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Renting a boat without a license on Lac du Bourget

GroundLiving

Automatically translated · View original (Dutch)

Spend half a day or a full day on the largest natural lake in France aboard a license-free electric boat, departing from Aix-les-Bains or Bourget-du-Lac.

duration

€ 230–650

budget

Ground

pace

Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake in France, is well suited to license-free rentals thanks to its varied shores and light traffic outside of July and August. The main bases are at the Grand Port in Aix-les-Bains and the port of Bourget-du-Lac. Expect to pay €80 to €140 per hour, €230 to €420 for a half-day, and €380 to €650 for a full day, for an electric boat with 5 to 7 seats limited to 6 horsepower.

The classic route takes you past the Abbaye de Hautecombe, accessible from the water, and the wild western shore with its cliffs dropping straight into the lake. Depths reach 145 m, which keeps the water very calm in stable weather. A southerly wind can pick up in the afternoon, so be cautious on the way back. Online booking two to three weeks in advance is recommended during peak season.

Checklist

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Maillots, serviettes, crème solaire
Pièce d'identité du pilote
Carte bancaire pour la caution
Pique-nique et grande gourde
Gilets adaptés pour enfants
Application météo avec vent du sud

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by PlayTryBe team

Book a half-day or full-day slot with a rental base at Aix-les-Bains Grand Port or Bourget-du-Lac.

Complete the dockside handover: controls, mooring, and safe distance from swimmers.

Sail toward the Abbaye de Hautecombe, follow the wild shoreline and take in the cliffs from open water.

pause

Cut the engine for a swim in the often crystal-clear open lake water, a life jacket is recommended.

Have a picnic on board while drifting gently, the boat stays stable in light wind.

Plan your return early: allow double the outbound time if a southerly wind picks up in the afternoon.

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PaceGround

Duration6u

RouteAny order

Budget€ 230–650

Suggestions

Opt for an early morning departure; the water on Lac du Bourget stays flat before noon.
Ask for the map of authorised swimming zones, as some beaches prohibit boats from approaching.
Avoid the port at Hautecombe on Sunday mornings, it gets saturated with excursion boats.
Bring a snorkel mask, the clear water lets you see the bottom near the cliffs.
Charge your phone before you leave, there are no charging points on board electric boats.

Variations

- Choisir une heure au coucher du soleil pour une lumière douce sur les falaises.
- Combiner navigation et visite des thermes d'Aix-les-Bains en fin de journée.
- Préférer un départ du Bourget-du-Lac pour accéder rapidement à la côte sauvage.
- Louer aussi un paddle pour explorer une crique inaccessible au bateau.