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Road bike France

From Lake Geneva to the Côte d'Azur via the Grands Cols of the Tour de FranceRef CR01

En route for the legendary "cols" of the Tour de France! Cross the French Alps from Lake Geneva to the Côte d'Azur on this fantastic eight day tour. From the Northern Alps and the Mont Blanc range right to the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea via some of the most mythical cols in the world of road biking: L'Iseran, Le Galibier, Le Lautaret, L'lzoard and many more... Road biking doesn't get any better than this!

Tour with assistance vehicle: from 1375€ - Details Duration : 8 days | Level : Customer satisfaction : - 33 reviews
+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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Highlights

  • A mythical itinerary that follows in the footsteps of the legendary Tour de France!
  • From the Northern to the Southern Alps, from the Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean, taking in a huge variety of alpine landscapes along the way.
  • Fantastic panoramic views of the entire Alps range.
  • Comfortable accommodation ideal for rest and relaxation after long days in the saddle

Description

Comments

  • Choose between two differents routes each day, with varying distances and profiles, depending on your daily shape, weather and route preferences
  • Route level 2: 710 km and 16,600 m of climbing
  • Route level 3: 950 km and 25,300 m of climbing
  • This road bike tour is the last part of our east-west crossing of the entire Alps, the Alpine Arc Traversee (see the programme tab for more information).
  • Special offers available for private groups. Please contact us for a quote.

Our Integral Crossing of the Alps

Cycling across the Alps from East to West

There are projects that every ambitious road cyclist should dare to dream of. The east-west crossing of the Alpine arc from the Adriatic sea to the French Riviera on the Mediterranean coast is definetely one of them. Based on our great experience as an Alpine road cycling tour operator, we have designed a unique route that takes you through the natural heart of Europe`s most famous mountain range: the Intergal Crossing of the Alps. In total, the route is 2000 km long and offers some 40,000 m of climbing. Given these numbers, we have cut it up in three challenging parts of 6 to 8 cycling days each.

Along the route, you will enjoy countless national and regional Nature parks of varying and outstanding beauty: Triglav, Dolomites, Ortler, the Valais and Bernese Alps, Mont Blanc area, Vanoise, Ecrins and finally the French Maritime Alps. The route is an absolute must-do for "col-baggers" as it takes in the most famous mountain passes of the Alps but also lesser-known ones: Vrsic pass, Tre Cime, passes of the Dolomites and particularly the Sella Ronda, Stelvio, Gavia, Bernina, Maloja, San Bernadino, Gotthard, Furka, Susten, Colombière, Roselend, Iséran, Galibier, Izoard, Vars, Cayolle, Turini... and many many more.

We offer the Intergal Crossing of the Alps route in 3 separately bookable, fully-catered tours with support vehicle:

  • Part 1 in 8 days (Triglav, Dolomites and Stelvio Crossing), crossing of the Slovene and Italian Alps from the Adriatic to Lake Como, approx. 700 km und 9,000 m in climbing (level 2, level 3 available)
  • Part 2 in 6 days (Swiss Alps Crossing), crossing of the Swiss Alps from Lake Como to Lake Geneva, approx. 650 km und 14,000 m in climbing (level 2 only)
  • Part 3 in 8 days (Route des Grandes Alpes this trip), crossing of the French Alps from Lake Geneva to Nice, approx. 700 km und 17,000 m in climbing (level 2, level 3 available)

All three parts can also be ridden in a row. The ultimate challenge.

For those wishing to complete the Intergal Crossing of the Alps, you will not ride as far as Bergamo on Day 8 of Part 1, as a rest day is planned in Chiavenna before continuing with Part 2 (see the "Extension of the trip" in the detailed programme of the Part 1). A rest day is also planned in Thonon-les-Bains, to catch a breath between Parts 2 and 3.

Any questions regarding arrival and departure logistics? Please contact us, we are happy to help.

Physical level

Choose each day

Each day you choose between two different routes with varying distances and altitude gain (2 and 3 wheels).

Day 1: Thonon-les-Bains - La Clusaz 

Itinerary start: Rendezvous with the organisation team is on day 1 at 9 am at Thonon les Bains SNCF railway station. On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Thonon Les Bains. The "Kilomètre 0" of the Route des Grandes Alpes is located on the square in front of the town hall (Place de l'Hôtel de Ville) in Thonon-les-Bains. Worth a photo before the start of the tour!

