The Tour of Mont Blanc by bike

Posted by on Apr 30, 2010 in Featured Articles

The Tour of Mont Blanc by bike

This post is also available in: French

Hexago, créateur de voyage Hexago, créateur de voyage Yet another unique circuit and a new challenge for great mountain pass lovers! Straddling Switzerland, Italy and France we ride in search of the best views of the Mont Blanc, its passes and alpine pastures, this Giant has many spectacular faces. The trip also invites you to discover this "land of cheese": crossing the authentic Beaufortain region by the winding roads of the Chablais and the Val d’Abondance … On the other side of the border, a foray into the Bernese Alps leads you to discover the upper-class village of Gstaad, its typical chalets, and the upper reaches of the Gruyere valley. Then returning to Chamonix we end this fantastic immersion in the heart of our mountains!

Physical shape :

Distance and Elevation gain: 100 to 150km per day depending on the gradient
You: train regularly, are in good physical condition, and  are accustomed to cycling trips of more than 100 km.

Duration: 6 days
Dates: 2010: 9th -14th June,  20th  – 25th June, 11th – 16th  July, 8th – 13th August,
12th – 17th  September, 3rd – 8th October
Price: 770 € / 1080 $
Accompanied: The driver of the support vehicle will take your luggage to the  accommodation, and will be at the groups disposal if and when needed.
Accommodation: Gîte (charming typical accommodation) (hotel option, double or single rooms possible).
You only carry what you need for the day, a support vehicle will take your luggage from gîte to gîte.

The highlights: 

• Discovering the beautiful views of the Mont Blanc from all angles …
• A circuit spanning three countries, and three cultures.

Day by Day

Le Tour du mont Blanc, cycliste

Le Tour du mont Blanc, cycliste

Day 1 : Chamonix – Bourg St Pierre

The passes:
• Col des Montets  (1461 m)
• Col de la Forclaz (1527 m)

Highlights:
• Departure from the foot of the majestic Mont Blanc
• The first descent opposite the long Rhone valley 
• Passing by the bucolic Champex Lake 
Distance: 80 km / Elevation gain: about 2 400 m.

 

Day 2 : La Clusaz – Bourg Saint Maurice

The passes:
• Col du Grand St. Bernard (2469 m)
• Col du Petit St. Bernard (2188 m)

Highlights:
• THE Italian day, with its great food breaks …
• The two passes of St. Bernard
• The descent to Bourg Saint Maurice, opposite the Beaufortain region
Distance traveled: 135 km / Elevation gain: about 2 450 m.

Le Tour du mont Blanc, cycliste

Le Tour du mont Blanc, cycliste

Le Tour du mont Blanc, cycliste

Day 3 : Bourg Saint Maurice – Col des Aravis

The passes:
• Cormet de Roselend (1967 m)
• Col des Pres (1703 m)
• Col du Joly (optional)
• Col des Saisies (1650m)
• Col des Aravis (1486 m)

Highlights:
• Crossing the Beaufortain, an active agricultural massif, specializing in Beaufort cheese production, (possible visit of the cooperative on route …)
• Turquoise waters of Lake Roselend surrounded by alpine pastures…
• The breathtaking view of Mont Blanc from the Col du Joly (on the way and way back)
• Passing through Les saisies resort, an Olympic Cross-country Skiing domaine
• On leaving Col des Aravis, the discovery of the Aravis massif  …

Distance: 85 km / Elevation gain: about 2 700 m (add 28km and 900m with the Col du Joly option)

 

Day 4 : Col des Aravis – Châtel

The passes:
• Col de la Colombiere (1613 m)
• Col de Jambaz (1027 m)

Highlights:
• Crossing La Clusaz and Grand Bornand, discover the charm of the haute – Savoyard villages  …
• The very special atmosphere of Col de la Colombiere …
• Entering the valley of Abondance, home to the Abondance cows
• Approaching Switzerland, opposite the Bernese Alps
Distance traveled: about 115 km / Elevation gain: about 1 900 m.

Le Tour du mont Blanc, cycliste

Day 5 : Châtel – Aigle (Boucle des Alpes Bernoises)

The passes:
• Pas de Morgins (1371 m)
• Col du Pillon (1546 m)
• Col des Mosses (1445 m)

Highlights:
• Incursion into the heart of the Bernese Alps, a hidden paradise …
• Pass through the "trendy" resort of Gstaad
• The scenic beauty of the "Pays d’ Enhaut"
• The view of Lake Geneva
• This round- trip gives you opportunity to take a day off, to rest for the day, if you wish
Distance traveled: about 125 km / Elevation gain: about 1 900 m.

 

Day 6 : Aigle – Chamonix

The passes:
• Col de la Forclaz  (1527 m)
• Col des Montets (1461 m)

Highlights:
• The view of Mont Blanc, as seen by our Swiss friends!
• Arrival in Chamonix, the taste of victory! Mission accomplished …
Distance traveled: 110 km / Elevation gain: about 1 400 m.

NB: The distances and elevation gain quoted are purely indicative.

The price includes:
From meeting on day 1 to the departure on day 8, in the normal course of the program, the following services are included:
• Full board:
- Lunches: picnic or snacks.
- Morning and evening: at a gîte: A hot and balanced copious dinner and full breakfast.
• The gîte accommodation at each stage of the tour
• Support vehicle and driver who transports the luggage and is at the cyclists disposal in case of problems.  
• A detailed "roadmap" of the tour.

The price does not include:
• Your transport to the meeting point. 
• Insurance and assistance
• Drinks in the accommodation.  
• Visits to museums, monuments and sites not planned in the program
• Additional travel related to changes in the program due to weather conditions
• All personal expenses
• Anything not listed in the "price includes" section.

- Tipping to leader, guides and local staff, excess baggage charges, airport taxes and items of a personal    nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).

 

More information on this trip, please contact us

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