Embark on a 1-week self guided road cycling holiday in the iconic Southern French Alps.
Duration
Price
DestinationsChallenge yourself on the iconic climbs of the Southern French Alps: col du Noyer, Galibier, Izoard, Lautaret, Granon, Echelle, Orcieres, Risoul, Agnel, Vars, the tour of the Serre Ponçon lake and other famous mountain roads and experience the dramatic beauty of the mountains as you tick off the hairpins!
With high quality road bikes prepared and delivered to your bike friendly hotel accommodation on your arrival, GPX tracks and detailed advice on all the iconic climbs and circuits, baggage transfers between accommodations and train station or airport transfers included, all you have to do is turn up and enjoy the rides!
In addition this unique self guided cycling adventure includes the possibility of riding on roads exclusively closed for your ride, free from any motor vehicles – just you, the open road, and fellow passionate cyclists.
We will tailor make your itinerary to create your dream Alps cycling trip to cycle the legendary mountain passes and other lesser known but equally stunning rides from our four Alpine bases and optimising opportunities to ride on the reserved cols available during your dates.
If you are looking for a shorter break or weekend, check out our Weekend Cycling Odyssey.
Self guided road cycling holiday highlights:
Legendary passes: Choose from a selection of some of the most iconic Tour de France mountains passes and rides including: Galibier, Noyer, Risoul, Vars, Orcieres, Manse, Sentinel, Izoard, Granon, Echelle, Agnel, Tour of the Serre Ponçon lake.
Tailor made unique cycling itinerary designed just for you
Tour de France experience: Follow in the wheels of generations of Tour de France competitors.
Safe and secure routes: Enjoy the safety of closed roads (date dependent).
Hassle and stress free: Bikes set up for you and delivered to your accommodation ready to ride and all station transfers and baggage transfers included.
High quality road bikes: High quality carbon frame road bikes.
Quality route guidance and GPX tracks tailored to you using our local knowledge.
Car free eco-friendly adventure: Easily accessible by train from anywhere in Europe, this adventure promotes sustainable travel, allowing you to enjoy the Alps’ majesty with minimal environmental impact.
Roads Closed for Cyclists!
Only in France, the home of the most famous cycling race in the world, the Tour de France, would the authorities be able to justify closing roads just for cyclists to have the pleasure of riding them! In the Southern French Alps, the home of some of the most iconic mountain passes used in the race, this has been a regular event since 1997!
Every year a programme of dates are released and we have privileged early access to these so we can organise your tailor made self guided cycling holiday around them if you wish to make the most of this amazing opportunity.
The roads are closed for the mornings and are available for any cyclist to ride on. Generally the road is closed at the bottom from the junction of the main road joining the climbing route up to the top of the mountain pass. Some climbs are closed on both sides of the pass and other climbs are closed on just one side. In both situations there are people climbing and descending the same road.
The routes to get to the starts of the climbs are not closed but due to the popularity of the event, and number of cyclists, cars on the approaching roads are vigilant and accommodating to cyclists.
The local tourist offices sometimes make the events even more fun by providing refreshment stands and supporters often come out to watch and cheer you on. It is as close as you can get to being in the Tour de France yourself!
The closed cols are not part of a race, they are accessible to any level of cyclist and you will find all types of riders sharing your adventure from professional and serious athletes to families, all with a passion for cycling. There is no pressure – it is a fun, friendly atmosphere!
Your Cycling Bases:
We use four main cycling bases in the Southern French Alps for this trip; Guillestre, Briançon, Embrun and Gap, carefully chosen for easy and direct access to the legendary Tour de France climbs and routes. Depending on the rides you want to do and the calendar of the closed cols we will design your trip using the most appropriate bases and arrange any baggage transport between the bases.
Who will love this trip?
If you love road cycling and are a fan of the Tour de France and want to tick off your bucket list mountain passes you will absolutely love this trip!
You do need a high level of fitness and to be cycling fit to tackle these climbs and we recommend training in advance. Cycling in the Alps is tough but highly rewarding cycling and you will be pedalling at altitude too. You need to be used to cycling 50-80km with 2000m+ of ascent per day.
If you complete all the climbs on this trip, you will be on an endorphin high for a year!
It is possible to hire electric road bikes for this trip if you want the experience but don’t quite have the legs or lungs for it!
Sustainable Travel:
This tour exemplifies eco-friendly travel, with easy train access from across Europe, avoiding car use. Your journey through the Southern French Alps is entirely by bike and baggage transfers are kept to a minimum reducing environmental impact.
Your accommodations are in locally owned eco-conscious bike friendly hostels and hotels, dedicated to sustainable practices.
Please have a look at our full carbon report which has been calculated using the Carmacal tool and based on a 7 night stay with two changes of base during the trip.
Self guided road cycling holiday in the Southern French Alps: Itinerary.
Overview
When you enquire, we will discuss with you what level of riding you want to do, how many km and metres of ascent per day, any bucket list climbs or rides you want to include, and advise you of the dates of the closed cols so you can choose if you want to include any of these on your trip. We will then proceed with creating an itinerary and quote for you based on your choices.
You can stay in one or more of our bases for your trip and we will include transfers from the nearest train stations (or airport if requested) at the beginning and end of your trip and baggage transfers between bases if required. You can choose the duration of your trip and how long you want to stay in each base (minimum of two nights in any one base).
