3 Days in Abondance: the perfect weekend itinerary in the valley
Three days are all it takes to fall in love with Abondance. This village in Haute-Savoie, tucked at the far end of the Chablais valley, packs everything the Savoyard mountains have to offer into a surprisingly compact territory: accessible hikes for all levels, exceptional medieval heritage, a world-renowned AOP cheese and direct access to Europe's largest mountain bike domain. Whether you are coming as a family or as a couple, here is a three-day itinerary designed to make the most of the village and its surroundings, without rushing.
Friday evening: arrive, breathe, settle in
The weekend starts the moment you arrive. After the drive, nothing beats a first stroll through the village to get a feel for the place. The centre of Abondance is perfectly human in scale: a handful of streets, dark timber Savoyard chalets, the abbey bell towers rising above it all. Walking along the Dranse, the river that runs through the valley, you quickly understand why this place inspires such calm and authenticity.
If you arrive early in the evening in summer, the abbey sometimes hosts concerts or performances in the heart of the medieval cloister on Thursday evenings. A cultural and musical opening to the weekend, well worth catching.
For dinner, the Savoyard table calls: a croûte with Abondance cheese, a fondue, or a berthoud, the emblematic dish of the Chablais made with melted Abondance cheese, garlic and Savoie white wine, awarded a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed status in 2020. A single plate that sums up the entire identity of the valley.
Saturday morning: heritage and cheese
The first morning is given over to discovering the village's heritage. Begin with the Abbaye d'Abondance, founded in the 12th century by Augustinian canons and listed as a historic monument. In July and August, it opens every day from 9:30 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 18:00. The visit leads through the Gothic cloister, whose 15th-century frescoes are among the best preserved in the Alps, and continues into the permanent exhibition «Patrimoines sacrés en vallée d'Abondance» (Sacred Heritage in the Abondance Valley). The abbey garden, a green haven between ancient walls, offers a peaceful pause that both children and adults will enjoy. Admission: 6 euros full price, 5 euros reduced rate, free for under-6s. Multi Pass Portes du Soleil holders enter free of charge.
Just next door, or a few steps away in the village, the Maison du Fromage Abondance is the natural next stop. A guided tour takes visitors through the full story of the AOP cheese, from raw milk to ageing cellar, including the traditional curd drawing and moulding steps. For families, the combined «Duo» ticket covering both the abbey and the Maison du Fromage is available at 10 euros per person from age 6. A treasure hunt called «Abondance: tout un fromage» is also on offer, taking children through a tasty investigation into the cheese and the local history.
Saturday afternoon: a walk around Lac des Plagnes
After a cultural morning, fresh mountain air is the natural next step. The tour of Lac des Plagnes is the ideal afternoon outing: reachable from the lake car park (direction Charmy l'Adroit), it can be completed in 35 to 50 minutes depending on which variant you choose, with only 20 to 88 metres of elevation gain. Perfect for families with young children and for couples who prefer a gentle pace.
The lake, created from former marshland, is edged by meadows and a dense spruce forest. In summer, the lakeside comes alive: trout fishing, seasonal refreshment stands, and the small Chapelle Sainte-Anne well worth a short detour. The upper variant, above the lake, offers a lovely view over the water and the surrounding ridgelines from a series of natural rocky terraces.
For those with more energy, the morning cultural visit can be swapped for a longer walk: the Chapel and Oratory Trail (starting from the Lac des Plagnes car park, 6 km, 2h30) links the Chapelle Sainte-Anne, the Chapelle Saint-Guérin, the Chapelle Saint-Théodule and the Oratoire des Trables, making for a route that is both cultural and natural, and perfectly in keeping with a visit to the abbey.
Saturday evening: dinner and village life
Saturday evening is the time to enjoy the village at its most convivial. In summer, Abondance regularly brings its evenings to life with concerts, night markets and events at the abbey. Ask at the Tourist Office or at the hotel reception for the week's programme.
It is also a fine opportunity to discover Abondance cheese in a different light: on a cheeseboard accompanied by a Savoie white wine, in a raclette or melting into a Savoyard gratin. The farmhouse version, identified by its green oval casein plate, differs from the dairy version (red square plate) and is worth tasting at different stages of maturity to appreciate its full complexity.
Sunday morning: up into the mountains, your choice
Sunday morning offers two options depending on mood and fitness level.
For families and leisurely walkers, the Pointe d'Autigny is the ideal outing. From the Le Sauvage car park (leave Abondance in the direction of La Chapelle-d'Abondance, turn left towards the hamlet of Le Mont, and continue to the end of the track), this moderate-level trail crosses the alpine pastures of the Col de la Plagne before reaching the Three Crosses and the Pointe d'Autigny summit at 1,808 metres, complete with a viewing table. The panorama takes in Lake Geneva, Mont Blanc and the full sweep of the Chablais range. Allow a half-day and bring a picnic to enjoy at the top.
For sporty families and mountain biking enthusiasts, the Portes du Soleil domain opens its pedestrian lifts and the Châtel Bike Park just ten minutes away by car. From Châtel, the Pierre-Longue and Rochassons chairlifts give access to around twenty waymarked runs for all abilities, from green to black. Non-cyclists can ride the chairlift up and enjoy the panoramic walking paths at altitude before descending on foot or by lift. With the Portes du Soleil Multi Pass, pedestrian lift access is included.
Sunday afternoon: a gentle return
Before heading home, Sunday invites one last quiet moment in the valley. The village market runs on Sunday morning, so it is worth stopping by before your hike to stock up on local produce to take back: a well-aged wheel of Abondance, Savoyard charcuterie, a jar of mountain honey.
If the weather allows, a final stroll along the Dranse riverside path or a short walk up to the first alpine meadows above the village is a beautiful way to close the weekend, lungs full of Chablais mountain air.
The Abondance valley has the rare gift of seeming inexhaustible: three days are enough to taste the best of it, but they also leave you wanting to come back, for longer, to discover what you have not yet had time to find.
At Hôtel Les Touristes, Sabrina and her team welcome you in the heart of the village and help you put together the ideal programme to match your interests, your fitness level and your own pace. Breakfast, hiking advice, local recommendations: everything is thought through so that your stay is a real success.
See you soon in Abondance!
The Les Touristes Team
Ready for your weekend in Abondance? Book directly at Hôtel Les Touristes, in the heart of the village, and enjoy a personal welcome from Sabrina and her team.