Itinerary
August 25th to September 6th 2027
Please note - the itinerary is loose at this time, and may change subject to availability of ferries, hotels etc
Day 1
Meet at the ferryport (probably Newhaven) for a late afternoon crossing to France, and an overnight hotel near the port.
Day 2 approx 250 miles
First of two longish days to cross France, avoiding tolls where possible but including some motorways.
Day 3 approx 250 miles
Another long days but finishing with an enjoyable loop through the Jura mountains. We arrive at Annecy - our gateway to the route des Grandes Alpes and our first two night stop nearby.
Day 4
The choice is yours here. There's plenty to do in Annecy town, and an excellent bus network. Alternatively we can explore a loop round the lake on the bikes, or individuals may wish to explore further.
Day 5 about 116 miles
Leaving Annecy, we join the Route des Grandes Alpes which links Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean via 17 mountain passes (We'll do about 15). We'll ride the Cornet De Roseland, through famous ski resorts such as Val D'Isere and over the Col De Iseran - the highest paved pass in the Alps. From there we'll drop down to the valley below and our hotel.
Days 6 133 miles
The Col De Galibier and the Col de Vars are our highpoints of today, with the pretty little town of Barcelonette as our resting place.
Day 7 140 miles
Another fabulous day in the mountains, before we drop down towards the coast, and our hotel just outside Nice, and well positioned for the route de Napoleon, and the Verdon Gorge.
Day 8 122 miles
A relaxed day, taking in part of the Route De Napoleon, and looping around the Verdon Gorge to arrive in our next 2 night stop.
Day 9
A day off to explore the town, take a dip in the river, climb up to the church on the rock above the town or investigate activities on the river (that may need some advance planning)
Day 10 163 miles
Leaving Castellane, we use part of the route De Napoleon, to position ourselves at the north end of the Vercors massif, ready for some lovely riding tomorrow.
Day 11 192 miles
We start our trip north, with a couple of hours of pure joy amongst the balcony roads of the Vercors, including the gorge Du Nan and Combe Laval, then leaving the mountains behind, we jump on fast roads to make a dent in our trip to the port.
Day 12 268 miles
A long day across France gets us within two hours of the ferry for the following day.
Day 13
Ride to the port - we're aiming for a 12.00 ferry (subject to availability) to get us in at 3pm.
approximate route
Just to give you an idea - The route will vary a bit when crossing France.
