Adventure Mode: Ski-and-fly off-season Annecy

Late autumn and early spring might not sound like the ideal time to visit Annecy, France but actually they’re perfect months to explore a less crowded version of this paragliding mecca. When there’s a thin covering of snow on the grassy slopes it’s a pain to hike but not enough to carve turns without damaging your skis. The solution? A flying combo for pilots and skiers of most levels.

Located 35 minutes from the known take-offs of Planfait and La Forclaz, Le Grand Bornand is ideal for ski-and-fly combos before the ski pistes open in mid-December or after they close around Easter. Park near Le Charmieux chairlift and take the ski-touring trail that will take you to the top of Mont Lachat and the official take-off.

The trail runs mostly across open fields, except at the beginning where it goes through a small patch of forest that could be a bit tricky with little snow. But after that, you’ll get to enjoy the views of the Aravis and the Bornes. The ascent is straightforward with no steep kick-turns to worry about. 

After you’ve skinned up the 816m – allow a couple of hours – head to the official south-facing take-off that with snow cover is now a perfect ramp to launch from with skis. When the ski-season opening day approaches, the flatter east end of the slope should be already groomed in preparation for the winter tandem season. Be mindful of local regulations and land either at the Potais landing field or near the trail head. Do not land downtown next to the ice-skating rink. 

Another option is La Sambuy, on the southern end of the lake, 20 minutes from Doussard. It’s known to work well in the summer and is a good off-piste spot in winter. Since it closed in 2023, this north face of the Bauges has now become the favourite spot for ski-tourers and hike-and-fly fans. 

After you park at the bottom, you have two options. If you’re in a hurry, skin up the now closed ski slopes and make your way to the official north-facing take-off for a 700m vertical ascent. For a more scenic path, take the official ski-touring trail through the forest. After you reach the top, and if you still are up for more, continue for 300m to the northeast facing Petite Sambuy. Soak in the view of Lake Annecy and the Aravis before you set up on this huge take-off.

Advanced pilots can land at the bottom of the ski slopes, but I’d recommend enjoying a longer flight and landing further down in the town of Seythenex.  

Being a north face, I’d recommend taking ski crampons as some parts of the ascent can be a bit icy. This is a magical top to bottom. Allow 2h30min to Petite Sambuy via the ski-touring path if you’re a recreational ski tourer. Joanna Di Grigoli, local guru, Annecy

The magic happens in November and April, before and after the ski lifts open. Ski-touring and flying with lightweight gear is getting more popular, and this is a good place to try it for the first time. Ski-touring equipment can be hired locally. For inside info on flying Annecy see paratroc.com and flyeo.com. The French Federation have a ski-and-fly page at parapente.ffvl.fr/vol-et-ski-parapente-ffvl

This article was first published in Cross Country Issue 262