French Alpes - Trans Alpes
Itinerary Virtual Tour Tour Map
Only for the strongest of the strong; we offer this trip for private groups only in 2010. We are currently booked for several groups. The best period is August or June. September hotels in the mountains start to close.
The Traversee des Alpes, Trans Alpes, or crossing the Alpes, is a known cycling route that crosses the range from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the highest possible routes for cycling are included on this itinerary and the daily mileage is long! The brief itinerary below is meant to give interested parties an idea about what is involved, and to show that this trip is intended for only the strongest cyclists. We can provide more details to interested groups, please contact us!
These groups can be from 6 persons up to 24. Its all about the cycling in some of the most amazing scenery on Earth! An ultimate challenge, if you complete the journey, you'll have a souvenir to outshine all the local club riders back home!
Itinerary
Click on a day to see that days itinerary.
DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 8 DAY 9DAY 10 DAY 11
Day 1: Arrival day, best airport arrival is Geneva where we meet and transer to nearby Thonon on Lac Leman, in France.
Arrival in Geneva, transfer to Thonon Les Bains.
Day 2: Ride 1 - 130 km Thonon-les Bains (Lake Geneva) to Samoens. Thonon-les Bains (Lake Geneva) to Samoens. 130km with 2540 m of elevation gain, 4 cols to cross including Col de Joux Plane at 1691m.
Day 3: Ride 2 - 117 km Samoens to Beaufort; 117 km with 2390 m of elevation gain and 3 cols including: Colombiere, Aravis, and Saisies.
Day 4: Ride 3 - 82 km Beaufort to Tarentaise, 82 km with 2243 m of elevation gain and 3 cols including Roselend at 1967 m and Les Arc.
Day 5: Ride 4 - 173 km Ste Foy to Freney d'Oisans; 173 km with 4021 m elevation gain and 5 cols including: Iseran (2770m), Madeleine (1750m), Galibier (2642m) and Lautaret (2057m).
Day 6: Rest day + Alpe d'Huez Rest day, location allows for climb on Alpe d'Huez approx 40km round trip, minimum.
Day 7: Ride 5 - 147 km Le Freney d'Oisans to Barcellonnette, 147 km with 3000 m elevation gain, 3 cols including Izoard
Day 8: Ride 6 - 150 km Barcelonnette to La Colmiane; 150 km; 4055 m elevation gain with 5 cols to cross.
Day 9: Ride 7 - 82 km La Colmiane to Menthon, 82 km, lots of downhill, 1463 m in elevation gain, 2 cols.
Day 10: Ride 6 - 150 km Transfer to Nice for down time at the beach, short ride possible, pack up bikes; celebrate tonight.
Day 11: Depart from Nice Depart at your leisure.
Virtual Tour
See more of this region by clicking below for the virtual tour
Tour Map
Tours Details
Duration: 10 nights / 11 days - guided
Dates 2010: this tour is guided and is only available to private groups with a minimum of 6 persons. Any date is possible, subject to hotel availability.
Accommodation: TBD; mostly 2 star and 3 star hotels; always with private bathrooms, and individual beds or double/queen beds for couples.
Bike: Rent our Look 566 carbon road bicycles.
Tours: serious climbing; only for the strongest cyclists in top form and without a fear of heights or fast and controlled descents.
Trip includes: lodging, dinners, breakfast, guides, welcome orientation and drink, road book with maps, luggage transfers, vehicle support, energy drinks, water, snacks and picnic lunches and souvenir jersey.
Price: Subject to hotel availability, number of participants, mode of transportation (bus or vans), and other factors. We guarantee to offer the best price possible as we own our own equipment and have guides on staff.
Single Supplement: TBD EUR