Alps Challenge Bike Tour
High-End at High Altitude: HC Climbs and Cols of the French Alps
Itinerary
Print Itinerary- Pre-tour
Chambéry Pre-Tour Package
Arrive in Chambéry, France—the heart of the Rhône Alps—and settle into Hotel des Princes, conveniently located just minutes from the train station. At your leisure, explore Chambéry’s historic town center and appreciate the ornate architecture, Alpine food and wine, and friendly locals. In the morning, take your time over a lovely, nourishing breakfast before meeting your DuVine guides for a transfer to the start of the tour. The amount listed is the starting price and subject to availability. Room upgrades available upon request.
Inclusions: Hotel, Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel des Princes
Price per person in double occupancy: $125
Price in single occupancy: $230To reserve call +1 888 396 5383 or email your Tour Coordinator
- Day 1
Go for the Galibier
Welcome to an epic week of cycling. Meet your guides in Chambéry and before you know it we’ll be in Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, ready to head out across the Alps. There is no honeymoon ride: start the week with a steady climb up the Col du Télégraphe, which may not have star power but will get you in your granny gear nonetheless. From here we enter the realm of high mountain passes, and few are more mythical than the Col du Galibier to begin our week with a bang. On the way down, we’ll catch the Col du Lautaret for some stunning views of Le Trois Vallèes. Ride the rest of the way to the Alpine town of Les Deux Alpes to reach Chalet Mounier, a family-owned hotel since 1933, and rest up for tomorrow’s big day on Alpe d’Huez.
Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, Valloire, La Grave
Accomplished: 50 miles / 80 km, elevation gain: 9,728 feet / 2,947 meters
Shorter Option: 43 miles / 69 km, elevation gain: 7,778 feet / 2,371 meters
Accommodations: Chalet Mounier - Day 2
The Alpe d’Huez
Yesterday we climbed some hills; today we climb some mountains. Descend into the Oisans valley and arrive at the Alpe d’Huez: this bucket-list classic is perhaps the most famous of them all, with some 14 kilometers at an average of 8%. The pros have tackled her 21 hairpin switchbacks 32 times in race history—the leftover graffiti scrawled on the asphalt at Dutch corner is proof. Refuel at an iconic cycling café in town before moving on to the Col de Sarenne, frankly a tiny bump after our big morning. Today’s effort is duly rewarded with dinner at Chalet Mounier’s Michelin-star restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Alpe D’Huez, Mizoën
Accomplished: 41 miles / 66 km, elevation gain: 7,545 feet / 2,300 meters
Accommodations: Chalet Mounier - Day 3
Pass of the Iron Cross
After a breakfast fit for a professional cyclist, we set our sights on the Col de la Croix de Fer. It may not be the most well-known road in the Rhône-Alpes but this HC climb is our personal favorite, full of ups and downs that keep you guessing. The push to the top is tough: with two kilometers to go, you’ll catch a glimpse of neighboring Col du Glandon, and then comes sweet relief the entire way down. End right at our hotel and spend the rest of the day in Les Deux Alpes. Walk it off with a stroll around town and eat whatever you’re craving at dinner on your own tonight.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Oz, Col du Glandon
Accomplished: 75 miles / 120 km, elevation gain: 10,262 feet / 3,130 meters
Accommodations: Chalet Mounier - Day 4
The Maritime Alps
Starting the day on the Col du Lautaret might as well be considered a warmup. Get your extra miles in while you’re still fresh or transfer to the top and begin with the descent into Briançon. You’ll want all the momentum you can get by the time we approach the Col d’Izoard: this pass was the battleground for the epic rivalry between the legendary Italian, Fausto Coppi, and the French great, Louison Bobet, in the 1950s; it’s also one of the highest points of the week at 2,360 meters. The scenery starts to shift once we enter the stark, lunar landscapes of the Casse Déserte, then again as we head south into the Maritime Alps. Here, the roads aren’t household names but the riding is out of this world: no cars, just ribbons of pavement winding through pines and mountain pastures—which is exactly what you’ll get on the Col de Vars. Roll into our next villa hotel for a relaxing afternoon by the pool (or a much-needed massage) and an easy dinner right on the property.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Briançon, Guillestre
Accomplished: 72 miles / 117 km, elevation gain: 8,950 feet / 2,728 meters
