French Alps cycle tours sit firmly on many cyclists’ bucket lists, and for good reason. Nowhere else in Europe delivers quite the same concentration of towering 2,000m-plus passes, Tour de France history and dramatic, high-altitude scenery packed into a relatively compact area. From glacier-backed valleys to barren lunar summits and Riviera-bound descents, the scale of the riding here feels unapologetically grand.
At Epic Road Rides, we know cycling in the French Alps is never just about ticking off famous climbs. I have completed several tours of the Alps, riding many of the region’s most iconic cols as well as the quieter linking roads that often leave the deepest impression.
Those experiences, combined with countless hours researching routes and speaking with specialist operators, mean we understand both the physical demands and the emotional pull of an Alpine crossing.
This is a handpicked selection of standout trips, chosen for the quality of their route design, the support provided and how well they capture different facets of the high mountains. Whether you’re dreaming of linking legendary passes into a multi-day journey or tackling Mont Ventoux from a fresh perspective, these French Alps cycle tours showcase what makes this region such a defining challenge for ambitious riders.
Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels - and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they're there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.
Want to connect with Clare? Find her over on LinkedIn.
We’ve worked with all of the bike tour operators featured in this article over the years (there are links to our interviews with them in the relevant section). We have chosen to include them in this article because the French Alps cycling experiences they offer are ones we’d suggest to a friend, or book ourselves, if we were heading to the French Alps.
1. French Alps with Sierra Sports & Tours
Conquering Col du Glandon in the French Alps (photo credit: Sierra Sports & Tours)
The riding
This is a full-scale, high-altitude Alpine route linking some of the most famous climbs in cycling into one continuous journey. From Grenoble, the route winds through the heart of the French Alps, tackling Alpe d’Huez, Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Galibier, Col d’Izoard and the towering Col de l’Iseran at 2,770 metres. These are long, sustained climbs where pacing is everything and the air thins as the gradients bite.
What elevates this tour beyond a greatest-hits list is the inclusion of quieter, characterful climbs such as Col de la Sarenne and the Lacets de Montvernier. These roads offer impressive switchbacks and light traffic, adding tempo and variety between the giants. The finale on Mont Ventoux changes the atmosphere entirely. After days among glaciated Alpine peaks, you finish in Provence on Ventoux’s exposed, wind-swept upper slopes. It is a dramatic end to a serious mountain challenge.
What we love
This is a proper bucket-list route done properly.
You are not just riding one or two famous climbs from a single base. You are linking them into a genuine mountain journey from the Alps to Provence. We love the blend of legendary Tour de France passes and quieter backroads that many riders would never discover alone. The inclusion of lesser-known climbs like Sarenne and Montvernier gives the route texture and depth. And finishing on Mont Ventoux after crossing the Alps feels like a fitting finale.
This is the kind of tour that leaves you tired, proud and already thinking about your next big mountain goal.
We have worked with Paul from Sierra Sports & Tours for several years and appreciate the detail-orientated ethos he imbues into his small business. From initial contact to the last moment of the tour, we see him and the team delivering a high quality, personal and special experience to their guests. No wonder they get so many repeat bookings!
What else they offer
Sierra Sports & Tours has been running guided European cycling tours since 2012, with routes across France, Italy, Spain and Belgium. Their ‘Epic Alps’ collection focuses on legendary Tour de France and Giro climbs, delivered with full roadside support. Private and partially guided options are also available for groups seeking a more flexible, tailored experience.
More information
- Cycling in the Alps, our destination guide which includes tips on the different regions.
- Sierra Sports & Tours’ website, including the Alps tour options they’re offering right now.
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2. Mont Ventoux with GravelUp
Gravel ride through pine trees near Mont Ventoux (photo credit: GravelUp)
The riding
Instead of joining the steady stream of road cyclists grinding up from Bédoin or Malaucène, you approach the Giant of Provence from the quiet side. From Sault, GravelUp’s five-day route covers around 269 kilometres with roughly 5,400 metres of climbing, stitching together forest tracks, ridge lines, stony farm roads and remote valleys.
Expect compact gravel through cedar and pine forests, pale limestone tracks, occasional rocky stretches and steady, progressive climbs that open out onto wide Provençal panoramas. The southern side of Ventoux feels drier and more mineral, with expansive horizons. The northern side shifts into cooler, alpine woodland with long, shaded forest lines.
