OK we're both bikers and have enjoyed exploring many of the roads at this end of the Alps. Here are a few runs we have enjoyed - most of which can be done in one day starting/ending in Chatel.
Remember to complete the longer trips in a day will need you to get the basics sorted the night before - so do your checks and fill up the night before, and you may need to include an overnight stop if you ride at a leisurely pace or want to make loads of photo stops.
| (1) Straight to the Top - Full day Mont Blanc at 4,807 metres is over half the height of Everest and the highest peak at this end of the Alps. To see it close up, head over the Morgins Pass and pick up the road to Chamonix at Martigny. For a closer look, ride the Aiguille du Midi cable-car up from Chamonix (booking and strong lungs essential). Afterwards continue on a massive loop returning through Samoens, Les Gets and over the twisty Col du Corbier into the Abondance valley. |
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| (2) Mountain Goat - easy half day Clinging to the
hillside below the Dents du Midi the upper road from Monthey to Champery is largely single
track and twisty. Unlike the wide main road on the opposite side of the valley, it
offers mountain goat views of the whole area on roads unspoiled by modern safety barriers. |
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| (3) Italian Job(s) - Full day Two hours can get you over the Morgins Pass and through the St Bernard Pass into the Aosta Valley in Northern Italy. Following the oldest recorded Alpine crossing and in the footsteps of Haniball's elephants why not take time to enjoy the views and a relaxing meal at the mountain hospice - where you may encounter one of the famous rescue dogs - before retracing your steps. If you want a longer run simply head into Italy in one of three directions: South down the Aosta Valley and you will quickly reach Milan home of Italian chic, fabulous motorbikes and crazy supercars. West brings a choice of several scary mountain passes back to France including some of Europe's highest roads - the Col du Val Cenis and Col d'Iseran passes lead to Val d'Isere and Albertville before returning via either Lac Annecy or Tanninges to pick up the Grande Route des Alpes back to Chatel. East leads to the stunning Italian Lakes (where you really should make an
overnight stop), or head back the long way via one of the mountain passes or tunnels into
Switzerland. The really adventurous might choose the infamous "Top Gear" -
Stelvio Pass route
back to Davos before returning via Brig and Morgins. |
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| (4) Yep we did it out and back in one day but even bending the odd speed limit, it was a mega long day. Next time we do this, its going to be a two day run with an overnight stay in Millau. There is a large campsite by the old Millau bridge with plenty of great places to eat and drink. On the way back we can follow the spectacular River Tarn gorge or head for the sunny mediterranean beaches at St Tropez. |
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| (5) Follow the mountain train - Col du Croix - Villars to Les
Diablerets - easy half day Through Morgins and across the Rhone valley to Bex to
follow the cog railway tracks up some impressive zig zags to Villars, before continuing
towards the glacier ski resort of Les Diablerets over the Col du Croix.
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| (6) End of the Road - Col de Bassachaux Follow the D22 up the valley to Pre la Joux. From May to October the D228A continues up the twisties to Plain Dranse and ending at 1,778 metres at the Col de Bassachaux restaurant and carpark. The ice creams are great and the views amazing. On your way back you can always try out the Fantasticable ride. |
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If you are happy to make at least one overnight stay,
then you can easily visit Pisa, Venice or even Rome.
Motorbike Touring Tips
If you fancy the idea of motorbike touring in the Alps but are not sure about the trip over from the UK, we have put together a touring database of reference material and tips which we have found useful.
But remember, its easy to hire bikes locally in Thonon, so you really don't have to ride your own bike over. You will find information on bike rental, local bike dealers and a checklist for bikers planning rides in the Alps in the touring database.
French Maps and Signposts
Many visitors to France find French Maps and Road Signs confusing. Once you have read this guide it should be a lot easier.
Route Planning and SatNav for groups
Planning an overseas trip with a group of bikers can be quite daunting. Especially
when everybody has their own list of places to visit. Worse still, what if you or someone
else gets separated during the trip?
