French Alps

Road Cycling Tour from $3,102 NZD

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8 Days
  • 2012
  • Best time to travel: June
  • Availability Guide:
  • Current date selected
  • Plenty
  • Limited
  • Closed or too close to departure (Call Us for options)

Ride in the wheel tracks of Tour de France greats in the mythic and mighty passes of the French Alps.

You'll enjoy classic climbs, amazing cuisine, and incredible scenery right down to the Mediterranean Sea.

There's an epic challenge for anyone wanting to bike above 2000 m altitude. You'll tackle famous cols (passes) such as Alpe d'Huez and Col du Galibier.

The tour is challenging to hard, but can suit a range of fitness levels. Our support vehicle can take you all or part of the way.

Geneva to Nice

Geneva International Airport
  • Road cycling
  • Grade
  • Tour price subject to minimum numbers
  • EUR360 single room surcharge
  • This tour is invoiced in EUR
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French Alps Fitness and Preparation

Come for a ride, or just enjoy the view

Please enquire about available places for sightseeing passengers only.

We'll stay in cosy hand-picked 2–4 star hotels and lodges.

Join Global Adventure Guide for an exhilarating adventure you'll never forget.

Hard Tours

Hard tours are designed for experienced cyclists wanting to push themselves to experience new highs of achievement. Routes include longer climbs and more technical skills.

Fitness Required

A good level of fitness is required, you will need to be exercising three-four times a week prior to the tour.

Full Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival Day: Geneva (Switzerland) to Valloire

Cycling 32 km, Elevation 860 m up, 3 hours riding

Welcome to Geneva! We'll meet up early and at 9 am, drive 2 hours by minibus to the mountain village of St-Jean-de-Maurienne in France's Rhône-Alpes province. After a welcome lunch we assemble our bikes and ride along the valley to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and up the Col du Télégraphe mountain pass above the Maurienne Valley. The pass is often used in the Tour de France. We spend the night at Valloire, a pretty skiing village.

Meals: Dinner

DAY 2

Valloire to Serre Chevalier

Cycling: 66 km, Elevation: 1300 m up, 4 hrs riding

Our tour continues today with the first highlight, the Col de Galibier, often used to reach the highest points on the Tour de France. The first two-thirds of the long ascent is through a forest, before the valley opens and we ride steep switchbacks to the pass at 2647 m. At the top we enjoy the views, then a long 1600 m descent via the Col du Lautaret (2058 m) further down the valley to the town of Briançon. From here it is only 15 km to Serre Chevalier, a major ski resort, where we'll stay overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3

Serre Chevalier to Alpe d'Huez

Cycling: 102 km, Elevation: 2027 m up, 6-7 hrs riding

This morning from we cycle the Col de Laufaret, followed by a long descent through a valley and alongside turquoise Lac du Chambon. After 67 km we reach the town of Le Bourg d’Oisans for lunch. Then one of the great roads: Alpe d’Huez, a 13 km climb with an altitude gain of 780 m! It was first climbed in the 1952 Tour de France (Fausto Coppi won the stage). The climb to the ski resort has 21 marked hairpins. We continue to the Col de Sarenne at 2004 m where another amazing downhill awaits. We finish in Mizoën by Lac du Chambon, and bus back to Serre Chevalier.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4

Serre Chevalier via the Col d'Izoard to Barcelonette

Cycling: Optional 58 km, Elevation: 1200 m up

Today we cycle through the National Park of Col d'Izoard (2360 m), with views of the breathtaking La Meije peaks. Our climb starts gently through valley forest then zig-zags up increasingly barren slopes. The southern ascent of the Col d'Izoard has stark views of the Casse Desert's famous rock formations. There's a small cycling museum is at the summit, and a moving memorial to the great riders Coppi and Louison Bobet. After the long descent to Guillestre we climb the Col de Vars to 2111m. Our descent leads us to the ski resort town of Barcelonette.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5

Optional Rest Day: Barcelonette

Optional cycling: 95 km, Elevation: 2151 m up, 6 hrs riding

At over 1100 m altitude, the pretty market and skiing town Barcelonnette is surrounded by some of the highest and best known climbs in the Alps. Many of its residents emigrated to Mexico early last century and returned with great fortunes, building Mexican-styled houses. The so-called 'Maisons Mexicaines' are unique, and worth seeing. You may like to bike to the stunning Col del la Cayollle (29 km / 1200 m ascent). The trail winds along a narrow road across many old stone bridges to a pass (2326 m). We return the same way to Barcelonette.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6

Barcelonette to Lantosque

Cycling: 111 km, Elevation: 1622 m up, 6–7 hrs riding

Today's section begins with a 32 km-long increase in the Col de la Bonette-Restefond (2.715 m up), followed by an addition of 287 m to the highest point of a picturesque circular walk around the Cime de la Bonette, a barren mountain peak. This is the highest paved road in France. It's on the edge of the vast Mercantour National Park. From the cold mountain top we descend to the heat of the Côte d'Azure. Our destination: rocky Lantosque in the foothills of the Alps.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7

Lantosque to Nice

Cycling: 92 km, Elevation: 2000 m up, 7-8 hrs riding

The last day on our bikes take us on hidden tracks on the Col de Turini, famous for a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally. We climb it in the morning before heading towards Monaco, following a scenic road with sea views to Nice. The rise leads to the Grande Corniche, one of the world's most spectacular coastal roads, above Monte Carlo (Monaco). After La Turbie, known for its Roman monuments, our last pass takes us downhill towards the Mediterranean sea to enjoy Nice, France's 5th largest city.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8

Departure Day: Nice

No cycling

It's time to say 'Au Revoir' to France, from the mountains to the sea. After breakfast, you'll have time to pack your bike for your transfer to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Hi I'm Nathalie, talk to me about your French cycling holiday!

Nathalie_236x184

+64 3 982 9933

Email: reservations@globaladventureguide.com

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions

Tour includes:

  • 7 nights in 2-4 star hotels (based on twin share)
  • All meals as indicated in itinerary
  • Arrival train transfer from Geneva to St-Jean-de Maurienne on Day 1
  • Airport transfer in Nice on day 8 only
  • Support vehicle and luggage transport
  • 1 experienced driver guide

Tour excludes:

  • Bike Rental not available for this trip
  • Drinks & Favourite snack bars
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Passport or Travel Visa Requirements