If, adorned with its emerald color which gives it a Caribbean air, Lake Annecy is a great place for swimming in the mountains, it proves to be of first choice for making unique aquatic discoveries. Proof by ten.
Exclusively on Lake Annecy
FLY ON THE LAKE
Boarding the new
SeaBubbles lake shuttle
means embarking on both a boat crossing and a flight over Lake Annecy. This is a first in France and Europe. It is therefore a privilege to live the experience of this nautical and aeronautical crossing, in a bubble with a design inspired by the automobile. Cruising speed: 22km/h on average, for a gentle sensation of flight. The foils under the boat, like airplane wings, come into action as soon as 12km/h is reached, for a flight of approximately 15 minutes (over a 30-minute crossing). 0 emissions, 0 waves, 0 noise for this electric flying taxi boat invented in Annecy: a great benefit for the glacial lake whose nature and beauty must be preserved. It’s up to everyone to choose their starting and ending point. 5 places on board, and 6 rotations per day are provided by the 4 sworn pilots. Ecological and practical.
€9 per adult journey, €4 for a child aged 2 to 12 (free under 2 years old). Online reservation:
Grand Annecy Mobilités
or
SeaBubbles
.
NAVIGATE IN ELECTRIC MODE
Electric is the specialty of the Deck, which opened in summer 2023, adjacent to Brune beach.
Le Deck
offers rental of electric boats exclusively; once again a first. And a boon for preserving the pure waters of the lake. The “
GoBoat
”, these license-free electric boats are equipped with a central table, very useful for a picnic on the lake and can be transformed into a sun lounger, with sufficient capacity to accommodate a family on board (8 seats) : it's unique.
GoBoat rental at the Deck: from €120 (1h30) to €240 (3h).
ledeck-veyrier.com
Electricity is now naturally legion on Lake Annecy, even for the historic
Compagnie des Bateaux
which has initiated a project to electrify its cruise ships. Here, the
Libellule
just electrified after 40 years of service. A blessing for this lake renowned for its pure waters. What a joy to get on board without the smell of fuel, let's admit it, and to sail in silence, in direct contact with the lake environment. The emblematic
Libellule
, which allows you to go around the lake on a leisure cruise (1 hour or 1 hour 30 minutes), sails in electric mode, just as powerful. This is a first for a lake cruise beauty, to be tested this spring.
Sightseeing cruises: Large lake (1 hour), Large and small lake 1h30); C-Gastronomie lunch and dinner cruises.
boats-annecy.com
TRAVEL YOURSELF TO AN IMPERIAL SWIMMING
Adjoining the Imperial Palace, the hotel facing the lake and its backdrop of intertwined mountains, access to the beach is now free. Open to all, in July and August from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (10 p.m., Thursday to Saturday); with the possibility of treating yourself to a diving board experience and playing beach volleyball. Seaside atmosphere.
Impérial Beach, 30 avenue d’Albigny (Annecy).
Family experiences on Lake Annecy
A CRUISE ON LAKE ANNECY: ABOARD A HISTORIC SHIP OR AN ELECTRIC BOAT
Embark on Quai Napoléon for a journey through time on a ship formerly used to transport materials (from the 15th century) and goods (until 1930). On board the
Espérance III
, on the elegant acacia deck and maneuvering this flagship (18 meters in length and 112 meters of lateen sails), there are ten volunteer sailing crew members, a skipper (name enshrined on a Latin barque) and 30 passengers. The cruise lasts 2 hours, at an average of five knots facing the eastern shore of Lake Annecy, whose jewels can be seen: Château de Menthon and Tournette. The hoisting of lateen (triangular) sails on antennas is fascinating, and the tacking is unique. We let ourselves be carried by the teammates and everyone is invited to steer for a moment. A gift.
Cruise on the
Espérance III
(from April to October): adult (€30), children 4-12 years old (€22). Variant (on certain dates) from Doussard, with visit to the Bout du Lac nature reserve before the cruise.
esperance3.org
TRANSPARENT KAYAK TRIP
Here's how to enjoy the lakebed: sitting in a transparent kayak. With your feet in the water, but dry, you can see small fish and large carp, great crested grebes and other diving birds of the lake. A nautical “hiking” tip: from the rental company's base, follow the coast to Roc de Chère and enter one of its caves with clear waters. Note that this boat was created in Annecy and that
Gliss'cool
is the only one to offer it. Second tip: before or after the trip on the water: take it easy on a deckchair, swim or eat (Monte Medio refreshment bar and Guinguette des Cassines).
