Route des Grandes Alpes Gravel
Elevation of the route
Which way to go on Route des Grandes Alpes Gravel®?
In gravel, not all climbs and descents are interchangeable. Consequently, we strongly advise you to ride this route from north to south.
In how many days?
We've divided the route into 19 sections, from 36 to 59 km. On the north-south axis, the minimum/maximum positive vertical drops are 750 / 2020 m. Ideally, you should have 10 days, or even better, two weeks, to complete this route in the best possible conditions and fully appreciate the extraordinary landscapes you'll be crossing.
When to go?
Route des Grandes Alpes Gravel® is a "high road", which will take you over high-altitude passes, which no variant, to date, will enable you to avoid. So be sure to ask about road conditions and access to the passes at the start of your trip.
Difficulty
We have classified the entire Route des Grandes Alpes Gravel® itinerary as "Very Difficult", even though it is possible to soften it, using an electric gravel bike. This classification, necessarily subjective, is justified:
- By the presence of technical to very technical passages (including single) that can lead to bike "pushes.
- By evolving inhigh mountain atmospheres.
Easier, thanks to the VAE!
Gravel bikes are available in electric versions, which will make life easier for you, or allow you to embark on the adventure with friends (es) of different levels. The Route des Grandes Alpes Gravel® route we offer has been designed so that you'll always find recharging stations (see mapping for each stage).
Together, let's map out the best possible route
Route des Grandes Alpes Gravel® is an itinerary with room for improvement. By reporting your experience, you'll help us improve it and map out variants. Story your trip
About Gravel
Between road and mountain biking, Gravel is a specific activity, in terms of the routes taken, equipment and gear, preparation, organization... It's also a different approach to the natural and cultural heritage of the Alps. To find out more about the practical aspects of Gravel: link to article in "Practice" section. To find out more about Gravel's new Alpine horizons: discover our article in the "Discover" section.
Cycling route ideas on the itinerary
Thonon-les-Bains / Morzine-Avoriaz
This stage leads you close to, or even at times along, the classic Route des Grandes Alpes® cycle route, but it guides [...]
Morzine-Avoriaz / Cluses
On this cycling stage, you cross from the Chablais to the Haut-Giffre area before heading for the Arve Valley and [...]
Cluses / Le-Grand-Bornand
You start this stage riding along a track high above the Arve Valley, then you cycle along beside the Bargy chain of [...]
Le Grand-Bornand / Flumet
This stage takes you across the Massif des Aravis Range and its two village-resorts, Le Grand-Bornand and La Clusaz, [...]
Flumet / Arêches-Beaufort
This gravel bike cycling stage sticks close to the classic Route des Grandes Alpes®, but proves almost wholly [...]
Arêches / Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Now, here’s a wild stage leading you into the midst of high mountains and involving riding beside Saint-Guérin Lake [...]
Bourg-Saint-Maurice / Tignes
This stage includes a stop at the hamlet of Le Monal (at 1,874m in altitude), a listed site, given its exceptional [...]
Tignes / Bessans
From Tignes Val Claret, our cycle route leads you across a part of the Tignes – Val d’Isère ski area. This way, [...]
Bessans / Modane
On this stage, you’ll quickly notice it’s far more about descents than climbs for once! Now it’s time to explore [...]
Modane / Valloire
Leaving Modane, the cycle route runs beside the Arc River and the motorway until you join the Route Forestière de la [...]
Valloire / Briançon
Watch out, this high-altitude stage may take you through spectacular wild parts, but there’s a very technically [...]
Briançon / Guillestre
This stage does follow the classic Route des Grandes Alpes®, via Cervières and the Col de l’Izoard. Its originality [...]
Guillestre / Crévoux
On this stage leading you into the Massif du Parpaillon Range, you first pass the village of Risoul, followed by the [...]
Crévoux / Barcelonnette
The highpoint on this magnificent stage through the heart of the Massif du Parpaillon is without doubt the stretch via [...]
Barcelonnette / Saint-Dalmas-le-Salvage
A splendid stage linking the Ubaye Valley to the Tinée Valley, with as joint potential additional highlight the Col de [...]
Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage / Marie
Soon after starting out on this stage, at Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, the cycle route joins the alternative Bonette route [...]
Marie / La Bollène-Vésubie
In the heart of a wooded mountain landscape, you leave the village of Marie, whose castle overlooks the Tinée valley. [...]
La Bollène Vésubie / Coaraze
From the level of the Col de Turini, the highpoint of this stage, our cycle route takes a radically different route [...]
Coaraze / Nice
Don’t expect any let-up on this last mountainous, wild, very steep and challenging final stage, leading you on via [...]
Travellers’ reviews