twistytrip

Public trip · French Alps

Route des Grandes Alpes

Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean across the big passes: Cormet de Roselend out of Thonon, the Col de l'Iseran at 2,764 m, then Galibier and Izoard on the way down to Menton. Three riding days south, and an honest motorway run home on the fourth rather than pretending the return is scenic.

1 091
km
4
days

€640

per rider, all in

The route

Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4

Start · Thonon-les-Bains

Day 01· Wed

Thonon-les-Bains Val-d'Isère

182 km · 4 h 09 riding · 2026-08-26

The first climb of the day kicks in early, and you'll be tackling twisties for a bit over four hours to cover the 182 kilometers to Val-d'Isère. The road winds on, with the landscape shifting as you ascend, and you'll want to keep an eye on your fuel level as services start to thin out. You'll be relying on your touring bike to handle the demanding route with ease.

2 193 m431 m↗ 6 454 m climbed

Rider tip — Make sure to fill up whenever you can, especially as you leave the more populated areas, since services become less frequent as you head into the mountains.

Open day 1 in Google Maps ↗

Sleep here

★ Our pick

Hôtel Le Kandahar

Val-d'Isère

Found on OpenStreetMap — check reviews and parking before booking

Book on Booking.com ↗

Hôtel Ormelune

Val-d'Isère

Found on OpenStreetMap — check reviews and parking before booking

Book on Booking.com ↗
More hotels in Val-d'Isère on Booking.com ↗
Day 02· Thu

Val-d'Isère Briançon

141 km · 3 h 03 riding · 2026-08-27

The road from Val-d'Isère to Briançon is a twisty delight, taking around three hours to complete, and with 141 kilometers to cover, an early start is a good idea to make the most of the daylight. You'll want to get going before the sun gets too high, especially since the scenery is likely to be distracting. As you ride, the mountains will keep you company, and the twisties will keep you on your toes.

2 755 m503 m↗ 5 629 m climbed

Rider tip — Consider setting off by 8 am to ensure you've got plenty of daylight for the ride, especially since you'll be tackling plenty of twisties and want to be able to take in the views.

Open day 2 in Google Maps ↗

Sleep here

★ Our pick

Hotel Valérie

Briançon

Found on OpenStreetMap — check reviews and parking before booking

Book on Booking.com ↗

Hôtel Edelweiss

Briançon

Found on OpenStreetMap — check reviews and parking before booking

Book on Booking.com ↗
More hotels in Briançon on Booking.com ↗
Day 03· Fri

Briançon Menton

236 km · 4 h 42 riding · 2026-08-28

The road unwinds from Briançon, a bit over four and a half hours of twisty riding ahead to Menton, with the distance stretching 236 kilometers. You'll have chances to stop and take in the views, like at the Viewpoint Saint Paul de Vence and another viewpoint showcasing a Marc Chagall mosaic. The scenery will keep you company as you ride, with the French landscape shifting around you.

2 689 m6 m↗ 7 475 m climbed

Rider tip — Make sure to drink water regularly and grab a snack whenever you stop, so you don't feel thirsty or hungry later on.

Viewpoints on the way

Open day 3 in Google Maps ↗

Sleep here

★ Our pick

Hotel Provenza

Menton

Found on OpenStreetMap — check reviews and parking before booking

Book on Booking.com ↗

Hôtel de Paris

Menton

Found on OpenStreetMap — check reviews and parking before booking

Book on Booking.com ↗
More hotels in Menton on Booking.com ↗
Day 04· Sat

Menton Thonon-les-Bains

532 km · 5 h 35 riding · 2026-08-29

We've got a long haul ahead of us, covering 532 kilometers in a bit over five and a half hours, as we make our way from Menton to Thonon-les-Bains. The motorway will be our companion for the day, so it's all about efficient riding and fuel stops. We'll be looking to make the most of our time on the road, with the scenic twisties of our trip still fresh in our minds.

1 380 m5 m↗ 5 670 m climbed

Rider tip — With a long motorway stretch like this, keep an eye on your fuel level and plan your stops accordingly to avoid running low, especially since we're covering a lot of ground in a short time.

Open day 4 in Google Maps ↗

Back home · Thonon-les-Bains

From riders who've done it

The things you only learn by riding it — so you don't have to learn them the hard way.

  • Given the twisty nature of this route, make sure to take your time and enjoy the views, especially on the longer days like day 3 which covers 532 km.
  • With overnight stays in towns like Val-d'Isère and Briançon, consider packing layers for potentially cooler evenings, even in August.
  • As you'll be covering a significant distance of 1091 km over 4 days, prioritize bike maintenance and take advantage of any available services in towns like Menton.
  • Be prepared for variable road conditions and potential heat exhaustion during the August ride, so stay hydrated and take regular breaks.
  • Since the longest day is 532 km, plan your fuel stops and meal breaks accordingly to avoid running low on either.
See the complete route on Google Maps ↗Every overnight stop, one tap on your phone

What it really costs

Real numbers, not brochure numbers — fuel at actual prices per country, hotels with secure parking, and a buffer because trips never go exactly to plan.

Hotels · 3 nightsCurated secure-parking picks where we have them; ~€90/night estimate elsewhere
€27042%
Fuel · 1,091 km5.6 L/100 km at ~€1.62/L
€9915%
Food · 4 days≈€43/day — meals, coffees
€17227%
TollsEstimate for motorway stretches — actuals vary by country
€325%
Cafés & viewpoint stops
€325%
Buffer & extras
€355%
Per rider
€640

Estimates — fuel and hotel prices move with the seasons.

Photography: Wikimedia Commons contributors.

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