What to do on vacation in the Aravis?

Some tourist destinations have done everything to preserve the charm of traditional villages, onion-domed churches and cow bells that can be heard ringing during hikes. This is what you will discover during your vacation in the heart of the Aravis massif region.

A few kilometers from the Annecy lake, the Aravis mountain range is a small universe in its own right. Here you practice the mountain while respecting the entire community that lives from the mountain, such as breeders and farmers. You can therefore practice all mountain sports, without the landscape being disfigured and consume "local" on your return by choosing a good farmhouse Reblochon.

Hamlets, century-old wooden chalets and wooden alpine farms whose architecture respects the natural landscape that surrounds them are lost as far as the eye can see as soon as you look over the gentle and often wooded slopes of the Aravis region.

The two main holiday destinations in the region are La Clusaz and Le Grand Bornand and their hamlets.

On vacation in La Clusaz at the foot of the Aravis

A La Clusaz, nestled at the bottom of a valley at the foot of the main peaks of the Aravis, you will spend your holidays in a resolutely mountain atmosphere. The style is very Savoyard, starting with the church and its onion bell tower, the large wooden chalets that were built to avoid erecting too many buildings in urban style, as was the case in other resorts in the Alps, and the restaurants whose menus praise the authenticity of fondues, raclettes and other local specialties. Summer and winter, you can stroll in the nearby Confins valley, bucolic and wild at the same time. You will then have access to the beautiful pine forests that cover the slopes of the mountains facing the Aravis range. In winter, the Confins site becomes the Nordic site with many slopes, from the easiest to the formidable black runs. In summer, the driving range and the green allow you to practice golf at altitude. La Clusaz is an alpine ski resort, renowned for its well-groomed and very sporty slopes, especially on the Balme massif side. The ski lifts leave from the centre of the village and provide access to very beautiful viewpoints between the peaks of the Aravis

The massif of Beautiful eyes, which looks like a plateau covered in forests, is home to a ski area well suited to beginners in winter and numerous hiking trails in summer.

The traditional charm of Grand Bornand, a typical Aravis village

When you arrive from Annecy at the roundabout at the entrance to Saint Jean de Sixt, you have the choice of continuing towards La Clusaz and the Col des Aravis or heading towards Le Grand Bornand and the Col de la Colombière.

Le Grand Bornand has an architectural style similar to that found in La Clausaz, but more discreet and smaller. You feel more of the life of a traditional village, which is ideal for spending a holiday in the Aravis. A sports village-resort, it is perfect for family holidays that combine sports activities and relaxing beaches. You feel more of the atmosphere of a village where people live all year round, perhaps because the village spreads out in a valley that is less steep than that of La Clusaz. You can see in the distance the chalets and farms that stretch along the roads and paths that border the torrents. The colour of the Aravis massif at sunset that you can see from the centre of the village is extraordinary. Further down the valley that goes up towards the Col de la Colombière which remains closed in winter, you find the unique atmosphere of the Chinaillon, a small, old and well-renovated hamlet, buried under a beautiful layer of snow in winter and which has become over time a ski resort in its own right, well exposed and well connected to the ski area of Big Bo. Very beautiful hikes on foot, skis or snowshoes are also possible to go up to the different viewpoints on the neighboring massifs including that of Mont Blanc. In summer, the walks to the high passes cross the gently sloping pastures and allow for beautiful family outings. Trail runners also practice their favorite sport here on superb courses in the silence of the mountain.

The Bouchet valley, flatter than the slopes of Chinaillon, is home to cross-country ski trails. Major international Nordic skiing and biathlon competitions take place there. The trails wind through the forest, sheltered from major roads.

Strolling around the region during your vacation in the Aravis

The peaceful wooden chalets, facing the course of the sun, Manigod remind you that the mountain can also be experienced slowly, at the pace of a walk, whether contemplative or sporty.

The small markets where you will find all the ingredients of Savoyard cuisine also remind you that before being crossed by tourists, the mountain has been a place of life for centuries.

If you like two wheels, several passes await you. The Col de la Colombière and the Col de la Croix Fry require a considerable effort, but the most frequented is certainly the Col des Aravis, on the road to Megève, which lets you enjoy the colors of the sunset on the MontblancYou will then pass La Giettaz, a pretty resort in a valley on the other side of the Aravis massif.

Le Annecy lake is not far away, and in summer, why not dive into its turquoise waters after a nice hike?

Between lake and mountains, the authentic village of Thones, is a true economic and historical crossroads of the surrounding valleys. The Thônes market offers local products from the farms and mountain pastures overlooking the heart of the valleys, including cheeses such as Reblochon, Raclette and Tomme de Savoie, which are found in the typical dishes of the cuisine of the two Savoie regions. A small town that is worth a stop.

Ah! One last thing, very important: is the final “s” of “Aravis” pronounced? Certainly not! So we say “Aravi”!

Activities not to be missed during your vacation in the Aravis

Le Annecy lake: really very close, it would be a shame to miss a visit to its banks. The castle of Menthon Saint Bernard, the historic center of Annecy, a crossing of the lake… A stay in the Aravis is not complete without a trip to the lake!
A hike in the Valley of the Confins
The climb to the Aravis pass, to discover a beautiful panorama of Mont Blanc, even better if it's by bike!
A good table? That of Marc Veyrat, starred chef, welcomes you to the House of the Woods in Manigod.
Visit a production farm of Reblochon.
Discover monastic life at the Charterhouse of Reposoir, at the Col de la Colombière.

For the more athletic among you who are not afraid of heights, the ascent of the Pierced Stone, the emblematic summit of the Aravis. For others, the whole range is a delight…

The best webcams in the Aravis

(click on the name of the village)

Manigod : the village of Manigod, which stretches out in the sun.
Col de la Croix Fry: a nice view of the Col de la Croix Fry.
La Clusaz: All the resort webcams: the village square and the peaks of the ski area.
Le Grand Bornand: the center of the village of Grand Bornand.
Le Grand Bornand: the hamlet of Chinaillon