Hike around the Savoy lakes with your dog
Today, direction Savoie… With his dog! I could have spent hours talking to you about Savoyard fondue, tartiflette, or raclette… But that is not the subject of this article… Sorry to disappoint the most gourmet of you 🙂
Instead, I'm going to tell you about holidays in Savoie, the secrets and beautiful discoveries you can make on holiday in Savoie with your dog. Mountains, hiking trails, dog-friendly lakes, it's time to tell you more about this emblematic department of Alpes...
For this article, your 2 guides will be Julie and Erkos, two Savoyards for whom adventure rhymes with nature! Let's follow them to Savoy….
Julie and Erkos, married at first sight...
Hello Wouafer's, my name is Julie, I'm 26 and I'm a nurse. I have the chance to share my life with Erkos, a wonderful companion of 11 years.
Our eyes met 10 years ago during a visit to the SPA of Chambéry. When I saw him behind the bars of his cubicle, it was immediately love at first sight… he was looking at me with his big yellow eyes. At the time, I lived in an apartment with my mum, she was rather mixed at the idea of adopting a dog but she loves animals too! So we left without him. And the next day, on returning from high school, Erkos was at my house! My mother surprised me by adopting him without telling me!
Erkos is a German shepherd cross beauceron long-haired. He has great health and great cardio… At 11, he accompanies me jogging and, often, I'm much more tired than him… We often go hiking, and we love discovering new things. lakes for bathing together.
To be honest, it's only been a year and a half since I fell in love with the Savoyard mountains... Indeed, I practiced horse riding for several years at a fairly high level with my horse and I had no time for another sport. In October 1, my life changed, my horse had an accident and I had to have it euthanized...
And that's where the mountains and the complicity with my dog helped me enormously in this very dark period of my life! Erkos is a fantastic dog, in all objectivity, he only has qualities! He is obedient, athletic, cuddly, playful and greedy. It is one of the most beautiful encounters of my life!
Playing sports with your dog in Savoie
My dog loves to run, so of course our favorite place is the Bourget lake in Aix les Bains! A very pleasant place to discover with your dog, summer and winter. I advise you to favor the morning or the end of the day to avoid too many people and to be more peaceful with your dog. It is easy to go swimming and walk by the lake with your dog. For example, you can take advantage of the greenway that runs along the entire edge of the lake for several kilometers to the Lake Bourget. At Lac du Bourget, the majority of places are dog-friendly and people are tolerant.
To rent a paddle at Lac du Bourget, I recommend the rental company: “Takamaka” in Aix les Bains, they are very nice and dogs are accepted with pleasure. And if you prefer the pedalo, then head to the Pedalo rental company, “The Pedal”. A dog-friendly and very pleasant rental company too 😉 Between us, in Savoie, everyone is nice haha!
After all these sporting activities, I advise you to have a drink at the restaurant “les pieds dans l'eau”. It's a small dog-friendly family restaurant that offers a nice view. Dogs are very well received with a toutoubar. And if you are really hungry, then take a detour to the restaurant: “the fisherman's house”, a warm welcome and authentic cuisine!
I also go frequently to the side of the aiguebelette lake with my dog, but there are far fewer spots authorized for dogs… Which is a real shame! The advantage, however, is that at Lake Aiguebelette, motorboats are prohibited, so it's a superb spot to rest in peace.
Musher and Sophie : "Good plan ! For paddle board and canoeing with your dog at lake aiguebelette, I recommend the rental company “Green Sensations”. It is dog-friendly and welcomes dogs without problem. Dogs are prohibited on the beaches at Lac d'Aiguebelette, but it is possible to take them into the water with you on boats. To note ! Remember to equip your dog with a life jacket for all your nautical outings, I offer you a product test in the article: Comparison of life jackets for dogs. "
This summer, I'm also going to try to paddle with Erkos and a new kid, Rain, a puppy malamute who arrives in the family in July.
💬 I'll interrupt your reading for 10 seconds, but it's for a very useful piece of information, I promise! 
