Overview

The Rhone River flows south from the Rhone Glacier in Switzerland through France to the Mediterranean Sea. Along the way, it passes the snowy peaks of the Rhone Alps, which are dotted with alpine towns, Roman ruins, medieval castles, and the vibrant cities of Lyon, Valence, Avignon, and Arles.

A good introduction to the area is to take a weekend cruise departing from Lyon down the Rhone and Saone rivers. The Rhone Alps is made up of seven different areas: Ain, Ardeche, Drome, Isere, Loire, Rhone, and Savoie Mont Blanc. The Savoie Mont Blanc area spans beautiful lakes, peaceful landscapes, and untouched nature reserves, such as Lake Aiguebelette and the Vanoise National Park, both of which offer an abundance of hiking and cycling trails. Streams trickle down from Savoie Mont Blanc's glaciers, which then converge in the main valleys to form major rivers. These fast and turbulent waters are ideal for white water rafting and canoeing.

Golfers to Savoie Mont Blanc can take their pick from a number of courses with stunning backdrops, including Mont Blanc, Lake Geneva, Lac d'Annecy, and Lac du Bourget. The mountainous landscape is popular for its rock climbing, canyoning, and adventure courses. The Savoie and Haute Savoie boast the largest concentration of mountain passes and difficult climbs in France.

Must-see sights in Ardeche include the Chateau Fortress at Crussol overlooking the Rhone; the narrow Ardeche Gorges carved into the valley; and the Ardeche Nature Reserve. Follow one of the hiking paths through the flower-clad hills in the Ardeche Mountains and enjoy the panoramic viewpoints. One of the most popular walking trails here is the Sucs, which winds through the pretty villages of Lachamp-Raphaël, Borée, Saint-Clément or Saint Martial. You will be rewarded at the end of the trail with views over the Cévennes, the Rhone valley, and the Alps. Other activities in Ardeche include canoeing, mountain biking, climbing, and water sports.

Drome is home to more than 5000 kilometres of marked walking trails and 3000 biking trails, which lead visitors past aromatic lavender fields and rolling olive groves. Must-see sights feature the National Regional Park of the Royans Vercors with its 2300-metre massif and the charming and artistic medieval hilltop village of Mirmande. Adventure-seekers can enjoy white water rafting or kayaking on the Drome and Rhone rivers or canyoning in Vercors and Diois. A more relaxing afternoon can be spend at one of the three 18-hole golf courses complete with sweeping views.

Isere offers an array of summer sports: the lakes and rivers are ideal for boating and white-water sports; the plains and hills can be explored on foot, horseback, or by bicycle; and the mountain peaks are popular with adventurers and climbers. Isere's impressive caves, waterfalls, and underground lakes are well worth exploring, such as the Balme Caves, the Sassenage Caves, and the cliff-top waterfalls of Grottes de Choranche.

A trip to the Rhone Alps isn't complete without tasting the famous Chartreuse liqueur, which is distilled in cellars at 1190 metres altitude between Grenoble and Chambéry. The monks of the Grand Chartreuse Religious Order, just 25 kilometres away, have held the secret to this famous liqueur in the book of spells since 1605. A monk and a priest watch over the distillation in Voiron, which is also the biggest liqueur cellar in the world.

The Rhone Alps is the place to go for well-being, fitness, and balneotherapy holidays and relaxing weekend breaks. For those who want to experience the healing properties of the Rhone Alpes from France's largest freshwater reservoir, some of the most popular spa hotels include Les Aigions in Chamonix, Mont d'Arbois in Megève, and the Beauregard Hotel in La Clusaz.

The Rhone Alps is easily accessible from Lyon-Saint-Exupery Airport. Lyon's TGV station offers regular direct trains to the Rhône-Alpes, including Aix les Bains, Annecy, Chambéry, Grenoble, Montélimar, and Valence.