Join Steve Thomas on an unforgettable September road trip from Lake Geneva through some of the most spectacular landscapes of the French Alps, discovering charming villages, traditional mountain communities and exciting second-home opportunities along the way.
In this episode, Steve begins an epic 10–14 day Alpine road trip inspired by the famous Route des Grandes Alpes, travelling from Thonon-les-Bains on Lake Geneva through the Haute-Savoie and Beaufortain before reaching the spectacular Roseland Reservoir.
Along the way, he explores traditional villages, famous mountain passes, Alpine lakes, local food and some of the resorts that make this region such an appealing place to visit—and potentially own a second home.
This is Part 1 of a two-part journey, with the adventure continuing south into the Tarentaise, Maurienne and Southern Alps in the next episode.
September offers a completely different perspective on the French Alps.
With the busy summer season coming to an end, the roads become quieter, walking conditions are cooler and mountain views can be beautifully clear. As the journey moves south, the landscape gradually transforms from the greens of summer to the golden, orange and copper colours of autumn.
Steve also explains why timing matters, particularly when crossing the higher mountain passes. Roads such as the Col de l'Iseran, Col de Galibier and Col d'Izoard can close following early snowfall or poor weather.
For the best chance of completing the full route, Steve recommends travelling between the final week of August and the middle of September, while allowing plenty of flexibility rather than trying to complete the journey against the clock.
The journey begins in Thonon-les-Bains, on the shores of Lac Léman.
Thonon provides a dramatic starting point, with its open lake views, waterfront cafés and nearby vineyards before the road heads into increasingly dramatic Alpine scenery.
Steve recommends beginning at the historic Port de Rives, where visitors can enjoy a walk beside the harbour or take the historic funicular connecting the port with the town above.
For those with additional time, a detour to Yvoire is well worth considering.
This beautiful medieval village, located on a peninsula extending into Lake Geneva, offers:
🏘️ Historic stone buildings
🌸 Flower-covered facades
⚓ Two small harbours
🚪 Medieval gateways
⛵ Boat connections across the lake
🏰 More than 700 years of history
September also offers the chance to experience Yvoire after the busiest summer crowds have disappeared.
Leaving Lake Geneva behind, the route follows the Drance Valley towards the Chablais Mountains and the Abondance Valley.
The scenery quickly changes from open lakeside landscapes to forested mountain slopes, traditional farmhouses and narrow Alpine valleys.
The journey's first overnight stop is Abondance, a village closely associated with both its historic abbey and its famous AOP-protected cheese.
🧀 Abondance cheese and local traditions
🏡 Châtel and the Portes du Soleil
🚵 Morzine and Les Gets
🚴 Crossing the Col de la Colombière
🏘️ Le Grand-Bornand and La Clusaz
🏠 Alpine second-home opportunities
🧀 Discovering Beaufort and its famous cheese
💙 The spectacular Roseland Reservoir
🍂 Why September is such a special time in the Alps
And this is only Part 1...
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📧steve@alpinepropertyinvestments.co.uk
📧lesley@alpinepropertyinvestments.co.uk
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