Private Day Trip to Annecy : The Venice of the Alps | Mercedes Van from Montreux

Whether you depart from Lausanne, Montreux, Bulle, Fribourg or Bern, your journey begins the moment your driver-guide picks you up at your address. Settle into your private Mercedes V-Class van – your exclusive space for the day – as the road winds through the French Alps.

First stop: the old town of Annecy, fondly nicknamed the “Venice of the Alps.” Dropped off at the edge of the historic centre, you set off at your own pace through cobblestone lanes, along colourful canal-side facades and across flower-adorned bridges, a remarkably preserved medieval setting consistently ranked among the most beautiful in France.

From there, the lake awaits. Lake Annecy is one of the purest lakes in Europe, framed by snow-capped peaks that mirror perfectly in its turquoise waters. Stroll along the promenade, linger at a lakeside café or simply take in a panorama that few places in the world can match.

To round off the day, the road climbs to the Col de la Forclaz, a natural viewpoint perched above 1,150 metres. From here, the entire sweep of Lake Annecy unfolds below, surrounded by the Aravis mountain range, one of the finest viewpoints in the French Alps and a must for photography enthusiasts.

As the day draws to a close, your driver-guide brings you back comfortably to your departure point in French-speaking Switzerland, wherever that may be.