Road bike France
Mont blanc grand tour
A tough high mountain cycling trip across three countries around the majestic Mont Blanc rangeRef CR14
This 6-day road bike trip for lovers of cols and high mountain cycling is not for the faint hearted. In search of the most beautiful panoramas around the majestic Mont Blanc range, we climb some of the most challenging "hors category" mountain cols of the Swiss, Italian and French Alps: Col des Montets, Col de Champex, Little and Great Saint Bernard, Cormet de Roselend, Col des Saisies and Col de la Colombière. Lesser-known lonely cols complete the picture. During the stages, we discover the varied and spectacular scenery of the Mont Blanc region: from the authentic Beaufortain valley in Savoie, we travel on narrow winding roads through the Chablais and the Val d'Abondance. In Switzerland, the Bernese Alps and the Valais await us, including the chic village of Gstaad in Saanenland, its typical chalets and the Gruyère valley. The long descent back to Chamonix past the Aiguille Verte and the rock faces of the Drus forms the grandiose finish of this epic high mountain road cycling adventure around Mont Blanc.
Highlights
- Unique panoramas of the Mont Blanc range every day
- 600 km of pure high mountain cycling with 14 cols, many classified as hors category
- Highlight climbs of Le Tour de France, including the Cormet de Roselend and Col de la Colombière
- Lesser-known mountain roads in the beautiful Bernese Oberland
- A three-country loop featuring excellent Alpine cuisine
Description
Comments
- Available as guided trip with support vehicle as well as self-guided
- Choose between two differents routes each day, with varying distances and profiles, depending on your daily shape, weather and route preferences
- Special offers available for private groups. Please contact us for a quote.
Levels
On some of the stages of this trip you can choose between two different routes with varying distances and altitude gain each day (level 2 or 3). For details, see the programme below.
Dates and price
Dates
Road bike rental
Available models
| Standard road bike Carbon frame and fork, disc brakes, Shimano Tiagra groupset, 10 speeds, 50/34 - 11/32, aluminium wheelset, model Scott Addict 50 or equivalent, roughly 9 kg |
295 € /  |
| Premium road bike Carbon frame and fork, disc brakes, Shimano 105 groupset, 12 Di2 speeds, 50/34 - 11/32, aluminium wheelset, model Scott Addict 40 or equivalent, roughly 8,9 kg |
355 € / |
| Ultimate road bike Carbon frame and fork, disc brakes, Shimano 105 groupset, 12 Di2 speeds, 50/34 - 11/34, carbon Mavic or Syncros wheelset, model Scott Addict 30 or equivalent, roughly 8,4 kg |
465 € / |
| E-road bike Carbon frame and fork, Shimano 105 groupset, 11 speeds, 50/34 - 11/32, aluminium wheelset, supplied with 1 x 248Wh battery (+ 1 extra 210Wh battery), model Orbea Gain M30 or equivalent, roughly 13 kg |
635 € / |
Bike equipment
- 2 bottle cages (only one for frame height 47 or smaller)
- Repair kit included: 2 x CO2 cartridge, tube patches, multi-tool, 1 x tube, 2 x tyre levers
- Pedals: Rental bikes are delivered without pedals. So either bring your own pedals or let us know your pedal requirements (at least 2 weeks before the start of the tour). 3 types of pedals can be installed by us: Look KEO easy, Shimano SPD SL and Shimano SPD
- Helmet and water bottles: not included
In your booking form, please let us know the model you require, your pedal preference and your body size (including frame size and stride length if possible). Thank you very much.
You will receive your hire bike on day 1 of your tour from the tour guide (support vehicle). Bike check on handover and after the tour.
Consumables (tyres, tubes, brake pads and cables) are included in the rental price. Only parts damaged during the tour due to a fall or improper use must be replaced. In the event of theft or loss, you will be charged a lump sum (€2,200 for the standard model, €3,590 for the premium model and the e-model and €5,700 for the super light model).
Costs and services tour with support vehicle
The price includes:
- Trip leader in support vehicle
- 5 nights in 2* to 3* hotels in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
- 5 breakfasts
- 6 picnic lunches
- 5 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
- Daily baggage transfers
- Carefully designed itineraries on 2 levels of difficulty
- Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
- International flights and your transfer to the meeting place (see Useful information tab)
- Bike rental
- All services mentioned in extra services
- Travel insurance, search and rescue
- Drinks at the accommodation
- Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
- Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
- All personal expenses
- Everything not mentioned under “the price includes".
