Cycling in Val d'Arly
The four villages of Val d'Arly Mont Blanc are a French Cycling Federation (FFC) approved mountain biking area (site n° 10).
The 25 trails that start from the villages cover a total distance of more than 405km. There are 2 green trails, 6 blues, 12 reds and 5 blacks.
Maps are on sale at all tourist offices.
The Diamant Vert
, there's nowhere else like it!
The villages are also part of the Diamant Vert, a network of trails, linked by skilifts, covering the resorts of Val d'Arly Mont Blanc plus Praz sur Arly, Megève, Combloux, Les Contamines Montjoie, St Gervais and Les Saisies. Chairlifts take the pain out of the uphill, leaving you fresh to enjoy the thrills of the signposted downhill trails.
There are three signposted trails
- Les Crêtes du Torraz : 20.5km, 2 hours, with 420m of uphill and 1475m of downhill
- “Face au toit de l'Europe”: 36.5km, 4 hours, with 255m of uphill and 2315m of downhill
- “Du Val Montjoie au Mont d'Arbois”: 33.5km, 2 hours, with 450m of uphill and 2270m of downhill
Cycle touring in Val d'Arly
Lying on the “Route des Grandes Alpes” at the intersection of several famous passes between Savoie and Haute Savoie, Val d'Arly Mont Blanc is first and foremost an Alpine crossroads. It is the perfect base from which to explore numerous varied routes. These routes are signposted.
- The Balcons de l'Arly (n°7): 61km and 1160m of height gain. The scenic route from Albertville through Héry sur Ugine leads to the heart of the valley and the pretty villages of Crest-Voland and Notre Dame de Bellecombe.
- The Traverse of the Aravis and Val d'Arly Mont Blanc (n°47), with a superb view of Mont Blanc from the Col des Aravis: 110km and 1300m of height gain. This route is also called the “Prince of Wales” in memory of this prestigious visitor who did the circuit via the greenway along the shores of Lake Annecy
- The Les Saisies Circuit or the Tour of the Beaufortain and Val d'Arly-Mont Blanc via the Col des Saisies and Albertville (n°9): 88km and 1600m of height gain. Cycle touring and mountain bike guide (French and English), with a number of routes starting from our villages. Available from tourist offices.
There are also themed routes at Crest-Voland Cohennoz: From the top of the Le Cernix chairlift, this circuit combines mountain biking and ecology/botany (guide available from the Crest-Voland Cohennoz Tourist Office). Whatever your level, you will love this varied route along forest tracks and winding paths through the woods.
For information: Mountain bike rental from €12 to €28 per day and from €50 to €110 for seven days, from July to mid-September.
- at Crest-Voland Cohennoz: Bérod Sports at Le Cernix, tel: 04.79.31.70.85
- at Notre Dame de Bellecombe: James Sports, tel: 04.79.31.70.95
Morning cloud - sunny afternoon