Guided mountain biking holidays in the French Alps
| country: | France |
| location: | French Alps |
| trip type: | Moderate / adventurous mountain biking holidays. Can also be adapted to suit any level |
| departures: | This trip can be tailor made between May and November and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary |
| price: | From €455 - €1343 (4-5 days) excluding flights. Price depends on duration and choice of accommodation. Includes bike hire, 1 night hotel and 2-3 nights camping accommodation, all meals during the tour, baggage transfers and experienced guides |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Discover the wild side of the Lac de Serre Poncon.
Totally off the beaten track, away from the waymarked routes in the mountain bike guides, this tour winds it's way through the mountains above the magnificent Lac de Serre Poncon, the biggest dammed lake in Europe. There are a variety of routes, from serious single track to gentle forest trails so the tour can be adapted to any level.
If you like the idea of stumbling across a secret bay for a quick dip, biking on a ridge with a view to die for below you, picking your way through giant and bizarre rock formations, re-filling your water bottle with fresh alpine water from a beautiful waterfall, camping wild in the middle of no-where, descending virgin territory then you'll love this....
To really explore the area properly you need to go for several days so we have put together a four and a five day trip, which you can do as a long weekend or as part of a longer holiday.
So whether you are a family looking for an adventure with your children or a group of experienced mountain bikers looking for a real challenge and an adrenalin fix somewhere different, you will be pleasantly rewarded!
Please see below for a sample 5 day itinerary. The timings and general route described in the itinerary are aimed at an average level of mountain biking experience. If you are interested in this trip but would like to make it longer, more challenging or tone it down a bit, please just let us know when you make your enquiry and we can adapt it for you. There are lots of different routes and possibilities.
Totally off the beaten track, away from the waymarked routes in the mountain bike guides, this tour winds it's way through the mountains above the magnificent Lac de Serre Poncon, the biggest dammed lake in Europe. There are a variety of routes, from serious single track to gentle forest trails so the tour can be adapted to any level.
If you like the idea of stumbling across a secret bay for a quick dip, biking on a ridge with a view to die for below you, picking your way through giant and bizarre rock formations, re-filling your water bottle with fresh alpine water from a beautiful waterfall, camping wild in the middle of no-where, descending virgin territory then you'll love this....
To really explore the area properly you need to go for several days so we have put together a four and a five day trip, which you can do as a long weekend or as part of a longer holiday.
So whether you are a family looking for an adventure with your children or a group of experienced mountain bikers looking for a real challenge and an adrenalin fix somewhere different, you will be pleasantly rewarded!
Please see below for a sample 5 day itinerary. The timings and general route described in the itinerary are aimed at an average level of mountain biking experience. If you are interested in this trip but would like to make it longer, more challenging or tone it down a bit, please just let us know when you make your enquiry and we can adapt it for you. There are lots of different routes and possibilities.
what this trip includes
All our mountain biking holidays include: - Good quality mountain bike hire suitable for the terrain
- Fully qualified local and experienced mountain bike guide
- Baggage transfers each day so you only have to ride with a day sack
- Camping accommodation during the tour (sharing two people to a tent). Tents and sleeping matresses are included but you will need to bring your own sleeping bag or we can arrange a hire one for you.
- One nights hotel accommodation is included. For the hotel night you can choose either the 'Early arrival' or 'Last Night Stay' Option - whichever suits your travel arrangements the best. If you would like to do both, this is also possible to arrange.
- All food, breakfast, lunch and dinner during the tour.
