Motorcycle rides and roadbooks in Savoie
Are you bikers? Enjoy a stay at Val Thorens this summer to discover, via legendary roads and passes, Savoie and its surroundings. Popularized by the recurring passages of the Tour de France, these roads will make you smile turn after turn! Without forgetting the numerous lakes and viewpoints that will be available to you…
To make your life easier, we have selected roadmaps for the essential motorcycle trips.
These roadbooks can be downloaded in PDF format and are accompanied by GPS tracks in GPX (Garmin GPS) and KML (Google) formats.
Finally, remember to adapt these itineraries to your pace, traffic conditions and your desires!
1 – Loop via the Cormet de Roselend and its lake
From Val Thorens, join Moutiers then Bourg Saint Maurice. The serious things then begin with a beautiful winding climb up to the Cormet de Roselend.
During the descent towards Beaufort, take the time to stop for a drink on the terrace by the lake and why not go down to the dam.
Once you arrive in Beaufort-sur-Doron, enjoy tasting Beaufort (cheese) at the local cooperative. Finally, by taking the return road, you can visit the very pretty medieval town of Conflans with a panoramic view of Albertville and the valley.
Biker's tip: I recommend that you take a detour of 3 kilometers during the climb to Cormet de Roselend to get to the City of Glaciers. A dead end road but with a magnificent view.
Distance: 185 km
Duration: approximately 4 hours
GPS tracks: GPX - KML
2 – Tour de la Vanoise via the Col de la Madeleine and the Col de l’Iseran
A long walk which will require you to leave well dressed in the cool of the morning but which is worth it!
The climb to the Col de la Madeleine requires vigilance due to its narrowness and its not always perfect surface, but the view at the top is superb. The descent to La Chambre is very pleasant (beautiful curves).
After passing through the Maurienne valley, you will arrive in Bonneval-sur-Arc. A magnificent little village with stone chalets and slate roofs which is worth a stop.
You will then pass through the Col de l'Iseran, the highest road pass in Europe, and enjoy breathtaking views.
The return is made by crossing the resort of Val d'Isère and not far from Tignes where you will follow the lake. Once in Bourg Saint Maurice, follow the road to Moutiers then go back up to Val Thorens.
Biker's tip: Remember to fill up with gas in the valley to avoid running out of fuel!
Distance: 300 km
Duration: approximately 7 hours
GPS tracks: GPX - KML
3 – Return Val Thorens – La Thuile (Italy) via the Petit Saint Bernard pass
De Val Thorens, go down to Moutiers, reach Bourg Saint Maurice, then follow the road to the La Rosière ski resort. The first part is a very beautiful road where there is a succession of bumps and pins. Be more vigilant after crossing the station, the road becomes narrower and, not being cleared in winter, more damaged by the elements.
When passing the Petit Saint Bernard pass, you can take a break to discover archaeological sites near the road.
You then go down into Italy to La Thuile. The perfect time to eat a good pizza or fresh pasta!
The return to Val Thorens is done by the same route.
Distance: 200 km
Duration: 4h30 about
GPS tracks: GPX - KML
4 – Return Val Thorens – Suze (Italy) via the Col de l’Iseran and the Mont Cenis lake
If you want to take a second trip to Italy, the following roadbook will take you to Suze. From Val Thorens, get off at Moutiers then join Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
A long climb then begins to the top of the Col de l'Iseran where you will pass next to Lake Tignes and in the heart of the Val d'Isère resort.
After the pass, the road becomes narrower and the surface is less good for the descent on the Maurienne to the very beautiful village of Bonneval-sur-Arc. The descent continues to Lanslevillard where you will have to turn off towards the Mont Cenis lake and the Italian border. The lake often offers beautiful colors, the ideal place for a little break.
The road then switches to the Italian side with superb bends and turns up to the town of Suze.
The return is via the same road or via the Maurienne valley (Saint Jean de Maurienne/Albertville/Moutiers) if you wish to avoid going back through the Col de l'Iseran.
Biker's tip: Remember to bring warm clothes because even in the middle of summer, the passage over the Col de l'Iseran (2764m) is often cool!
Distance: 360 km
Duration: approximately 8 hours
GPS tracks: GPX - KML
5 – Return Val Thorens via the Madeleine, Glandon and Croix de Fer passes
The climb to the Col de la Madeleine requires vigilance due to its narrowness and its not always perfect surface, but the view at the top is superb. The descent to La Chambre is very pleasant (beautiful curves).
Once in the Maurienne valley, you continue opposite, towards the Col du Glandon. The road is as winding as possible but sometimes narrow. During the ascent you will have the opportunity to observe all levels of alpine vegetation. From the forest to the mountain pastures, it's splendid!
