Mountain bike France

Ride the spectacular last part of the Sunshine trails across the Southern Prealps to the Mediterranean SeaRef CY46

Embark on an unforgettable 7-day adventure through the Southern French Prealps, from the iconic Terres Noires to the sparkling Mediterranean coast. Ride exhilarating singletrack through gorges and alongside the emerald waters of the Trévans, Verdon, and Esteron. Marvel at sweeping panoramas of the Southern Alps and take refreshing dips in idyllic swimming spots. Traverse the rugged, secluded hinterland of Nice before descending to the Mediterranean Sea for a grand finale on the renowned Promenade des Anglais.

Guided version: from 1235€ - DetailsSelf-guided version: from 845€ - Details Duration : 7 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
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+33 458 140 435 A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
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This tour is E-MTB compatible

Highlights

  • The staggering gorges of the Verdon, the Trevans, the Daluis...
  • The diversity and remoteness of the terrain, not far from the pulsating life of the cote d'azur
  • Refreshment stops at wild rivers every day
  • The palette of colours: the mauve of lavender, the emerald of the torrents, the ochre of the cliffs
  • The arrival at the Mediterranean Sea, the highlight of our trip

Description

Comments

  • 2 versions available: V2=2 wheels / V3=3 wheels.
  • This is the last of three parts of the MTB route Chemins du Soleil (Sunshine trails)
  • Double room option possible: see trip details

Grand Traversee of the Pre-Alps

Grand Traversee of the Pre-Alps

Les Chemins du Soleil - Sunshine trails

From Lake Geneva to the sea... This circuit is the third part of the Grand Mountain Bike Traversee of the Pre-Alps called Les Chemins du Soleil, which consists of 3 one week circuits.

This mountain bike classic can be ridden in several stages or in one go for the foolhardy! A long traversee that takes you from the Alpine scenery of the northern Pre-Alps to the provençal atmosphere of the southern Pre-Alps and finally to the Mediterranean Sea.

Bauges, Chartreuse, Trièves, Dévoluy, Buëch, Verdon, Esteron, Nice hinterland... One after the other the mountain ranges open up on this alpine mountain bike trip, concocted with very little hike-a-bike and road sections.

On track for the Grand Traverse of the Pre-Alps!

  • Part 1, Lake Geneva (or Lake Annecy) - Grenoble: The Savoie Lakes (ref CY41, CY49). The northern Pre-Alps and their wild mountain ranges: a traverse of the Bauges and Chartreuse ranges via the lakes of Annecy and Bourget (the largest lake in France).
  • Part 2, Grenoble - Sisteron: The Chemins du Soleil (Sunshine Trails) (ref CY43, CY44). A transition from the northern to the southern Pre-Alps through the agricultural landscapes of the Trièves, before reaching the mediterranean vegetation of the Buëch Valley. Superb mountain biking!
  • Part 3, Sisteron - Nice: From the mountains to the sea (ref CY46, CY 47). The crossing of several gorges (Verdon, Trévans, Estéron) with the Mediterranean Sea at the finish line.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Digne-les-Bains - La Clappe

Itinerary start: Rendezvous on the first day is at 9 am in front of Digne-les-Bains railway station.

We leave the cute little spa town of Digne nestled in the middle of the pre-Alpine peaks. A quiet warm-up in the Mardaric valley before things get serious: through a pine forest, we set off for an ascent to the crests of La Blache. A superb singletrack descent rewards our efforts... First of all, it twirls through the forest, then it takes us to a part of the the famous Terres Noires (literally black lands)... The path leads us on a balcony over a small river. A little gem to start with! After passing through two typical villages with stone houses, we start a short but demanding climb (believe in the grip on black earth!). Once again, a fantastic reward with a ridge route on black earth. We reach our gite perched above the Asse valley.

Level 2, distance covered: approx. 45 km / Ascent: approx. 1350 m
Level 3, distance covered: approx. 50 km / Ascent: approx. 1500 m

Day 2: La Clappe - La Palud sur Verdon

We start this day by crossing the Asse river, then we go back up by a very wild itinerary to the village of Majastres. Passing through the abandoned hamlet of Villard. Between the Chiran ridge and the impetuous waters of the Estoublaisse, our route then alternates between forest and open passages to enter the Verdon Natural Park. We reach Les Bondils, a "hamlet at the end of the world", via the Piste des Belges. Ascent at the foot of the cliff of Notre-Dame, known for its chapel built in a cave. We end up on a small plateau where we discover the superb ruins of the village of Châteauneuf-les-Moustiers. The plateau leads us to a beautiful singletrack descent that plunges down to La-Palud-sur-Verdon, the "climbers' village" with a very Provencal atmosphere.

