10 reasons why you should skip Paris and head to Eastern France #offbeatgetaway

1) Lyon

4th largest city in France and the capital of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Lyon is your perfect replacement for Paris. Just 400km away from Paris you can take TGV train to Lyon and arrive under 1h30 minutes. The city has the River Rhone, has Notre Dame Cathedral and even has an Eiffel tower! Haha! From Lyon you can hire a car for the most incredible road trip in the eastern France

2) Annecy-Venice of France

France is filled with little villages that would leave you amazed but Annecy is a step further. Situated in the heart of Alps, you can take a walk around the calm city center that resembles Venice. Annecy is also known for the stunning lake between the mountains that leaves you stupefied. In summer you can go swimming or boating with your

3) Mount Revard

Looking forward to skiing? This is a good place for beginners (Speaking from experience). A trip to the top of the mountain will transport you to a different world and you would beg to stay longer. The mountain offers multiple adventure sports apart from skiing, like paragliding-skiing, Biking, snowmobiles, paragliding etc. and a paradisiac husky driven sledge tour for your family through the forests.

4) The Alps

How many of us have always dreamed of the Alps? As an Indian the word Alps would always get me excited. Travel up to the Semnoz for the sublime view of the Alps and a sunset that will leave you mesmerized

5) Chamonix

Situated on the border of Italy, Switzerland and France this place encases the 3 cultures beautifully. Filled with Pizza and Fondue places Chamonix sits the bottom of the Alps and right next to the star of the Alps – Mount Blanc. A very famous Skiing destination amongst the professionals, during the season you will find this place filled with thrill seekers. This is a place where you can point the camera in any direction and end up with impeccable pictures.

6) Glacier/ Ice Caves

Mer de glace (Sea of Ice) that starts from the Mount Blanc is a train ride away from Chamonix. The train isn’t your normal train but a trip back to your childhood. Cutting across the mountain and giving us magnificent views of the city, the train ride is equally fascinating. The glacier is the largest one in France and looks right out from a Nat Geo poster. 500 steps down the mountain you can enter into the heart of the Glacier-The ice caves (Grote de glace). I think I should let the pictures talk here. Getting down is easy but the climb up 500 steps is rather challenging. It costs 33 euros to take the train

7) Aiguille du midi

Are you a mountain climber? If not, do you still want to go up the Alps? Then take the cable car from the heart of Chamonix and climb up 3842m (12,600ft) high and get the first hand chance to see Mount Blanc! This place will literally take your breath away as the oxygen is scanty! haha It took me a couple of minutes to get accustomed to the high altitude and the -20°C temperature. This is also the starting point for the thrill seekers of skiing. You can ski between the three countries that surround the Mount Blanc. It has a restaurant at the highest viewing point and is the ideal place for your “coffee with a view” Instagram post! At the top you will also find the “Glass Box” which feels like being suspended in midair!!! P.S The ticket to use the cable car is 63 euros and the price of the day pass is 65 euros which includes the train to Mer de glace (glacier) and skiing pass to use all the three skiing tracks from the top. So Just take the day pass

8) Cheaper version of Switzerland

So what if you are on a budget and can’t go to Switzerland? All these places will make you feel no less than Kajol travelling around the Swiss mountains!