We will provide you with a detailed program of the routes on your free Smartphone App with suggestions on creating circuits and longer rides around the closed for cyclists mountain passes. If your dates do not coincide with any of the closed cols dates, you will receive the same pack of route guidance and tracks but the roads will be open to all traffic. We will also advise on local cycling routes on quiet roads. You will receive a route pack for each of the bases you stay in and the interlinking routes.
As a brief overview, we have described some of the main routes and iconic mountain passes possible from each base below. You will receive full details once you book with distances, ride profiles, GPX tracks and we will also include the lesser known rides frequented by local cyclists.
The Cycling
The Southern French Alps is a paradise for road cyclists and is regularly featured in the Tour de France so some of the big climbs and mountain passes will be familiar to you if you follow the Tour and are a cycling fan. The popularity of these roads means they attract cyclists from all over the world but also bikers and car drivers who want to experience the thrill of driving these legendary roads. As such, they can be quite busy, especially in the summer.
The opportunity to take advantage of the reserved cols for cyclists, created by the local authorities, is thus a perfect opportunity for cyclists to enjoy these incredible rides without having to share them with other road users.
There are also a multitude of local routes frequented by cyclists often on back roads with few cars, offering equally stunning cycling with exceptional views which we will share with you.
As an indication, here are just some of the famous rides you can do from the different bases which have all featured in the Tour de France. We will help you create your itinerary based on the number of km and ascent you want to do each day.
Col d'Izoard: Famous for its lunar-like landscapes including the stunning Casse Déserte, and steep ascents, this climb has been a frequent feature in the Tour de France.
Col de Vars: This climb links the Ubaye and Queyras valleys and is known for its beautiful alpine scenery. It has been included in multiple Tour de France stages.
Col de la Bonette: Often claimed to be the highest paved road in Europe, this climb is a true test of endurance and has been a part of the Tour de France. It is a continuation after the Col de Vars
Col Agnel: One of the highest paved roads in Europe and also the border between France and Italy, this climb offers spectacular views and a challenging ascent, often featured in the
Climb to Risoul: This ascent is renowned for its inclusion in the Tour de France, particularly in recent years. 12.6 kilometres with an average gradient of 6.9% characterized by a series of hairpin bends and steady gradients, making it a challenging but manageable ascent.
Col du Galibier: One of the most famous climbs in the Tour de France, offering stunning views and a challenging ascent
Col de Granon: A lesser-known but extremely challenging climb with steep gradients and spectacular panoramic views.
Col de Montgenèvre: A shorter climb that serves as a gateway to Italy, with a moderate ascent and beautiful scenery.
Col du Lautaret: Often a part of the route to Col du Galibier, it provides a relatively gentle climb with picturesque alpine views.
Col de l'Échelle: A scenic and less demanding climb that leads towards the Italian border, perfect for a more relaxed ride.
Tour of the Serre Ponçon lake: arguably one of the most beautiful rides with lake views and taking in one of the challenging Tour de France time trials from Embrun to Chorges
Col de Vars: Scenic climb with breathtaking views over the Guillestrois and Queyras valleys.
Col Bayard and Col du Noyer: Combining two classic climbs, this route offers panoramic views and challenging ascents, often featured in the Tour de France.
Col de Manse: Known for its technical descents and stunning views, this climb is a frequent route in the Tour de France and is where Lance Armstrong famously traversed a field on the during the 2003 Tour de France
Col de la Sentinelle: A challenging climb with beautiful scenery, incorporated into various Tour de France stages - perfect to incorporate in a loop from Gap
Orcières-Merlette: A climb made famous by the Tour de France, offering a steady ascent with spectacular alpine views
Our cycling bases
Depending on the logistics of your tailored itinerary and also your accommodation preferences we will choose the most suitable bases for you to stay. There are four main options, all providing access to world class cycling as well as the unique charm of their own cultural heritage.
Briançon, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is renowned for its rich history, charming old town, and impressive Vauban fortifications that showcase its strategic importance through the centuries. In the world of cycling is is equally important with direct access to some of the most iconic and demanding cycling routes in the French Alps.
Guillestre, nestled at the gateway to the Queyras mountains in the Southern French Alps, is a charming town known for its historic architecture, quaint streets, and vibrant local markets, providing a perfect blend of cultural richness and alpine beauty. The charming town of Guillestre is also perfectly located for a number of the legendary Tour de France mountain climbs and passes.
Gap, nestled in the Hautes-Alpes region, is a renowned hub for cycling enthusiasts and has hosted the Tour de France 24 times since its first appearance in 1931. Its strategic location amidst iconic Alpine climbs such as Col de Manse and Col de Noyer makes it a favourite among cyclists. Gap’s challenging routes, coupled with its stunning landscapes, offer both professional and amateur cyclists a taste of the legendary Tour de France experience. The town’s rich cycling heritage and vibrant cycling community make it an essential destination for any cycling aficionado.
Embrun, beautifully situated on the edge of the Serre-Ponçon Lake in the French Alps, is a picturesque town renowned for its stunning scenery, historic cathedral, and vibrant summer festivals. It is also a wonderful option for a break to swim in the lake and participate in some of the many water sports on offer. You can access some of the same rides as you can from Guillestre or Briançon with the additional extension to these towns. It is also a perfect use for the tour of the Serre Ponçon lake.
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