Level 2, distance covered: approx. 45 km / Ascent: approx. 1400 m
Level 3, distance covered: approx. 50 km / Ascent: approx. 1700 m

Day 3: La Palud sur Verdon - Soleilhas

We start the day with another beautiful and playful descent to get closer to the "Point Sublime" of the Verdon gorges, where we enjoy the unique panorama. We then climb up to the cute little village of Rougon, leaning against a hill. It is here that we start an ascent to the Suech plateau (20 minutes of hike-a-bike). Unique viewpoint on the Verdon fault, and a Mongolia-like atmosphere on the plateau. An unforgettable descent on a balcony track above the Verdon follows. Here we are in Castellane where it will most probably be time to have a snack. Back on our bikes after lunch we climb up to the Saint Barnabé pass. The choice: a demanding climb on a singletrack (for the "purists"!), or a climb on a small asphalted road. We reach the pass, then switch to the other side and set down our mounts in Soleilhas for a well deserved night.

Level 2 and 3, distance covered: approx. 45 km / Ascent: approx. 1400 m

Day 4: Soleilhas - Saint Auban

This morning we warm up on a small road that leads us to the tiny ski resort of Vauplane. The singletracks that await us are simply magical: a trail facing the Mercantour mountains above a deep valley, singletracks in beaten earth in a beech forest, paths winding through unexpected clearings... Maybe we are even lucky enough to see one of the local inhabitants: the mouflon... Another short hike-a-bike section of about fifteen minutes allows us to reach the Col du Buis. That's it, we can dive into the valley of the Esteron river, a real France Bike Trips' favourite, where lost villages, emerald waters (with idyllic basins for swimming), pine forests and dreamy singletracks mix together! Night in a gîte.

Level 2, distance covered: approx. 45 km / Ascent: approx. 1300 m
Level 3, distance covered: approx. 55 km / Ascent: approx. 1700 m

Day 5: Saint Auban - Aiglun

Going from the upper to the lower Esteron valley is not so easy in these very marked reliefs. Not simple, but how much fun! We reserve you a splendid day which we keep secret... Night in a gîte in Aiglun.

Level 2, distance covered: approx. 40 km / Ascent: approx. 1500 m
Level 3, distance covered: approx. 30 km / Ascent: approx. 1600 m

Day 6: Aiglun - Les Ferres

After a last singletrack along the Esteron river, we leave the valley of the same name, and its capital Roquesteron, by a climb that offers us beautiful panoramas of the surrounding mountains and valleys. We reach the track of the Végay canal, for a few kilometres on a perfectly horizontal balcony with an impressive view of the Mercantour and the Italian Alps, and of the perched villages that seem very small, far below us. As we turn around the Estellier mountain, we discover the Vésubie and the Var valleys. Night in a gîte.

Level 2, distance covered: approx. 35 km / Ascent: approx. 1500 m
Level 3, distance covered: approx. 35 km / Ascent: approx. 1600 m

Day 7: Les Ferres - Nice

Last day already? We leave Les Ferres and head eastwards, and quickly reach a nice belvedere on the Esteron gorges. Descent in the direction of the Var valley by an alternation of forest tracks and singletracks. We cross the river to pass the left bank. A short section on the road before we climb back up and ride around Mont Cima (878 m). We then take up the last challenge of our week: a trail leads us at the foot of Mont Chauve d'Aspremont (870 m) which overlooks the bay of Nice. End of the trip by a long descent to Nice, part of which on tarmarc, unfortunately unavoidable! What a contrast after these 7 days of wild outdoors! A few laps on the Promenade des Anglais which faces the Baie des Anges. We take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea before we split up at the station, after this extraordinary week crossing the Southern Prealps.

