Starting in Verbier, Switzerland, you will spend an entire week crossing the famous Tour du Mont Blanc on your bike.This all-inclusive adventure offers arguably the best mountain biking in the Alps, among some of the world’s most magnificent landscapes, but it also gives you a glimpse into the mountain lifestyle in three countries—Switzerland, Italy, and France. Expert guidance will enhance your MTB skills and you’ll be able to recharge from epic riding in quality accommodations offering local food and great views!
Arrive in Verbier in the afternoon and settle in the nearby chalet, your accommodation for the night. You can later meet fellow riders and your guide and do a quick ride in the area. Return for dinner, enjoy the beautiful scenery around the chalet on the terrace and get some good night’s sleep for tomorrow’s riding.
Meals: Dinner
Enjoy your hearty breakfast at 8 am and depart for the first stage of Tour du Mont Blanc, starting at 10 am. Riding down the valley, you will pass through some authentic Swiss mountain villages. Your journey continues into the Grand St. Bernard Valley and up to Lake Champex, by the shores of which you will have a laid-back lunch. Afterwards, ride down into Val Ferret and continue your traverse on a mix of gravel paths and singletrack until your group reaches the accommodation at the base of the Mont Dolent, offering sprawling views of the La Neuve Glacier, as well as the rugged peaks of the Aiguilles Rouges.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Riding / Elevation gain: 47 km (30 miles) / 1550 m (5,085 ft)
Your riding on day 3 begins by crossing a river and turning onto a gravel track that will eventually turn into singletrack. A beautiful but demanding climb will bring your group to the mountain pass Grand Col Ferret, standing at 2537 m (8323 ft). Take in the spectacular views over both the Swiss and Italian side of the mountain range. What follows is a technical descent until you reach a mountain hut called Refugio Elena, where you’ll stop to get a well-deserved espresso and cake. Continuing down the valley, brace yourself for a challenging climb and get rewarded with views of the Mont Blanc and gelato in the Italian town of Courmayeur. Your lodging is a short drive away and offers unimpeded views of the famous massif.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Elevation gain: 900 m (2,953 ft)
Start with a short downhill and continue climbing up to the Col de la Seigne, found at 2516 m (8,255 ft) and marking the border with France. Once again, your effort will have paid off—take some time to enjoy some of the most beautiful views of this trip. A flowing and long downhill will later bring your group down to the remote village of Les Chapieux. From here, start another climb to your accommodation above Lake Roseland, where you will stay for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Riding / Elevation gain: 49 km (30 miles) / 1550 m (5,085 ft)
Follow a farm track leading you above the Roseland Lake and continue with another climb, winding up the mountain in numerous hairpin turns. This long climb will take your group to the top of Col de Gittaz, which will be reached by carrying the bikes for the last 20 minutes. A later technical descent and another climb (this time shorter) gets you to Col de Joly, after which it’s a thrill ride all the way down to Les Contamines. Follow a river before starting the final climb to a mountain hut, where you will stay for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Riding / Elevation gain: 48 km (30 miles) / 1650 m (5,413 ft)
Start your day with a traverse along a challenging trail that will include a few walking sections for safety reasons. After this fun trail, you will start a steep climb up to the Col de Voza. From there your group will make an extra loop with fantastic views and finally ride down to Les Houches and follow the river all the way to Chamonix. Spend a relaxing afternoon doing some sightseeing, including a visit to the famed Aiguille du Midi, which stands at 3,800 meters (12,467 feet).
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Riding / Elevation gain: 31 km (19 miles) / 920 m (3,018 ft)
Your riding today starts with a traverse across a valley, up towards Argentiere and La Tour. In La Tour, you’ll have an option to take the lift or climb up to Col de Balme, the border with Switzerland. From there, a spectacular singletrack will lead your group into the Trient Valley. The last climb will be to the Col de Forclaz. What follows is a ride down through the vineyards until you reach the old Roman city of Martigny in the Rhone Valley. Celebrate the end of the Tour du Mont Blanc MTB trip and your achievements with a drink on one of the terraces and wait for the van to drive your group to the MTB Verbier Chalet. Spend the last evening with your guide and fellow riders, as your tour ends tomorrow.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Riding / Elevation gain: 40 km (25 miles) / 1450 m (4,757 ft)
After breakfast, it is time to leave your chalet. Say goodbye to your guide, fellow MTB enthusiasts, and the Alps—or continue touring on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
For these Tour du Mont Blanc MTB guided adventures, you need to be in excellent physical shape. This is a challenging journey for adventurous mountain bikers, capable of handling their mountain bike on steep technical climbs and descents on singletrack. Riding on the roads will be reduced to a minimum so, you will mostly ride in the dirt. You should be able to ride for hours without stopping and handle 6-hour days, 6 days in a row. Keep in mind that there will always be a guide by your side monitoring your technique and making sure everybody can handle the rides while having a great time. There will also be plenty of opportunities to take breaks in beautiful locations.
You should have previous mountain biking experience to participate in these Tour du Mont Blanc MTB trips. Experience of riding through mid-level mountains is necessary, but you needn’t necessarily have experience of riding in alpine terrain. You will be riding for up to 50 km (30 miles) a day with total elevation gains of up to 1,600 m/5,250 ft (ascents will be reduced to a minimum during the Enduro version of the tour), while carrying a backpack weighing between 6 and 10 kg (13-22 lbs).
Some of the skills needed for the tour include riding with exposure, controlling your bike on moderate steep singletracks, and descents and climbs with some loose rocks and roots, handling small unexpected steps, rock gardens, and occasional little jumps. You should be able to determine when to walk, due to the terrain being too difficult or dangerous. Your guide will monitor your technique, take care of the logistics and help you overcome any obstacles.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Bring comfortable clothes appropriate for varying weather conditions. You will receive a more comprehensive list upon booking.
Group sizes and prices:
Mountain biking along Tour du Mont Blanc can be arranged for bigger and for private groups with custom dates. Contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Verbier, most people fly into Geneva Airport, which is 2 hours away. From there, you can take a train ride to Verbier.
You will meet your guide at the Verbier train station. They have transportation to your accommodation covered!
It is required that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance on and off the trails. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency, 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!