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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.
Welcome to the singletrack paradise that is the Diois... Nestled between the Drôme Provençale to the south and the Vercors to the north, in the foothills of the Southern Alps! Sunflower and lavender fields, pine forests, vineyards, crystal clear rivers, and beautiful old villages let us know we're not far from Provence, while the mighty cliffs of the Vercors remind us that we're already in the Alps… A quiet, unspoilt area literally teaming with superb mountain bike trails. It's no coincidence that the founder of France Bike Trips chose the area as his home some 15 years ago. Discover the Diois and let him take you on a tour of the area’s best singletrack!
Itinerary start: Rendezvous with the organisation team is fixed on day 1 at 1pm at Die SNCF railway station. On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Die.
We welcome you at the train station in Die and head straight off on the bikes. The stage is set for our arrival, with the massive cliffs of the Vercors and Glandasse overlooking the valley of Die. We take the time to visit Die and its charming narrow streets, before heading into the foothills of the Vercors towards Châtillon-en-Diois. The distinct smell of the local pine forests reminds us we're in the south, while the vineyards evoke the local sparkling Clairette de Die... We get our first taste of the playful singletrack trails that the region is famous for. Our route takes us past the impressive 12th century Abbaye de Valcroissant, as well as several traditional stone villages before arriving in Chatillon-en-Diois, a medieval village nestled at the foot of the Vercors cliffs. The village is full of superb stone houses, narrow alleys and beautiful gardens that make for a pleasant evening stroll on arrival.
Distance covered: approx. 30 km / Altitude gain: approx. 700 m
Today's route sees us climb to the village of Benevise before a great descent to the Cirque d'Archiane.We then follow the Bez River through the Gorges du Gats (great opportunities for a swim). Our route then climbs up out of the gorges on an ancient track to the isolated hamlet of Soubreroche, which offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. We drop down into the valley of Boulc on a wooded singletrack trail before joining the village. Boulc became famous when its only access road collapsed in 1994, leaving the village cut off from the ouside world for several months, before a tunnel was built. Welcome to the local Gauls!
Distance covered: approx. 40 km / Altitude gain: approx. 1200 m
We gain some altitude on a forest track that winds its way up through pine and beech forests. After a 5 minute push, we reach a viewpoint overlooking the valley and the village of Lesches-en-Diois. We head down a great singletrack descent that leads us to the isolated hamlet of Les Granges, where time seems to have stood still. The hamlet now has only one remaining resident. Another great descent leads us down to the Miscon Valley, where we join a riverside singletrack that winds its way along the banks. We then join Le Claps, scene of an enormous rockfall in the 15th century. The rockfall created the "Saut de la Drôme", an impressive waterfall surrounded by enormous blocks of rock. We then follow a quiet country lane to the hamlet of "Les Grangiers" and our gite for the night.
Distance covered: approx. 45 km / Altitude gain: approx. 1200 m
From here we head south into the wild Haut Diois... Villages are further and further apart, with fewer and fewer inhabitants, valley pastures give way to ever denser woodland. A succession of climbs and descents lead us to La Motte-Chalancon, a characterful village nestled in a beautiful, wild valley. Overnight stop in La Motte.
Distance covered: approx. 40 km / Altitude gain: approx. 1100 m
A remote, mountainous stage that leads us through fields of lavender, thyme and rosemary, on trails nestled between the Diois and the Baronnies. We'll likely see Griffon vultures overhead, a common sight since their reintroduction in the area. We make our way to the village of Saint-Nazaire-le-Desert, in the beautiful gorges of the Roanne River. Night in Saint Nazaire Le Désert.
Distance covered: approx. 35 km / Altitude gain: approx. 1500 m
We're now in Picodon country! The area is renowned for its small round goats cheeses. We enter the bucolic valley of Rochefourchat, before gaining some altitude on the climb up to the Col de Jeannin. A great descent awaits us down to the village of La Chaudiere, before we pass the village of Saint Moirans, with its ancient priory and Roman chapel. Our route then drops progressively until we reach the small town of Saillans, with its beautiful stone houses on the banks of the Drome River. We follow right bank of the Drome River, making an incursion into the forest of Grand Barry with its Austrian pines. We return to the banks of the Drôme and the pretty little village of Pontaix, then on to Sainte Croix.
Distance covered: approx. 50 km / Altitude gain: approx. 1500 m
We return to the Diois and the foothills of the Vercors: vineyards, pine and oak forests, grey marls, and walnut plantations abound. We pass through the pretty villages of Sainte Croix and Marignac, surrounded by lavender fields and dominated by the imposing cliffs of the Glandasse. Marignac is home to another group of Griffon vultures, that can often be seen circling overhead. We finish the ride with some great riverside singletrack along the banks of the Drôme, before arriving in our final destination, Die.
Distance covered: approx. 25 km / Altitude gain: approx. 800 m
Itinerary end: The trip ends in Die at around 3pm. On request we can book the following night's accommodation for you for you in Die.
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
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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)
Please type in your search terms.
You can prefix chosen words with the '+' sign to make them mandatory, or with the '-' sign to avoid results containing this word from appearing, e.g. west +nepal -canada
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.
