Discover Lake Annecy and its water sports activities

Lake Annecy is the second largest glacial lake in France. The lake covers an area of over 26km, is fed by 7 streams and reaches a depth of 64 metres in some places. The lake is framed by a number of mountain ranges, including the Bornes massif to the east and the Bauges massif to the west. The lake is 458 metres above sea level. Until 1950, all the wastewater from the surrounding communes flowed into the lake. As a result, the lake was threatened by algae overgrowth. From then on, a wave of awareness enabled the lake to be saved. Today, the lake is renowned for its cleanliness, and is in fact the purest urbanised lake in Europe. The mild temperatures of Haute-Savoie make it an excellent lake for water sports in summer. In winter, the surrounding mountains attract tourists for the quality of their winter sports.

Fish, birds, flowers and more.

The lake is teeming with exceptional wildlife. Whatever the time of year, you can observe a wide range of species, including numerous ducks and swans. Some very rare species have been spotted during very cold weather, such as the common eider, a species of duck that looks a lot like a penguin. The waters of the lake are also home to many species of fish, and depending on the depth, a wide range of plants have been recorded. In the Bout-du-Lac national nature reserve, there are 476 plant species, including 17 orchids.

Temperatures at Lake Annecy

Summer

In summer, outside temperatures can reach up to 26°C.

Winter

In winter, temperatures cool down, and in the coldest months of the year, temperatures can drop to -2 C°.

What can you do on Lake Annecy?

There are plenty of options for having fun on Lake Annecy. The activities are many and varied. In fact, you'll find activities to suit all types of trip: sporting, family, romantic, etc.

The Compagnie des bateaux d'Annecy offers a range of cruises on the lake, departing from the port of Annecy. We chose this company for its reliability and the quality of its services. Cruises on Lake Annecy are only available during the high season, from May to September. You can choose between a sightseeing cruise or a lunch or dinner cruise. All the information you need about timetables, prices and private cruises is available on the Compagnie des bateaux d'Annecy website.

Promenade cruise

Among the choice of promenade cruises, we recommend a cruise around the entire lake. This cruise lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and takes you from one end of the lake to the other. It's a great way to discover Lake Annecy. The full lake cruise costs €19 per person.

Lunch cruise

The lunch cruise departs from Annecy harbour at midday. The cuisine on the restaurant boat is refined and elaborate. As well as sampling typical French dishes, you can admire the magnificent view of the mountains surrounding the lake. There are various menu options. The first, the escapade menu, costs €61. It consists of a seasonal starter, a hot dish featuring fish and a dessert made from red fruit. You return to port at 2.30pm.

Dinner cruise

The dinner cruise on the restaurant boat departs from Annecy harbour at 8pm. It's the perfect time for a romantic dinner while admiring the sunset. As at lunchtime, the "Libellule" offers a variety of menus. We chose the 'Couronne de Savoie' menu, a gourmet meal priced at €92 per person. We enjoyed a gourmet starter, a hot veal dish, a selection of regional cheeses and a Grand Cru chocolate dessert. We returned to port at 10.30pm.

Try your hand at stand-up paddling

Stand-up paddling is a great way to discover Lake Annecy. Accessible to all the family, you can choose to hire paddles for your children or take them with you on the paddle if they're still small. We chose Gliss'Cool Stand Up Paddle Annecy, which offers stand-up paddle hire. Paddle hire costs €30 for a 1.5-hour trip.

For full details of paddle hire, visit the Gliss'Cool website. Gliss'Cool is only open during the high season, from May to September.

Family wakeboarding fun on the lake

We approached the Wakesurf Annecy school. The school has two clubs, one in Annecy and one in Duingt, and offers wakeboarding, paddle boarding and e-foils. You can choose to take lessons or simply hire the equipment you need. Wakeboarding has proved to be great fun, but it does require a certain amount of physical fitness. Watch out for sore muscles the next day! A wakeboard ride costs €45 for adults and €38 for under-12s. Find all the information on the Wakesurf Annecy website.

Fishing on Lake Annecy

If you're a keen angler, you should know that you can fish on Lake Annecy. There are two recommended fishing areas:

• the large lake: more touristic and much less quiet
• the smaller lake: warmer and recommended at the start of the season.

Fishing on Lake Annecy is regulated, so trolling or line fishing is imperative. Anglers will find information and advice on the Tourisme Annecy website.

Take a dip in the cool waters and bask in the sun

Like us, you can opt for a simple swim in the lake. There are several areas dedicated to this activity, most of them small beaches along the shores. Discover the most beautiful beaches on Lake Annecy.