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.
Arrival in Lans-en-Vercors, where you’ll check into your hotel before receiving your mountain e-bike (the tour can also be done with a regular mountain or hybrid bike, though it will be more demanding). You’ll take your first ride along the Via Vercors, a safe and easy route that lets you get comfortable with your bike, before returning on the old road between Villard-de-Lans and Lans-en-Vercors.
Meals: Dinner
Distance: 10-20 km (6.2-12.4 mi)
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Lans-en-Vercors
The secure route of the Via Vercors takes you to the small village of Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte, a stunning balcony over the Alps where you can see everything from Mont Blanc to the Dévoluy, passing the Vanoise, Chartreuse, Belledonne, Grandes Rousses, and Oisans peaks. On the Saint-Nizier plateau, enjoy sweeping views and visit the necropolis of the Vercors resistance. Return via the Via Vercors or the forest path through the Bois des Mûres, offering excellent views of an Olympic vestige—the Saint-Nizier ski jumping hill. Back in Lans-en-Vercors, you can stop by three local farmhouses: Ferme de la Grand’Mèche and Ferme du Pic St Michel, both producing cheese including PDO Bleu du Vercors, and Les Saveurs du Vercors, known for jams, coulis, and aperitifs.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Distance: 35-50 km (21.8-31 mi)
Route: Easy hilly terrain, farm visits
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Lans-en-Vercors
You can reach Villard-de-Lans either along the Via Vercors, which follows the former tramway route from Grenoble, or by crossing the Allières plateau, where you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the valley and surrounding mountains. After a pause in Villard, the largest village in the area, continue on to Corrençon-en-Vercors, one of the smallest yet most picturesque villages on the plateau. As the gateway to the Hauts Plateaux Nature Reserve—the largest in France—Corrençon offers a spectacular setting, home to one of Europe’s most beautiful mountain golf courses, as well as a roller ski track and biathlon training facilities for both professionals and amateurs.
Along the way, you can stop at local farms such as the Chèvrerie des Cabrioles, known for its goats, or La Ferme des Perce-Neige, which produces the famous Bleu du Vercors cheese. In season, don’t miss the Refuge du Clariant, a cozy log house set among trails and the golf course, where you can enjoy meals and snacks throughout the day on a stunning panoramic terrace.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Distance: 30-50 km (18.7- 31 mi)
Route: Easy route, mainly on the Via Vercors, farm visits
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Corrençon
This beautiful loop showcases the unique landscapes of the Vercors, taking you across the open flatlands of Château Julien, through the peaceful meadows of Herbouilly, and to the poignant village of Valchevrière, destroyed during the Second World War. From there, continue to Bois Barbu, where sweeping views of the central Vercors and its dramatic cliffs await. Nordic skiing sites in winter, these areas burst into color with wildflowers in the summer. The route circles back to Corrençon via the small Liorin Pass.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Distance: 30-50 km (21.8-31 mi)
Route: Hilly terrain without technical difficulties, forest tracks, secondary roads
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Corrençon
Passing through Bois Barbu, you’ll reach the impressive Gorges de la Bourne before following the smaller Méaudret gorges, a refreshing limestone passage that leads to the charming village of Méaudre and the Via Vercors. In Méaudre, you can stop by the Ferme des Colibris to sample local specialties like organic pâtés and traditional saucissons. Continue on to Autrans, a village renowned as the cradle of cross-country skiing in France, either via the Voie Verte or through Claret’s forest, which offers lovely views of the village from the old ski jumping area.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Distance: 30-50 km (21.8-31 mi)
Route: Hilly terrain without technical difficulties, forest tracks, secondary roads
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Autrans
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
Distance: 35-50 km (21.8-31 mi)
Route: Varied, moderately difficult
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Lans-en-Vercors
After breakfast, pack up and check out of the hotel. With that, your adventure officially comes to an end.
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 350 to 450 m (1,150-1,480 ft), and rides ranging from 30 to 50 km (18.5-31 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!