Chez Nous à la Plage
Restaurant les pieds dans l'eau sur la plage de Saint-Jorioz. Carte estivale, terrasse face au lac.
AddressPlage de Saint-Jorioz, 74410 Saint-Jorioz
Phone+33 4 50 64 97 23
HoursOuvert mi-février au 1er novembre · Fermé le lundi
Free · Open access
GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy
A long-distance walking loop around Lac d'Annecy: 80 km and 5,140 m of elevation gain according to FFR, passing by the Semnoz, the Roc des Bœufs and the Tournette.
Location verified by loisirs74.fr
At a glance
Type
GR® de Pays (GRP) walking route - loop
Access
Free access
Price
Trail free · Refuges €50-70/night
Duration
5-7 days full route · shorter stages possible
Best season
May-October
Parking
Pâquier d'Annecy, multiple possible starting points
Animals
Allowed on a leash
Stroller / Reduced mobility
NOT suitable (mountain trail)
Town
Annecy + 15 communes riveraines
Wheelchair access
Not accessible Source: FFRandonnée
What is GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy
The GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy is the official FFRandonnée long-distance walking loop that circles Lake Annecy from the hillsides above. According to the federation, 'its 80 km route with 5,140 m of climb runs through alpine pastures, villages, hamlets, limestone summits and natural parks, taking in some legendary passes including La Tournette'. It is the walking counterpart to the lakeside Voie Verte du Lac d'Annecy greenway.
The classic start is at Le Pâquier in Annecy. Typical stages: Annecy → Le Semnoz (1,699 m) → Roc des Bœufs (1,774 m) → Doussard → refuge de Pré Vérel → La Tournette (2,351 m) → Col de Bluffy → back to Annecy. The trail uses GRP yellow-red waymarking and crosses alpine pastures, villages, limestone summits (the Pre-Alpine ridges) and the Bauges and Bornes natural parks.
Free year-round access. Best season: May to October (passes are often snow-covered outside this window). Mountain refuges €50–70/night half-board, advance booking essential in summer. For experienced hikers — stages of 5–8 hours, 800–1,300 m climb per day. Not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Classic starting point: Pâquier d'Annecy (facing the lake, town centre). Full loop returns to Annecy in 5-7 days · 80 km View on map
Coordinates
45,8992° N · 6,1294° E (Pâquier d'Annecy start)
Altitude
447 m (Lac d'Annecy) to 2,351 m (Col Tournette) · cumulative ascent 5,140 m over 80 km (FFR)
Opening hours
GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy MAINLY PASSABLE MAY-OCTOBER. Lower stages (Annecy-Semnoz) passable year-round in good weather. Tournette passes snow-covered November-April. Check conditions on ffrandonnee.fr and lac-annecy.com. Verified 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
Prices
THE GR® DE PAYS TOUR DU LAC D'ANNECY TRAIL IS FREE year-round. Refuges and gîtes are paid: €50-70/night half-board (refuge de Pré Vérel, seasonal Tournette refuges). Printed FFR topo-guide €15-20. Verified 24 May 2026.
Booking
The GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy trail has free access with no booking required. REFUGE BOOKING needed in summer: refuge de Pré Vérel and seasonal Tournette refuges. Advisable from April-May for July-August. Verified 24 May 2026.
Parking
Free parking at the Pâquier d'Annecy (limited, 2h free). Free long-stay parking: Annecy SNCF station, Doussard centre, Sevrier centre. Multiple starting points possible on the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy loop.
Dogs
Dogs allowed on a leash on the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy. Not advised on the Tournette stages (technical sections, exposure). Check refuge-by-refuge acceptance.
Accessibility
GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy NOT ACCESSIBLE for wheelchairs or pushchairs: a mountain trail with 5,140 m of cumulative ascent, passes above 2,000 m, technical Tournette sections. For experienced hikers. Verified 24 May 2026.
Visit duration
Full 80 km GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy: 5-7 days depending on fitness. Average stage 12-18 km / 5-8h walking / 800-1,300 m of ascent. Shorter day stages possible (Semnoz, Roc des Bœufs).
Contact
FFRandonnée Haute-Savoie - departmental walking committee. Lac d'Annecy Tourist Office +33 (0)4 50 45 00 33. Refuge de Pré Vérel by reservation. Verified 24 May 2026.
Access
How to get there
By car
Annecy is accessible from Geneva (45 min, 45 km) via A41, from Lyon (1h45, 140 km) via A41. Parking at the Pâquier d'Annecy limited to 2h free, free long-stay parking at the SNCF train station (10-minute walk from the Pâquier).
Open in MapsPublic transport
Annecy SNCF station is a 10-minute walk from the Pâquier d'Annecy (starting point of the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy). TGV from Paris (3h30) and Lyon (1h20). SIBRA buses, all lines, 'Bonlieu' stop. Cars Région lake routes.
