8-DAY WEST ALPS CHALLENGE – TOP HIGHLIGHTS, 2000 KM, Tour Book & GPX Data
Experience an unforgettable 8-Day motorcycle tour through the West Alps, featuring more than 45 high alpine passes, including 12 out of the TOP 50 passes in the Alps and some of the highest passes in the Alps. This journey will traverse French Alps along parts of the Routes des Grandes Alpes and include breathtaking deep Canyons and balcony roads that are absolute engineering marvels.
Prepare to embrace some of the world's best high alpine roads. This tour is tailored for ambitious riders who enjoy long days on challenging alpine roads, where the focus is on the ride itself.
Riding Days: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Tour Distance: 2000 km
Daily Distance: 290-350 km
Start Location: Annecy, France
End Location: St. Rhémy, Italy
IMPORTANT: Some days are offered with alternatives routes (shorter) and most tracks can be shorten while enroute. The road book includes information on the highlights for every riding day. The GPX tracks were created with Garmin Basecamp and include additional information on hotels, scenic highlights.
For ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, please refer to the details below.
DETAILED TOUR INFORMATION
Tour highlights include iconic high alpine passes such as the Col de l'Iseran, Col de la Bonette, Col d'Izoard, Col du Galibier, impressive canyons like the Grand Canyon du Verdon and the L’Ardeche Canyon and balcony roads like Combe Laval Road, Clue de Barles, Col de Presles as well many other small back roads and Tour de France highlights.
Itinerary:
· Day 1: Individual Arrival to Annecy, France.
· Day 2 (320 km) Highlights: Col de Madeleine, Col du Chaussy, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier, Col du Lautaret, Col d'Izoard, Col de Vars
· Day 3 (290 km) Highlights: Col de la Bonette, Gorge du Cians, Balcony Rd Clue d'Aiglun, Balcony Rd Clue de Saint-Auban, Gorges de Daluis, Col de la Cayolle
· Day 4 (290 km)Highlights: Col d'Allos, Grand Canyon du Verdon, Lac de Sainte-Croix, Balcony Rd Clue de Barles,
· Day 5 (320 km)Highlights: Mont Ventoux, L'Ardeche Canyon
· Day 6 (300-350 km) Highlights: Col de Rousset, Col de la Machine, Balcony Rd Combe Laval Road, Balcony Rd Col de Presles, Gorge de la Bourne
· Day 7 (330-360 km) Highlights: Col du Glandon, Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Mont Cenis, Col de l'Iseran, Col du Petit Saint Bernard, Col du Grand Saint-Bernard
· Day 8: Individual ride home
Tour Profile:
Riding days are designed for 6 hours of net riding time. For tour days spanning well over 300 km/day, there may be segments of faster highway/Autobahn sections integrated into the route to efficiently cover ground and maximize our exploration of key highlights within the designated timeframe.
On these longer tour days, I have also mapped out shorter alternative routes, allowing you to reduce the distance traveled while ensuring the riding time remains reasonable for the day.
Required Skill Level:
Riders should be proficient on winding roads, especially in hairpin turns, and comfortable passing slower vehicles on high alpine roads. This tour is designed for ambitous riders with the stamina to cover up to 350 km on winding alpine roads. This tour is not suitable for beginner riders.