Extra services
| Single room accommodation (5 nights) | 370 € / |
| Vélorizons cycling jersey (shipping not included) |
75 € / |
Extra nights in the town centre of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
| Extra night in Chamonix in 3* hotel, single room, including breakfast | 250 € / |
| Extra night in Chamonix in 3* hotel, double or twin room, including breakfast | 150 € / |
| Transport of a rigid bike box or a semi-rigid bike bag during the trip The supplement concerns rigid bike boxes (non-collapsible) and semi-rigid bike bags (collapsible) which are larger than typical hand luggage when folded (56 cm × 45 cm × 25 cm). Ex. Evoc bike bag. Soft bike bags (bags that can be folded entirely and stored under the seats) are transported free of charge. |
40 € / |
Bike rental & travel insurance: see below
Vélorizons cycling jersey
A cycling jersey to our taste.
A timeless road cycling jersey produced in France, inspired by our team and our road cycling trips. High quality, made in France by a Savoy company and with a feel-good character for long days in the saddle. Offered at a great price.
Features
- High-quality SIRTECH + LYCRA textiles
- 3 pockets, one with a central zip + 1 side pocket
- Full front zip
- Half-high cycling collar
- Short raglan sleeves in Lycra with seamless ends
- Gripper at the hem
Available sizes (EU sizing): XXS bis XL
Cut: Slim fit, unisex
Price: see above
Order and further information by e-Mail or ask our leaders while on tour.
Private groups / Custom tours
You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.
- If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
- If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.
For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435 or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.
Travel insurance
It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.
You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:
- I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here. - I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here. - I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.
Recommendation: |
Booking procedure / Cancellation
How to book
In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.
Last minute booking
All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.
Expert advice
- Unsure which tour to book?
- Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
- Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?
A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.
Tour confirmation
In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.
Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.
In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.
Balance payment
Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.
Cancellation
In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:
- More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
Full details of our sales conditions are available here
Daily schedule
During riding you carry only your day pack. All your luggage is transported each day by the support vehicle.
After breakfast, the support vehicle driver will pack your luggage in the van, distribute cereal/energy bars, and announce the time slot for lunch. The driver can also hand out picnics to any participants who do not wish to stop at the designated picnic lunch stop.
Once all the participants have passed the picnic stop, the driver transports your luggage directly to the following nights accommodation, before returning to wait at the foot of the last climb of the day. He is then available to help any members of the group in difficulty or who encounter a mechanical problem. You'll usually meet the van driver several times during the day, offering the opportunity to fill up with water, change clothing, etc.
Each participant is free to ride at his or her own pace, using the road book and GPS route to navigate during the day. However, the driver is equipped with a mobile phone, and can be reached at any time during the day if a particpant encounters a problem. The driver is also available throughout the trip to provide information and advice.
Getting there
From/To Geneva:
From Geneva Airport or Geneva city center: from Geneva Cornavin train station take the train Leman Express L2 to Annemasse (France), from Anemasse (France) connect to the french train SNCF network to Saint Gervais les Bains and then Chamonix.
Geneva airport website: https://www.gva.ch/en
From/To Paris:
Reach Paris Train station Gare de Lyon and get to Chamonix by train (SNCF train network):
- either via Bourg-en-Bresse, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine/Bellegarde direct to Chamonix.
- or via Lyon Part Dieu train station (see below)
From/To Lyon:
Lyon Saint Exupery airport website: www.lyonaeroports.com
Reach Lyon Part Dieu train station and get to Chamonix by train (SNCF train network) via Bourg-en-Bresse, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine/Bellegarde direct to Chamonix.
By train (SNCF train network):
SNCF: www.voyages.sncf.fr
By car:
Route planner: en.mappy.com
Parking: In the event that you travel by car to the meeting point, we will suggest your some free and convenient parking options closeby the meeting point.
Route navigation
You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:
Our dedicated smartphone app
Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.
►See the mobile app presentation video
To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.
| Operating system | Android | Apple | Windows Phone | Blackberry |
| Compatibility | Version 8.0 minimum | iOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equipped | Non compatible | Non compatible |
A detailed Road Book
Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:
- Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
- Step-by-step route description,
- Route profiles
GPS tracks
Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.
Food
This trip is fully catered (breakfast, lunch and dinner included). We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals. Fresh and local products will be served wherever possible. This trip is also an opportunity to discover the local gastronomy and regional products - l'art de la table!
Please note: If you have any food intolerances, please inform us in the comments field on the booking form.
- Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
- Simple cereal/muesli bars and dried fruit are distributed in the morning before the start of the stage. You must bring your own specific energy bars and isodrinks, if desired.
- Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)
For lunch, our tour leader will offer you a picnic stop along the route. Our picnics combine a rich salad based on carbohydrates and fresh vegetables with cold meats and cheese, fresh fruit and bread (wherever possible from local producers) as well as sweet and savoury snacks. If you do not want to stop for lunch, we can offer the following options:
- Our tour leader provides you with a picnic to carry along in a small backpack or a handlebar bag. It contains an individual salad (carbohydrate and vegetable based salad), cold meats, cheese and fruits
- "Racing food" for weight weenies and those "allergic" to backpacks: energy bars, dried fruit
- Feel free to stop and eat when and where you want (restaurant, bakery, grocery store...)
Car sharing
If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.
Baggage
During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.
Our / Your state of mind
- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.
- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.
Bike and plane / train
If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any high-speed and regional trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.
Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.
Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.
Personal Gear & Packing List
Luggage
All your belongings should be divided into two bags: a backpack and a travel bag.
1/ Backpack or Small Bag (to be kept in the support vehicle or on the bike)
This is the bag you use every day while cycling. It is kept in the support vehicle (accessible during the lunch stop or carried along on the bike (frame, seat or handlebar bag). This bag should not be too large (up to 15 litres).
It will contain: snack food, camera, waterproof and extra clothing, sunglasses, etc.
2/ Travel bag
This bag will be transported by vehicle from one accommodation to the next. It should contain all the items you won’t need during the day. You can expect to find it at your accommodation in the evening (generally not accessible during lunch).
Packing list
For your head
- A cap or other head protection against the sun
- A hat or sweat band
- A bike helmet
For your upper body
- Two or more cycling jerseys (or technical t-shirts made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
- A warm and long cycling jersey or shirt; alternatively: arm warmers
- A sweatsheart and t-shirts (for the evenings)
- A wind & waterproof jacket
- A pair of cycling gloves
For your legs
- Two or more good quality bib shorts with seat pad (chamois)
- A pair of long and warm cycling tights or leg warmers
- A casual short (for the evenings)
- A swimsuit
For your feet
- A pair of cycling shoes
- A pair of shoes suitable for the evening
- Sandals (not compulsory, but nice for warm evenings...)
- Cycling socks
For your bike
- Adapted gearing: if in doubt ask us our your local cycle dealer
- Bike lights with batteries (or charger)
- 2 spare tubes
- Puncture repair kit or tubeless repair kit
- Spare brake pads (except if you start with new pads)
- Chain lube
- A small pump
- A multi tool
Other
- 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or camelbak)
- A toiletry kit and towel
- A bike lock (not compulsory)
- A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin (Compeed); Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.
Dates
From the beginning of July to the end of September. Day of the tour start at your convenience.
Costs and services self-guided tour
Price per person for a group of
The price includes:
- 5 nights in 2* to 3* hotels in double or twin rooms with en-suite facilities
- 5 continental breakfasts
- 5 dinners (multi-course menu)
- Daily luggage transfers (1 item per person, 15 kg max)
- Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
- International flights
- Your transfer to the meeting place (see useful information tab)
- Road bike rental
- All services mentioned in extensions
- Travel insurance
- Drinks at the accommodation
- Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
- Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
- All personal expenses
- Everything not mentioned under “the price includes".
Extra services (self-guided version)
Single room supplement, extra nights, bike rental: see "dates and prices" tab
Self-guided trips: what you should know
Pick a date of your choice and book for as few as 2 people. We take care of the reservation of your accommodation (with breakfast and dinners), the transport of your luggage for each stage and provide you with detailed travel documents (reservation list, detailed road book with highlighted maps, our navigation app for smartphones and GPS tracks).
Our promise
An adventure with support.
- perfect on-site logistics,
- a carefully planned route,
- ride on the most beautiful routes of a region without missing the highlights
Requirements
- Self-guided navigation with the help of our navigation tools (roadbook, navigation app and/or GPS tracks)
- Consideration of weather conditions and of the group's capacity with regard to the tour programme
- Arrival at the accommodation in due time
- Basic knowledge of equipment and bicycle technology for possible repairs
- First aid and emergency management
With our travel documents, our advice and a thorough travel preparation on your part, nothing should stand in the way of a wonderful, trouble-free cycling trip.
Note: On our self-guided tours you ride on your own and without a cycling guide. The tours are specifically aimed at people who want to be independent and have experience in navigation. We cannot be held liable for navigation errors, personal misconduct, carelessness, insufficient timing or misjudgement of weather conditions or emergency situations. Any change of itinerary on your part is your own responsibility.
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