Some people thrive in crowded resorts, hopping from one tourist hotspot to the next. But if that sounds like your idea of a nightmare, this serene 7-day cycling journey through France’s Vercors Park is right up your alley. Nestled in the heart of the French Alps, Vercors delights with lush valleys, rolling mountains, a pleasant climate, and the friendliest cows you’ll ever meet. This self-guided tour takes care of all the essentials—hotel stays, most meals, and luggage transfers—leaving the rest entirely up to you. In between pedaling or once the day’s ride is done, linger at local farms, sample fresh produce, or let your hosts whip up a few gourmet surprises.
Experience the beauty and charm of the French Alps on this week-long Vercors cycling adventure! “Le Vercors des 4 Montagnes” offers green valleys, bracing mountain air, and an abundance of flora and fauna, perched between the rivers Drôme and Isère. Pedal past charming villages and traditional farmhouses producing local delights, from PDO Bleu du Vercors cheese to honey and meat. With every turn, enjoy gourmet treats, stunning landscapes, and a living, dynamic mountain culture.
You will arrive in the charming village of Lans en Vercors and check into your 3-star hotel. Your mountain e-bike will be delivered directly to you, allowing for your first laps on the Via Vercors. This secure and easy route is the perfect way to familiarize yourself with your bike’s controls before returning via the scenic former road connecting Villard de Lans and Lans en Vercors. After your ride, you can relax in the hotel swimming pool before enjoying a gourmet dinner prepared with local products.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel with swimming pool
Cycling: 18.9 km (11.7 mi)
Elevation: +/- 190 m (625 ft)
Today, the Via Vercors leads you to St Nizier du Moucherotte, a village serving as a spectacular balcony over the French Alps. From this vantage point, you can spot famous summits ranging from Mont-Blanc to the Oisans. You will discover the Vercors resistance necropolis and an Olympic vestige—the St Nizier ski jumping area. On the return trip, you have the option to visit three local farmhouses to sample PDO Bleu du Vercors cheese or local jams and aperitifs.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel with swimming pool
Cycling: 26 km (16.2 mi)
Elevation: +/- 535 m (1,755 ft)
You will follow the former tram route between Grenoble and Villard de Lans to reach the territory’s largest village. After a break to explore Villard de Lans, you will continue to Corrençon en Vercors, a picturesque village that serves as the gateway to the High Plateaux Nature Reserve. Along the way, you can visit a goat farm or the Perce-Neige farm to see how local cheese is made. If the season is right, a stop at the Refuge du Clariant log house offers a fabulous terrace for snacks.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel with swimming pool
Cycling: 22.7 km (14.1 mi)
Elevation: +385 m (1,265 ft) / -300 m (985 ft)
This gorgeous loop allows you to immerse yourself in the unique nature of the Vercors. You will ride through the flatlands of Château Julien and the meadows of Herbouilly before reaching the moving site of Valchevrière, a village destroyed during World War II. Your route continues through Bois Barbu, offering wonderful views of the central Vercors cliffs. During the summer, these Nordic ski sites transform into fields of wildflowers. You will return to Corrençon by crossing the small Liorin pass.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Cycling: 27.5 km (17.1 mi)
Elevation: +/- 810 m (2,655 ft)
Your journey today takes you through the refreshing Gorges de la Bourne and the smaller Méaudret gorges, both beautifully carved into the limestone landscape. You will pass through the charming village of Méaudre, where you can visit the Colibris farm to find organic bio pâtés and local sausages. The final stretch leads to Autrans, the historic birthplace of cross-country skiing in France. You can choose to ride across the open plain or through the Claret woods for a view of the village from the local ski jumps.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel with swimming pool
Cycling: 31.7 km (19.7 mi)
Elevation: +455 m (1,490 ft) / -510 m (1,675 ft)
This is one of the most stunning e-mountain bike routes on the Vercors plateau, with 600 meters of elevation gain across tracks, quiet roads, and forest paths. The ride takes you up to the alpine pastures of La Molière, a spectacular natural balcony offering views over seven mountain ranges, including Mont Blanc. Stop at the Molière hut to rest and soak in the sound of cowbells and marmots across the flower-filled meadows. The descent back to Lans en Vercors can be tackled via a playful technical route or an easier panoramic one.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel with swimming pool
Cycling: 38.8 km (24.1 mi)
Elevation: +790 m (2,590 ft) / -830 m (2,725 ft)
Your self-guided adventure through the Vercors Natural Park comes to an end this morning. After enjoying one last breakfast at your hotel, prepare for your onward journey.