Level 2, distance covered: approx. 40 km / Ascent: approx. 950 m
Level 3, distance covered: approx. 50 km / Ascent: approx. 1300 m

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

Itinerary end: Separation on the last day at around 2 pm in Nice.

Return to the start point of the journey

It is possible to return to Digne by bus or train (see practical information). We can also arrange a shuttle transfer for your group upon request. If required Vélorizons can organise a vehicle transfer for your group back to the start point of the journey. See costs and services section.

Dates and price

Dates
Start date End date Duration Price
05/10/2025 11/10/2025 7 days 1235 €

Costs and services guided tour

What is included:
  • Fully qualified English-speaking mountain bike guide 
  • 6 nights in guest houses (gîtes d'étape) in shared rooms
  • 6 breakfasts
  • 6 picnic lunches
  • 6 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
What is not included:
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Insurance, assistance
  • 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".

Supplementary services

(prices per person)

  • Double or single-room supplement: available on request but very limited availability
  • Supplementary nights: upon request
  • Transfer from Digne to Nice: from 115 € per person for a group of 4 (depending on number of participants)
  • Mountain bike rental: see below

Mountain bike rental

2 types of mountain bikes are available for this tour:

All mountain full suspension eMTB
Moustache Trail 7 or equivalent, 750Wh battery
495 € / 

Full suspension all mountain MTB, guided trip only
Giant Trance x29.1 or equivalent
475 € / 

Please confirm your height and bike choice on your trip reservation form.

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.

Booking with us

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.

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.

Payment options
  • by credit card via our website (Mastercard and Visa accepted)
  • by bank transfer (bank details on request)
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

Your invoice will be available 5 weeks before tour departure. 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.

Getting there

By train: From Paris Gare de Lyon train station to Digne train station (about 6h by TGV train).
https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

By plane:

  • From Marseille airport: join the Marseille train station and head to Digne.
  • From Nice airport: join the Nice train station and head to Digne.

By car:
Route planner: en.mappy.com

Coming back:

You can return to Digne by taking the train from Nice (about 6h) : https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

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:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

Groupe size and guiding

For guided trips we limit the size of our groups from 5 (min) to 12 (max) persons in order to ensure security and conviviality.

You will be guided by English-speaking French mountain bike guides.

No size limitation for self-guided groups.

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.

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality. For more details, please see the "Costs and services" section.

For private groups and self-guided tours it is possible to choose alternative accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

Food

"L'art de la table"

We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals.  Fresh and local produce will be served wherever possible.

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
  • Cold picnics for lunch (mixed salad, bread, cold meats, cheese and fruit). Each participant carries his picnic in his daypack
  • Cereal bars and dried fruit during the day
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)

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.

Health

We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday. 

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 TGV and SNCF 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.

Your equipment

Material provided by France Bike Trips (guided version only):
  • A group first aid kit
  • A repair kit and tools
Personal equipment to bring:
Luggage

All your luggage must fit in two bags: a daypack and a travel bag.

1/ Daypack

This is the bag you will keep with you each day whilst riding. This bag should not be too large (up to 30 litres).

It will contain: a picnic lunch, camera, waterproof, extra clothing, sunglasses...

Each day, your guide will advise you on what to bring in your bag according to the route and the weather.

2/ Travel bag

This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It should contain all the belongings you will not use during the day.

Please note: Your luggage transported from one accommodation to the next must fit in a single bag and must not exceed 20kg maximum - or less if stated otherwise in the included services).

List of equipment to pack:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or headband
  • A mountain bike helmet (COMPULSORY).
For your upper body
  • Two cycling jerseys (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm shirt or a sweatshirt
  • A fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
For your legs
  • Two good quality cycling shorts with chamois
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
  • A swimsuit
  • Waterproof trousers (recommended for our alpine tours)
For your feet
  • Mountain bike shoes (“multi-activity / outdoor” type with grippy soles or clipless biking shoes)
  • Sports socks (+ warm wool socks for our alpine tours)
  • Sandals (not compulsory, but nice during breaks...).
For your mountain bike

If you rent your MTB from France Bike Trips, this material is not necessary.

