Original Alpe d’Huez Tour
The one that started it all — seven nights on the greatest climbs of the French Alps, fully supported.
Alpe d’Huez · Col du Galibier · Col de la Madeleine · Col du Glandon · Lacets de Montvernier — and more
7 nights · Oisans & Maurienne · Small groups · From €1,999 pp
The Trip
This is the tour I built the whole thing around, back in 2008 — a week riding the legendary cols of the Oisans and Maurienne from a comfortable mountain base, with every last detail taken care of.
You’ll climb the 21 bends of Alpe d’Huez, crest the mighty Galibier, and take on the long giants of the Madeleine and the Glandon — plus quiet, spectacular roads that most visitors never find, like the Col de Sarenne and the balcony roads high above the valley. Six days of riding, including a relaxed half-day to let the legs recover, all fully supported from the van.
It’s for riders who want the real, iconic climbs of the Alps without the faff of organising a thing. You ride the route at your own pace on GPS; I’ll be at the top of the big cols and the junctions that matter, with food, water, a spare tube or a lift if you need one. No crocodile of riders to keep up with, no navigation to worry about — just you, the mountains, and full support all the way round.
At a Glance
- Duration: 7 nights, Saturday to Saturday
- Riding: 6 days (including one relaxed half-day)
- Region: The Oisans and the Maurienne valley, French Alps
- Signature climbs: Alpe d’Huez, Col du Galibier, Col de la Madeleine, Col du Glandon, Lacets de Montvernier, Col de Sarenne
- Group: Small, sociable groups
- Support: Full van support, luggage transfers, GPS routes
- Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner daily
Your Week Day by Day
Saturday — Arrival
Arrive in the Oisans any time from 5pm. Settle into your base, meet the group over dinner, and I’ll walk you through the week ahead — the routes, the climbs, and how the support works. Bags unpacked, bikes ready, nothing to think about but tomorrow.
Sunday — Oisans to the Maurienne: Col du Glandon & the Lacets de Montvernier
The week opens with a proper Alpine crossing. The Col du Glandon is a long, wild climb through high pasture and hairpins before a fast drop into the Maurienne. Down in the valley you’ll tackle the Lacets de Montvernier — an extraordinary staircase of tightly stacked switchbacks that’s become one of the most photographed corners in all of cycling.
Monday — The Maurienne: Col de la Madeleine & Col du Chaussy
A day for the big numbers. The Col de la Madeleine is a relentless twenty-kilometre ascent to over 2,000 metres, one of the great tests of the Alps. The Col du Chaussy adds its own quieter, hairpinned climb to round out a genuine mountain day.
Tuesday — Maurienne back to the Oisans: Col du Télégraphe & Col du Galibier
The queen stage. The Télégraphe warms the legs before the main event: the mighty Col du Galibier, one of the highest and most storied passes in the Alps, its final ramps opening onto a view that’s worth every pedal stroke. A crossing you’ll remember for a long time.
Wednesday — Half day: Col d’Ornon
A gentler day, and a well-earned one. Spin up the pretty Col d’Ornon if the legs are willing, or take the day off the bike entirely — read, swim, sleep, explore the village. However you spend it, you’ll be fresh for the finale.
Thursday — The Oisans: Alpe d’Huez and the Col de Sarenne
The climb the tour is named for. Twenty-one numbered hairpins up the legendary Alpe d’Huez, each one ticking down to the top. Then, instead of coming back the way you came, you’ll slip away over the wild, silent Col de Sarenne — a world away from the crowds, and one of the finest quiet roads in the range.
Friday — The Oisans balcony: Pas de la Confession and the Balcon d’Auris
A last flourish on the Oisans’ spectacular terrace roads — the Pas de la Confession and the Balcon d’Auris carved along the valley walls, high above the river, with the big peaks all around. A beautiful, quieter way to finish the week’s riding.
Saturday — Departure
Breakfast, and away by 10am. Legs full of memories, and a few climbs ticked off the bucket list.
Included
- 7 nights’ accommodation on a shared twin-room basis
- Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner every day
- Full van support throughout — I’m out on the route all day at the climbs and key junctions
- Luggage transferred between bases, so your bags are always waiting for you
- Detailed GPS routes for every ride
- Free pick-up and drop off from Grenoble train station (subject to availability)
What’s Not Included
- Travel insurance
- Airport transfers (Lyon or Geneva can be arranged at additional cost)
- Bike hire (available locally — see below)
- Drinks and alcohol
Accommodation
Comfortable, well-placed accommodation in the heart of the Oisans and Maurienne valley, chosen so you’re close to the climbs and can settle in properly for the week. Rooms are shared twin as standard, with a single-room option available (see pricing). Your bags travel in the van between bases, so you’ve always got everything with you each evening.
Additional Information
Bikes
Bring your own, or hire locally — I work with trusted partners in Le Bourg d’Oisans and Alpe d’Huez, and both traditional road bikes and e-bikes are very welcome. E-bikes are a brilliant way for mixed-ability groups and couples to ride the same roads together, so don’t rule them out. Just let me know when you enquire and I’ll sort the details.
Getting there
The easiest arrival is by train to Grenoble, where I’ll collect you free of charge (subject to availability). Flying in to Lyon or Geneva also works well, and I can arrange a transfer from either at additional cost. I’ll help you plan the best option once you’ve booked.
Prices & booking
€1,999 per person, based on shared twin rooms, including all accommodation, meals and full support as above. Holidays can be paid for in your own currency.
- Single supplement: available if you’d prefer your own room — €500 for the week
- Deposit: just 20% to secure your place
- Balance: due 10 weeks before departure
- Pay monthly: spread the cost in instalments if that’s easier — just ask
- Early-bird discount: book before 1 December for the following season and save 5%
Common questions
How fit do I need to be? These are real Alpine climbs, so a good level of cycling fitness and some hills in your legs will let you enjoy them properly. You ride at your own pace, though, with the van never far away — so it’s the climbs, not the clock, that matter.
Will I get lost? No. You’ll have detailed GPS routes to follow, and I’m out on the road all day at the junctions and climbs that count. It’s the freedom of riding at your own pace with the reassurance of full backup.
I’m travelling solo — is that ok? Absolutely. Plenty of riders come on their own; you’ll share twin rooms with the group, or take the single-room option if you’d rather your own space.
What if I have a mechanical, or a bad day? That’s exactly what the van’s for — spares, a top-up, or a lift to the top or back to base, no questions asked.
Competing in La Marmotte, L’Etape du Tour ?
Book this trip and you’re in the cohort at no extra cost, from the moment you book right through to race day.
That means months of preparation before you even arrive. Monthly calls, the full route packs, and a small group of riders preparing for exactly the same day you are. By the time you land, you’ll know the route, the pacing and what the day asks of you. You’ll ride it ready.
Already joined a cohort? Your fee comes straight off the price of your trip when you book.
The terms, kept simple:
- Free cohort place with any supported 7 day trip.
- Already paid to join? That fee is credited against your trip.
- Holiday to be taken in the same or following season, April to September.
- One offer per person. Non-transferable.
Ready to ride the climbs you’ve always dreamed about? Book your place with a 20% deposit, or drop me a line and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.