France (Alps)
Route des Grandes Alpes
From Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean over 16 passes: Iseran, Galibier, Izoard, Vars and Bonette, then down to Menton.
- Approximate distance
- ≈ 447 mi
- Stops
- 10
- Suggested nights
- 11
- Best season
- July, August, September
July to September. The highest passes only open in June (Iseran, Bonette) and close with the first snow.
Warnings for large vehicles
- Narrow, steep passes, often without guardrails: above 3.5 t or 10 m, check each pass (some are not advised for large vehicles). Use a low gear going down.
- A Crit'Air sticker is required in some cities' low-emission zones (Grenoble, Nice); lots of cyclists on the passes in summer.
These routes were written from memory: double-check distances, seasons, rules and closures with official sources before you go.
Stops
- Thonon-les-Bains Departure
- La Clusaz 1 night
- Bourg-Saint-Maurice 1 night
- Val-d'Isère 1 night
- Val-Cenis 1 night
- Valloire 1 night
- Briançon 2 nights
- Barcelonnette 1 night
- Saint-Martin-Vésubie 1 night
- Menton 2 nights
Simplified line: straight lines between stops. The planner works out the real road.
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