  • If you have tires with tubes: 2 spare tubes + puncture repair kit
  • If you have tubeless tires: sealant, a tube with presta valve (just in case), a spare tire
  • If you have V-brakes: 2 sets of replacement brake pads
  • If you have disc brakes: 2 sets of replacement pads
  • A rear derailleur cable + 1 rear brake cable
  • Chain lube
  • A pump
  • A high pressure pump for your suspension  (optional, your guide will have one).
  • VERY IMPORTANT: A spare derailleur hanger  (only if your rear derailleur is not integral to the frame).
Various
  • A pair of MTB gloves (+ warm waterproof gloves for our alpine tours)
  • A bike lock
  • A head torch with batteries
  • A pair of spare laces
  • A toiletry kit and towel
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or camelbak)
  • A pocket knife
  • Some plastic bags to protect your equipment
  • A needle and thread
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Dates

Can be booked any time from beginning of April to end of October.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person for a group of:

Single-room supplement will be automatically charged in the case of odd-numbered groups.

The price includes:
  • 6 nights in guest houses (gîtes d'étape) in shared rooms
  • 6 breakfasts
  • 6 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Detailed travel documents, highlighted maps and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • Lunch
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Insurance, assistance
  • 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".

Supplementary services

(prices per person)

  • Picnic lunches: 15 € per day
  • Double or single-room supplement: available on request but very limited availability
  • Supplementary nights: upon request
  • Transfer from Digne to Nice: from 115 € per person for a group of 4 (depending on number of participants)
  • more extra services in the dates & prices tab

GPS tracks

If you choose to book a self-guided tour, we provide the GPS tracks of the route. You will be able to download the GPX type files from your France Bike Trips user account once you receive our travel documents by email. They are compatible with all current GPS software applications and editors.

Accuracy

These tracks have been created using professional mapping software. There may be slight differences between the GPS track and the reality on the terrain. The GPS tracks should thus be considered a "plus" to help you find your way. However, they are by no means a substitute for orientation with the help of the highlighted map material.

The distances and altitude gain in the tour's programme remain the reference. Indeed, real-world altitude and mileages can be different and vary significantly from the data shown in GPS software applications.

Data privacy

We ask you not to publish these GPS tracks on any website, social network or anywhere else. Their elaboration required many hours of hard work, both to create the track in the field, but also in our software applications. The non-respect of this ethic would force us to remove these valuable tool from our offer.

Analogue maps (optional)

We offer digital map material with highlighted tracks for our self-guided tours by default. These are printable (A4, pdf format).

On request, we can provide you with analogue maps containing the highlighted itinerary and route infos (official French maps at a scale of 1:25,000). Shipment will be made to the accommodation of your extra night before the tour.

Price of this option incl. shipping within France: see supplementary services

Please let us know in the booking form if you would like this option. Please also give us an accommodation address for shipping if you do not book an extra night through us before the tour.

Self-guided tour "user guide"

Active autonomy: what you need to know for our self-guided tours

In order to achieve the planned tour programme, you must:

  • Guide yourself with the highlighted maps and road book;
  • Choose suitable start times adapted to the lengths of the daily stages as well as your own riding pace, and leave an adequate safety margin of time;
  • Obtain daily weather forecasts from your hosts, and take into account the weather conditions when planning journey times;
  • Arrive at the booked guest houses and hotels listed in the programme on the given dates; 
  • Bring the necessary personal equipment to carry out the tour. France Bike Trips equipment list constitutes the necessary minimum;
  • Carry insurance policies and emergency telephone numbers with you at all times;
  • Be familiar with basic first-aid steps;
  • In the event of any problems during your trip, contact France Bike Trips (contact information in your travel documents). Possession of a mobile phone that works in France is strongly recommended.

Self-guided tours are undertaken without a guide and at your own risk. France Bike Trips cannot be held liable for any route error, misconduct, personal imprudence, inadequate planning or inappropriate reactions in the event of incidents.

Any programme change of your own initiative is under your responsibility and at your expense. 

Having said this, with our advice and good preparation, you should be able to look forward to a wonderful, trouble free holiday. Enjoy your trip!

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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.


Phone number: +33 458 140 435

Contact us

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.

Please type in your email address in order to access tour details and description

Your email will not be communicated to any third party or company outside France Bike Trips / Velorizons. You may receive occasional emails from France Bike Trips, with the possibility to unsubscribe at any time. CNIL (French National Commission for Data Protection and Liberties)