ok, my kids have voted to do Chamonix rather than Gordes, as originally poste.
This is now the itinerary we are thinking
4 days Paris
4-5 days Villefrenche-se-mer
2-3 days Chamonix
5 days Annecy
fly out of Geneva (last night there)
Thoughts, suggestions appreciated
This sounds like a dream!!!
Oh good, there’s so much I want to see, it’s hard to narrow it down! Does anyone have any suggestions for stops from Villefranche to Chamonix that wouldn’t be out of the way? Also best things to do in Chamonix?
ViaMichelin.com gives three suggested routes for that drive (I'm assuming you'll have a car). By far the fastest routes you through Italy. I'm guessing the two French routes are more mountainous and most likely more scenic, but I do not know for sure. On the off-chance you prefer to stay in France, I can recommend a stop in the little medieval town of Entrevaux, which is between Villefranche-sur-Mer and Digne-les-Bains.
Both French routes are estimated at 7-1/2 hours or more without stops, traffic delays, etc. Even the Italian route is estimated to involve almost 5 hours of pure driving time, and the last bit of it might be challenging; it runs through Aosta. I wonder how tiring it would be to attempt this drive in one day.
If you go the western France route - Lyon! We stopped there on a Viking river cruise - had no idea about its history and how beautiful it is! We are going back this year while staying a month in Paris.
