Elevation of the route
Waytypes of the cycle route
Surface of the cycle route
Explore the Pre-Alps by bike from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean
Signposting of the P'tites Routes du Soleil® route
The P'tites Routes du Soleil® itinerary can be done from north to south or from south to north. The marking is not assured on a large part of the itinerary, please consider downloading the .GPX track.
Difficulty of the route
This is a demanding route, suitable for those who are used to travelling by bike.
The altitude difference is significant, about 17,000 positive meters, without however crossing "big passes": many climbs on the program, but without exceeding 1400 meters of altitude.
Most of the route will be on medium mountain roads with a reasonable amount of traffic.
Weather and opening of the passes
The usual precautions should always be taken in terms of weather when traveling in the mountains. On the route you have little risk of being surprised by snow or extreme conditions if you travel between May and October.
Getting to the itinerary by train
The itinerary crosses more than ten railway stations, several of which are connected to numerous lines (Thonon-les-Bains, Grenoble, Die, Sisteron, etc...).
Traveling by electrically assisted bicycle (VAE)
In order to make the route more accessible, you can opt for an electrically assisted bicycle (VAE): the route is equipped with numerous recharging points spread out every 30 to 40 km along the route.
Thonon-les-Bains / Boëge
In Haute-Savoie, between Lake Geneva and the Vallée Verte area, cycle along following the Franco-Swiss border, perched [...]
Boëge / La Muraz
The cycle route continues alongside the Menoge River via the Col des Pitons, heading for Mont Salève (1,335m), a kind [...]
La Muraz / Desingy
Having tackled Mont Salève, you come to one of the easiest stretches along the P’tites Routes du Soleil® cycle [...]
Desingy / Entrelacs
You now come to the Albanais area, marked by curvaceous valleys offering grandiose views of the French Alps. These [...]
Entrelacs / Saint-Jean-de-Chevelu
Climbing to the Montagne de l’Épine, make the most of views from on high over France’s largest natural lake, 18km [...]
Saint-Jean-de-Chevelu / Lépin-le-Lac
You now head from one major French Alpine lake to another! Cycle along this stage to reach the banks of Lac [...]
Lépin-le-Lac / Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont
From Lépin-le-Lac, you ride below the Massif de l’Épine Range to reach Les Échelles. You’re now at the gateway [...]
Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont / Grenoble
Here, the P’tites Routes du Soleil® cycle route guides you into the mountainous lands of the original medieval [...]
Grenoble / Villard-de-Lans
The climb to Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte (1,168m) taking you up from Grenoble to the Vercors Plateau is well known for [...]
Villard-de-Lans / Die
Reaching the Diois area via the P’tites Routes du Soleil® promises a complete change of scenery and a southern [...]
Die / Valdrôme
The Diois area certainly won’t provide you with a flat cycling stage! In fact, its charm comes from the contrasts [...]
Valdrôme / Valdoule
From the Haut Diois area to the Oule Valley, the P’tites Routes du Soleil® crosses into the département, or French [...]
Valdoule / Garde-Colombe
The P’tites Routes du Soleil® leaves behind the Oule Valley to enter the Pays Rosannais area. Although this stage [...]
Garde-Colombe / Salérans
Partly covering the Route des Princes d’Orange linking the town of Orange (by the Rhône in the département, or [...]
Salérans / Sisteron
There are two marvels to relish on this stage of the P'tites routes du Soleil®: the descent through the bottom of the [...]
Sisteron / Digne-les-Bains
From Sisteron, embark on one of the longest climbs along the whole P’tites Routes du Soleil® cycle route. Why not [...]
Digne-les-Bains / Tartonne
While Sisteron marks your arrival in the département of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the Pays Dignois lies at the heart of [...]
Tartonne / Saint-André-les-Alpes
The P’tites Routes du Soleil® cycle route takes you quietly into the Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon with its heady [...]
Saint-André-les-Alpes / Saint-Auban
The P’tites Routes du Soleil® offers you a lovely cycling trip here, taking you from the département, or French [...]
Saint-Auban / Les Ferres
The P’tites Routes du Soleil® here makes use of the Tour des Préalpes d’Azur cycle route, crossing the regional [...]
Les Ferres / Nice
From the Col des Ferres (a pass at 596m), the P’tites Routes du Soleil® leads you over to the south side of Le [...]
Travellers’ reviews