Col de la Colombiere and Col Des Aravis
A long route for advanced riders with fantastic views and satisfying climbs
The Col de la Colombiere is one of the Tour de France classics and when combined with the climb over the Col des Aravis it makes for a picturesque but very tough route.
It is possible to set off from Morzine take the road out through Les Gets and then follow the D902 through Taninges to Cluses but the most interesting part of this circuit are the climbs over the Col de Colombiere and Col des Aravis and as they are tough it might make sense to drive to Cluses and take fifty kilometres off the total route.
From Cluses take the D4 over the Col and down towards Le Grand Bornand. The D4 turns into the D909 at Saint Jean de Sixt and from here you will begin climbing over the Col des Aravis before decending once again to Flumet. The climb out of the Gorge d'Arly on the on the D1212 is narrow and winding but not steep by comparison to what you have just tackled and from Megeve it is down hill all the way back to Cluses.
Distance - 150km (From Morzine)
100km (From Cluses)
Vertical Gain - 3000m (From Morzine)
2050m (From Cluses)
Highest Point - 1613m Col de la Colombiere
Time - 6 to 8 hours
