Frequently asked questions

A demanding route for committed mountain bikers who ride regularly every weekend. Lots of riding and some very big climbs up very high passes max attitude 2800m - over 9,000ft. This route is point to point and provides a great chance to see some of the best views and scenery in the Alps. There is plenty of climbing on double track and lots of fantastic singletrack descents! Both of the high passes days will require a short amount of pushing. Accommodation is in a mixture of hotels and mountain hotels. NB. There will be group sleeping arrangements in the mountain hotels. We cover around 300km in distance but ascend around 9,000m! That's more than the height of Everest in ascent but we do descend around 16,000 to 19,000m (depends on chairlifts used.)

The price depends on the level of van support you require and how many you are. However, the basic package includes 7 days mountain biking fully guided by a very experienced British mountain bike guide. Accommodation, all breakfasts and evening meals for the 7 days of riding along the way.

Your Bike! In good working order, full suspension and disc brakes are highly recommended on this trip to make your life more comfortable. Your bike must be a good quality Mountain Bike with at least decent front suspension forks. No hybrid bikes as these are not suitable! We normally ride dual suspension 4 to 6 inch travel 'all mountain' style bikes.

Enough clothing for 4 days of continuous riding in hot weather as well as some cool weather gear for the high parts and rides on the chair lifts which can be quite chilly, there's even the chance of snow! Maximum altitude is approximately 2,800m or 7,500 feet so no problems with altitude sickness but it can be cold if the weather turns. This is the Alps and we can expect alpine weather patterns which include some chance of inclement weather; showers or thunder storms may occur. You will need a sheet sleeping bag for some of the overnight stops and a small towel. You can borrow a bag from Ride the Alps if you do not have your own. Have a look at the full kit list below if you need more guidance.You will need enough personal spending money for your airport transfers, the chairlifts and funicular trains en route, your picnis and restaurant lunches and any drinks and souvenirs you buy en route, we suggest at least 350 pounds but it depends on how much you intend to eat and drink! The majority of this money should be in Swiss Francs (only the cable car from Le Tour in the Chamonix valley can be paid in euro). Lastly bring a willingness to have fun as this is a great trip and can only be made better by you in a good frame of mind, keen to ride lots of new and exciting trails!

Download the Ride the Alps Holiday Kit List (PDF - 97kb)

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