Pet food, vet visits, holidays, equipment… The dog budget is becoming a real money pit, isn't it? It's unbelievable!
With Musher, we've been working for you: the Wouafer's Pass gives access to Over 30 negotiated discounts, including Corsica Ferries, Campings.com, SantéVet and dozens of discounted pet food brands 🐾 Personally, I'm going to save €344 this year… and that feels good!
I'm including the link to Wouafer's Pass here… and I'll let you continue reading 
Accommodation in Savoie in QUALIDOG-certified accommodation
Like Julie and Erkos, would you like to go on vacation in Savoie with your dog? Here is a selection of accommodations certified by the QUALIDOG label. The QUALIDOG label ensures a warm welcome for dogs... but also for humans, of course (we haven't forgotten you). In short, by booking QUALIDOG-certified accommodation, your dog won't just be admitted, they'll be welcome.
Hikes and lakes to discover in Savoie with your dog
Go on hiking with your dog strengthens the bond and allows large dogs to exert themselves. In Savoie, in the Alps, there are many magnificent spots for hiking with your dog.
To hike in Savoie with your dog, I recommend the Massif of Belledonne whose northern slope is in Savoie. This massif is full of wonderful lakes to discover with your dog! A treasure. In addition, in the Belledonne massif, there is no ban on dogs, they are allowed everywhere! I particularly recommend the Balmette lake.
I also go very frequently to La Nivolet cross ! A short hike accessible to the general public and dogs! In all, there are more than 7 hikes to discover with your dog to go to the Nivolet cross. I also have very beautiful memories with my dog on the side ofAreches Beaufort. I highly recommend the lake of storms and the fairy lake ! Still in Savoie, also discover the black lake.
Afterwards, if you want to discover the Chartreuse massif with your dog, it's a bit more complicated... I've already been with Erkos once Circus of St Even : on the site the dogs are noted authorized in leave alone. But once there, a sign indicates a ban...
Musher and Sophie: "After contacting the heart of Chartreuse tourist office, we had the end of the story;). The Cirque de St Even is an entrance to the Hauts de Chartreuse nature reserve. It is for this reason that a sign “prohibited to dogs” is placed at the entrance to the site. However, this prohibition is not valid for the trail of waterfalls of the Cirque de St Same. If you stay on the marked path to the waterfalls then your dog is allowed no problem. A great visit to do in the heart of the Savoyard waterfalls with your dog! It's a magical place! In the Chartreuse massif, I also advise you to discover 2 superb hikes: Nun's Belvedere and the Prairie de Girieux"
Near the Marches, a pretty ski resort in Savoie, I invite you to discover the Lake Saint Andrew, a very nice little place for families with dogs, it's just the perfect place for a little Sunday stroll or a picnic in the middle of nature.
Finally, summer and winter, Savoie is full of jewels and everyone finds something to their liking. Between mountains and lakes, snow and sun, nature and cities on a human scale, you will never be disappointed by its natural landscapes!
I hope that all this information will be useful for your future holidays or stays in Savoie with your dogs! Thank you to our 2 Wouafer's, Erkos and Julie for all this information which gives great holiday ideas. Follow the Savoyard adventures of these 2 Wouafer's, on Julie's instagram account: @recover_into_the_wild 😉
Do you often go on vacation with your dog? Subscribe to our account Facebook & Social media coordinator to follow all our news. Also publish your photos with #takeondog. See you soon for new articles!
Read also : The 10 most beautiful lakes authorized for dogs in France, From Jura to Haute-Savoie, road trip with your dog & Where to hike with your dog ? Also find all our ideas for hiking with your dog.
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Thanks for all this information, keep it up!!
Great site! Well done ! We are in Sainte Foy Tarentaise. The CGH residence warmly welcomes dogs. Goonies for dogs on arrival and bowl of fresh water. Restaurant les moulinettes welcomes dogs with great pleasure. Same for the Lama llama bar.
Congratulations to the whole team, what a great idea this site is!!!!