Price – 13 nights 14 days all inclusive tour $6300AUD. For all inclusions see Booking Information.
July 17 2019
Montreux Switzerland
We arrive in this picturesque lakeside town and check in to the hotel. Get here early as a ride to Gruyeres is a must do given time.
Transfers to this town are easy as it is a short train ride around the lake from Geneva. If arriving in Geneva by plane the train station is in the airport so the transfer is easy. The hotel in Montreux is also close to the station.
July 18
Montreux to Morzine – Ride distance 70.62km and altitude gain 1741m
Our ride today is by the scenic route around the lake with an almost gentle climb into the hills of the Vallee Vert. A great way to start our tour!
19 July 2019
Morzine Abondance Loop – Ride distance 62.4km and altitude gain 1902m
The climb to the ski resort of Avoriaz is our first challenge and should start sorting out the legs before we start on the icons of the Alps! A nice day out on the bike in another area of the aptly named Vallee Vert.
20 July 2019
Morzine to La Clusaz – Ride distance 97.42km and altitude gain 3148m
Today we get to climb not one but two of the icons of the Alps. First its the Joux Plane which starts at Morzine. This is a famous climb of the Tour de France. Not too tough from the Morzine side it takes us through pastures and forests to a ski resort at the summit. A coffee at the lake and then an awesome descent to Samoens. From here its a valley run to the next short climb to the Col du Chatillon. Our real target though is the Colombiere and we get there via the Col de Romme. Today is a testing day on the bike. Remember its not a race and the scenery is stunning.
21 July 2019
La Clusaz to Seez – Ride distance 99.6km and altitude gain 3290m
Get a good rest because today is another epic day. The day comprises:
- The steady climb of the Aravis with amazing views of the Massif . We are dwarfed by rock. A long descent takes us to Flumet where the coffee shop overlooking the river will stop us momentarily.
- Then its the Saisies. Another steady climb to a ski resort. Again picture perfect scenery to keep you entertained.
- Our climb of the day is another icon of the tour, the Cormet de Roselend. It is a beautiful climb that has it all. Following the river up the valley. Through a forest. Lots of switchbacks. Emerging from the forest the views are amazing back to Beaufort. Then its on to the lake at what appears to be the summit but we still have some way to go before the victory photos.
- The descent to Bourg Saint Maurice is another favorite. Makes the climb worthwhile! Now its just a matter of getting to our hotel which sits part way up the Col du Petit Saint Bernard.
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22 July 2019
Seez to St Michelle de Maurienne – Ride distance 118.35km and altitude gain 2540m
Today the climb is the Iseran. This is another classic tour climb. We climb nearly all of its length. Technically the climb starts at Bourg Saint Maurice. We have already got a start on the climb so we get to descend through some typical mountainside villages till we pick up the climb. It is a long climb and it takes us to the highest pass in Europe at 2774m. As shown in the profile the descent is even longer so we get some wonderful recovery.
23 July 2019
Saint Michelle de Maurienne to La Grave – Ride distance 55.36km and altitude gain 2189m
Today we climb one of the mythic mountains of the Tour de France. The Galibier. The climb is in two parts. From our start point of the day it is 34.5km with an altitude gain of 2100m. Part one though is the Telegraphe. This takes us to the ski resort of Valloire. A convenient stopping point before attacking the Galibier itself.
24 July
La Grave to St Jean de Maurienne – Ride distance 118km altitude gain 3554m
The good news today is that we get to do 80km of descending. We also get to climb Alpe d’Huez and the Glandon. We wont talk about the meter gain!
25 July 2019
St Jean de Maurienne to Albertville – Ride distance 86.14km and altitude gain 2463m
The highlights today are the Lacets de Montvernier with their hair pin turns every 150m, the Col de Chaussy and the Madeleine.
26 July 2019
Albertville to Aix les Bains – Ride distance 106km and altitude gain 2079m
The traverse to Aix les Bains takes us past one beautiful lake to another. Lake Annecy is France’s Lake Como.Our climb of the Semnoz from the east will give us spectacular lake views before we take a left turn and head to another gem of a lake at Aix les Bains, Lac du Bourget.
27 July 2019
Aix les Bains to Annecy – Ride distance 90km and altitude gain 1483m
The highlight today is the climb around Lac du Bourget and into some of the most scenic vineyards in France before following the Rhone River and then turning towards Annecy.
28 July 2019
Annecy – Ride distance 70km and altitude gain 1495m
The tour of the lake in a clockwise direction takes us over the Forclaz. The views of the lake are exceptional. We venture up the hill a little on the western side of the lake but not too far as this is something of a rest day.
29 July 2019
Annecy to Thonon – Ride distance 110km and ride distance 2390m
We leave Annecy to climb to the Glieres Plateau. This was the scene of fierce resistance during WWII. We pass the memorial on the plateau before heading to our destination of Thonon les Bains on Lac Leman.
30 July 2019
Thonon les Bains to Montreux – Ride distance 128km and ride distance 1081m
Our tour finishes as it started on Lac Leman. This time we head around the lake via Geneva and Lausanne before finishing where it all began, Montreux.
