The Route des Grandes Alpes is a route through the French Alps between Lake Geneva and the French Riviera, which covers all the high passes of the Alps in France.

The road starts at Thonon-les-Bains and climbs via Les Gets and Cluses. Then it goes to Saint-Gervais and Megève, over the Col des Saisies (1,633 m (5,358 ft)). Then it goes through Beaufort, Bourg-Saint-Maurice and to Val-d'Isère. The road then crosses the Col de l'Iseran (2,770 m (9,090 ft)).

The road then goes through Modane and over the Col du Galibier (2642 m (8,668 ft)) and then the Col du Lautaret to La Grave. The road goes to Briançon and then over the Col d'Izoard (2,361 m (7,746 ft)). The road then goes through Embrun and over the Col de Vars (2111 m (6.926 ft)) and via Jausiers on Barcelonnette, where the choice can be made (Rp31) to go south over the Col de la Bonette (2.802 m) turn - with access to the highest paved through road in Europe, the Cime de la Bonette - or continue via the Col de la Cayolle (2,327 m (7,635 ft)).

The original end of the route was Nice, but is now Menton, accessible via the cols of Sainte-Martin (1500 m (4,900 ft)), Turini (1,607 m (5,272 ft)) and Castillon (707 m (2,320 ft)) .


Allow at least 5 days for this trip so that you can take enough time to view everything. The route can be split as you wish, there are more than enough accommodation options along the way.