1 hour walk: €30. Until September 15.
stand-up-paddle-annecy.com
OUT ON A GIANT PADDLE
Everyone on their own board or all on the same one? Everyone chooses their paddle, to discover this activity widely practiced on Lake Annecy. The second option allows you to board the whole family (4 to 8 people). It's good for cohesion and having fun with the children. Where to practice? The first to offer this XXL and fun version of paddle is none other than
Benoît Mouren
(NCY Sup in Sevrier), organizer of the legendary Glagla Race (paddle race organized in January); during the summer we also let ourselves be tempted by other experiences, alternatively: paddle burger at sunset and paddle yoga.
Red paddle XL rental: €42 ½ hour, €52 per hour (6 people, €5 per additional person)
ncy-sup.com
NAUTICAL HIKE IN CATAMARAN
A hike is what the outing on the waves of Lake Annecy surrounded by mountains is called, offered by Arnaud, skipper of
The Boat
, departing from Sevrier (chemin du Port de Létraz). Whatever the length of the trip, sharing the basics of navigation, discovering secret corners and swimming is on the program. Obviously, also experience the exceptional: 2 hours to 6 hours on the largest sailing boat on the lake (11x6m). The route is a surprise, depending on the weather and the chosen cruise time: discovery (2 hours), midday (3 hours), day (6 hours), sunset (3 hours) and tailor-made (3 to 6 hours). The curious like to hoist the mainsail and steer alongside the skipper; Epicureans opt for the sunset cruise, lying on the catamaran's trampoline. Please note that strollers can also be taken on board.
Private cruise from €250 (6 people, €40 per additional person).
annecy-croisieres-voile.com
Fashionable for athletes
JET CYCLE: PEDAL TO FLY
The
Jet Cycle
, the latest innovative boat born in Annecy, allows you to fly with your legs on the lake. How is it possible ? A hull equipped with a foil, a propeller and a pedal board: the combo for flying above the water using only the strength of your legs and reaching a speed of 12km/h. Notice to athletes in duo (2 boats) or solo on the water. Floating at the water level and then taking off offers an obvious feeling of weightlessness. You still have to master the mount; the first outing is necessarily supervised, before being able to afford the second independently.
JetCycle rental at UNCA (Petit Port, Annecy-le-Vieux): from 14 years old, solo “Ready to Fly” coached session €80, free “Foil Cycling” session 30 min €30 / 1 hour €50. Such. : 06 78 35 83 42.
WINGFOIL: AQUATIC AND AERONAUTICAL
As its name suggests, this new practice appeals to windsurfing enthusiasts and all sports enthusiasts. Because to appreciate the sensations of gliding in weightlessness, you still need to know how to handle the nautical and aeronautical combo. Where to learn wing foiling on Lake Annecy? Left bank towards Wing Foil Annecy in Sevrier; right bank, it is with Luc, sailing instructor from the Veyrier Club Nautique that you can treat yourself to a supervised Wing Foil discovery session.
From €100 for a supervised private lesson (1 hour).
APNEA: DIVING TO BREATH BETTER
At the crossroads of a sporting activity and well-being, freediving can be practiced by everyone as long as you let yourself be carried away by the specialists in the discipline from Lake Annecy, such as
Reda Guehria
(Apnea & Swim). The freediver supervises individual or group discovery sessions (4 people). Let it be said, in freediving, we are not looking to see curiosities of the depths (as in diving) but rather to let ourselves slide as if enveloped and dive into ourselves undulating, while controlling the retention of our breath. A challenge that 400 trainees have already taken up with the professional who likes to remind us that “Freediving is no longer the privilege of professionals”. For the more experienced, Reda Guehria offers snorkeling around the wreck of the steamship Le France (which sank in 1971), visible from 25m.
Freediving coaching (3-hour session): €160.
apneaswim.com
And for keen triathletes, there is a date to mark on the calendar: June 8 and 9, the Alpsman, renowned for being an Iron XXL. The race is a real mountain trail. And the test starts in the middle of the lake in the middle of the night... Unprecedented.