The French Alps has some of the best mountain biking in the world, or as the French call it, VTT – Vélo Tout Terrain! Get a cheap flight to Geneva, book a transfer to the mountains with Léman Transfers and you’ll be hitting the trails in no time. An airport transfer with Léman Transfers will be able to accommodate all your bikes and gear. If you are interested in cycle touring we can also provide a concierge service for your bags, ensuring that your luggage is where you want it to be, even before you arrive!
Every year new mountain biking routes are being opened up in the Alps, so it is no surprise that many mountain bikers return year after year. The ski lifts are open in many of the major ski resorts so that you can easy reach some awesome downhill and cross county terrain. The mountain bike routes in the Alps are graded like ski runs – green, blue, red and black – with green being the easiest and black the most difficult.
Portes du Soleil
The Portes du Soleil is not only a famous skiing area, but it is one of the best mountain biking regions you can find. The Portes du Soleil’s linked lift system allows mountain bikers to cover a wide variety of terrains, all against the spectacular backdrop of the French Alps. There is riding for all abilities here and with 12 resorts, 650km of marked tracks and 24 ski lifts open in the summer there’s plenty to keep you occupied.
Morzine is probably the top foreign location for British mountain bikers. Located in the heart of the Portes du Soleil it has great riding right on its doorstep as well as easy access to riding in Les Gets, Châtel and across the border in Switzerland. This area is littered with bike parks and freestyle areas so there’s plenty of opportunities for practicing stunts and moves.
Chamonix- Mont Blanc
Chamonix is another popular mountain biking spot. It is particularly popular with those seeking technical singletrack, all in the shadow of Europe’s highest mountain.
3 Vallées & the Tarentaise
Further south in the heart of the Alps, Les Arcs, La Plagne, Tignes, Meribel and Courchevel as well as many other smaller resorts offer more great mountain biking. They have some world-class man-made downhill runs, as well as man-made bike parks and plenty of interlinking singletrack so that you can enjoy some great cross country riding too. Many resorts have ski lifts, equipped for taking mountain bikes, meaning that it is possible to cover many miles of terrain without vast climbs to wear you out before you’ve even started!
Les 2 Alpes & Alpe d’Huez
Further south still Les 2 Alpes has 100km of marked biking routes and 10 mountain bike compatible ski lifts to get you there the easy way. There is also an impressive bike park. Alpe d’Huez – more famous in riding as one of the main mountains in the Tour de France – is also popular with mountain bikers of all abilities. |
