Exploring the Briançonnais and the Italian Piedmont by electric mountain bike
In summary
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Sports
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Duration6 days
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LevelConfirmed
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DestinationBriançon / Piedmont
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AgeFrom 16 - 90 years
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CO₂-Emissions65.85 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
English
Italian
In a few words
Discover the most beautiful routes in the Briançonnais region and the Italian Piedmont by electric mountain bike ! Accompanied by a specialist instructor who knows the area like the back of their hand, you'll depart daily from the hotel, either directly by bike or via a short transfer. You'll ride through the best sections and have a blast! You'll tackle the legendary Col du Granon , explore the lakes of Montgenèvre , Orceyrette , and Rochemolles , and finish in style at the Fort de l'Infernet !
The highlights
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A small group of 8 people maximum
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Logistics handled from start to finish
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The comfort of your 2* hotel
Photos
Sport
Level
Mountain biking and e-mountain biking
The expert's opinion
You have already done e-MTB in the mountains: you are comfortable on the terrain encountered (hairpin turns, rocky sections, etc.) and you are in sufficient physical condition to spend full days outdoors at altitude (even with the electric assistance of the motor!).
In figures
MOUNTAIN BIKING
- Average duration/day: 4h30
- Average distance/day: 40 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 1320 m
- Average daily descent: 1360 m
- Predominant type of terrain : Dirt road
Management
French
English
Italian
Mountain bike instructor, certified as a French Cycling Instructor (MCF), with excellent knowledge of the area.
Mountain bike instructor, certified as a French Cycling Instructor (MCF), with excellent knowledge of the area.
Program
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Arrival and reception
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Arrival at the 2-star Hotel l'Echaillon in the afternoon. After settling in, briefing on the week's program and equipment check with your instructor at 6 pm. Complimentary aperitif before dinner.
Day 1 -
The Montgenèvre lakes, between France and Italy
- Transportation Minibus - 00h20 - 15km
- Activity MOUNTAIN BIKING
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 30 km
- Positive elevation gain 1350 m
- Negative elevation 1350 m
- Predominant type of terrain Dirt road
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Transfer to the hamlet of Les Alberts at 1360 meters altitude. You reach Montgenèvre via the Sestrières forest, then climb to the eastern pass of Gondran (2307m). You head towards Italy along the southern slopes of Chenaillet, discovering the lakes of Sarailles, Noir, and Gignoux. You cross the border at the Col de Gimont and descend towards Claviere before returning to Montgenèvre.
Day 2 -
The Granon pass – 2404m
- Activity MOUNTAIN BIKING
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 55 km
- Positive elevation gain 1450 m
- Negative elevation 1450 m
- Predominant type of terrain Dirt road
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Directly from the hotel, you descend towards Plampinet and Val des Prés, following the Clarée River. An easy descent to warm up before the ascent of the legendary Col du Granon. You reach the Croix de Toulouse via the Bois de l'Ours forest, below the Peyrolle ridges. Return to the valley at La Vachette to climb back up to the hotel.
Day 3 -
Lake Orceyrette (1927m) and the hamlet of Mélézin
- Transportation Minibus - 00h40 - 25km
- Activity MOUNTAIN BIKING
- Duration of the activity 4h30
- Distance 40 km
- Positive elevation gain 1400 m
- Negative elevation 1400 m
- Predominant type of terrain Dirt road
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Starting again from Les Alberts, you descend towards Briançon and its many fortifications to reach the village of Villar-St-Pancrace. A beautiful climb awaits you to discover Lake Orceyrette at the foot of the Bois des Ayes biological reserve and its centuries-old trees. From the lake, a stunning descent leads through the hamlet of Le Mélézin.
Day 4 -
Lake Rochemolles and the Scarfiotti refuge from Bardonecchia
- Transportation Minibus - 00h20 - 15km
- Activity MOUNTAIN BIKING
- Duration of the activity 4h15
- Distance 35 km
- Positive elevation gain 1100 m
- Negative elevation 1100 m
- Predominant type of terrain Dirt road
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Transfer to Bardonecchia, on the Italian side. You climb through the larch forest between the ski slopes above the village to begin a long traverse towards Lake Rochemolles via the Decauville piste. You continue up the valley to reach the fantastic rocky cirque of the Rognosa d'Etiache, at the foot of which lies the Scarfiotti refuge and its waterfalls.
