Mont Blanc Glory: Grand Circle Route
The full circumnavigation of the most famous mountain massif in the Alps in less than a week – knobby tires make it possible for single-track lovers! This extraordinary MTB loop serves up the best of what the Alps have to offer but provides no shortcuts.
If you’ve been dreaming of a summer visit to Chamonix, France, but don’t plan on bringing a rope and crampons, you’re likely going to enjoy this tour – as long as you bring some technical skills and endurance. The spectacular Chamonix area is set up for mountain biking like few other destinations in the Alps at this point and sports XC / DH trail systems that leave little to be desired.
We’ll make use of some of dedicated MTB routes but mainly will travel on choice hiking trails that take us around the spectacular mountain massif. Rather than hike this monster of a loop, rest your knees for a change and come ride with us!
Tour Map
| Tour Length |
6 days
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| Days of Riding |
6 days
|
| Tour Rating |
(easy option)
or
(epic option) |
| 2006 Tour Dates
|
02 – 07 July; 08 – 13 July; 16 – 21 July; 22 – 27 July; 30 July - 04 Aug; 05 – 10 Aug; 28 Aug – 02 Sept; 03 – 08 Sept.
|
| Tour Price |
€ 1,295.-
(if needed, add € 150 for rental bikes; single supplement not available)
|
| Tour meeting point |
Chamonix, France
|
| Tour starting point |
Chamonix
|
| Tour destination |
Chamonix (loop tour)
|
| Countries visited |
France, Switzerland, Italy
|
| Max. # of participants |
12 riders in two groups plus 2 guides
|
| Min. # of participants |
4 riders in one group plus 1 guide
|
| Total vertical |
7,200 m
/
23,000 ft. (easy) to 10,500 m
/
34,500 ft. (epic)
|
| Total distance |
206 km / 128 miles (easy) to 245 km / 152 miles (epic)
|
| Services included |
5x accommodation; 5x breakfast, lunch & dinner; all fees & gratuities for 3rd-party services; accredited & multi-lingual guide(s); all transportation needs from rendezvous to final tour destination.
|
| Additional info. avail. |
comprehensive e-itinerary (tour prep. guide) upon your booking
|
Chamonix and Mont Blanc hold special appeal for many travelers from abroad and for good reason. They are undeniably the epicenter of historic and modern mountaineering, a legendary ski destination and as of late beckon with a teaming mountain bike scene that will soon be rivaling the rock / snow & ice subcultures in reputation.
You ought to experience this ride before it becomes a cult – and it will!
| 1 |
meet us near Chamonix train station for a warm welcome and a quick trip briefing; we won’t waste time spinning towards Argentiere; short but gnarly climbs soon get us Le Tour where we can opt to take the gondola to reach our first major pass. It’s downhill for 7 miles before climbing one last time to our inn right in the vineyards of La Grange, Switzerland.
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| 2 |
visit the Roman ruins (amphitheatre) and other relicts before grinding out of the Rhone Valley to charming Champex where we enjoy lunch by the lakeshore; wicked single-track for the rest of the day as a just reward for the morning’s long climb; our destination is an authentic mountain hotel run by a well-known mountaineering guide at La Fouly.
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| 3 |
ascend the Col du Grand Ferret with its spectacular panorama before dropping endlessly (as it seems) into the Italian Ferret Valley and Courmayeur, a well known ski resort. Grab a gelato after lunch but before we take the gondola for great afternoon views of Mont Blanc’s sheer south face; there is more fabulous single-track in the aft on the way to our Alpine Club inn with incredible vistas of the Aiguille de Peuterey, the Brenva Spur and famous icefalls.
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| 4 |
climb to Col de Seigne and swiftly descend on countless switchbacks to the cheese-maker at Ville des Glaciers. The rest of the day is blacktop riding – but wait – it’s a famous Tour de France stage with awesome scenery to boot before we reach the quaint hamlet Hauteluce.
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| 5 |
awake on the ride up the Col du Joly, only the first of two major passes today. We pass the fashionable resort community of Les Contamines before climbing to near the top of Voza Pass. Our cozy inn sits right across from the Glacier de Bionnassay and we can watch the mountaineers on their way to Mont Blanc’s summit 11,000 feet (3,300 m) above our heads.
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| 6 |
enjoy a long and scenic downhill with views of Chamonix as the morning treat. We ride single-track along the Arve River and can afford an easy pace with only six miles left to town. Once in Chamonix, we amble around the busy town, visit various famous sights or simply enjoy a good lick of ice cream before farewells. Depending on the weather, you may be able to top your riding experience with an afternoon cable-car ride for a grand summit view of Mont Blanc from the famous Aiguille du Midi.
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This tour itinerary is for guidance only. Forces of nature, trail closures or extraordinary opportunities may compel us to change the program at short notice for the sake of your safety, comfort and satisfaction. Our Transalp rides are de facto mountaineering endeavors and require some flexibility on your part.