Meals: Breakfast
At times, adjustments to the planned itinerary may be required due to logistics such as fully booked accommodations, trail closures, or unfavorable weather. Please note that any changes are always made with your best interests in mind, with your safety and comfort as the top priority.
Superb itinerary, ideal route choice, precise and valuable online guidance, comfortable hotels, and especially full of character—top-notch!
All in all, I’m very satisfied with this trip, with its magnificent scenery.
Included:
Add-ons (available to add at checkout)
Not included:
This Vercors cycling tour is best suited for cyclists with experience, with the level of difficulty adaptable depending on how much distance you’d like to cover. Expect hilly terrain with daily elevation gains of around 200 to 800 m (660-2,625 ft), and rides ranging from 20 to 40 km (12.5-25 mi) per day. The routes follow quiet minor roads, tracks, and gravel paths, offering rewarding rides without major technical challenges.
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When packing for this Vercors cycling tour, think layered clothing systems that work together and can be easily added or removed.
Avoid cotton or cycling-specific clothing. Synthetic fabrics dry quickly and perform well in active conditions. Merino wool is also an excellent option—it dries fast, is comfortable to wear, and naturally resists odors even after extended use.
All you’ll need to carry during the day is a small bag or saddle bag. You’ll get your luggage transferred to your hotel in the evening (transfer by a taxi). Please limit your luggage to 1 bag per person, max 20 kg.
If your bike doesn’t have a saddlebag, bring a 40L backpack with a waist strap to carry your daily essentials and picnic while cycling. If your bike is equipped with a rack, you can secure your bag with a bungee cord. Please note that the rented mountain e-bikes do not come with saddlebags, so a backpack is still recommended—it makes it easy to keep your belongings with you when visiting attractions along the route.
Clothing:
Gear:
First aid kit suggestions:
Carrying a basic personal first aid kit is strongly advised, as unforeseen situations may arise during travel. Access to medications and first aid supplies can be limited in certain destinations, making it essential to bring necessary prescription and over-the-counter items. Travel plans, vaccinations, and medication use should be reviewed with a healthcare provider in advance to ensure a safe and smooth journey.
Here’s a basic list of what’s generally a good personal travel first aid kit:
Optional items:
Yes! Your guides offer bike rental—you have a choice between an e-mountain bike and an e-mountain bike with full suspension. You can add it to your trip at checkout.
You can also take a normal mountain bike or a hybrid bike, but the tour will be more challenging.
Self-guided tours are perfect for those who enjoy exploring on their own terms—at their own pace, and with the company they choose. By joining this self-guided Vercors cycling tour, we take care of…
Rather than joining a guided group, you’ll navigate the tour yourself, using resources provided by the tour operator. For a hassle-free journey with everything arranged for you in advance, there’s no better option!
Digital travel package includes documents available in English, French, and German, sent by email, and provides access to a smartphone travel application for navigating hikes and accessing local maps (available in English only). It also contains the list of booked accommodations, and all the detailed information needed for a successful trip. If desired, a printed version of the travel package can be provided for an additional fee; it will be ready and available at the first accommodation of the itinerary, including maps, a topo guide, and a travel folder—you can add this at checkout.
As a self-guided tour is built around your preferred travel dates, your guide will take care of arranging accommodations and details after you book. Note that exact accommodations and dates might shift slightly, so don’t make any travel arrangements until the details of your adventure are confirmed.
Group sizes and pricing
Vercors cycling tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The price for this Vercors cycling tour is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.
The starting point of your Vercors cycling tour is Lans-en-Vercors. To get there, most people fly into Lyon Airport,(LYS) or Geneva Airport (GVA). Depending on where you land, it will take you 1.5-3 hours to reach Lans-en-Vercors—either rent a car, use public transport, or hire a shuttle service.
Arrival is on Day 1 of the tour—check into your hotel and the rental bike will be delivered.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors 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.
Deposits
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Superb itinerary, ideal route choice, precise and valuable online guidance, comfortable hotels, and especially full of character—top-notch!