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RDGA day 1 Chalancon to Les Gets
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Peter Moerman - RouteXpert
Last edit: 26-10-2021
Route Summary
This route from Chalancon to Les Gets is the 1st route of a 4-day round trip from Chalancon in the Drome via the Route des Grandes Alpes and back to Chalancon. This route from Chalancon to Les Gets is the run-up to the actual Route des Grandes Alpes and includes a varied landscape and beautiful roads. This 4-day route is for riders who find 350 to 400 km daily no problem.
I rate this route with 3 stars because of the varied roads and the varied landscape
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Verdict
Duration
9h 10m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
384.13 km
Countries
Routebord Route des Grandes Alpes
RouteXpert Review
This route starts at a great motorcycle hotel in Chalancon in the Drôme, the start and end point of this 4-day tour.

The Drôme department is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is bordered by the departments of Ardèche, Isère, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Vaucluse. The canton of Valréas, called Enclave des papes until the French Revolution, belongs to the department of Vaucluse, but is completely surrounded by the department of Drôme.
The department takes its name from the river Drôme, a tributary of the Rhône, with a length of 110 km.

From Chalancon it first goes downhill towards the southeast via La Motte Chalancon and La Charce. After about 14 kilometers you will pass a geological site that was only discovered in 1977 and where all kinds of rock can be seen, and then drive north on the D61 towards Die. Via the modest Col de Prémol you drive via winding but well-paved roads towards the D93. Here you can fill your tank for the continuation of the journey.

Just past the Molières-Glandaz you pass a butterfly garden. In the town of Die you turn off the D518 to drive via a beautiful road to the first highlight, the Col de Rousset. With its 1254 not even very high, but because of the 8 hairpin bends and the view from the parking lot just before the tunnel, it is very worthwhile.
Just after the tunnel you can turn right at the roundabout. Here are some restaurants where you can recover from the first part of the route.

From the coffee stop, the route continues north on the D518 and from Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors on the D103, straight through the Vercors. The Vercors (Massif du Vercors) is a plateau in the French departments of Isère and Drôme in eastern France. It belongs to the French Pre-Alps. It is located south of another similar massif of the Pre-Alps: the Chartreuse, from which it is separated by the Isère. East of the Vercors are the Taillefer massif and the Matheysine from which the Vercors is separated by the Drac river. Near the town of Grenoble, the cliffs to the east separate the Trièves region from the plateau further south. The area consists of hard limestone and is difficult to access due to the steep walls. It includes several stations for cross-country skiing and for alpine skiing. Villard-de-Lans is the main ski station of the Vercors.
The route continues via the Gorges de la Bourne, a narrow gorge, to Villard de Lans, where you can plan another coffee stop.
From Lans-en-Vercors, the route goes via the D106 towards Grenoble. Just past Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte, the lunch stop is planned. The 1968 winter games were held in this region and the monument of the Olympic flame can be seen. In the Vercors there was a lot of fighting during the war and many casualties were to be regretted. You will also come across memorial sites and monuments in various places.
The descent to Grenoble starts from the lunch spot and you can see the enormous city in the depths in various places.

From Grenoble, the route continues on the highway and partly on the toll road. It is not feasible to drive this route completely within 1 day. This stretch of highway is also very worthwhile on many stretches. From Grenoble the route goes via the A41 towards Albertville, again an Olympic village (1992). Just before Albertville, the route leaves the highway again to head towards Lake Annecy via the D201c and the col de Tamié. In Faverges-Seythenex it is again possible to refuel at an affordable price at the Carrefour or the Intermarché.

