Autumn in Haute-Savoie is the gold of the larches, the reflections of the lakes, the peaceful villages, and the tables reconnecting with fondue and raclette. Between grand landscapes, living heritage, and seasonal delights, here is the guide to the essentials for a successful stay from September to November.
Why choose autumn?
- Bright atmospheres: mists over the lakes in the morning, clear skies in the afternoon, deep sunsets.
- Colors: copper beech trees, blazing maples, golden larches from mid-October.
- Calm & budget: more affordable accommodations, easy reservations.
- Seasonal terroir: return of comforting dishes, open Savoie wine cellars, autumn markets.
When to go? (marks by altitude)
- 1,400–2,000 m: late September → mid-October (early colors, first possible snow).
- 800–1,400 m: early → late October (larches at their peak around October 15–25).
- 500–800 m: mid-October → early November (lake shores and valleys).
Tip: the day after a clear and cool night, the colors “pop” and the horizons are clear.
Top landscapes & viewpoints
Annecy & surroundings
Semnoz: 360° panoramas over Bauges, Aravis, and Mont-Blanc. Picnic areas for autumn, memorable sunsets.
Mont Veyrier & Mont Baron: aerial viewpoints over the lake (bring good shoes).
Lakeshores: Pâquier, Jardins de l’Europe, Talloires, and Veyrier for the golden plane trees.
Aravis (La Clusaz, Manigod, Le Grand-Bornand)
Beauregard Plateau: sea of alpine pastures and chalets, gentle loop from Croix-Fry (2–3 h).
Col des Aravis: panoramic road, views of Pointe Percée and the range, beautiful end-of-day light.
Chablais & Léman
Mont Forchat: small summit for a great panorama (1 h 30–2 h round trip).
Balcons du Léman: Thollon-les-Mémises and viewpoints above Évian/Publier.
Pays du Mont-Blanc
Lac Vert (Passy): emerald reflections + golden larches + Mont-Blanc massif in the background (40 min around the lake).
Les Houches / Servoz: russet forests, bell towers, and views between two banks of mist.
Autumn hikes (easy to moderate)
- Lac des Confins (La Clusaz): family loop (1–2 h), reflections on the Aravis range.
- Plateau des Glières: clearings, peatlands, and a place of memory (loops 1 h 30–3 h).
- Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval (Sixt): almost flat path up to Bout du Monde (3–4 h round trip). Mineral cathedral atmospheres.
- Mont Veyrier: moderate effort, XXL reward over Lake Annecy (2–3 h round trip via the smugglers’ pass).
Safety: wet leaves = slippery. Poles useful, headlamp recommended (short days).
Warning, following landslides that occurred in the Cirque du Fer à Cheval, the right bank trail is closed until further notice. Check with the tourist office before leaving.
Gorges & waterfalls: the magical side
Gorges du Fier (Lovagny), Gorges du Pont du Diable (Chablais) and Gorges de la Diosaz (Servoz): walkways above the water, sculpted walls, russet vegetation.
Cascade du Rouget (Sixt), Angon (Talloires), Belle-au-Bois (Megève): waterfalls + warm colors = magical photos. Check gorge opening periods in the off-season.
Villages & heritage not to miss
- Annecy: old town, canals, museums, short cruise, terrace cafés under the plane trees.
- Yvoire: medieval town set on Lake Léman, peaceful alleys off-season.
- Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval & Samoëns: churches, chapels, and traditional mountain houses.
- Abondance: abbey and AOP cheesemakers, perfect for a day of heritage + tasting.
- Castles: Menthon-Saint-Bernard or Ripaille for blending culture and autumn gardens.
Well-being & cocooning
After the hike, time for softness: spas and Nordic baths facing the summits, mountain herbal teas, chalet with stove or fireplace. Autumn is the ideal season to slow down: naps under a blanket, reading, sauna, peaceful walks by the lake.
Terroir: what to taste
- Fondue savoyarde (blend of Abondance/Beaufort/Tomme) and Raclette de Savoie IGP: stars of the first chills.
- Diots in white wine, crozets, gratins, late-season blueberry tarts.
- Savoie wines: Apremont (jacquère, mineral), Roussette (altesse, full-bodied), Chignin-Bergeron (aromatic), Mondeuse (spicy red).
- Non-alcoholic: farmhouse apple juice, herbal teas (thyme, verbena, alcohol-free “génépi”).
Autumn panoramic routes
- Route du Semnoz: multiple viewpoints on Lake Annecy and the Bauges.
- Col des Aravis: postcard guaranteed, photo stops at alpine chalets.
- Balcons du Léman: alternation of viewpoints and wine-growing villages.
Festivals & traditions (according to calendar)
Alpine descents (mid-September → October): decorated herds, music, and local products. Autumn markets: apples, pumpkins, cheeses, charcuterie, honey. Check locally: dates vary by valleys and weather.
“Turnkey” itinerary ideas
48 h around Annecy (easy & gentle)
- Day 1: old town, short cruise, sunset at Semnoz, fondue dinner.
- Day 2: Talloires viewpoint + Angon waterfall (short version from Vérel), lakeside terrace café.
Aravis weekend (nature & terroir)
- Day 1: Beauregard plateau, stop at the cheesemaker, raclette in a chalet.
- Day 2: Col des Aravis, baroque churches, stroll through hamlets.
Chablais & Giffre (panoramas & waterfalls)
- Day 1: Pont du Diable gorges, Montriond lake, Mont Forchat at sunset.
- Day 2: Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Rouget waterfall, Abondance cheesemakers.
Rainy days: what to do?
- Museums & castles: heritage comfortably warm indoors.
- Thermal baths & spas: well-being break during the rain.
- Cheesemakers & cellars: workshops, tastings, and gourmet purchases.
Practical autumn info
- Weather: cool mornings, mild afternoons; cold nights at altitude.
- Equipment: waterproof shoes, fleece + windbreaker, light hat, headlamp, thermos.
- Mobility: TER + bus (Annecy, Chamonix, Léman). Reduced schedules outside summer: anticipate connections.
- Respect: stay on trails, dogs on leash, regulated picking (mushrooms).
Simple & effective photo guide
- Golden hours: 30–60 min after sunrise, before sunset.
- Overcast sky: “natural studio” for the forest; rich and even colors.
- Tip: a mossy rock, an orange leaf, or a railing in the foreground give scale.
Every autumn, I have the same feeling in Haute-Savoie: that of entering a gentle parenthesis where everything slows down. The trails empty, the lakes become mirrors, and the villages speak softly again. I love those mornings when the mist unfurls over the water, those late afternoons at Semnoz or Beauregard where the sky tints apricot, and that simple joy of finding a wooden table, a steaming bowl, a shared fondue. Far from the summer hustle, the mountain tells its story differently: more intimate, closer, almost confidential.
If I had to keep only one piece of advice, it would be to listen to the light: leave early, stay late, let yourself be guided by long shadows and colors that change by the minute. Take the time to greet the cheesemaker, detour by a chapel, or sit on a bench facing Léman. And above all, respect the scenery that welcomes you: a preserved trail, a lake without traces, a silent alpine pasture. So yes, coming in autumn is taking the risk of leaving with the desire… to come back again, and again.
