We are blessed to have many opportunities to fellowship and explore some of the local beauty in the Annecy region during the Feast this year! We will open the Feast with a group welcome activity on the second day (Wednesday), intended for participation by everyone! This event is free and we hope that all will come to get to know each other and enjoy some fun activities together. In addition to this, group bus excursions have been planned for three other afternoons during the Feast—open to all who are interested, upon registration and payment of excursion fees* (see below for more information). Please also see the Feast calendar for more information on all of the additional events planned for the Feast this year: Feast calendar.

*Payment for excursions must be made online via Shopify by Sunday, July 25th, 2021 (Deadline extended). Excursion buses must be reserved ahead of time, so your reservation will not be refundable in case of cancellation. However, once at the Feast, you may be able to find someone willing to exchange or purchase your excursion tickets.

Please note:

• Costs listed are per person and cover the cost of the tour buses and guides
• Infants 2 years old and under are free if they do not take up a seat on the bus
• Payment deadline: Sunday, July 25th, 2021 (Deadline extended)

 

1. WELCOME ACTIVITY

Date: Wednesday, September 22nd
Location: Plage de port municipal, Allée de la Plage, Duingt
Time: Arrive at 2:00pm; Activities to begin by 2:30pm
Cost: Free

Come one, come all! Please take a nice walk down to the beach to join us for the welcome activities! The beach where they will be hosted is a 1.2km (3/4 mile) 15-minute easy walk from the hotel (we will be happy to provide transportation for those who are unable to make the walk). We will begin with some fun team building activities to help us get to know each other better, and afterward everyone will be free to relax by the beach. This includes the possibility of renting kayaks, getting ice cream or other food, swimming and playing games. In addition, there will also be the option to take a one-hour boat tour of the lake. If individuals would like to participate in the boat tour, the cost will be as follows:

• Adults 13 years of age and over - €15.50
• Pre-teens 3 years to 12 years old - €12.00
• Infants 2 years old and under are free

The boat boarding area is an easy 12-minute walk from the beach (if someone is unable to walk, transportation will be provided). Dinner is scheduled for 6:30pm on this evening, so there will be ample time to enjoy the welcome activities, take the boat tour, and swim or enjoy other activities in the grassy area next to the beach.
 

2. CHAMONIX

Date: Thursday, September 23rd
Time: Buses will depart at 12pm; return before dinner at 7:00pm
Cost: 24 Euros*
Infants 2 years old and under are free.

Located at the base of Mont Blanc (4,810m or 15,781ft), the highest summit in the Alps, the Chamonix resort offers various activities that extend far beyond your classic skiing and snowboarding pastimes.

*The price of this excursion is for the bus ride and a local guide for narration during the bus ride to Chamonix, but once in Chamonix, visitors can choose from two separate activities. The first option is La Mer de Glace ("The Sea of Ice")—take a ride on a railway car that will transport you to the viewing area and then descend into the glacier itself with an ice cave visit in the heart of the glacier. Pricing and other information about La Mer de Glace can be found at: https://www.chamonix.com/montenvers-mer-de-glace,81,en.html

The second option is the Aiguille du Midi where you will ride in a cable car up 20 minutes to a thrilling terrace at 3,777m (12,391ft) providing breathtaking views of the French and Italian Alps. The Aiguille du Midi is the closest you can get to the summit of Mont Blanc without hiking or climbing and is the highest mountain peak served by an aerial lift system. Enjoy incredible views of the Alps, and even take a brave step “Into the Void” if you dare—a clear glass box suspended far above the mountains below you, making for an exciting view! Please note that there is a significant altitude gain of 2,741m (8,995ft) to go to the Aiguille du Midi and that the tour is forbidden for children under 3 years old, and not recommended for children under 5 years old. Pricing information can be found at the following link: https://www.chamonix.com/aiguille-du-midi-step-into-the-void,80,en.html

For both activities, please be careful to dress warmly and with good footwear (bring your sunglasses and sunscreen, too!) as the weather is unpredictable and temperatures can vary drastically from the Feast site to Chamonix (and will likely be below freezing up at the top of the Aiguille du Midi). If you suffer from altitude sickness, the Aiguille du Midi activity is not recommended, but please feel free to come enjoy La Mer de Glace or tour around the other activities in Chamonix!

Take a peek at the extensive list of activities in the town of Chamonix if you prefer to just spend time around town enjoying this lovely location. More information on Chamonix can be found at: https://www.chamonix.com/what-to-do,121,en.html
 

3. OLD TOWN ANNECY

Date: Friday, September 24th
Time: Buses will depart at 1:45pm; return for dinner at 6:30pm
Cost: 16 Euros
Infants 2 years old and under are free.

Near the northern tip of Lake Annecy, about a twenty-minute drive from Le Pré du Lac, is the inviting Old Town section of Annecy. During this excursion, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the old medieval city center, try some of the local cuisine, or walk along the canals or in the big grassy fields along the lake. If you'd like to try something a little more adventurous, there will also be opportunity to rent a speed boat, kayak, standup paddle, paddle boat, or do some swimming! The price of this excursion includes round trip transportation to Old Town Annecy along with a local guide for narration on the bus ride to Annecy. Once in Annecy, a tour guide will first take you around the Old Town, and then all will be free to decide what activities they would like to do from there. To see some pictures of this beautiful location and read a bit more ahead of time, please take a look at the following link: https://frenchmoments.eu/annecy-old-town/.
 

4. CHÂTEAU DE MENTHON-SAINT-BERNARD

Date: Sunday, September 26th
Time: Buses will depart at 1:45pm; return before dinner at 6:30pm
Cost: (see below)

• €29 per person for adults 16 years of age and older
• €24 per person for those 3 years to 15 years old
• Infants 2 years old and under are free.

About a half-hour drive from the hotel on the other side of the lake sits Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, perched atop a little hill with a beautiful panoramic view of Lake Annecy and the surrounding alpine mountains. This castle is a rarity in France, having remained in the possession of the same family line for over 1,000 years and 23 known generations. Still owned and inhabited by the Menthon family to this day, the part of the castle that is open to the public is filled with artifacts and features that span the centuries of their ancestors, dating back to the 12th century. The price for this excursion includes a guided tour through the château, the entrance fee to the gardens, and round trip transportation to the château featuring in-bus narration by a local guide. For further information on the castle, you can read more at: https://www.chateau-de-menthon.com/home.