The route follows the east bank of Lake Anncy. Lake Annecy (French: le lac d'Annecy) is located in Haute-Savoie and is known for its purity. By volume, the lake is the second largest in France, after Lake Bourget if the French part of Lake Geneva is not taken into account. The lake was formed about 18,000 years ago from the meltwater of the large glaciers in the Alps of the last ice age. The lake is fed by a number of streams that originate in the surrounding mountains, such as the Ire, the Eau morte, the Laudon, the Bornette and the Biolon, and by a powerful underground spring, the Boubioz. The lake is surrounded by the Massif des Bornes (la Tournette - 2351 m, les Dents de Lanfon, les monts Veyrier et Baron) and to the west by the Massif des Bauges (le Semnoz, le Roc des Boeufs). To the north is the town of Annecy - Annecy-le-Vieux and to the south the valley to Faverges which forms the continuation of the Bout-du-Lac. The lake discharges its water surplus in the Thiou and in the Vassé Canal, which reunite and feed the Fier at 1500 m northwest of Annecy. In turn, the Fier flows into the Rhône

From Annecy, the route rejoins the A41 and A410 motorway towards Thonon-les-Bains. This place is the official starting point of the Route des grandes Alpes (RDGA). From Thonon-les-Baines, the route heads south again on the D902 into the mountains. This beautiful road meanders up through well-known and lesser-known winter sports resorts and ends this day in Les Gets. In this place there are several hotels and B&Bs so that you can always find a place to stay.

To end this day we have 1 more tip for pizza lovers. Go eat a pizza at Pizzalino. You can't get them any better (the author has no shares but does love good food).

The subsequent second stage of this tour runs from Les Gets to Valloire.
meer van Annecy
Col de Rousset
Links
Route des Grandes Alpes
Mototvacances Chamauche
Le Vercors
Les gets
Haute Savoie
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.

Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.

Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Nearby routes
Auvergne Rhone Alpes
About this region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (ARA; French: [ovɛʁɲ ʁon‿alp] (listen); Arpitan: Ôvèrgne-Rôno-Ârpes; Occitan: Auvèrnhe Ròse Aups; Italian: Alvernia-Rodano-Alpi) is a region in southeast-central France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions; it resulted from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. The new region came into effect on 1 January 2016, after the regional elections in December 2015.The region covers an area of 69,711 km2 (26,916 sq mi), making it the third largest in metropolitan France; it had a population of 7,948,287 in 2017, second to Île-de-France. It consists of twelve departments and one territorial collectivity (Lyon Metropolis) with Lyon as the prefecture.
This new region combines diverse geographical, sociological, economic and cultural regions, which was already true of Rhône-Alpes, as well as Auvergne, to a lesser extent. While the old Rhône-Alpes and Auvergne regions each enjoyed a unity defined by axes of communication and the pull of their respective metropoles, the new combination is heterogeneous; it sustained lively opposition from some local officials after its creation.
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Route Collections in this region
The 24 Most Beautiful Alpine Routes
The Alps, The Alps are a mountain range in Europe, stretching from the French Mediterranean coast in the southwest to the Pannonian Plain in the east. The area of the mountain range is more than 200,000 km².

In other words Passes and Mountain Roads!

Driving through the mountains is great! Especially over the mountain passes with hairpin bends and narrow winding roads. Every bend a different view where you can enjoy. There are many beautiful mountain passes in the Alps.

A selection that has also been incorporated into these routes:
The Stlevio Pass:
The Stelvio Pass, also known as Passo dello Stelvio, is mainly known for the stage in the Giro d'Italia. Due to the length and the difference in height, this pass is seen as one of the toughest tests in cycling. The Stelvio Pass reaches a maximum height of 2758 meters and is therefore one of the highest in the Alps. The pass connects the towns of Bormio and Prato Allo Stelvio. In winter the pass is closed due to heavy snowfall.

The Reschenpass:
The Reschenpass, also known as Passo di Resia, connects the Austrian state of Tyrol with the Italian province of South Tyrol. The pass reaches a maximum height of 1,504 meters and has been one of the most important north-south connections in the Alps in recent centuries. The pass was used long before Roman times. Along the way you will pass several highlights and historical relics. One of the highlights is the Reschensee. This lake was created after the construction of the dam and has completely submerged the village of Graun. The only thing that reminds of that is the clock tower in the middle of the lake.