Start of the crossing of the French Alps on the shores of Lake Geneva towards the Savoy Alps, in the footsteps of the Tour de France. With the idyllic Chablais and the Col de la Jambaz at 1,027 metres, we find the perfect conditions here to get our legs in the right mood for the effort ahead. Things then get serious in the Aravis with their sharp-edged peaks and impressive rocky outcrops: the first real challenge is the Col de la Colombière, where the coniferous forests give way to the picture-book Savoy alpine pastures for the first time. The ringing of cowbells dominates the soundscape here. After the pass, we head downhill to the ski resorts of Le Grand-Bornand and La Clusaz, where we move into our accommodation in the heart of the Savoy mountains.

Passes of the day: 

  • Col de Jambaz, 1027 m (level 2)
  • Col de Joux Plane, 1712m (level 3)
  • Col de la Colombière, 1613 m

Highlights:

  • A warm up on the quiet mountain roads of the Col de Jambaz (level 2)
  • The beautiful Vallée du Giffre and Val d'Abondance (level 3)
  • The "Portes du Soleil" area of Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz (level 3)
  • The Diable gorges and bridge (level 3)
  • Views of the Mont Blanc range
  • Col de la Colombiere: the first difficulty of the week, and first real mountain pass of the Alps...
  • Le Grand Bornand: reputable ski resort known for the beauty and authenticity of its mountain chalets

Distance and altitude gain:

  • 2 wheels: approx. 90 km and 2200 m
  • 3 wheels: approx. 120 km and 3300 m
Day 2: La Clusaz - Bourg Saint Maurice 

This morning, the first ascent is up the Col des Aravis (1486 m) with its perfectly laid out hairpin bends in the middle of the alpine meadows. From the pass there is a breathtaking view of Mont Blanc and its glaciated neighbouring peaks. We then enter the narrow valley of the Val d'Arly, which we leave shortly afterwards in the direction of the Saisies cross-country skiing area, where we cross the pass of the same name (1650 m). We now descend into the Beaufortain, a postcard landscape of chalets, alpine meadows, mountain forests and peaks. In the distance we can see the rocky spur of the Pierra Menta, symbol of the most famous ski mountaineering race in Europe. The village of Beaufort has given its name to the famous and highly prized cheese, the "Prince of Gruyère cheeses". A visit to the cheese co-operative is possible, during which you will also learn about the importance of cheese production for the local economy. A little further on, we are already on the ascent to the Cormet de Roselend (1967 m), whose reservoir awaits us with its turquoise-coloured waters. Last descent into the Tarentaise valley, one of the two main valleys of Savoie, under the gaze of the Aiguille des Glaciers, the highest point in the town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Overnight stay in Séez above the town.

Passes of the day:

  • Col des Aravis, 1486 m
  • Col des Saisies, 1650 m
  • Col du Joly, 1989 m (level 3, optional)
  • Col du Pré, 1703m (level 3)
  • Cormet de Roselend, 1967 m

Highlights:

  • The Aravis mountain range with stunning views of the Mont Blanc 
  • The olympic resort of Les Saisies 
  • The Beaufortain and its famous cheese, the Beaufort (possibility to visit the cheese cooperative)
  • The turquoise waters of Lake Roseland, surrounded by beautiful alpine scenery

Distance and altitude gain:

  • 2 wheels: approx. 90 km and 2600 m
  • 3 wheels: approx. 100 km and 2800 m (Col du Joly option: + 28 km and 900 m)
Day 3: Bourg Saint Maurice - Val Cenis

Today we connect the two largest Alpine valleys of the Savoy and French Alps - the Tarentaise (Isère Valley) and the Maurienne (Arc Valley) - by crossing the famous Col de l'Iséran at an altitude of 2,762 metres near the main Alpine ridge. On the way, we can enjoy countless panoramic views of the Vanoise National Park and pass through one of the most beautiful villages in the French Alps: Bonneval-sur-Arc, with its well-preserved stone houses. The further the descent leads into the valley, the higher the mountain giants rise to the left and right; a touch of the south blows here in the High Maurienne.