Day 5 -
The Infernet fort
- Activity MOUNTAIN BIKING
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 40 km
- Positive elevation gain 1300 m
- Negative elevation 1500 m
- Predominant type of terrain Dirt road
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
From the hotel, you descend the valley to reach the fortifications of Briançon, Fort Dauphin and Fort Randouillet. Then you tackle the numerous switchbacks of the climb to Fort de l'Infernet. Descend back to Les Alberts for a shuttle return to the hotel.
End of stay and departure around 4/5pm.
Day 6
Note
VERY IMPORTANT: The instructor reserves the right to modify the program for any reason (weather conditions, fitness level of the day, technical level of participants, etc.) in order to ensure a better experience for you.
Accommodation
You'll be staying in the hamlet of Roubion, at the entrance to Névache , in comfortable mountain-style accommodation . Enjoy the bar, lounge area, and two terraces for sunny breakfasts, as well as the wellness area: hammam, sauna, and Størvatt (a traditional Moroccan spa). You can also book massages with essential oils or treatments in osteopathy and kinesiology.
Access
We ask that you vacate your rooms in the morning before setting off on your bike ride. You can leave your luggage at the hotel and take a shower when you return from your ride.
If you wish to arrive the day before or leave the day after your stay, you can book a room from €94 per person.
Go to the starting point
From Paris, you have several options:
Either arriving on the Italian side via the TGV PARIS-OULX
From this station you will need to take a direct bus to Briançon. Tickets must be purchased 48 hours in advance of your trip on the website www.sncf-connect.com
Either Paris / Grenoble + bus Grenoble / Briançon
Either arriving directly from Paris/Briançon, by night train or daytime trains
From Marseille or Valence, there are direct TER trains to Briançon.
To travel from Briançon to Névache:
Either by regular shuttle (in season)
Either by taxi or private transport depending on the schedule and the number of people.
When making your reservation, please remember to let us know your arrival time.
Don't hesitate to call us, we'll help you with your application!
You can drive to the hotel, where there is a large parking lot. We'll keep this description brief, given that in this modern age, GPS is standard equipment in our cars and on our phones.
From the south, you go up the Durance valley to reach Briançon.
From the north and west, you can, like cyclists, take the Lautaret Pass and its spectacular views, or choose the comfort (and the price) of crossing into Italy via the Fréjus Tunnel, a road version of the ambitious railway project of the mid-18th century. Consider carpooling!
Price details
The price includes
- Full board from the evening of Day 1 to Day 6 after the picnic
- Accommodation in a 2-star hotel in a shared triple room
- 5 days of instruction by a mountain bike instructor
- On-site transfers related to activities
- Organization fees
The price does not include
- Mountain bike and equipment rental (premium full-suspension e-MTB €325 for 5 days)
- Access to the wellness area: €8 per session
- Round-trip transportation to Névache
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
Options
- Mountain bike equipment rental : CHF297.31 / person
- Extra night BEFORE stay - Single room : CHF137.22 / person
- Extra night BEFORE stay - Double room : CHF86.91 / person
- Extra night BEFORE stay - Triple room : CHF83.25 / person
- Additional night AFTER your stay - Single room : CHF137.22 / person
- Additional night AFTER stay - Double room : CHF86.91 / person
- Extra night AFTER stay - Triple room : CHF83.25 / person
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment to bring
- 1 backpack of 15 to 30 litres.
- Your helmet and gloves (possibility to rent them on site with the bike).
- 1 airtight plastic container (minimum capacity 0.3 liters) + cup + cutlery for your picnic.
- 1 pair of shoes for cycling (your car shoes, or good shoes).
- Required: 1 pair of excellent quality sunglasses.
- Required: 1 sunscreen, 1 protective lip balm and 1 mosquito repellent spray.
- 1 thermos or a preferably insulated water bottle (1.5 liters minimum).
Clothing to bring
- A technical T-shirt with short and long sleeves made of breathable material.
- A warm fleece jacket or a lightweight down jacket
- A windproof, waterproof, and breathable Gore-Tex type jacket
- Mountain biking shorts with a chamois pad for comfort
- Comfortable clothes for the evening
- Sports socks
They traveled with us
