French Alps MTB Holidays: The Best Singletracks in Serre Chevalier

What you get on this adventure:

• • An experienced mountain biking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • Six full days of mountain biking
  • Minibus transfers from one of the indicated meeting points to Cervières and back
  • Luggage transfers by minibus and a private driver
  • Five nights of lodge accommodations in Cervieres village
  • All meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • A welcome pack by your guides

What’s not included:

• • Transportation before and after the trip
  • Gear – rentals available
  • Personal Insurance
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Other personal expenses
  • Guide gratuities — optional

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:

• • Any mountain type or enduro bike with platform pedals or your clip-in pedals (that we can mount on a rental bike)
    or
  • E-bike (remember to charge your battery for day 1)
  • Backpack — maximum 20-25L capacity
  • Helmet
  • Sunglasses
  • MTB gloves
  • Knee and elbow protector
  • Low hiking shoes with flat soles, or shoes with clip-in pedals
  • Repair kit including:
    • a set of brake pads (that match your brakes)
    • a spare derailleur hanger
    • a quick link for your own chain
    • a pump
    • self-adhesive patches
    • inner tubes with the right dimensions
    • anything else that may be specific to your bike

Clothes:

• • Sunglasses and glasses with clear lenses for forest sections and cloudy days
  • Buff and/or thin beanie
  • Breathable long-sleeved top & leggings (merino wool is recommended)
  • Light fleece jacket and/or light hooded down jacket (soft shell or GoreTex)
  • Mountain biking shorts and leggings
  • Light fleece or soft shell gloves
  • Silk glove liners
  • Warm gloves with a breathable and waterproof membrane
  • Swimming gear — avoid shorts or bermudas
  • Extra t-shirt — optional, but recommended
  • Bike socks (merino wool is recommended)
  • Slippers or crocs for evening wear

Accessories & other items:

• • 1L flask — thermos or Camelbak
  • Pocket knife
  • Duck tape
  • Factor 50 sunscreen
  • Duffel bag that holds up to 90L — suitcases are not recommended
  • Toiletries and first aid kit
  • Personal toilet bag

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:

• • For this adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 5:1 to 8:1.
  • It takes a minimum of 5 people for this tour to operate.
  • The cost does not decrease as the group grows.

Mountain biking in Serre Chevalier can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • Minors under the age of 18 cannot participate in this tour.

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 Oulx-Cesana-Claviere-Sestriere railway station (TGV) at 8:15am.

To get to the Oulx-Cesana-Claviere-Sestriere station, you can take a 1-hour bus ride or a 1h15min train ride from Turin. To get to the Briançon SNCF station, you can take the bus or train to Oulx, rent a car, and drive there. Alternatively, you can rent a car at the Turin airport and drive to Oulx or Briançon.

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 emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.

Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters, and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans. We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to.

If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!