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Geneva Airport
GVA • LSGG
Logistique · Guide de destination
Cold-water wrecks, alpine walls and clear shallows beneath the French Alps
Utilisez ce résumé pour organiser l'arrivée, les transports locaux et le déplacement du matériel avant de figer l'itinéraire.
Geneva Airport is the most useful international gateway for Lake Annecy and the French Lake Geneva shore. Annecy is about 50 km away and has direct regional-coach options from the airport, while Thonon and Evian connect through Geneva-Cornavin and the Leman Express or regional trains. Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc Airport sits close to Aix-les-Bains and southern Lac du Bourget but has a strongly seasonal flight program. Lyon-Saint Exupery offers the broadest French backup network and is most practical with a rental car. Rail travelers can use Annecy, Aix-les-Bains-Le Revard, Thonon-les-Bains and Evian-les-Bains stations. For a three-lake trip, an open-jaw rail plan or a car with two accommodation bases is more efficient than returning to one town every night.
Geneva Airport
GVA • LSGG
About 50 km to Annecy; a similar road order to Thonon and Evian depending on route • About 45 to 90 minutesutes by road depending on destination, border traffic and lakefront congestion
The principal international gateway for Annecy and the French shore of Lake Geneva, with an integrated rail station, regional coaches and both Swiss and French-sector rental logistics.
Transport : Regional coach to Annecy, Train via Geneva-Cornavin, French-sector or Swiss-sector rental car, Prebooked private transfer
Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc Airport
CMF • LFLB
About 10 km to Aix-les-Bains and the southern Lac du Bourget shore • About 15 to 25 minutesutes by road to Aix-les-Bains
The closest airport to Lac du Bourget and Aix-les-Bains, useful when its seasonal scheduled or charter program matches the trip.
Transport : Rental car, Taxi, Prebooked hotel or operator transfer
Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport
LYS • LFLL
About 95 km to Aix-les-Bains and 125 km to Annecy • About 1 hour 15 minutesutes to 2 hourss by road depending on lake and traffic
A major alternative for broader airline choice, especially for Lac du Bourget and travelers combining the lakes with Lyon or other French destinations.
Transport : Rental car, Rail connection via Lyon, Intercity coach, Prebooked private transfer
A car is the most efficient choice for a three-lake dive itinerary, early operator meetings and transport of wet gear. Central Annecy, Aix-les-Bains, Thonon and Evian are walkable and connected by rail, while Annecy also has buses, bicycles and seasonal lake shuttles. The Leman Express and regional trains support Geneva, Thonon and Evian travel, and the Evian-Lausanne ferry enables a car-free day trip. Parking is the principal summer friction at popular beaches and Annecy lakefront sites. Never leave cylinders unsecured in a hot vehicle, and do not plan high mountain roads immediately after diving without decompression-aware advice.
France is in the Schengen Area. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens generally travel with a valid passport or national identity card. Other visitors should check France-Visas for nationality-specific visa and document rules; a common short-stay limit is 90 days in any 180-day period. As of 4 September 2026, the EU Entry/Exit System is fully operational at external Schengen borders for affected non-EU short-stay travelers. ETIAS is not yet in operation; the European Commission schedules it for the last quarter of 2026 and has not announced the exact start date. Travelers entering through Geneva clear a Swiss external-border process before continuing into France, although both countries participate in Schengen. Customs, rental-car and goods rules remain separate from immigration rules.
Reserve cylinders, weights and exposure protection with the specific operator. Do not assume a club will fill a visitor's privately owned cylinder without current inspection documentation or a compatible valve. Ask about DIN and yoke compatibility, full-equipment rental, drysuit availability and whether a medical certificate or temporary federation licence is needed. Airline baggage rules vary and lithium-powered lights usually require separated batteries in cabin baggage under carrier rules. Bring mesh or waterproof tubs for rental cars, rinse gear away from the lake, dry it thoroughly and clean it before moving between lakes to reduce transfer of invasive organisms.
Euro (EUR)
Cards are widely accepted in towns, hotels, operators and supermarkets. Keep some cash or a physical card for small beach kiosks, village markets, parking machines and club payments that may not support every mobile wallet.
ATMs are readily available in Annecy, Aix-les-Bains, Thonon-les-Bains and Evian-les-Bains, with fewer options at remote beaches and villages. Withdraw before an early shore meeting.
230V • 50Hz • C, E
Carry a plug adapter for French Type E sockets and use dual-voltage chargers. Recharge lights and heated equipment only with the manufacturer's approved system, and keep wet batteries out of accommodation sockets.
Communications
French mobile coverage is strong in the lake towns and on major roads, but cliffs, mountain folds and some remote shore sections can weaken service. EU roaming rules apply to eligible European plans; visitors from elsewhere should compare a France or regional eSIM. Lake Geneva's border setting can make a phone attach to a Swiss network, so disable automatic roaming when a plan excludes Switzerland. Download maps, operator details and emergency numbers before leaving town.
Langue
French is the working language for most clubs, safety briefings and local administration. English is common at tourism offices, hotels and commercial operators but should not be assumed in every volunteer club. Learn or carry translations for maximum depth, gas pressure, lost-buddy procedure, current, boat traffic, cold, medical conditions and emergency instructions. Certification agencies may use French level terminology alongside PADI, SSI or SDI/TDI equivalents, and equivalence is always decided by the operator.
Assurance
Carry travel insurance plus dive-specific accident, recompression, search-and-rescue and repatriation cover. Confirm that the policy includes freshwater, cold water, the planned maximum depth, wreck or overhead activity, freediving and any technical gas. Verify Switzerland coverage when entering through Geneva or taking the Lausanne ferry. Some French clubs or operators may require federation-linked insurance, a temporary licence or a current medical certificate even when the traveler already has private coverage.
Liste de matériel
Pack for a cold-water expedition and an Alpine city break: 7mm semidry or drysuit as appropriate, hood, gloves, boots, cold-water regulators, two lights, compass, computer, certification cards, insurance proof and medical paperwork. Freedivers should add a visible float, lanyard and warm recovery layer. Snorkelers benefit from a 3mm to 5mm suit, bright cap and neoprene socks. Everyone needs walking shoes, sun protection, a rain shell and layers for ferries or mountain viewpoints. Bring waterproof gear tubs, reusable bottles and biodegradable personal products, but never rinse equipment directly into the lakes.