Beaufort, ibexes, bivouacs: 5 days of hiking in the beautiful Savoie region

Freshly arrived in Savoie, we first set foot in Chanaz, a small and rather unique historic village. In fact, the whole place is on the water's edge, like a little mountain Venice. Canals are available for strolling around the town. The setting has preserved its ancient architecture, and this, coupled with the mountains, water and abundant flora that surround it, gives the town an idyllic, almost timeless atmosphere. Once our little tour was over, we decided to take to the open sea and embark on a cruise from Chanaz to Lac du Bourget. The Solely is a solar-powered boat. The result: no pollution, no noise - just a gentle whistle as we cruise along the calm waters of Savières. All that's left to do is let yourself be carried away by the picture-postcard scenery... and by the comments of the captain, who passionately shares the secrets of the region.

Once we arrived at Lac du Bourget, we found a wide choice of restaurants and bars for lunch. Once we're settled, we're ready and determined to go skiing, whatever the season - we'll be skiing in Savoie this summer! To do this, we head for the water ski school on the esplanade du lac. Prices are more or less the same, depending on the school, and it will cost around forty euros for a session. Once you're on your skis and up on your feet, it's almost as if you're on snow. And after all, we're not that far from the mountains - you only have to look up to see them behind the lake.

Once the day on the water was over, we headed for our accommodation in Annecy, theHôtel du Palais de l'Isle. Situated in the heart of Annecy, we drop off our suitcases here before setting off to explore the centre in search of somewhere to dine. The castle district is superbly lit up at night, highlighting every single building.

In the morning we decided to take advantage of the hotel's location to visit Annecy's old town. The tour is very pleasant, as everything is located in the same general area. It's also accessible to everyone. Unlike the cobbled, winding roads of some old towns, here everything is flat and suitable for pushchairs and people with reduced mobility. This allows us to discover vestiges ofmedieval architecture: the Perrière and Saint-Claire gates where the inhabitants paid the entrance tax, the old prisons, the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre where Rousseau learnt music, etc. All this while strolling along the River Thiou. Old Annecy should not be confused with Annecy-le-Vieux, which is a neighbouring commune.

For the afternoon, we head for Lake Annecy. The area is full of all kinds ofwater sports. For our part, we decided to admire the lake in its entirety by cycling around it. The track is very well laid out and covers 85% of the lake's perimeter. It doesn't require any special sporting skills and is equally suitable for children. The tour is mainly flat, with a few very short slopes with a 10% gradient that only get in the way in one direction. All the way, you can't get enough ofthe magnificent view of the immaculate white peaks.

After this long walk, we take a well-deserved dip in the water, at an ideal temperature of 23 degrees on average in summer. To spend the evening, we head to the Moon, a 'feet in the water' bar on the Imperial peninsula. It's the only one in Annecy to offer this concept, so there's nothing better than ending a sporty day with a cocktail by the beach. The bar also serves a few simple dishes, and a little further along the island there's a club, Pop Plage. Here you can dance with a view of the lake. For those not keen on the dancefloor, you can also spend the evening at the nearby Casino Impérial.

We leave Annecy in the early morning to head for the Beaufortain and the famous Savoie cheese route. This gourmet itinerary crosses the region, taking in the must-visit addresses linked to the cheeses produced in the region. With this in mind, we visit the Beaufortain dairy cooperative, first with a free museum and then a guided tour of the Beaufort cheese-making and maturing process. The morning ends with a tasting of Savoy wine and cheese. The site has a small shop and even a Beaufort dispenser.

For the rest of the day, we took advantage of being in Beaufortain to try one of the 200 hiking trails in the massif. We chose the 4h30 loop around Lac d'Amour and Lac des Chamois, which unfortunately is almost dry. The Beaufortain massif is renowned for its accessible trails and numerous bivouac possibilities. To make the most of the numerous spots, we decided to have a picnic on the road with the cheese we'd bought that morning. Hikes in the Beaufortain range from 3 hours to 8.5 hours and are divided into levels on their website

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To finish the day, we head to Beaufort to pick up the keys to our bucolic little chalet: Le Pika. Once we'd settled in, we headed into town for a typical restaurant. The perfect way to round off a day in the heart of Savoie, with some very local dishes.

We've got a sporty day ahead of us today, and we're off to a good start by heading for the Tarentaise valley, near La Plagne, for some early-morning canyoning. To save ourselves a bit of effort, we've chosen a 'discovery' route, but there are more advanced 'sensation' routes available for a few euros more. The cost is between €50 and €60, depending on whether or not you arrive in a group. Crossing the canyons takes between 2 and 4 hours, depending on your level. Sensation guaranteed with jumps, natural slides, abseiling, etc.

The rest of the day is no exception in terms of thrills, as we devote it to downhill mountain biking, also near La Plagne, at Montalbert. The area is a ski resort in winter, so there are big, open gradients with forest passages, ideal for cross-country biking. Once again, the activity is suitable for all levels, as you can choose between a classic bike and an electric bike for help on the climbs and more control on the descents. Full details of the other activities on offer and prices are available from the Montalbert Guides office.

After a hard day's work, we put our bags down at the Glières gîte, where a typically decorated room awaits us. To recover from our emotions while staying outdoors, we spend the evening in Aime-La-Plagne at the Théâtre de Verdure, an outdoor stage where a variety of cultural events take place: concerts, balls, sports demonstrations, and so on. We took advantage of the opportunity to find a terrace and enjoy a well-deserved meal.

It's already our last day in the heart of green Savoie. This nature-themed day in the Vanoise National Park begins with a hike to the Chapendu mountain pasture. A guide is waiting for us there to help us taste the farmhouse goat' s tomme cheese in the middle of the mountain pastures. It takes 2 hours 15 minutes round trip and costs €19 for adults and €10 for children (aged 3 to 15).

Just after lunch we set off on our own to the heights of the Vanoise National Park in search of shots of the famous wild ibex on the mountainsides. It's thanks to the park's initiative that this is possible today: in the 1960s, there were only 60 of them, but now there are more than 2,500, thanks to the ideal setting offered by the Vanoise. You can also spot chamois and marmots. Going unguided is also an opportunity to lose yourself in this rich natural environment, waiting to be discovered.

In keeping with the theme of the day, we devote our evening to a fun activity on the region's deer. The "stag bellow evening" not only teaches us more about this species, but also raises our awareness of the need to preserve the flora and fauna of Savoie and the regions in general. This evening does not take place all year round, but there are many others on offer in the park.

For more information, visit the Champagny website or contact them at: info.champagny@la-plagne.com

It is on this serious note of the deer and the importance of nature that we end our stay in the heart of the mountains. Savoie is an ideal destination for fans of wide open spaces and long walks. There are loads of photo spots to discover, a wealth of flora and fauna to admire and hikes to enjoy or overcome.