The walk then continues through the passage of the Col de la Croix de Fer and the descent through Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves. Once you arrive in Saint Jean de Maurienne, head towards La Chambre and take the Col de la Madeleine road to return.
6 – Col de Tamié – Col des Aravis – Héry sur Ugine
A trip to discover Haute-Savoie and the superb Aravis massif. From Albertville, you will take the Col de Tamié road in the Bauges massif.
Near the pass is Fort de Tamié, an opportunity to visit one of the most important defensive structures in the Alps for free. Also get the thrill of a 300m zip line flying over the valley of Savoie.
The descent then goes towards Faverges where two options are available to you:
- Follow Lake Annecy on its eastern shore to Veyrier then join Thônes via Alex. A very beautiful route but subject to heavy traffic during the summer period!
- Cross the Val Sulens via the Col des Marais for wilder landscapes. The opportunity also to discover Biscantin, a flavored cider from the town of Serraval. (my preference, detailed route in the downloadable roadbook)
Upstream from Thônes, follow the direction of Manigod then join the Clusaz road to go up to the Col des Aravis. At the pass, take the time to take a photo of Mont Blanc with the mountain pastures in the foreground.
The descent on the Giettaz is beautiful but stay vigilant, it turns a lot!
To return, follow the direction of Ugine then Albertville. Here again, you can vary the route by passing through the Arly gorges, the bucolic Route d'Héry sur Ugine or even the Saisies ski resort.
Distance: 225 km
Duration : approximately 4h30
GPS tracks: GPX - KML
7 – The great lakes of the Pays de Savoie
Born from the melting of glaciers more than 10 years ago, the lakes of the Pays de Savoie are real gems. This walk will allow you to discover the lakes of Annecy and Lake Bourget
From Albertville, take the direction of Ugine then Doussard. Then take the eastern shore of the lake to Annecy. Take the opportunity to cool off at one of the many beaches (Angon, Talloires, Veyrier, Albigny, etc.)!
From Annecy, then climb the Semnoz where a 360° view of the pre-Alps awaits you. The road then goes down to the Col de Leschaux, then the towns of Lescheraines and Cusy before reaching Lac du Bourget. Once in Aix-les-Bains, go around the lake starting from the east bank of the lake. Why not take advantage of a cultural break to visit Hautecombe Abbey?
Once around the lake, the return to Val Thorens can be done quickly by the highway to Albertville or by the Bauges massif (via Mont Revard then Lescheraines and finally Saint-Pierre-d'Albigny)
Distance: 370 km
Duration: 7h00 about
GPS tracks: GPX - KML
8 – Return Val Thorens – Col du Galibier via the Col du Télégraphe
The climb to the Col de la Madeleine requires vigilance due to its narrowness and its not always perfect surface, but the view at the top is superb. The descent to La Chambre is very pleasant (beautiful curves).
Then join Saint Michel de Maurienne and head towards Valloire / Col du Galibier.
The first part of the climb offers a series of dreamy turns in the middle of the forest up to the Col du Télégraphe.
Then, the landscape changes radically and becomes almost lunar until passing the pass at 2642m. Once there, don't hesitate to go down to the Col du Lautaret, located only 9km lower.
The return to Val Thorens is done by the same route, or possibly by the Col de l'Iseran if you have time (a somewhat long journey).
The biker's tip: during the summer season photographers are present in the last hairpins of the Col du Galibier, the opportunity to have a photo of you in action on your mount!
9 – The Tour du Mont-Blanc
Allowing you to travel fabulous roads and passes across 3 countries (France, Italy and Switzerland), the Mont Blanc tour is an essential outing in a biker's life.
The roadbook below departs from La Thuile (Italy). To get there from Val Thorens, use roadbook no. 3.
http://moto-trip.com/balade-moto/tour-du-mont-blanc-depuis-la-thuile
In this tour of Mont-Blanc, you will have the opportunity to pass through the Petit and Grand Saint-Bernard passes. You will take the magnificent Forclaz road in the middle of the vineyards and overlooking the town of Martigny (Switzerland). Then, passing the Col des Montets will take you into the Chamonix valley and its glaciers. Take the opportunity to climb the Aiguille du Midi to enjoy a breathtaking view!
After crossing the mountain pastures of Mégève and Praz-sur-Arly, the end of the loop will take you through the Cormet de Roselend, already proposed in roadbook n°1.
Biker's tip: allow 2 days if you want to take your time, especially if you are traveling as a couple.
Distance: 300km + 120km to do Val Thorens – Bourg-Saint-Maurice (A/R)
Duration: 1 2 days in