Col du Galibier:
The French mountain pass Col du Galibier connects the towns of Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Briançon via the Col du Lautaret in the south and the Col du Télégraphe in the north. The mountain pass is part of the Tour de France and very much feared, due to the fact that it can only be reached via the other two mountain passes. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2646 meters. From there you can take a walk to the viewpoint at 2704 meters. You can admire the peaks of the Grand Galibier, Mont Blanc and La Meije here.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road:
With a height of 3798 meters the Grossglockner is the highest mountain in Austria. To fully enjoy this impressive mountain, you can drive over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and the accompanying pass. The route starts from Bruck am Grossglockner and ends in Heiligenblut. Of course you can drive in two directions. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2504 meters and is closed in winter due to heavy snowfall. Along the way you pass several stops with fun activities, information points, mountain huts and viewpoints. A visit to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe and Pasterzen Glacier is highly recommended.

The Col d'Izoard:
Just like the Col du Galibier, the Col d'Izoard is also part of a stage of the Tour de France. The mountain pass connects Briançon with the valley of the river Guil. The pass is partly located in the Regional Natural Park du Queyras and reaches a maximum height of 2360 meters. What is special about the Col d'Izoard is the barren and rocky landscape. Sometimes it feels like driving a car over the moon! Along the way you can stop at several points to enjoy the beautiful view.

The Bernina Pass:
The Bernina Express is one of the most famous rail trains in Switzerland and the Alps. The route is beautiful and partly included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Parallel to the railway lies the Bernina pass, which connects the Veltlin valley with the Egandin valley. This beautiful Alpine road has a total length of 56 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2328 meters. Along the way you can enjoy views of the Morteratsch Glacier.

The Sella Pass:
The Sella Pass, also known as Passo di Sella, takes you over one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Dolomites: the Sella massif. The pass connects Valle di Fassa with Val Gardena and reaches a maximum height of 2236 meters. At this height is also the border of the Italian provinces of Trentino and Bolzano. Along the way you can enjoy the view of this spectacular mountain world. Admire, for example, the three peaks of the Sasso Lungo massif, the Sella massif or the peaks of the Marmolada. You can also drive the Sella pass in combination with the Gardena pass, Pordoi pass and Campolongo pass.

The Grimsel Pass:
The Grimsel Pass connects Goms in Wallis with the Halis Valley in the Bernese Oberland. The pass reaches a maximum elevation of 2165 meters and is closed in winter due to snowfall. Over the centuries, the mountain pass has played an important role in trade between Switzerland and Italy. Now it is mainly the reservoirs that have an important function. These are used to generate electricity. The landscape you drive through is rugged, rocky and impressive. On top of the pass is a hotel and a restaurant with a special marmot park. The Dodensee (Totensee) is also located here. This lake owes its name to the many soldiers who died in the time of Napoleon.

The Gotthard Pass:
The Gotthard Pass, also known as Passo del San Gottardo and Saint Gotthard, connects the Swiss towns of Airolo and Andermatt. The mountain pass and associated tunnel are especially known among holidaymakers driving from Switzerland to Italy. But where the majority opt for the tunnel, it is precisely the pass that really completes the holiday. The Gotthard Pass has a length of about 26 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2106 meters. The route is beautiful and takes you along old villages and beautiful views.

The Silvretta High Alpine Road and Silvretta Pass:
The Paznaun Valley in Tyrol and the Montafon in Vorarlberg are connected by the Silvretta High Alpine Road. The route has a length of 22.3 kilometers and leads from Galtür to Partenen in 34 hairpin bends, via the 2032 meter high Bielerhöhe. The Silvrettasee is also located at this point, where you can enjoy a lovely walk. The pass is closed in winter due to snowfall.

The Simplon Pass:
Just like the Gotthard Pass, many holidaymakers also travel over the Simplon Pass every year. This mountain pass connects the Rhone Valley in the canton of Valais with the Valle d'Ossola in Piemonte. The pass is open all year round and reaches a maximum height of 2005 meters. Along the way you pass a number of buildings, including the well-known Simplon Hospiz from 1825. The hospiz is managed by the monks of St. Bernard. From the highest point on the pass, all kinds of hiking routes are possible and you will also come across a hotel where you can spend the night.

