Alps Mountain Bike Tour
Overview
Our chalets are located in the beautiful Chamonix Valley in France, and have astoundingly great views. Trips run from Saturday to Saturday, and the ride days are Sunday through Friday (6 days total).
We fly into and out of Geneva (GVA), Switzerland.
Riding takes place in France, Switzerland and Italy. We typically ride in Aosta Valley, Port du Soleil, and Verbier, and of course lots of rides in the Chamonix Valley.
Rides are generally within 70 minutes of the chalet by van, and most within 20-40 minutes. We even have trails right out the back door. Some of Simon’s favorite runs are right in the valley at Les Houches and Vallorcine!
We do mostly enduro-style and bike park-style descending each day, with very little climbing on most days. Some riders have logged more than 20k vertical in a day, and 100k vertical over the week.
Trip Logistics
Booking Your Flights
Arrival: Most riders fly into Geneva, Switzerland (GVA). The drive to Chamonix is around 75 minutes. Most riders will arrive on Saturday, the first day of the tour, but it’s not uncommon for folks to arrive in Europe early to acclimate to the time zone and explore other cities.
You’ll need to book your transportation to the chalet, but we’re here to help with any questions! We typically use Mountain Dropoffs and have had a great experience with them. They offer both shared shuttles (around $35-$40 per person per trip, or $70 with bike) and private shuttles (around $200 per trip).
Departure: Check-out time is 10am the Saturday your trip ends. You will need to arrange a shuttle to the airport, or other departure transportation if you are continuing your travels in Europe!
Airline Tips: We recommend using an incognito browser when researching flights, since prices can increase when they track you searching. We also recommend booking directly through the airline carrier's site if you are bringing your bike with you. If you book through a 3rd party, you may be charged for your bike separately for each leg of your journey.
High-Level Schedule
Saturday: Arrival day. The group will gather, meet each other, and get the party started. There will be a rider’s meeting in the evening so you can also meet our guides! Room check-in starts at 4:00pm, but you’re welcome to arrive sooner and enjoy some refreshments and beautiful scenery on the back deck until your room is ready.
Sunday - Friday: Ride days! We'll explore local trails in France, Italy, and Switzerland and return to our chalets each evening.
Saturday: Departure day. We’ll serve breakfast and folks will depart depending on their flight times.
What’s Included?
Lodging in our beautiful chalets, nestled in the Chamonix Valley.
Daily ride transport in our vans with bike trailers. We generally have two separate vans, allowing us to split riders according to ability and trail tastes. There are great places to eat and relax if you only want to ride part of the day.
Daily rides, guided by local pros. Wayne Coates and Thomas Aubin are certified French Guides who live in the valley and love to show off its beauty and trails. Our Guides are also FIT Level 1 & 2 Certified.
Our guides will pick up your rental bike on Saturday night, and return it the following Friday after the final ride.
Breakfast prepared by hosts in-house, plus fresh-baked French treats from a local boulangerie.
3 Group Dinners: On arrival day, midweek dinner out (typically a pizza party in Italy,) and group BBQ dinner on the last night.
Fruit and other ride snacks to keep you fueled on the rides, and evening beverages to enjoy with fellow riders.
Local knowledge. Want to take a hike? Go paragliding? Shop for a few gifts for friends? Our local guides will help you find exactly what you're looking for and can help customize your trip.
What are the additional costs?
Airfare – Typically around $950-$1200 roundtrip.
Airport Transportation - Typically $35-$40 per person per trip (or $70 with a bike), or $200 per private shuttle.
Bike transport or rental (Generally $200-$300 for bike transport round-trip, but varies by airline. Rental is around $500 for the week).
Lunch each day ($10-15), and 4 dinners ($15+).
Daily uplift service by chair, train, tram, trolley ($30 average).
The Chalet:
We have two modern French chalets, able to accommodate up to 16 total guests.
What kind of food is served? How are allergies/preferences handled?
We serve up lots of healthy breakfast food, and happily cook for vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free riders. You will be asked prior to the trip about any special requests you have or sensitivities to food.
Breakfast offering is all you can eat! Typically includes coffee, yogurt, fruit, cereal, eggs, cheese, bread, gluten-free bread, croissants, fried potatoes.
What’s a normal day like?
The day starts with breakfast, usually around 8am. Depending on the ride location, our ride leaders show up around 9am to load the trailers and depart shortly after. We are typically home around 6pm, and then you can grab dinner at your leisure. While some rides require riders to be 'all-in', there will be plenty of days where riders can control the amount of riding they do, or even catch a bus or train back to the chalet early.
What if I want to bring a non-rider with me?
Totally fine! Non-riders can accompany a rider in their room at 40% off, plus both will qualify for shared room pricing. There are stunning hikes near our chalet and at most riding locations. The house is also well suited for amazing yoga practices, in-house massages, or just catching up on email. Chamonix is a 10-minute ride by bus or train, departing regularly, 500 yards from the front door.
Do I need to rent a car?
No - we do the shopping and all the ride transport for you. Public transit is also available just a short walk from the door, and is very easy to use. Of course if you want to rent a car, you are welcome to.
Packing & Pre-Trip Prep
What should I bring?
Your Passport, valid for 6 months+ following last day of the trip.
