The Giant French Alps


THE GIANT FRENCH ALPS TOUR


Departure from Nice


Self-drive motorcycle tour

See guided motorcycle tour


Length: 8 days


Day 1: RENDEZ VOUS IN NICE

Arrival in Nice Côte d’Azur airport in the afternoon.T
ransfer to your hotel on your own. Welcome in this little place of paradise where charms and gastronomy expect you.


Day 2: NICE / BARCELONETTE
(187 km)

You will take the road in direction of The Castillon Pass, Sospel, Ste Madeleine, the Pian Gorge, Moulinet. You will restart our road in direction of the Turini pass, famous stage of the WRC Monte Carlo Rally, La Bolene Vesubie and Venanson. Continuation toward St Martin de Vesubie, St Martin pass, La Bolline, Rimplas,
St Sauveur de Tinee, Isola, St Etienne de Tinee.
Proceed toward two of the highest Pass of Europe, the Bonnette Passes and The Restefond, then Le Pis, Le Villard, Guegnier and Barcelonette.


Day 3: BARCELONNETTE / MONTGENEVRE-CLAVIERE 
(215 km)

Start in direction of new passes (very impressive) in the Southern Alps.
You will ride toward Chatelard La Condamine, Le Pas de la Reyssole, St Paul s/Ubaye. Then you will reach the Vars Pass. The origin of the name Var, comes from Latin “Varcium” who means “Pass” or “passage” High tourist place on the Road of the High Alps, perched at 2109m of altitude, it connects the valley of the Durance to Ubaye, the High Alps to the Alps of High Provence and constitutes a stage of choice.
You continue to Vars where you may have a stop to drink a coffee, and Guillestre, La Combe du Queyras. Higher commune of Europe nested at 2042 meters of altitude, the village of Saint Veran (county town) and his two hamlets Raux and Chalp, benefit as the rest of the region of a dry and sunny climate and are surrounded by mountains culminating at more than 3000 meters. Saint Veran has a long historical past which goes back to antiquity and knew all the vicissitudes of the history of Dauphine and of our country. Leisure time for personal visit of this beautiful village or, for the amateurs of bends, you will retrace our steps on few kilometers to pass the Italian border and climb the Agnel Pass. The Agnel Pass, at 2 744 meters of altitude, is the second highest road pass of the French Alps just behind the Iseran Pass (2 770 m). It connects France (Queyras region) to Italy (Mount Viso region). Then you will continue to Château Queyras, The Izoard Pass (2360 m), Cervières and Briançon, The Vauban City (we suggest to you a little walk in the beautiful historic center of this city). Road via a lovely valley before climbing a pass to enter in Italy, proceed to Bardonecchia before ending in Montgenevre/Claviere after….. another pass!


Day 4: MONT GENEVRE / STE FOY TARENTAISE
(214 km)

Healthy breakfast at the hotel before a tremendous day in high altitude!
You go towards 3 passes well known: Le Lautaret, the mythical Galibier (2646m) and the Telegraph pass. The Telegraph Pass is a stage of the France Tour since 1947, at the altitude of 1566 m – The Galibier Pass connect Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Briançon via The Telegraph Pass at the north and The Lautaret Pass on the south. The Lautaret Pass is located in the Hautes-Alpes department (05) in PACA region, at the altitude of 2 058 m. It’s the passage between the Oisans (Romanche Valley) and the Brianconnais (Guisane Valley). The road continue till St Michel de Maurienne, Bramans, Le Verney and Lanslebourg. Then you will go to St Antoine, Notre Dame des Graces, Bonneval sur Arc and the Iseran Pass. Stop to take pictures, look the landscapes and drinks something. The Iseran Pass, at 2 770 meters of altitude but indicated on maps at 2 762 or 2 764 m, is the highest road pass of the Alps and France. It is located in Savoy in the Vanoise national park, between Vanoise Mountain and the Grees Alps. It connect the Arc (Maurienne) and the Isère (Tarentaise) Valley. Road to reach Val d’Isère, Tignes Dam and arrive to Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise.


Day 5: STE FOY DE TARENTAISE / LE GRAND BORNAND
(209 km)

Departure for another amazing day in the Northern Alps.
You will take the road till Bourg St Maurice, The Cormet of Roselend (1963m), the Meraillet Pass (1605m). You will continue by The Saisie Pass, Notre Dame de Bellecombe and Flumet. At 1650 m of altitude and only 30 km of Albertville, discover a privileged site: the Saisies Pass, passage between the valley of Beaufortin and the Valley of Arly, but also hyphen between the departments of Savoy and High Savoy. You will restart the road towards the Aravis Pass (1486m). The Aravis Pass was a place of walk for the first English tourists at the end of the XXth century. Wonderful views on the Chain of the Mont Blanc. Gargantua could be passing here! A pass remains would be more in the south of the Alps: la Pierra Menta.  The split between the High and the Savoy is visible here. You will make a stop at the top to admire landscapes and take photo. Stop in La Clusaz for a coffee. Road to The Colombière Pass (1613m) and arrival at The Grand Bornand.


Day 6: LE GRAND BORNAND / CORPS (via part of Route Napoleon -
225 km)

It’s time to take the road south in direction of the Mediterranean Sea.
Departure toward Annecy where you will make a stop for a coffee in front of the Lake. Then by a nice little road, you will cross the Massif des Bauges Regional Park until Chambery. Crossing of the Chartreuse Regional Park, then you will avoid Grenoble to start your trip on the Route Napoléon to reach Corps. Running through Provence, La Route Napoléon (section of the Route Nationale 85) begins at Golfe-Juan, where Napoléon landed on March 1, 1815. It turns to Cannes in the French Riviera and then to Grasse. Going southwestward, the route passes Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey. Before reaching Castellane, where the Napoleon Bridge is found, there is Château de Brondet. Going up over the Col des Leques at 1146 m, passing through the Clue de Taulanne and the small village of Barrême, La Route Napoléon reaches Digne-les-Bains.


Day 7:  CORPS / NICE - ROUTE NAPOLEON
(267 km)

Today will be a full ride on the famous Route Napoleon.
The 325-kilometre route which took Napoléon a whole week on foot can be completed in eight hours by car. But the scenic route provides a great variety of natural beauty and historic sites for stopover. Marked along the way by statues of the flying eagle, La Route Napoléon after Cannes and Grasse to the north provides an off-the-beaten path in Provence and the south Alps of France. Proceed to Castellane, Grasse and arrival in Nice!
Motorcycle drop off before 18h00 in our rental office.


Day 8:  NICE / DEPARTURE

Transfer to Nice Cote d’Azur airport and it’s time to say goodbye and see you next time.

 
Starting from: 1.850 € p/p (2 persons, 1 motorbike & 1 double room)


For detailed itinerary, contact us.

Bikes available for this tour:
HARLEY-DAVIDSON: Electra Glide, Softail.
BMW: K1600 GTL, 750 GS, 1200 GS.
DUCATI: Multistrada S.
HONDA: GoldWing 1800
INDIAN:
Road Master

 

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