Lac du Bourget, France’s largest natural lake and the setting of Lamartine’s famous poem “Le Lac,” is bordered on its west shore by a greenway entirely separated from traffic — one of Savoie’s most pleasant family cycling routes.
A lakeside route accessible to everyone
From Aix-les-Bains, a well-known spa town, the greenway follows the lake’s west shore toward Le Bourget-du-Lac and then Chindrieux, with a continuous view over the lake and the Chartreuse massif in the background. The route, entirely flat, has no technical difficulty and suits kids pedalling on their own from their first independent rides.
Le Bourget-du-Lac, overlooked by the ruins of its medieval castle, and Chindrieux, at the lake’s northern tip near the Canal de Savières that links the lake to the Rhône, punctuate the route with good heritage stops.
Getting the ride right with the family
At around 35 km round trip on the greenway with barely 60 m of cumulative elevation gain, this ride suits a relaxed half-day with several stops: swimming at one of the supervised beaches, a picnic by the water, or a shaded break. Since the path is entirely separated from traffic, it’s suitable for kids cycling independently from age 6-7. The lake’s east shore, at the foot of Mont du Chat, is not suited to a family outing: it’s a demanding mountain road with no dedicated cycle path.
When to go
The ideal period runs from April to October. Spring and early autumn bring lighter crowds; July-August remains very rideable but busier, offset by the chance to swim and cool off as a family.
Good to know
Aix-les-Bains has a well-served train station and several bike rental shops used to families, with convenient access to Chambéry and Annecy (under an hour away) to combine this ride with another Savoie lakeside loop.