Some euros to have on hand. We recommend ordering from your bank ahead of time, or you can use an ATM when you arrive.
A well-tuned long-travel trail bike (or organize a rental). We ask that your bike be brought clean and in ready-to-ride condition.
Dual-ply tires with tubeless setup. You don't need to let all the air out of your tires to fly, so leave your tire bead set on the rim. Tire inserts can be helpful as well.
Layered clothing for changing conditions. Expect to ride in 40-100F degree weather. While it is summer, it still can get chilly. Bring layers and always bring wet-weather riding gear. Average daily high temperatures in August are 70°F.
Full-faced helmet. Neck braces are welcome if you have one.
Knee pads, elbow pads, and any additional protective gear are highly recommended.
Riding pack with the ability to carry water, layers, snacks and other essential gear.
Electrical outlet adapter for your computer and phone. A simple two-prong European-style adapter (type C) fits most outlets best. The big clunky ones aren’t compatible with the round-style outlets in most places.
Phone. Having communication is helpful to you and to us. Consider a SIM card for European travel or add to your plan to prevent surprises on your bill. We have used T-Mobile around the world and have been very impressed with what they offer. They also have no-contract plans, so you can get set up with a separate travel phone just for the month. T-Mobile has great reception in the valley.
A spare set of brake pads and derailleur hanger for your bike are also a great idea and won't take up much space.
Riding & Bike FAQs
How good of a rider do I need to be? How fit do I need to be?
We are now offering the tour to two different rider levels; both Advanced and Advanced-Intermediate! All riders should be comfortable on all blue trails and at least some black trails, at a minimum. All riders should have good basic fitness. Even though we are mostly descending, the days are long and physical. In addition to bringing good skills and fitness, riders should bring a great attitude. The Alps can be humbling. We recommend taking classes with Fluidride in preparation for the trip unless you are already a very strong rider. ALL riders will be screened to be sure they are ready to take on the challenges of riding the valley.
How hard is the riding?
The trails in the valley are generally quite technical and vary from tough ‘Blue Square’ runs to double black diamonds. In Europe the trails are rated blue, red (US black) and black (US double black). During most trips we descend 60,000-90,000 vertical feet in the week with less than 2,000 feet of climbing in that time. Riders should be able to ride blue runs easily and get through black diamond trails in a reasonable fashion. If you are from Seattle, a good example is that you should be comfortable on Off the Grid at Tiger Mountain to be in the less advanced group, and if you want to be in the more advanced group, you should be comfortable with trails such as Predator. Contact us at eurotours@fluidride.com to share more about your current riding level and determine if this trip is a good fit for you. Fluidride reserves the right to refund money after payment to those not ready for Chamonix Valley riding.
What is the best bike for me?
We recommend bringing a long travel trail bike with 150mm of travel or more. We do require that riders set bikes up with tubeless, 2-ply cased tires for the trip (DH or Double Down). Tire inserts can be really helpful as well. There are lots of rocks in the valley – and roots of course, too. Having heavy tires really improves the control you will have on rough ground, while reducing tire-related mechanicals. Please bring your bike ready-to-ride and in sound mechanical condition.
Are there options to rent a bike?
Yes! We have several great shops in the area to choose from. We recommend these shops:
Sport Spirit (Les Houches location)
You will need to arrange your rental directly with the shop, and tell them that Wayne Coates will be picking up your bike on Saturday evening. Your rental days will be Sunday - Friday, and they should only charge you for 6 rental days (confirm this when you book!) We recommend you book in April or as soon as the bike shop turns over from ski season to bike season. Our guides will help you return your bike on the last riding day (Friday) of the trip.
Can I ride an e-bike?
This trip is gravity-focused and there is minimal pedaling. We do not recommend bringing or renting an e-bike. If you are hoping to ride one, please let us know ahead of time so we can plan accordingly. The racks we use are not designed for ebikes so we can only allow one or two per tour. If you are flying with an e-bike, please note that only batteries up to 160Wh are allowed, and the battery must be removed.
Are there days off the bike?
While we don't have formal 'off days', riders are welcome to take one at any point. There is a lot to do in the area other than riding. Six straight days of riding might not sound like much, but everyone is pretty knackered by the last day.
Travel FAQ
Never been to Europe?
To make your trip as relaxing as possible, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Upon arriving in Chamonix, we’ve got all the details covered, including your lodging and daily adventures! Furthermore, French people are famously pleasant, outside of Paris.
Language Tip:
Download Google Translate. It’s an amazing tool for communication, as well as for reading foreign languages. Simply point your phone at text in any language and you will see it in English. (Amazing and a little eerie!) This helps for everything from doing laundry to reading road signs to knowing what’s in the food you are buying in the store or off a menu. It’s also a great tool for learning some French.
Travel Insurance:
Trip protection is required to protect your investment. We've had good experiences with World Nomads, however, you may choose who you are insured by. We recommend a plan that has coverage for the cost of the trip, airfare, and any medical emergencies that may arise. Insurance is inexpensive and covers you for more than just the purchase of your trip. We’ve had students use their insurance due to legitimate reasons for cancellation and were able to recover the cost of their trip. Please help us, and protect yourself, by taking this step.