Want to ride some of the greatest singletrack in the Alps? Welcome to the Serre Chevalier. Our 5-day adventure with spectacular bike rides in epic Alpine landscapes starts from the quaint village of Cervières. Variety is the name of the game: we’ll zig-zag through the undergrowth in Larches, shred technicals near Massif des Écrins, ravage 1,300 m/4,265 ft descents in Montgenevre, and so much more! Get stoked for 5 days of world-class trails, unmatched thrills, and some of the finest food in the world. Ready to ride the best of the best?
Shred a selection of the finest singletrack in the Serre Chevalier area!
Develop your enduro skill set with an experienced local guide
Explore a cozy lodge in Cervières, a quaint, scenic commune in the Hautes-Alpes
Enjoy a best-of MTB medley in the Hautes Alpes area! Head to a well-equipped lodge in the heart of the Serre Chevalier, and spend five days shredding world-class singletrack with spectacular backdrops. Enjoy epic thrills and elevate your bike skills in iconic sites like Larches, the Écrins Glacier, Cervières, and more.
After we meet at the Briançon SNCF station at 9am or in front of our Lodge Le Petit Cerf in Cervières at 8:40am, we will leave for the adventure with our minibus.
Day 1 starts gently, with some cool climbing on the road and then on track, until the start of the somewhat technical, but very playful “Melezin” singletrack. You’ll love zig-zagging through the undergrowth! After a snack break, we will ride to the opposite side and ascend a perfect path to get a feel for the local riding atmosphere: the Sacha torrent and its epic hairpins.
Then, we head to our little nest for a drink and a debrief.
Elevation: +1200 m /3,940 ft, -1200 m /3,940 ft
Distance: 25 km /15 mi
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
After breakfast we start with a chill ride along the rural Guisane Valley. We travel 20 km/12,5 miles along the torrent to reach the famous Lautaret pass at 2,042 m/6,700 ft. Get ready for a progressive D+ ascent of 800 m/2,625 ft, embellished with superb landscapes. After a short break with views of La Meije, a short ascent, and off we go for THE balcony route facing the Écrins glaciers, the perfect mountain riding combo!
We’ll end the day with a visit to Briançon’s authentic Italian ice cream parlor!
Elevation: +1000m/-1000m, possibility of + according to the desires of the group
Distance: 40 km / 25 mi
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
Off to the Montgenevre border pass (1850 m/6,070 ft)!
The mountain biking potential of this region is huge. We will tackle some rolling portions then a little more technical riding, small runs all in hairpins on lunar and extraordinary volcanic ground, with one wheel in Italy and the other in France!
Riding from Collet Vert to Lac Gignoux to Chenaillet (2650 m/ 8,695 ft), we will reach Col de la Cochette and descend below Fort de l’Infernet towards Briançon. Get ready for a monumental descent of more than 1300 m/4,265 ft in altitude!
This is some of the finest riding in the Alps, and if you just can’t get enough, the day’s riding can be extended!
Elevation: +1300 m /4,265 ft, -1300 m /4,265 ft – or more!
Distance: approx. 30-40 km / 18-25 mi
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
Day 4 is a spectacular tour around the magical Vallouise Valley. Facing the glaciers, we will ride endless singletrack, with majestic landscapes and varied terrain. We will pass the Pousterle pass, continue to the Oréac plateau, and finish with a majestic descent via the perched valley of Narreyroux.
Elevation: +1300 m /4,265 ft, -1300 m /4,265 ft
Distance: 30 km / 18 mi
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
Time to make the most of this our final day in the area.
We’ll pedal along the French-Italian border from our base in Cervières, through breathtaking landscapes, superbly adapted to our bikes. Lakes, volcanic ridges (like at Salagou!), and flow that will make all the hairs on your body stand up! A coffee break at the Rifugio Mautino on the Italian side will allow you to re-energize for the rides ahead. “É delizioso!”
Back in the valley, we will have a last debrief, recounting all the best rides and leaving you with a strong desire to come back!
After a transfers to Briançon, it’s time to say farewell to your guides and Serre Chevalier.
Elevation: +900 to +1200 m / 2,950 to 3,937 ft, -900 m to -1200 m / 2,950 to 3,937 ft
Distance: 30-40 km / 18-25 mi
Meals: Breakfast
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
Skill level: To participate in this adventure, you should be at ease with long and demanding descents. You should be able to deal with hairpin bends and tackle back-breaking inclines, master your brakes, and hop over small tricky sections (tree roots, rocks, steps).
Descents are often long and sustained (but progressive as the week goes on), sometimes steep, often technically demanding, with several highly exposed sections. If you want to elevate your biking skills, this trip is ideal for you.
Fitness level: This adventure is meant for keen and passionate mountain bikers who enjoy challenges and regularly practice outdoor activities. You need to be sporty and used to go out riding for a full day at least once a week, with a few shorter outings during the week. We recommend practicing several MTB outings before heading out on this trip.
Your guide will take you on quite long climbs where you may sometimes even have to push or carry your bike. Expect daily ascents between + 800 m/2,600 ft and + 1400 m/ 4,600 ft.
NOTE: If you don’t have the skills and stamina required, the guide reserves the right to ask you to leave the group for the well-being of the rest of the riders.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Technical gear:
Clothes:
Accessories & other items:
If you don’t have any of the required gear, you can rent an Enduro bike pack, including a repair kit and helmet, from your guides.
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
On this trip, you will stay in your guides’ Lodge nestled in the village of Cervières at the foot of the Col d’Izoard. You will be looked after by Isabelle and her team, who will offer you an exceptional welcome and a living space designed to help you spend some quality time in peace and quiet.
The food is simple, natural, and high-quality, with a selection of good beers and wines. Rental equipment is located under the hotel, and your guides’ headquarters are just a stone’s throw away. The lodge is made up of “lodge” rooms for a maximum of 3 people with shared bathrooms and showers, as well as hotel-style rooms with WC and shower (single or double room option on request).
Once your guides have received your booking, they’ll provide you with a list of accommodation options in case you need to book accommodations before or after the trip. All accommodations they will notify you about are close to the meeting points and you may often benefit from preferential rates.
Group sizes and prices:
Mountain biking in Serre Chevalier can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
To get to your tour in Serre Chevalier, most people fly into Turin International Airport 1.5 hours away.
You can meet your guides either at the Briançon SNCF station at 9am or in front of the Le Petit Cerf mountain lodge in Cervières at 8:40am.
To get to the Briançon SNCF station, you can take a 1h40min shuttle bus from Turin Airport to Briançon. From there, you can take a local bus or taxi to the mountain lodge. Alternatively, you can rent a car at the Turin airport and drive to Briançon or Cervières.
Once you meet your guides at your chosen meeting point at the scheduled time, you will depart to your adventure via minibus. NOTE: Make sure to arrive at your chosen meeting point well in advance.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