The Gerlos Pass:
The Gerlos Pass connects the Salzach Valley in the Salzburgerland with the Zillertal Valley in Tyrol. The pass is part of the Gerlos Alpenstraße and runs right through the Hohe Tauern National Park. Along the way you can enjoy beautiful views of the surroundings. The pass has a length of 12 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 1531 meters. A ride over the Gerlos Pass can be ideally combined with a visit to the Krimmler Wasserfälle.

The Great St. Bernard Pass:
The Great St. Bernard Pass, better known as Col du Grand Saint Bernard, connects the Italian province of Valle d'Aosta with the Swiss canton of Valais. The pass is one of the highest in Switzerland and reaches a maximum height of 2469 meters. Like a number of other mountain passes in this list, the Great St. Bernard Pass has also been used as a connecting road for centuries. The pass is named after the St. Bernard dogs that used to help stranded travelers along with the monks. The pass is closed in winter.

The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road:
The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road connects the towns of Sölden in the Ötztal and Meran in South Tyrol. Tolls must be paid on the Hochgurgl - Moos route. Via a mountain road with about 60 hairpin bends you drive through a beautiful mountain world. With the Timmelsjoch Experience you can learn more about the history, the road and the environment via various stations. You can also visit the Top Mountain Crosspoint museum.

Col de l'Iseran:
With a maximum pass height of 2770 meters, the Col l'Iséran is one of the highest mountain passes in the Alps. The pass connects Bourg-Saint-Maurice with Bonneval-sur-Arc. Via a road full of hairpin bends you pass, among other things, Val-d'Isère and a side valley of the Maurienne that lies entirely in the National Park de la Vanoise. You can spot animals such as marmots and chamois and there is also a restaurant with a chapel on top of the pass.

The Gavia Pass:
The Gavia Pass (Italian Passo di Gavia) is a mountain pass in the Italian Alps, in the Lombardy region.
It is one of the highest pass roads in Europe. The road leads through the unspoilt Stelvio National Park. The road was built in the First World War to supply Italian soldiers who fought in the Italian-Austrian border area. The pass height is one of the most beautiful in the Alps. Here is the large Lago Bianco with, to the north, the mountain San Matteo (3684 meters). Lago Nero is slightly lower on the south side of the pass. Here the mountain group of the Adamello determines the view. There are many well-marked walks in the area. During the winter the pass is closed due to the heavy snowfall. The pass is often closed until May and June due to the large amount of snow.


Promoter has made a selection of the 24 Most Beautiful Alpine routes that they have set out in recent years.

The routes go through:
France
Austria
Switzerland
Italy

The most beautiful roads, the most beautiful views, the most beautiful viewpoints. The highest mountains, the fastest descents, hairpin bend after hairpin bend, you name it you can't get enough of it.

If you go on holiday in this region, take advantage of it, ALL routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.

Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Alps and the Dolomites have to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.

I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).



View Route Collection
24 Routes
8059.29 km
171h 24m
25 Magnificent trails in France
This MRA route collection contains 25 beautiful motorcycle routes in different parts of France, such as the Ardennes, the Alsace, Vercors, the Drôme, the Ardèche, Cote d'Azure, Gorges du Verdon, the Ariège, the Dordogne and Brittany.

The routes have been carefully created by Bert Loorbach, who is an enthusiastic motorcyclist himself. He lived in France for a year and a half, during which time he devoted himself to mapping the unknown and beautiful back roads of France especially for motorcyclists.

The routes are bundled in the Motortourgids France part 1 of Kosmos publishing house and now also available in MyRouteApp.

I have taken over the routes in MRA and sometimes adjusted them slightly to make them even more interesting for the motorcyclist.

View Route Collection
25 Routes
4106.1 km
106h 0m
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