Alternative stage Le Grand-Bornand / Lescheraines

The " Lake Annecy " variant of the Route des Grandes Alpes® ! We propose you a new itinerary, by the Marais pass, the Val Sulens, Faverges, the green way of the Tour du Lac d'Annecy and its cycle track, until Saint-Jorioz and the ascent of the Leschaux pass. But, you can also embellish the day, by making the loop of the pass of Plan Bois (1299 m), from Thônes. Or, by going to the Semnoz (1670 m), from the col de Leschaux. You can also choose another itinerary towards the lake, by the pass of Bluffy (630 m) and the castle of Menthon-Saint-Bernard, one of the architectural jewels of Haute-Savoie.

From Le Grand-Bornand to Lescheraines via Annecy Lake

Route North / South

↗ 968 m ↘ 1302 m

From Le Grand-Bornand, reach Saint-Jean-de-Sixt in three kilometers of light ascent, then go down to Thônes avoiding the main road. From Thônes, you enter the quiet and wild Val Sulens. After Les Clefs, climb the Col du Marais (843 m) and reach the village of Serraval, before descending towards Lake Annecy. After Saint-Ferréol and Faverges, the itinerary joins the green way of the Tour du Lac d'Annecy and its cycle track, which you follow until Saint-Jorioz. Then turn left towards Saint-Eustache and the Col de Leschaux (897 m): a very nice climb and magnificent views of the lake. Then go down to Lescheraines, through the Bauges massif and its geopark.

Route South / North

↗ 1302 m ↘ 968 m

From Lescheraines, you attack the ascent of the Leschaux pass (897 m), crossing a part of the Bauges massif and its geopark. The beautiful descent towards Saint-Eustache and Saint-Jorioz, with magnificent views over the lake of Annecy, leads you to the green way of the Tour du Lac and its cycle track. Follow it to Faverges and Saint-Ferréol, before starting the climb towards Serraval and the Marais pass (843 m). Then go down towards Thônes, before going up to Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, avoiding the main road, before reaching Le Grand-Bornand by 3 km of light descent. 

Don’t miss

• Annecy and its lake : why not take advantage of this stage to ride around the entire cycle track of the Tour du Lac d'Annecy and take a dip from one of its many beaches? After riding along the waters of the purest lake in Europe for nearly 40 kilometers, take time to visit Annecy, its old town, its art of living... 
• Climbing the Semnoz (1 670 m) : cruel dilemma at the Leschaux pass (897 m) : continue normally towards Lescheraines, or try to climb the Semnoz, to add this beautiful pass to your list of achievements ? If it can help you in your decision, know that the eastern side where you are is, at the same time, the wildest and the most accessible.
• The Bauges Geopark : the other Geopark in Haute-Savoie, along with the one in Chablais. The Geopark label is granted, upon application, by UNESCO to geologically exceptional territories.