Cycle the French Alps with us
FRENCH ALPS CYCLING TOUR – 8 DAYS
One of our best European Lifestyle Tours
8 Days Geneva to Nice – Leaving from Geneva International Airport
Best Travel Times: May – September
Price Range: Starting from $3018 NZD
Ride in the wheel tracks of Tour de France in the mythic and mighty passes of the French Alps. Our French Alps Cycling Tour offers classic climbs, amazing cuisine and incredible scenery right down to the Mediterranean Sea.
This is the ultimate challenge for any cyclist who wants to bike above 2000 m altitude. Over the course of eight days, you will tackle famous cols such as Alpe d’Huez and Col du Galibier.
This cycling tour is graded challenging to hard, but it can suit a wide range of fitness levels as our support vehicles are always nearby.
COME FOR A RIDE OR JUST ENJOY THE VIEW
Please enquire about available places for sightseeing passengers only. We will stay in carefully hand-picked 2 – 4 star hotels and lodges for the entire duration of the tour. Join Global Adventure Guide for an exhilarating adventure that you will never forget.
FITNESS AND PREPARATION
GRADE 4 – HARD TOURS
Hard tours are designed for the more experienced participants who wish to push themselves and experience new challenges. Routes will include longer climbs and will require more technical skills.
FITNESS REQUIRED
A high level of fitness is required and you will need to be exercise four or five times a week during the build up to the tour.
THE TOUR INCLUDES:
7 Nights in a 2 / 4 Star Hotels
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Snacks and water while cycling
Support vehicles and luggage transport, according to the group size
Two experienced guides: one driver guide and one cycling tour guide
Transfer from Geneva to St-Jean-de Maurienne (Day 1)
Airport transfer in Nice (Day 8)
THE TOUR EXCLUDES:
International and domestic flights or airport taxes
Passport and travel visa (if required)
Arrival and departure transfers
Bike Rental is not available for this tour
Personal expenses and drinks
Travel Insurance
TOUR ITINERARY
DAY 1 – Arrival Day: Geneva (Switzerland) to Valloire (France) – Cycling 30 km, Elevation gain 1044 m, 3 hours riding. We will meet up early and drive to the mountain village of St-Jean-de-Maurienne in France’s Rhône-Alpes province. After 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. We spend the night at Valloire, a pretty skiing village.
DAY 2 – Valloire to La Salle-les-Alpes 46 km, Elevation gain 1176 m, 3 hrs riding
Our tour continues with Col de Galibier, often used to reach the highest points on the Tour de France. We will take a long 1600 m descent via the Col du Lautaret (2058 m), before finishing our ride at the ski resort town of La Salle-les-Alpes, where we’ll stay overnight.
DAY 3 – La Salle-les-Alpes to Alpe d’Huez – Cycling: 137 km, Elevation gain 3181 m, 7+ hrs riding
We cycle the Col de Laufaret, followed by a long descent alongside Lac du Chambon. After 67 km we reach the town of Le Bourg d’Oisans and we ride on Alpe d’Huez. We continue to the Col de Sarenne at 2004 m and we finish in Mizoën by Lac du Chambon.
DAY 4 – La Salle-les-Alpes to Barcelonette via the Col d’Izoard – Cycling: 106 km, Elevation gain 2209 m, 6+ hrs cycling
We cycle through the National Park of Col d’Izoard (2360 m). After a long descent to Guillestre we climb the Col de Vars to 2111m. Our final descent leads us to the ski resort town of Barcelonette.
DAY 5 – Rest Day: Barcelonette – Optional cycling: 68 km, Elevation gain 1265 m, 4-5 hrs riding
The skiing town of Barcelonnette is surrounded by some of the highest and best known climbs in the Alps. You may like to ride to 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).
DAY 6 Lagos – Barcelonette to Lantosque – Cycling: 124 km, Elevation gain 2594 m, 6–7 hrs riding
We begin with a 32 km-long ride up the Col de la Bonette-Restefond (2715 m up), followed by an additional 287 m around the Cime de la Bonette. Located on the edge of the vast Mercantour National Park, this is the highest paved road in France. We descend to the heat of the Côte d’Azure. Our destination: rocky Lantosque in the foothills of the Alps.
DAY 7 – Lantosque to Nice – Cycling: 85 km, Elevation gain 1787 m, 5-6 hrs riding
The last day on our bikes take us to the Col de Turini, famous for the Monte Carlo Rally. We climb it in the morning before heading towards Monaco. The rise leads to the Grande Corniche, one of the world’s most spectacular coastal roads, above Monte Carlo (Monaco). After La Turbie, our last pass takes us downhill towards the Mediterranean Sea to Nice, France’s 5th largest city.
DAY 8 – Departure Day: Nice – No cycling
It’s time to say ‘Au Revoir’ to France, after cycling from the mountains to the sea. Take time for a leisurely breakfast before packing your bike and transferring to the airport.
If you would like to know more about our Tour de France Cycling Tour, contact us and we will answer any questions that you might have.
