How should travellers plan Lyon, Annecy, Chamonix and the Alps?
Lyon is a food-and-city anchor; Annecy and Chamonix are scenic commitments, not interchangeable day-trip decorations. The Alps deserve weather margin and more than a quick photo stop if they matter.
Answer
Lyon can hold a route through food, markets, old streets and strong rail links. Annecy gives lake-and-old-town prettiness, often with crowd pressure in peak times. Chamonix changes the scale entirely: mountains, lifts, hikes, weather and a different risk profile. The mistake is treating all three as simple scenic add-ons to a Paris itinerary. Choose whether the east is about eating, lake time or alpine air, then pace accordingly. A mountain day with bad weather is still a day spent travelling.