- A choice of 'getting here' transport options (transfers from the airport or train stations can either be provided by us or you can self drive)
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Chorges - Espinasses, 15 - 20 km. This is a gentle start to the tour beginning with a spectacular view of the two arms of the lake. There's a short 10 minute climb and then the rest of the route is mainly descent and cross country. It is possible to add an extra climb (about 30 mins) for a longer ride. The idea is for the guide to get to know your level and get your legs used to riding! You will have amazing panoramic views of the lake for most of the route and will see the damn. There are showers, a pool, table tennis and a children's play area at the camp site so plenty of things to do to chill out after your ride. You will be sleeping in two person tents and eating al fresco at the camp site. The guide will set up the tents and cook dinner but is always happy for you to muck in and generate a community team spirit! |
| Day 2: | Espinasses - St Vincent les forts, 20 - 30 km. This is a really wild part of the route, traversing across the terraces above the lake. It is possible to start directly from the campsite, but the route is very technical so usually you take a short drive to the start (where it becomes bikeable for normal people!) You will really be getting away from civilisation here - the area is only accessible by foot or boat! Your guide will navigate the way through, choosing trails and tracks suitable for you, stopping off for photos, swims in the lake and general fun stuff! At the campsite there are shower and toilet facilities, a bar, table tennis and it's right by the lake so that's your swimming pool and you can hire out kayaks and pedalos! Climbing and Descent: very up and down cross country. |
| Day 3: | Espinasses - St Vincent les forts, 20 - 30 km. This is a really wild part of the route, traversing across the terraces above the lake. It is possible to start directly from the campsite, but the route is very technical so usually you take a short drive to the start (where it becomes bikeable for normal people!) You will really be getting away from civilisation here - the area is only accessible by foot or boat! Your guide will navigate the way through, choosing trails and tracks suitable for you, stopping off for photos, swims in the lake and general fun stuff! At the campsite there are shower and toilet facilities, a bar, table tennis and it's right by the lake so that's your swimming pool and you can hire out kayaks and pedalos! Climbing and Descent: very up and down cross country. |
| Day 4: | St Vincent les fort - Grand Morgon Forest, 20 - 30 km. These next two days will really feel like a true mountain biking adventure with an overnight wild camp, barely disturbed mountains and woods and interesting tracks to ride. Today is a big day with 800 metres of ascent - about 12km up hill! But by now your legs should be perfectly adapted to cycling and ready for a tough day! And you are rewarded with spectacular views from the col at the top! A perfect place for a picnic! The rest of the route is a beautiful cross country route, traversing through the forests above the lake, (very lord of the rings country!). There are some very pretty little secluded bays along the way so a swim stop is usually a given (and quite a good idea as you won't be having any showers later!) Tonight you will be camping wild in the forest of Grand Morgon. You will have the same tents and matresses you have been using on the previous nights, which will be dropped off with the rest of your baggage at the camp spot. There aren't any showers or toilets but the guides will explain camping etiquette for toilets! It is a great night, all on your own in the woods with just the sounds of the birds and animals of the night to keep you company. Very relaxing. Climbing and Descent: 800m of ascent |
| Day 5: | Grand Morgon Forest - La Baie de Chanteloube, 20 - 35 km. You'll pack up your tents and baggage ready to be collected as usual in the morning so you will still only have your day packs to bike with. After breakfast in the woods, you'll continue your mountain biking adventure through the forest on a superb descent to Savines, which is a town situated on the banks of the Lac Serre Poncon. After Savines you have 10 - 20 km interesting cross country biking really close to the banks of the lake so plenty of swimming possibilities - a welcome invitation after your wild camp! And then an idyllic picnic stop for lunch by the lake. The last part of the journey is a beautiful cross country route with a variety of paths and tracks back to the Baie de Chanteloube which is in Chorges - the same town you started at! If your car is back at the hotel or you have chosen to stay there tonight, we'll give you a lift back there or if we are organising your transfers, we'll take you to the airport from here. Climbing and Descent: Long descent to Savines and then cross country up and down. |
Early arrival option: If you prefer to arrive in the area the night before to get a good nights rest before you start biking, then your holiday can start the night before day 1! If we are providing transfers for you, we would collect you from the airport or station. If not you can leave your car at the hotel for the duration of the trip. Either way, we'll welcome you at the hotel. Depending on what time you arrive you can go for a short walk around the area, take in the views of the lake or just relax in the hotel complex and prepare for your mountain biking trip tomorrow.
Extra night option: If you feel like a relaxing evening and leisurely or even an active morning to recover from the trip, this is a good option! If we are providing your transfers, we'll collect you from the hotel at the arranged time and take you to the airport or station. If you are self drive - the day is yours to do as you please!!
how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
There are lots of waymarked mountain bike routes around the lake that get a lot of traffic and cause a fair amount of erosion. Though this is very well managed it is still a significant impact on the environment. This trip takes you away from the popular routes to help reduce the impact of mass mountain biking. By dispersing the number of mountain bikers over a greater area, the overall impact on the environment is reduced. As you are away from the well ridden routes you will also see much more wildlife and really experience the wilderness of the alpine habitat above the lake, which will give you a much better appreciation of the environment we want to preserve. Our guides are very environmentally conscientious and will adapt the routes accordingly if they feel a path is susceptible to mountain biking damage due to being to wet or already eroded. For the five day trip you will be wild camping in the woods. With this camp the aim is to leave the woods in the same condition as they were found so no rubbish is left and no damage is done to the trees. Community Because you are away from the tourist hotspots your stays in the campsites will be supporting local people who are trying to make their livings from tourism. We include local events that support and promote farming traditions, food production and markets in our itineraries and advice for things to do for our clients to help support the farming community and raise awareness of their culture. We are committed to promoting the culture of the region and ensuring that tourism has a positive impact. Through supporting the refuges and giving clients detailed information about how to behave when in the national park we try to ensure that people behave with respect the environment and local people. This information includes warnings against free camping, ensuring that people eat in the refuges, carry out their litter and adhere to the rules of the park. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |