tim

It is really good to read about people experiences, thanks again for taking the time to post this useful information.

 

[Queenie1]

Thanks Tim for responding so quickly! And while you're on holiday too! Gives us a good idea about whether or not we would get terribly grumpy with all the crowds and fall out of love with the place! If you have the chance, or haven't already done it, a trip up to Mt Semnoz is well worth it. It's a long twisty road from Sevrier up the mountainside and the views from the top are just magnificent (on a clear day obviously!). Sevrier is on the Western side of the lake about 15 minutes drive from Doussard towards Annecy town.

Helen

PS I can only dream of 35 degrees. It didn't even get to 16 here today!

 

[Alex_374373826]

Sounds a very interesting trip Tim. What route did you take, as have not visited that area.

Alex