The French Alps by motorcycle: Iseran, Galibier, Izoard and Bonette

The Route des Grandes Alpes links Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean over some 700 km and more than 15 passes. It is the most famous mountain motorcycle trip in Europe, and the four great passes in this guide are its heart: all above 2,000 m, with snow by the road until July and views over glaciers. Allow four or five days, with nights in Val d’Isère, Valloire, Briançon and Barcelonnette.

Col de l’Iseran (2,764 m)

The highest paved pass in the Alps. The climb from Bourg-Saint-Maurice passes the Tignes dam and Val d’Isère; the descent to Bonneval-sur-Arc is narrow and has no barriers, so take it easy.

Télégraphe and Galibier (2,642 m)

Two passes back to back, with Valloire in between. The Télégraphe is a forest climb; the Galibier is a lunar landscape of rock and snow. From the top you drop to the Col du Lautaret and La Grave, facing the glaciers of La Meije.

Col d’Izoard (2,360 m)

From Briançon, the hairpins through the forest end at a pass overlooking the Casse Déserte, a valley of stone and scree unlike anything else in the Alps. The descent through the Combe du Queyras is a narrow gorge down to Guillestre.

Cime de la Bonette (2,802 m)

The highest point of paved road in France, on a loop around the peak. The wildest of the four: little traffic, patchy tarmac and a huge descent into the Tinée valley on the way to Nice.

To start or finish: Lake Annecy

Coming from the north, Lake Annecy is the perfect gateway: a short loop, with the Col de la Forclaz above the turquoise water.

Tips for the trip

• The high passes usually open between late May and mid-June and close in October. Check their status before you go (Savoie and Hautes-Alpes department websites).
• It can be close to 0 °C at the top even in July: bring winter gloves and a thermal layer.
• Fill up in the valley towns (Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Valloire, Briançon, Jausiers): there are few fuel stations between passes.
• There are lots of cyclists on the climbs, especially in the morning. Give them room and take care in the hairpins.