Longer Option: 95 miles / 153 km, elevation gain: 13,241 feet / 4,036 meters
Accommodations: Villa Morelia - Day 5
The Terrible Trio
We’d like to introduce you to the Col d’Allos: the average grade can reach a steep 7.8%, and it may surprise you that this climb has been featured in the TDF more times than the Alpe d’Huez. After a quick coffee stop, move on to the Col des Champs, where our only companions are grazing cows. One more climb stands between us our celebrations—by the time we reach the last refuge on top of the Col de la Cayolle at 2,326 meters, you’ll be itching for the 29 miles directly downhill to Barcelonnette. Take a victory lap back to Villa Morelia where a glass of champagne awaits, followed by a dinner that’s a culinary reflection of all the ground we’ve covered along the way.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Barcelonnette, Saint-Martin-d’Entraunes
Accomplished: 84 miles / 136 km, elevation gain: 10,826 feet / 3,300 meters
Shorter Option: 67 miles / 108 km, elevation gain: 7,831 feet / 2,387 meters
Accommodations: Villa Morelia - Day 6
End on a High Note
If your legs are begging for rest, there’s no shame in sleeping in and sipping coffee with a side of mountain views this morning. But if you want to squeeze in one last ride, get an early start up the Col de la Bonette, billed as the highest pass in all of Europe. As they say, it’s less of a climb and more of a lunar landing: the gradient hits 15% at its steepest, but it’s easy to distract yourself with the extraordinary views all around. We’ll get you back in time for a shower before your guides transfer you to the train station at Gap.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Col de la Bonette
Accomplished:27 miles / 44 km, elevation gain: 5,085 feet / 1,550 meters
DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.
Arrival Details
Airport City: Lyon or Paris, France Pick-Up Location: Chambéry Train Station Pick-Up Time: 8:30 am
Departure Details
Airport City: Marseille, Lyon, or Paris, France Drop-Off Location: Gap Train Station Drop-Off Time: 2:00 pm
Arrival and departure details for 2025 tours may be subject to change.
Travelers Take Note
Upon booking this tour, you will be asked to complete a short form. We use this information to ensure all Level 4 trip participants are adequately prepared for our most difficult riding and have proximate cycling experience to the rest of the group.
Due to altitude, weather can change quickly. Expect anything from peak summer heat to hail and snow in a single day, and pack accordingly. Helpful hints about dressing for all climates can be found on our blog.
The first day’s route includes one section of riding on well-packed gravel. Please note that e-bikes cannot be reserved for this tour.
Dates + Availability
Inclusions + Details
Accommodations
- Thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region in ideal riding locations
- Gratuities for baggage, porters, and hotel service
- Luggage transfers
Meals
- Daily breakfasts, all lunches, and 4 cyclist-friendly dinners at our favorite local restaurants and renowned culinary establishments
- Nutritious energy snacks, hydration, and shakes to support endurance and recovery
- Local wines and beer with every meal
Gear
- Colnago V4 carbon road bike with Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and Vision carbon wheelset
- Custom Rapha x DuVine kit
- DuVine Challenge t-shirt, water bottle, and drawstring bag
- GPS with pre-programmed route maps
Support
- Expert bilingual guide with extensive cycling experience and local knowledge
- SAG vehicle that follows the day’s route, offers support as needed, and carries spare gear and snacks
- Pick-up and drop-off before and after your tour from predetermined meeting points
- Laundry service for cycling apparel provided mid-week
- Daily bike maintenance to ensure optimal performance
For technical riding and Europe's classic climbs, only one bike will do: the Colnago V4. This best-in-class bike includes Dura-Ace Di2 shifting and a custom Vision carbon wheelset for a ride that's light, responsive, and unbelievably fun to ride—with design sensibility that looks just as good as it feels on the road. Colnago invested serious research hours and conducted aerodynamic studies to realize the V4's monocoque carbon frame. It's solid yet reactive, with a shorter head tube and longer fork for enhanced rideability—yet it retains the soul of a racing bike. Together, these features make our custom V4s equally well-suited to flat terrain and grueling grades. The Colnago V4 is exclusively available to cyclists on our Challenge tours.