Passes of the day:

  • Col de l'Iseran, 2762m
  • Col du Mont Cenis, 2083 m (optional, level 3)

Highlights:

  • Liaison between the two biggest valleys of the Alps: the Tarentaise and the Maurienne 
  • The Col de l'Iseran: simply one of the most beautiful and longest passes in the Alps...
  • Panoramic views of the Vanoise National Park 
  • Small, traditional villages and their stone houses (Le Miroir, La Gurraz...) where time seems to have stood still

Distance and altitude gain:

  • 2 wheels : approx. 80 km and 2200 m
  • 3 wheels : approx. 90 km and 2600 m
  • Optional climb to the Col du Mont Cenis at the end of the stage (there and back from Val Cenis): +30 km and 750 m
Day 4: Val Cenis - Le Monêtier les Bains

A gentle start to the day on a mostly downhill stretch towards Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. We take a beautiful balcony road through larch and pine forests to avoid the main road in the valley. The Vauban fortifications bear witness to the former strategic position of Modane, when Savoy alternated between French and Italian rule over the centuries. Further down the valley, Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne awaits us, where the most famous ascent of the Tour de France up to the Col du Galibier (2645 m) begins. First on the menu is the classic Col du Télégraphe, where we remain below the tree line. After a welcome flat section on which we cross the village of Valloire, the actual ascent to the Col du Galibier begins, surrounded by dry pastures and the stony but elegant peaks of the Cerces massif. From the top of the pass, the view of the Ecrins massif to the south is unrivalled in its beauty. We have the opportunity to savour this view on the entire descent to the Col du Galibier. All that remains for us to do is to continue our descent into the sun-drenched Le Monêtier les Bains. Overnight stay in Le Monêtier les Bains.

Passes of the day:

  • Col du Télégraphe, 1566m (level 2)
  • Col du Galibier, 2645m (level 2)
  • Col de la Croix de Fer, 2067m (level 3 "expert")
  • Col du Glandon, 1924m (level 3 "expert")
  • Col du Lautaret, 2058m
  • Col du Granon, 2413m (level 3)

Highlights:

  • A string of some of the most famous cols of the Tour de France! 
  • The « high mountain » atmosphere of the Galibier (level 2)
  • Panoramic views of the Ecrins and its famous summit, the Meije

Distance and altitude gain:

  • 2 wheels: approx. 100 km and 2500 m
  • 3 wheels: approx. 140 km and 3700 m
  • 3 wheels "expert": 175km and 4300m
Day 5: Le Monêtier les Bains - Barcelonette (Le Sauze)

We leave Monêtier and the Southern Alps unravel before our eyes: Larch forests, sun-browned stone villages and dry pastures with sheep and goat herds now dominate the landscape. Via the town of Guillestre, we reach the Queyras Regional Nature Park, which is located on the French side at the foot of Mont Viso (many regional products). The route then climbs towards the Col de Vars (2,109 m), with its larch forests and rocky mountains. The descent to Barcelonnette in the direction of our accommodation is exhilarating... All that remains is to crank up the last short climb to the small ski resort of Le Sauze.

The stage offers the option of choosing the route variant via the Col d'Izoard with its famous stone chaos of the Casse Déserte from Briançon (a must!). Optionally, those who still have plenty of energy left can take the legendary Bonette mountain road up to the col and on to the Cime de la Bonette at a very low altitude of 2,802 metres.

Passes of the day:

  • Col de l'Isoard, 2360m (level 3)
  • Col de Vars, 2109m
  • Col de la Bonette, 2802m (level 3, optional)

Highlights:

  • The passage from the Northern Alps to the Southern Alps and its larch forests and sun-kissed slopes
  • The Col de l'Izoard, the famous Casse Déserte and the Queyras Nature Park
  • The Col de Vars: one of the most major cols of the Alps with over 1000 metres of altitude gain on both sides
  • For the most courageous, the mythical col de la Bonette climb (Europe's highest motorable pass road) as the end-of-the-day bonus challenge!

Distance and altitude gain:

  • 2 wheels: approx. 110 km and 2000 m
  • 3 wheels: approx. 120 km and 2800 m
  • Optional climb to the Col de la Bonette at the end of the stage: +47 km and 1600 m
Day 6: Barcelonette (Le Sauze) - Beuil

Into the saddle and a quick visit to Barcelonnette, the city of Mexican villas! Then we head south, up a lonely and beautiful route to the Col de la Cayolle, which takes us deep into the Mercantour National Park. Wild mountains as far as the eye can see. This is wolf territory and people and their villages are few and far between in this remote area. From the pass, we descend into the Var valley, from where we start the ascent to the Col de Valberg a short time later. After all, there are 12 kilometres and 900 metres of ascent to overcome here. After this second difficulty, we reach our stage town of Beuil at 1,450 metres for our last night in the French Alps.

