Lake Geneva – Annecy

Mont Blanc (4,810 m / 15,780 ft) is the highest point in Europe. About 50 km from it to west is located
Sallanches Aerodrome (LFHZ), which is in Annecy. It’s a village in Haute-Savoie area in Rhône-Alpes. The airport was my next destination.

Crossing the border of Switzerland and France over Lake Geneva

Rhône-Alpes

The last valley before Annecy

Approaching the airport

Landing was quite managed this time. Cessna touched ground some meters before the runway but the rest was very successful.

Landing to Sallanches Aerodrome

Many residents of the Haute-Savoie take pride in the culture and lifestyle that can be described as “typiquement Savoyard” (typical Savoyard, a variation of the word Savoie). Not only do many people believe it is one of the most beautiful parts of France, but there is also the cheese and other special dishes to dote on. Taking a chance to talk to the local people about the ways this area is different than the rest of France is sure to be enlightening and would greatly enrich the travel experience.

The Haute-Savoie, particularly the rural areas, can also provide a revealing look at the quiet, small-town life in France. For the tourist who has a tendency to forget the France outside of Paris, this may be especially eye-opening and entertaining.

Haute-Savoie, Wikivoyage

Interlaken – Lake Geneva

It was time to take the next hop on the Alps. I flew from Interlaken Airport to Lausanne Airport (LSGL) via alpine valleys. have to say, that flying in those valleys makes you want visit there in real life.

Leaving Interlaken and Thunersee behind

Near Diemtigen village

Over Saanen

Near Rossinière

The problem of flying in a mountainous terrain is, that you have to be very careful to not try climb over the ridges or passes too quickly. A small airplane, like Cessna, has a maximum altitude somewhere above 8000 ft, that’s not so high elevation on mountains. As air gets thinner, when you get higher, climbing becomes slower as well. Alpine valleys are usually a safe route, to pass through mountain ranges.

The mountain ridge near Cape au Moine summit at 1,941 m (6,368 ft)

Lausanne Airport in front of Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva, known in French as Lac Léman, is one of the largest lakes in western Europe. It lies on the course of the Rhone river on the frontier between France and Switzerland.

Aside from the city and canton of Geneva most destinations in the Lake Geneva region are in either the Swiss canton of Vaud or the French department of Haute Savoie. For its part Vaud is the largest canton in the French speaking part of Switzerland, and the third largest in the country as a whole. The geography is varied, with the Jura mountains in the north, a hilly plain in the center and in the southwest the Alps. The main attractions of the region are the cities and towns surrounding the lake, the opportunities for skiing and hiking in both mountain ranges, and of course the lake itself.

Lake Geneva, Wikivoyage