Highlights include the back-of-Ventoux gravel approach to Mont Serein, the dramatic “Far West” track dropping toward the Gorges de la Nesque, and quiet sections through the Toulourenc valley where you ride beneath towering limestone walls with barely another cyclist in sight.
You still feel the scale and seriousness of Ventoux, but without the noise. As you tackle the gravel mountain pass, the scenery shifts, from lavender plateaus to cedar forest to the stark upper slopes near the observatory.
What we love
Thousands ride the classic road climb up Ventoux each summer. On gravel, you get silence, wildlife, empty ridgelines and a far deeper connection to the landscape. It’s a more raw and authentic alternative that allows you to see the iconic Mont Ventoux in a different light.
We love how the tour shows both faces of the mountain. The dry, open southern slopes contrast beautifully with the darker, forested northern side, giving you a complete picture of the region. And it is not just about the riding. Provençal villages, fougasse in Savoillan, cedar forests, WWII Resistance history sites and UNESCO-protected canyon scenery give the trip real cultural depth. This tour feels exploratory, not just athletic.
We also love the energy and vision behind GravelUp. Having known JB and Aurel from GravelUp for several years, we are impressed by their focus on doing things the right way, their commitment to quality and their passion for bringing people together to experience the camaraderie of an off-road group trip.
What else they offer
Beyond their French itineraries, GravelUp curates small-group, fully supported gravel escapes across Europe, from the sun-baked trails of Andalusia to Norway’s wild landscapes and the high passes of the Swiss Alps. Trips run from short two-day breaks to five-day journeys, either centre-based or point-to-point, with guides, boutique stays, luggage transfers and premium gravel bikes all taken care of.
More information
- Mont Ventoux from Sault, our interview with GravelUp is coming soon!
- GravelUp’s website, for details on booking and the other tours they have available.
3. Geneva to Nice – Route des Grandes Alpes with Saddle Skedaddle
Scenic mountain road in the French Alps
The riding
This is one of France’s big end-to-end Alpine traverses: 750 kilometres from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, ridden over seven demanding days in the saddle. Expect classic high-mountain road riding with frequent 2,000m-plus passes, often with two major climbs in a day, long switchback descents and plenty of Tour de France heritage under your wheels.
The route strings together headline Cols like the Iseran, Galibier, Izoard, Vars and the Cime de la Bonette, before dropping into the Maritime Alps where the altitude eases, the air warms, and the riding starts to feel distinctly blessed by Côte d’Azure vibes.
What we love
It is the satisfying, old-school point-to-point journey that many riders dream of but rarely plan alone. You get the full Alpine story: lush early stages near Mont Blanc, big national-park scenery, high passes that feel properly earned, and then that final shift in mood as you enter the Maritime Alps and roll towards Nice.
We also love the variety within the challenge: famous climbs for the bucket list, plus the quieter transitions between them, where the landscapes change day by day and the sense of progress is constant.
What else they offer
Saddle Skedaddle operates small-group cycling holidays across the globe, covering road, gravel, leisure, mountain bike, family and expedition-style adventures throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Alongside their scheduled trips, they design bespoke cycling holidays for private groups. Established more than 25 years ago, they mix worldwide experience with rider-focused knowledge and clearly graded tours to suit different abilities.
More information
What’s next?
- Best cycling tours in France, our top picks for France!
- 14 must-read tips for cycling in the Alps, to help you prepare for your own French Alps bike tours
- Cycling Alpe d’Huez, a detailed look at this specific route.
- Cycling Col de l’Iseran, with information on this climb and the surrounds for a Northern Alps tour.
- Cycling in the Alps, an article that gives an overview of the best destinations for Alpine cycling tours.
- L’Étape du Tour 2026, including expert tips if you’re planning on riding L’Étape
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Looking for an organised cycling trip?
If you want someone to help you plan and book your cycling holiday, fill out this form. We aren’t a tour operator/agent but we work with lots of people who are and will do our best to put you in touch with someone that can help (within 24 hours where possible)!Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels - and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they're there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.
Want to connect with Clare? Find her over on LinkedIn.
All metrics in this article are approximate.
Last Reviewed: 04 March 2026
First Published: 03 February 2023
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