Passes of the day:

  • Col de la Cayolle, 2326m (level 2)
  • Col d'Allos, 2250m (level 3)
  • Col des Champs, 2087m (level 3)
  • Col de Valberg, 1650m

Highlights:

  • The switch form the Ubaye valley to the Haute Vallée du Verdon on the ancient route of the Col d'Allos
  • The Col de la Cayolle and Col des Champs: superb climbs through the heart of the Mercantour National Park. 
  • The Gorges de Bachelard 

Distance and altitude gain:

  • 2 wheels: approx. 85 km and 2200 m
  • 3 wheels: approx. 110 km and 2900 m
Day 7: Beuil - Nice

Today, on the last day of our road bike tour, a long stage awaits us with the last, smaller passes and a lot of downhill kilometres to the Côte d'Azur. Early in the morning, we take advantage of the freshness of the coniferous forests on the mountain flanks to reach the Col de la Couillole after an easy 7 kilometres. What follows is probably the most beautiful descent of the week on a narrow, winding track down into the deeply incised Tinée valley. We should not underestimate either the Col Saint Martin and the Col du Turini. With the Col Saint Martin as the first difficulty, we have to climb 1000 metres in altitude for 16.5 km to reach the Vésubie valley. Here, the villages nestle against the steep slopes of the mountainsides and the surrounding area still bears the impressive traces of Storm Alex in 2020.

Shortly after Roquebillière, the Route des Grandes Alpes offers us the last real challenge: the 15-kilometre climb to the Col de Turini at 1,600 metres. From the top of the pass, we head south along the Turini-Braus pass road. We glide gently up and down to Nice on the Côte d'Azur. A sublime feeling takes hold of us when we finally reach our destination, the Promenade des Anglais, after the exertions of the week. We round off this last day on the Mediterranean. Overnight stay and dinner in Nice.

Passes of the day:

  • Col de la Couillole, 1678 m
  • Col de Saint Martin, 1500 m
  • Col de Turini, 1604 m
  • Col Saint Roch, 990 m

Highlights:

  • The winding mountain roads in the typical landscape of the Mediterranean Maritime Alps and the Côte d'Azur hinterland
  • The descent into the Tinée valley with the village of Roubion and the red rock Tinée gorge
  • The Col de Turini, last major climb of the tour!
  • The knowledge that all the major cols are behind us!
  • A superb chain of small passes with fantastic views of the Mediterranean
  • Arriving at the Mediterranean Sea and the well-deserved final evening in Nice!!

Distance and altitude gain:

  • 2 wheels: approx. 130 km and 2,700 m (ascent). Negative drop, approx. 4,000 m.
  • 3 wheels: approx. 145 km and 3,200 m (ascent). Negative drop, approx. 4,600 m.
Day 8: Nice

Itinerary end: The trip ends in Nice after breakfast. Individual departure or optional transfer with the support vehicle back to Thonon-les-Bains by Lake Geneva (arrival in Thonon between 3 and 4 pm depending on traffic). Please note: the seats are limited.

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

Average tour rating:

4.9/5 - 33 Reviews
Michael V. | Participant rating:
"Weather was a factor the first few days. When the packing list says bring those wet and cold clothing items - bring them. The trip scenery, the challenge of the cols, the plentiful and terrific food, Gaetan our driver and supreme picnic maker and a group of people from 7 countries made for the trip of a lifetime."
Davide L. | Participant rating:
"Crossing the Route des Grandes Alpes was a wonderful experience not only for the magnificence of the views that nature offers, but also for the level of attention that has been dedicated to us by our companion of Vélorizons. Apart from taking care of the logistics in an impeccable way, he was able to create good harmony among the participants, who at the beginning did not even know each other. It was a great human experience that today, with our legs still in pain, we already miss.

"
Michael M. | Participant rating:
""
Kenneth S. | Participant rating:
"Thomas was just great. Just a great guy. Ride was smazing. Two track pumps in the van would have been good."
Maya B. | Participant rating:
"La Route des Grandes Alpes is an incredible cycling tour, undoubtedly one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The natural beauty and diverse landscapes along the route are truly breathtaking. The organization and logistics were flawlessly executed, making the journey smooth and hassle-free. Interacting with fellow cyclists from various backgrounds and sharing this remarkable experience with them added an enriching dimension to the adventure."
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