Open in MapsBy bike
Cycling is not recommended on the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy trail (mountain footpath). See the Voie verte du Lac d'Annecy for the flat 33 km cycling equivalent.
Open in MapsNearest stops
- Hôtel de Ville · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y51 · 115 m
- HOTEL DE VILLE · SIBRA · 13, 15, 26, 27, S4 · 135 m
- DEPOT BATEAUX · SIBRA · 241 m
- Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Official fares & timetables →
- SIBRA · Fare : 1,50 € (carte) · 2 € (appli/SMS) · 2,50 € (à bord, 2026) · Official fares & timetables →
Transport data verified on 2026-06-15 · source transport.data.gouv.fr (Licence Etalab 2.0)
Parking
Pâquier d'Annecy, multiple possible starting points
When to visit
When to visit
The GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy is mainly walked from May to October. Lower stages (Annecy-Semnoz via the Semnoz funicular, lower lake stages) are passable YEAR-ROUND in good weather. The Tournette passes (the iconic 2,351 m stage) are snow-covered from November to April - do not attempt without high-mountain gear. May-June: beautiful, blooming alpine pastures, refuges gradually opening, low visitor numbers. July-August: high season, the Pré Vérel and Tournette refuges fill up, BOOK FROM APRIL. September-October: an excellent period - autumn colours, less crowded refuges, often stable weather, cool temperatures at altitude. AN OFFICIAL FFR WALKING ROUTE around Lac d'Annecy. 80 KM WITH 5,140 M OF ASCENT according to the official FFRandonnée (ffrandonnee.fr) - quoted verbatim: 'its route leads through alpine pastures, villages, hamlets, limestone peaks and nature parks, not forgetting a few iconic passes, including the Tournette'. THE ESSENTIAL WALKING COUNTERPART to the Voie verte du Lac d'Annecy - together the greenway and the GR Pays offer a COMPLETE Lac d'Annecy experience: cycling families on the greenway, serious hikers on the GRP. PEAKS CROSSED: Le Semnoz 1,699 m, Roc des Bœufs 1,774 m, COL DE LA TOURNETTE 2,351 M (iconic stage). NATURE PARKS crossed: Bauges (west), Bornes (east). TRADITIONAL SAVOYARD alpine pastures, villages and hamlets. 5-7 DAYS for the full loop. YELLOW-RED GRP WAYMARKING by FFRandonnée. FOR EXPERIENCED HIKERS ONLY (5-8h stages, 800-1,300 m of ascent per day).
Events : Marathon de la Tournette in September (50 km trail race using part of the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy). Lake Annecy Marathon in April (road race but starting from the Pâquier d'Annecy). FFRandonnée Haute-Savoie events in spring-summer.
Winter
Winter season
Winter access window
Not specified
Winter infrastructure
Not specified
Snow panorama
Not specified
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
Voir le site →
Photos
Gallery
Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs74 or email photos@loisirs74.fr
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long is the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy?
According to official FFRandonnée sources, the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy is 'an 80 km route with 5,140 metres of elevation gain, leading through alpine pastures, villages, hamlets, limestone peaks and nature parks'.
Is access to the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy paid?
No. The GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy trail is free and open year-round. Only the refuges are paid: €50-70/night half-board (refuge de Pré Vérel, seasonal Tournette refuges).
How many days does the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy take?
The GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy can be walked in 5 to 7 days depending on fitness. Average stage 12-18 km / 5-8h walking / 800-1,300 m of ascent. Shorter day stages possible (Semnoz, Roc des Bœufs).
When can you do the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy?
The GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy is mainly walked from May to October. Lower stages are passable year-round. The Tournette passes are snow-covered November-April. Best season: June and September-October.
Which peaks does the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy pass over?
The GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy follows the limestone peaks of the Préalpes: Semnoz 1,699 m, Roc des Bœufs 1,774 m, Col de la Tournette 2,351 m. 360° panoramic views over the lake and the Bauges and Bornes massifs.
What is the difference between the Voie verte and the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy?
The Voie verte du Lac d'Annecy is a flat, 33 km cycling route along the west shore, wheelchair accessible. The GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy is an 80 km walking route over the heights with 5,140 m of ascent. Together they cover the whole lake.
Is the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy accessible for reduced mobility?
No. The GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy is not wheelchair or pushchair accessible: it is a mountain trail with 5,140 m of cumulative ascent and passes above 2,000 m. For reduced mobility, see the Voie verte du Lac d'Annecy.
Do I need to book refuges on the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy?
Yes, in the summer season. The refuges on the GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy (refuge de Pré Vérel, seasonal Tournette refuges) fill up in July-August. Booking from April-May is advisable.
Featured in our selections
Sources
Sources & verification
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
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