Well we have produced a detailed guide which shows how free internet based systems
can be used to allow everyone to contribute to the route planning process, and once an
itinerary is agreed, everyone can download the route to their own GPS, so no one should
get lost.
Route Planning Hints - Join the dots and follow the sun.
If you fancy exploring the Alps, why not make the journey out and back part of the holiday rather than paying tolls, to blast down motorways trying to cover 500 miles in a single day only to arrive totally shattered. Take your time with at least one overnight stop each way. Break the route into smaller 150-250 mile stages, its enough for most and your concentration drops once tiredness sets in. Why not start your holiday in Calais and make the route out and back an integral part of your holiday.
Return ferry bookings constrain most trips, but away from the July and August you can usually find places to stay or camp on the day. Why slavishly follow a planned trip to Brittany if the forecast is for a week of rain, check the forecast whilst on the ferry and head for the sun. So be brave and don't book more than one day ahead. Just like the UK there are loads of value overnight accommodation chains to choose from. Try Accor hotels - Etap and Ibis for a civilised stay ( Formule1 for bargain basement). For longer stays Gites de France can be great value. For value campsites Google "Camping Municipal" and the nearest town.
Across Europe there are loads of superb biking regions and great places to visit. So why not plan a route through some of those regions? Just put a few dots on a big map and plot a route. Here are a few worth considering - Bastogne/Mons battlefields. Naturpark Luxembourg and Vianden Valley in NW Germany, Black Forest in S Germany,
France Austria & Swiss Alps - Grimsel, Furka, Timmelsjoch, Reschenpass and Stelvio pass into Italy for Lake Garda, Aosta and Courmeyer, Petit St Bernard pass to Bourg St Maurice then Col de Roseland/across the vast Lac Rosland barrage to St Gervais(Mont Blanc). Val Cenis and Col de Iseran
Further west try the River Tarn valley and Millau Viaduct, Auvergne/ Puy-en-Velay, or even Oradour-sur-Glane.
A useful North South motorway alternative route to the Alps runs from Charleville-Meziers(Ibis), Sedan, Bar-le-Duc, Neufchateau, Vesoul, Besancon (Etap), Pontarlier, Lausanne.
Touring route plans, maps and downloads
To plan a long distance trip around Europe - there is no substitute for a decent paper map. The Michelin 726 "Grands Itineraires" map is pretty good as it covers from the Channel to the Med not just France. Remember you loose detail as the area get bigger, so don't rely on a whole Europe map as it will be very easy to loose the route. Once you decide roughly where to go, its best to have either local maps of the areas you plan to visit or at least a decent Satnav with a fully updated map. (Word of warning there are several towns called Calais so make sure your Satnav heads for the 62100 post code!).
Here are a few local route plans based on Chatel which can be great fun. Remember between November and April some roads may be officially closed or down right dangerous on 2 wheels so check the weather and mountain pass status website!
Lac Leman & Vallee Vert Circuit
- a great sunny day run but avoid the summer peak and weekends as Evian can be a
nightmare;
High Mountains circuit -
exactly what it says on the tin - take your camera!
Further afield in Europe, then the following links may be of
interest. Many are easy day long circular rides with detailed directions. Some can be
downloaded in GPS formats for Garmin and TomTom allowing you to simply select the relevant
itinerary, and ride. Having tried several of the routes around the Western Alps -
they certainly deliver the wow factor.
Black Forest - Routes
based on Aitern-Schonau, a good location with several good value B&Bs
http://www.alpineroads.com/savoie.php
- Routes around the Alps
http://www.bestbikingroads.com/ - Just
what it says
http://www.marcarine.be/roadbooks/
- Routes across most of Western Europe
http://www.moto-vadrouilles.com/
- More Western Europe Routes
http://www.webazar.org/roadbook/
- Loads more routes around Europe
http://www.inter-motos.ch/triumph/fr/p3-3309.html
- Thanks to the local Triumph RAT - some great routes based around Lake Geneva/Lac
Leman
Enjoy
John & Dawn