Elevation of the route
Waytypes of the cycle route
Surface of the cycle route
170km cycling beside the Durance from Briançon to Sisteron
Signposting and the state of the cycle route
For most of the way, this cycle route leads riders along quiet little roads. Some of these may be challenging, but they’re invariably spectacular, for example those running through the Durance Gorges, or guiding you far above dramatic Serre-Ponçon Lake via the iconic Route des Puys, or taking you meandering beside the EDF Canal, with fields and orchards to either side.
La Durance à Vélo is completely waymarked in both directions, both north and south, between Briançon and Sisteron, the dedicated signposting indicating the cycle route’s name. As this route sticks mainly to secondary roads shared with motorized vehicles, take special care during the busiest holiday period, in July and August, when there can be heavy traffic at times.
Services
Accueil Vélo accredited accommodation is gradually being certified along La Durance à Vélo. However, given that only relatively few, scattered villages lie within easy reach of this portion of the Durance River and the slopes above it, it can, especially at busier times of year, be complicated to find accommodation and places to stock up on supplies. So, best plan your stages in advance and book well ahead.
Weather and seasonal variations
Conditions along La Durance à Vélo are generally pretty good for cyclists between May and October. The region is normally sunny from spring onwards. Note that temperatures can be chilly starting out from Briançon, a town perched high in the French Alps, while the southern reaches towards Sisteron, where you cycle along the bottom of the Durance Valley, can get very hot in summer. Always carry plenty of water and protect yourself from the sun. There are certain exposed climbs along the cycle route, such as that along the Route des Puys, which can prove particularly challenging in very hot weather, while the stretches alongside the EDF Canal and through the agricultural areas towards the south offer very little shade
Access by train and transporting your bike by train
There are seven train stations dotted along this route (at Sisteron, Gap, Chorges, Embrun, Montdauphin Guillestre, L’Argentière les Écrins and Briançon), served by three regional TER train lines (Briançon – Marseille; Briançon – Grenoble; and Briançon – Valence), plus the sleeper, or night train, Paris – Briançon, all affording cyclists easy access to different points along the cycle route.
Connections with further cycle routes
- Route des Grandes Alpes at:
- Briançon
- Guillestre
- Embrun
- P’tites Routes du Soleil at Sisteron
- (Coming soon) La Méditerranée à Vélo - EuroVelo 8 at Manosque

Briançon / L'Argentière-la-Bessée
The dramatic town of Briançon and its Vauban Citadel, perched at over 1,300m in altitude, cry out to be explored [...]

L'Argentière-la-Bessée / Embrun
After L'Argentière la Bessée, launch yourself on a physically demanding stretch, the Montée de Pallon. Turning back [...]

Embrun / Chorges
Leaving Embrun and the banks of Serre-Ponçon Lake behind, a long steady climb takes you along the Route des Puys, to [...]

Chorges / Gap / Tallard
This stage may be less spectacular than the more northerly ones, but it presents an enjoyably wide variety of [...]

Tallard / Sisteron
From Tallard, you accompany the Durance, no longer the impetuous river it once was since the Serre-Ponçon Dam’s [...]
Travellers’ reviews