Northern French Alps Bike Tour

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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