Mountain Bike Holidays in the French Alps

Tour of Mont Blanc: Chamonix - The 'Classic' alpine tour in France, Switzerland and Italy

Riding in Chamonix valley The Tour of Mont Blanc is the Classic alpine trail. Departing from Chamonix, France, we will ride in a clockwise direction, passing through the Martigny Valley, Switzerland, on to Courmayeur, Italy, back into France and return to Chamonix to complete the loop! The trail brings us through alpine flower covered pastures, passes glacial lakes, skims below glaciers and snowy summits, crosses deep valleys and climbs high altitude passes. Riding around Mont Blanc, is about discovering the magic world of 'high mountain' biking...

Seven valleys, 71 glaciers, 400 summits, the Mont Blanc range is inspiring.

Mont Blanc from France/ Italy border The Tour of Mont Blanc is dedicated to riders not afraid of long climbs or to carry their bike, downhills can be technical in places, but the scenery is breathtaking and you will soon forget the pain...

We propose an original route known to us like the back of our hands. We ride in the opposite direction to other tours, giving us the benefit of rideable ascents and fantastic descents free from crowds and close to nature you will be awed by this legendary location.

Have a look at the picture & video gallery...

Download our 2010 MTB Tours Brochure

Description	The 'Classic' Alpine trail Saturday to Saturday, 7 nights accomodation, 6 days riding
Level	Strong Intermediate to Advanced, 'all round rider' - Good fitness level required and able to push/carry your bike. Very good bike handling skills. Able to ride on technical singletracks, confident in any riding situations.
Terrain	All kinds of trails! Cruisy 2 path trails, easy singletracks, technical (some very technical) and challenging singletracks, 'rocky and rooty' trails.
Location	Starts and finishes in Chamonix, passes through France, Switzerland and Italy
Accommodation	7 nights accommodation in a mix of hotels ( based on double occupancy twin bedrooms), bunk houses and a mountain refuge ( dormitories)
Included	ALPSMOUNTAINBIKE 'Tour Pack' (more infos here) including: ALPSMOUNTAINBIKE cycling shirt, PUNCH POWER organic energy drinks and bars and a trial of COMPEX electro stimulation and recovery equipment. 7 nights accommodation, all meals including picnic lunches from dinner on Saturday of arrival to breakfast on Saturday of departure, guiding, lift passes in Chamonix valley, luggage transfer to evening accommodation (inc. mountain refuge), return transfer to Geneva airport on saturday departure
Not Included	Flights/Travel etc. Expenses of repair and maintenance of bikes, cancellation/medical insurances and repatriation costs, bike hire, alcohol and generally all that is not included/understood in the heading 'Included'.
Physical & Technical Skill Level (out of 5)	Physical Fitness: 4/5 Technical Skills: 2/5 to 4/5
Dates 2010	From June 19th - 26th
	From June 26th - July 3rd
	From July 3rd - 10th
	From July 10th - 17th
	From July 31st - August 7th
	From August 7th - 14th
	From August 28th - September 4th
	From September 4th - 11th
	From September 11th - 18th
Price	Lift assisted option: From 850 Euros BOOK THIS TRIP!

Tour available Tour departure assured Tour booked

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The Schedule: arrival Saturday

Warning: This itineray is given for your information and may be changed at the discretion of the guide depending on the weather conditions, physical ability of clients and the trail 'options' we decide together.

DAY of arrival (Saturday): 'Meet and great' by ourselves at Geneva airport and transfer to Chamonix. Or meet in Chamonix. Deposit baggage at evening accomodation with views of Mont Blanc. Unpacking and preparation of bikes. Last minute shopping requirements and possibilty to visit Chamonix town.

DAY 1 (Sunday): We depart Chamonix in the direction of Switzerland. Passing through the valley of Chamonix to Argentiere and Le Tour. We will take the gondola to the top of the Col de Balme at 2200m, and cross over the Swiss border. The view of the valley of Chamonix from Col de Balme is fantastic, with Mont Blanc as the centerpiece. Following a splendid singletrack descent we will arrive in the pretty Swiss village of Trient with views up to the glacier of Trient.

Ride distance: 30km
Uneven positive: 500m Uneven negative: 1100m
Physical difficulty: 2/5 Technical skills: 3/5

DAY 2 (Monday): Starting with the climb of Col de la Forclaz, from where the views over the Swiss Alps and the valley of Martigny and its vineyards are vast. Descend to Martigny through the vineyards and climb in the direction of the Swiss Val Ferret, skimming below glaciers and snowy summits. Arriving in La Fouly, at the foot of the Grand Col Ferret, the Italian Border.

Ride distance: 45km
Uneven positive: 1100m Uneven negative: 1100m
Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills: 2/5

DAY 3 (Tuesday): Climb of Grand Col Ferret, at 2500m finds us in Italy! This is one of the 3 major col passes of this Tour of Mont Blanc. Stunning scenery at the top of the col of the Italian Val Ferret and of the Italian side of Mont Blanc (or now Monte Bianco!) Descend to Arnuva and depending on weather condtions and the groups fitness levels, climb to la Lechere to arrive in chic Courmayeur by a superb singletrack. Next stop ice-cream!

Ride distance: 45-55km
Uneven positive: 1100-1700 Uneven negative: 1300-2000m
Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills: 3/5

DAY 4 (Wednesday): Warm up on the road than we hit the trail to arrive at Lago Checroui facing the Italian side of Mont Blanc. A beautiful balcony trail giving us the chance to see famous summits such as Noire de Peuterey, La Blanche and the Italian glacier and Lago Combal (one of the largest glaciers of the Mont Blanc range).
The climb of the Col de la Seigne brings us to the French border and is mostly rideable, however the end is quite steep and you may have to push your bike! The descent to Les Mottets is a fanstastic, technical (in places) singletrack, where you will find Martial grinning at the bottom as it is one of his favourites! The Refuge des Mottets is a rustic old farmhouse and dairy renovated to welcome trekkers and bikers and is a true alpine experience...

Ride distance: 35km
Uneven positive: 1500m Uneven negative: 1000m
Physical difficulty: 4/5 Technical difficulty: 3/5

DAY 5 (Thursday): Starting with a road climb to Cormet de Roselend, then descending to Lac de Roselend followed by a long climb on a jeep track to the Col de la Gittaz at 2320m.
The col offers vast southerly views and of the neighbouring summits. We will then descend to Col du Joly, which is technical (in places), a very short climb and a long semi technical downhill to the village of Les Contamines Montjoie: 900m of descent!

Ride distance: 40km
Uneven positive: 900m Uneven negative: 1500m
Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills: 4/5

DAY 6 (Friday): Last day but by no means the least... From Les Contamines Montjoie we will climb to Chalet de Miage, a summer altitude mountain village at the foot of the giant glacier of Miage, where you will feel tiny compared to the size of these glaciers! From Miage we will climb the Col de Voza above Les Houches and the valley of Chamonix with Mont Blanc back on our righthand side... A final technical downhill to Chamonix to end up back at the base of the 'Lord of the Alps'.

Ride distance: 40km
Uneven positive: 900m Uneven negative: 1200m
Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical difficulty: 3/5

Total ride distance: 235-245km!!!

Dismantle and pack bikes ready for departure the following day. Yes I think a well earned cold beer or two (or more...) is a definite!

DAY 7 (Saturday): Transfer to Geneva airport.

NB: this tour is run with a minimum of 4 clients. Lunches on Saturday of arrival and Saturday of departure are not included, but can be arranged at an additional cost.