Epic Riding and Inspiring Landscapes

Northern French Alps Bike Tour

Overview

The Grandeur of the French Alps

The Northern Alps is a treasure trove of giant massifs (Mont Blanc, at 4808 meters, is the highest mountain in western Europe), Alpine lakes and glaciers, and historic Tour de France climbs (you’ll be climbing the MadeleineGlandonAlpe d’Huez and the Cormet de Roselend to name only a few). We have also scoured the area to find a few roads that only locals ride. HighRoad Northern Alps has been years in the making and couples perfectly with our original Alps tour – HighRoad Southern Alps, giving returning friends the opportunity to cross the entire Alps range by doing these two tours with us.

HighRoad Northern Alps begins with perhaps the most famous climb of them all – Alpe d’Huez, where we’ll spend a couple of days getting to know the area. From The Alpe we head north for several days of riding up high Alpine cols and descending into glacier-fed valleys. Our tour finishes in the pretty town of Annecy, with it’s famous lake and magnificent mountain views. Like our other HighRoad tours, once you arrive in the mountains, you will be on your bike, not sitting in a van – after your airport pick-up (Geneva) there are no more transfers until you fly back home.

HighRoad Northern Alps is one of our ‘Hors Catégorie’ tours, which are reserved for strong riders who can handle multiple days of long distances and sustained, steep gradients.

*Qualifies as a stage of Project Trans-Alp

Total Tour Distance: 525 km

Total Climbing: 15,000 m

INCLUDED

Tour Price

  • Double occupancy: €4070
  • Single Supplement: €750
  • Deposit: €500 per person

Accommodation and Dining

  • 7 nights accommodation
  • All breakfasts, lunches and 6 dinners (including wine)
  • Energy bars, gels, snacks and water on your rides

Support

  • Pick-up and drop-off at Geneva Airport
  • All ground transport
  • All baggage transfers
  • Owner-operator guides to see to your needs
  • Maps and elevation profiles of each day’s route
  • Support van that will be on the road with you, offering assistance, encouragement, and nutrition
  • 44|5 Cycling Tours jersey/vest

 

NOT INCLUDED
  • Transportation to France
  • Alcohol outside dinner
  • Hotels before and after your tour
  • Personal expenses, such as mini-bar, telephone or souvenir purchases

Day to Day

Your typical day in the Northern Alps begins with a healthy buffet breakfast, followed by a ride in these beautiful mountains. Most rides will end back at your hotel (or the next one along the route) for a post-effort lunch. However, on longer days in the saddle (Day 5 and 7 for example) it will be a quick – and light – lunch on the road. You will always have a few hours in the afternoon to relax and explore your surroundings before we meet for a dinner of delicious local fare.

Transfer to hotel and afternoon ride. Approximately 17 km and 450 m of ascent

Your bike tour begins at Geneva airport, where we’ll pick you up and transport you to your luxury hotel perched at the top of the 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez. After setting up your bikes and taking a “shake-out” spin up a local col, we will have a ‘welcome dinner’ and talk about the amazing rides to come.

Happy cyclist near Alpe d'Huez

Ride: Alpe d’Huez Loop. Approximately 60 km and 2000 m of ascent

We dive right into the legends and lore of the Tour de France today with a loop that will take on two ’balcony roads’, hanging high above the Romanche Valley, with your first series of spectacular views. The ride ends – just like a Tour stage – with a climb of those famous 21 hairpins.

 

Tonight we walk into the village center for some great local fare.

Ride: To St Jean de Maurienne via the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Glandon and les Lacets de Montvernier. Approximately 90 km and 2100 m of ascent

We leave Alpe d’Huez this morning by the one more balcony road, descending into the valley before our 2nd Hors Catégorie ascent of your HighRoad tour – the Croix de Fer / Glandon double. After enjoying the amazing views from atop the cols, and maybe a hot coffee, we’ll descend to the Maurienne Valley and climb the Lacets de Montvernier, an outrageous series of mini switchbacks that will take your breath away. From the top it’s a short descent to our hotel in St. Jean de Maurienne.

Our gastronomique dinner is a short walk from our hotel tonight.

Ride: To Môutiers via the Col de Chaussy and Col de la Madeleine. Approximately 80 km and 2300 m of ascent

More legendary riding on Day Four, as we ride the Col de Chaussy (one of the most beautiful in the Alps) and Col de la Madeleine to take us north into the Tarentaise Valley, famous in winter for its swanky ski resorts. After a tour of the western end of the valley we’ll land in the pre-Roman town of Môutiers and our hotel for the night. Tip: look for views of Mont Blanc on the top of the Madeleine. If it’s not covered in clouds you won’t be able to miss it!

We dine outside on the town square this evening.

Ride: To Megève via the Col du Tra, Cormet de Roselend, Cos des Saisies. Approximately 125 km and 3600 m of ascent

As we slowly move northward the dominance of the immense massif of Mont Blanc comes into full view. Our ’Queen Stage’ today starts with a quiet climb on a tiny road that will be sure to warm up the legs (there are more switchbacks than Alpe d’Huez!), followed by a high-ridge ride offering excellents views. From here it’s up to the high-altitude lake of the Cormet de Roselendand then the Col des Saisies – both surrounded by a beauty only the Alps can produce. Finally, we climb to the trendy ski town of Megève and our chalet-hotel for the next two nights.

Tonight we eat at our hotel.

Ride: Megève Loop. Approximately 104 km and 2700 m of ascent

Today we stay put in Megève and do a fantastic loop that takes in only one real climb, but what a climb it is! The Col de l’Arpettaz is a real hidden gem and one of the prettiest and quietest climbs you can find. It is also tough, at over 15 km and with an average gradient of 7%.  

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Bikes resting against stone wall

Ride: To Annecy via the Col des Aravis and Col des Glières. Approximately 86 km and 1750 m of ascent

Our final day on the road brings us over the Col des Aravis before hitting one of the highlights of 2018’s Tour de France – the Col des Glières. We’ll stop at the WWII memorial on top of the plateau before descending (mostly!) all the way to ’The Pearl of the French Alps’, Annecy. Our hotel is right on the lake and steps from the old town, with its winding streets of cafés, shops and restaurants.

Celebratory dinner in Annecy.

Transfer to Geneva Airport

Following a rejuvenating breakfast at our hotel we’ll transfer you the short distance back to Geneva Airport for your departure.

Waving bike tour clients

Accommodations

44|5 has chosen your accommodation for the best mix of comfort, cycling services and location. You’re always within walking distance of village centers, restaurants, bike shops and other necessities.

Le Pic Blanc

Situated down the road from the Tour de France finish line of Alpe d’Huez, our 4-star pick for The Alpe has the perfect mix of comfort and amenities to ease you into your HighRoad Northern Alps tour.

Le Saint Georges

In business for over 150 years, 3-star St. Georges is our home for a night in the Maurienne Valley. The hotel is very cycling friendly and also well located right in the heart of St. Jean de Maurienne.

Cycling hotel in St Jean de Maurienne

Auberge de Savoie

The Auberge de Savoie (3-star) sits in the ancient town (pre-Roman) of Môutiers, in the heart of the Tarentaise Valley. The hotel sits on a leafy square and the terrace in front is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy and après-ride drink.

Al fresco dining on cycling tour in Alps
Night scene in French Alps village

Les Loges Blanches

This 4-star hotel is comprised of several chalets that surround an inviting outdoor pool. The hotel is in a quiet residential neighborhood, but only steps from the center of Megève.

Breakfast buffet on cycling tour in the French Alps

Splendid Hotel

Our choice for your last night, in Annecy, is 3-star Splendid hotel. The hotel has about the best location you could ask for, being right across the street from Lake Annecy, and just at the edge of the historic old town.

Splendid Hotel in Annecy

Dates & Prices

Tour Dates – Custom dates this year

Tour Availability – Places Available

Price Per Person – €4070

Single Supplement – €750

Not the best date for you? Contact us to create a custom trip.

Travel Details

Arrival Airport – Geneva (GVA)
Pick-up Point – Airport: Noon
Departure Airport – Geneva (GVA)
Flight Time – Book a flight out for early afternoon or later

The area around Lake Annecy is perfect for staying on and relaxing after your bike tour with us. Annecy has some great restaurants and the old town, with its pretty canals, is a delight to wander through. If you are still hungry for more riding, you will find plenty of good roads in all directions.

Gallery

What our Guests have to say about the HighRoad Northern Alps Tour

Perfection in Touring

From the moment John and Gerry picked up our group in Grenoble and took us up to the Alps my wife and I knew that this cycling trip was going to be memorable. Both are exceptional guides and went the extra mile to satisfy our needs on and off the bike . Whether they were… Read more “Perfection in Touring”

Martin - California

More than just guides

Both John and Gerry were very knowledgeable and helpful with the entire process and planning of our trip. A group that start out as 3 and grew to 7, they created a custom trip, fully supported, guided and included outstanding food! They shared their knowledge and history of the areas visited ( Mount Ventoux and… Read more “More than just guides”

Ed - USA

One of the best meals of my life

I went on a week-long cycling trip in Provance and the French Alps using 44-5 as tour guides – a long trek from California where I live. The trip had been arranged by my friends, so I went in excited but uncertain. It turns out Jerry and John were fantastic – the trip way exceeded… Read more “One of the best meals of my life”

Chad - California