French Alps/Cols Itinerary

chickenlegs
chickenlegs Posts: 246
edited November 2008 in Workshop
Not sure if this is the place for this query but here goes.
Hoping to spend 10 days in the French Alps in July this year with group of 4/5 friends col climbing. Would welcome any suggestions for an itinerary & places to stay.
Open minded about accommodation (not 5* ! ) ie Hotel, Auberge, Self catering Gite, etc.
Any thoughts or ideas appreciated - many thanks.

Comments

  • Hello, take a look at our web site www.ecrinslodge.com . We specialize in holidays for cyclists in the Oisans region of the French Alpes. Great for Alpe D'Huez, col de Lauteret and many more.
  • pneumatic
    pneumatic Posts: 1,989
    Suggest:

    Geneva, Grand Bornand (stay at hotel Vermont), Col des Aravis, Col de Saisies, Stay at Beaufort (really pretty, several reasonably priced hotels) Cormet de Roselend, Col d'Iseran, Stay at St Michel de Maurienne (book ahead for the hotel in the centre of town (avoid Hotel de Galibier; it is a real dump)), Cols de Telegraph, Galibier. Go to La Grave and stay at Hotel Edelweiss (compulsory stop over; GREAT hotel for cyclists). Down to Bourg D'oisans, do the Alpe. then down the valley to Grenoble, bike on train back to Geneva. You can do all that in a week.


    Fast and Bulbous
    Peregrinations
    Eddingtons: 80 (Metric); 60 (Imperial)

  • Morzine!
  • One I have done a few times.

    Rent yourself a Gite in Allemont (10km from Bourg D'Oisans). Using this as your base you have access to some great riding.

    Glandon and Croix De Fer, D'Huez, Lauteret, Galibier and Telegraphe. Madeleine is not too far away, you can go to Briancon and ride the Izoard, also some less known routes involve heading out over the Ornon onto Grande Serre and back up the valley road to Allemont, Luitel is a beast of a climb and can take you over to Chamrousse amd down into Vizille to come back along the valley.
    Ride out to La Berrade.
    Rde into Grenoble just to tackle the Forte De La Bastille - only about 1.8km but hell's teeth is it hard.

    In short if you base yourself there for a week you won't run out of rides. It's fab.
  • Thanks for all the help & advice so far, sounds really great. Will now need to put it to the others in the group & get a concensus of opinion.
    Also need to get a some more long distance rides in following todays dismal showing ( 70 miles around the Brecon Beacons & wasted) !!! The only thing that kept me going was the thought of - food, wine & sun in July !
  • Ken Night
    Ken Night Posts: 2,005
    Besides the biggies mentioned above, try to get over Col D'Ornon, and onto the Route Napoleon and to Corps-esp if you base yourself in either the Romanche or Maurienne Valleys

    http://www.multimap.com/maps/?t=l&map=4 ... 88453|12|4

    From Entraigues, to Corps, you'll take in a couple of really nice cols that barely see a tractor all year, let alone any tourist traffic

    I shouldn't say this, but will as I'd like to share it with people of a like mind: stay at Hotel de la Poste at Corps, for a totally OTT eating experience that will shock you when you get the bill (pleasantly!)

    the host is very friendly-I was offered a drink with him in the kitchen after supper......oh and I forgot the complimentary brandy snaps and pastries in reception.

    Can also recommend staying in Allemont-I've done so the last two years and not got bored. Ginies Hotel-use that as a base and go off for day or two day rides with minimal equipment-the destination hotels will wash your cycing kit (arrange in advance as a courtesy), I get away with a 5l seatpack with a pr of shorts, long sleeve shirt, flip flops and basic washbag

    a couple of two day trips could be to Corps and back, or over Alpe D'huez, down the Sarrenne, up Lauteret, Galibier, stay in Valloire, down Telegagraph and back over the Croix de la Fer the following day..................happy days
    “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best..." Ernest Hemingway
  • pneumatic wrote:
    Suggest:

    Geneva, Grand Bornand (stay at hotel Vermont), Col des Aravis, Col de Saisies, Stay at Beaufort (really pretty, several reasonably priced hotels) Cormet de Roselend, Col d'Iseran, Stay at St Michel de Maurienne (book ahead for the hotel in the centre of town (avoid Hotel de Galibier; it is a real dump)), Cols de Telegraph, Galibier. Go to La Grave and stay at Hotel Edelweiss (compulsory stop over; GREAT hotel for cyclists). Down to Bourg D'oisans, do the Alpe. then down the valley to Grenoble, bike on train back to Geneva. You can do all that in a week.

    Mmm sounds lovely. Must cast a vote for La Grave - nice village and good food at Eidelviess.
    Will check out Beaufort as I also want to 'bag' Roselannd adn Iseran this summer but would prefer to camp.
    Happy cycling!
  • morrisje
    morrisje Posts: 507
  • Ken Night
    planned my alps tour to start in grenoble and loop south to corps and back up the 2 cols to entraigues and thence to bourg d'oisans via col d'ornon following your recommendation
    you were right hotel de la poste was worth the detour, and it made a gentler 2 day start before ending up on some of the real big fellas
  • ridgerider
    ridgerider Posts: 2,852
    Have a look at our friend Russell's website...

    http://www.grenoblecycling.com/

    You should find a lot of relvant information on there.
    Half man, Half bike
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    This place looks interesting

    www whiteroomchalet.com
    M.Rushton
  • Brian B
    Brian B Posts: 2,071
    celbianchi wrote:
    One I have done a few times.

    Rent yourself a Gite in Allemont (10km from Bourg D'Oisans). Using this as your base you have access to some great riding.

    Glandon and Croix De Fer, D'Huez, Lauteret, Galibier and Telegraphe. Madeleine is not too far away, you can go to Briancon and ride the Izoard, also some less known routes involve heading out over the Ornon onto Grande Serre and back up the valley road to Allemont, Luitel is a beast of a climb and can take you over to Chamrousse amd down into Vizille to come back along the valley.
    Ride out to La Berrade.
    Rde into Grenoble just to tackle the Forte De La Bastille - only about 1.8km but hell's teeth is it hard.

    In short if you base yourself there for a week you won't run out of rides. It's fab.

    We did almost the same as you back in 2004 and stayed in Allemont. The other well known tour climbs are great - but La Berarde now your talking!!
    Brian B.
  • mpd62
    mpd62 Posts: 71
    I can recommend La Preoula campsite at Le garde on Alpe d huez ,small ,quiet ,peaceful.
  • bahzob
    bahzob Posts: 2,195
    http://www.kingofthemountains.co.uk/ is a cycling lodge near Bourg D'Oisans run by an expat cycling couple who are very welcoming, have good local knowledge and cook great food. Highly recommended.
    Martin S. Newbury RC
  • Have you thought about basing your trip just over the border in Italy? All the main cols( Izoard, Lauteret, Galibier, Telegraph, Genevre, Finestra etc. are still within distance and you have the benefit of better food, cheaper accommodation and a short transfer time from Turin airport. http://www.belvederebedandbreakfast.com is a cycle friendly B&B for those who want to do their own trips or are "passing through". Otherwise if you want an inclusive package drop me a line.

    May sees the Giro d'Italia on our doorstep with a possible 3 stages in our area.
    My playground is the Alps, come and join me!
    http://www.ifhannibalhad.com