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Home > Tour de France Mythic Climbs: Alpe d'Huez, Croix de Fer, Telegraphe and Galibier

Tour de France Mythic Climbs: Alpe d'Huez, Croix de Fer, Telegraphe and Galibier

La dernière ascension de ce voyage à vélo est la célèbre montée de l\'Alpe d\'Huez 5
Tackle Col de la Croix de Fer, one of the mythic climbs of the Tour de France On the way down from Col de la Croix de Fer, you'll ride across Saint-Sorlin d'Arves View of the Bourg d'Oisans Valley from Alpe d'Huez Snowy Col du Galibier mid-june The famous climb to Alpe d'Huez is part of a number of our guided and self-guided trips

Cyclomundo offers guided and self-guided cycling trips in the French Alps, click here to see the French Alps regional page.

  • Self-guided trip: Starts any day from June through September 2025
  • Minimum number of riders: 2
  • 4 nights/5 days
  • Daily mileage: From 43 km (27 miles) to 112 km (70 miles)
  • Grenoble is serviced by low-cost Easyjet flights from London
  • Accommodation in 3-star properties
  • Level: 5 (Very strenuous)

Note that this tour can be done with a support vehicle for groups of 6 or more (price on request)

La dernière ascension de ce voyage à vélo est la célèbre montée de l'Alpe d'Huez

Tour de France Mythic Climbs: Alpe d'Huez, Croix de Fer, Telegraphe and Galibier

  • Level
  • PriceFrom 935 euros
  • DAY4 nights / 5 days

More info: Receive detailed hotel list, bike specs, and route description

More infos BOOK NOW !

Description

We invite you to discover the battleground where attacks have been made, battles have been won, and wars have been lost! This is the epic terrain which has determined Tour de France champions.

The mountain passes in this area are among the toughest you can find in the French Alps. They provide numerous opportunities to test your climbing limits and admire the spectacular alpine landscapes.

This self-guided tour is ideal for those of you who will be participating in La Marmotte or in L'Etape du Tour. Alternatively, it can be combined with our other French Alps tours. 

For a longer trip, riders may consider our award-winning Geneva to Alpe d'Huez which partly follows the Route des Grandes Alpes.

Longing for an easier trip with views over these amazing Alps? We highly recommend our 3-Lake cycling tour which follows the valleys linking Lake Geneva to Lac du Bourget to Lake Annecy... stunning views are guaranteed!

For groups of 6 and more, we organize custom tours based on riders' requirements (type of hotels, mileage, daily climbing, etc...). These can be guided or self-guided. To get started, check out a few of the many custom tours we've organized for private groups and cycling clubs. The next step? Just fill out our custom tour request form.

 

For travel and cycling tips to the French Alps, visit our "Travel and cycling tips" section.

Itinerary

D1Arrival in Grenoble. Transfer to Alpe d'Huez. Optional loop from Alpe d'Huez 49 km/31 miles, 1,800 meters/5,910 ft of climbing

 

Arrive in Grenoble at the time of your choice. Meet with our local representative in Grenoble to go over your itinerary. Transfer to Alpe d'Huez where you'll dine and overnight. Note that if you wish to do some riding on arrival day, there is an optional loop from Alpe d'Huez.

D2Loop from Alpe d'Huez Multiple options, 43 km/27 miles, 1,375 meters/4,515 ft of climbing

 

You will be provided with a few suggestions for today's tour. Our favorite will take you on quiet roads with breathtaking views over the Oisans area and the nearby mountain peaks. This short loop will allow you to gauge yourself before riding the giant passes of the coming days.

Longer rides can be suggested if you wish to cover more ground.

D3Alpe d'Huez (or nearby) — Valloire 112 km/70 miles, 4,290 meters/14,070 ft of climbing

 

After breakfast, barrel down from your hotel all the way to the valley floor before attacking the Col de la Croix de Fer(2,067 m or 6,200 ft.), which is rated "HC" ("Hors Catégorie" meaning "beyond category") by the Tour de France organizers. The Col du Télégraphe (1,566 m or 4,700 ft. rated as a second category climb) will take you to Valloire at the bottom of Galibier.

D4Valloire — Alpe d'Huez 78 km/48 miles, 3,175 meters/10,415 ft of climbing

 

Your route will take you to Col du Galibier (2,645 m or 7,900 ft rated "HC") before going down the Col du Lautaret all the way to Bourg d'Oisans. From there, the 16-km climb to Alpe d'Huez (1,850 m or 5,550 ft.) is your mission. The time to beat: 37'35", a record held by Marco Pantani since 1995.

D5Departure

 

After breakfast, depart at the time of your choice. 

Private transfers to Geneva can be organized (price is on request).

Booking & Prices

  • For 2 or 3 riders

  • Accommodation in 3-star properties

  • 1,240 euros. Single supplement is 360 euros
  • For 4 riders or more

  • Accommodation in 3-star properties

  • 935 euros. Single supplement is 350 euros

These prices include:

  • 4 nights' accommodation
  • Daily breakfast
  • 1 dinner (drinks are not included)
  • Luggage transfers
  • Transfer from Grenoble to Alpe d'Huez (on Day 1)
  • Transfer from Alpe d'Huez to Grenoble (on Day 5)
  • Roadbook provided as an app (doubles up as a GPS)
  • Assistance if necessary (you will be provided with our local rep's mobile number)
  • All tax and service charges

These prices do not include:

  • Expenses of a personal nature
  • Travel insurance
  • Bicycle rentals. Full-carbon racing bikes are available at the price of 155 euros per bike.

Suggested Cycling Trips