Tour de France 2023 - Alpine Cycling Trip

Provisional Itinerary

(Please Note: This is the intended itinerary at this stage, but things may change between now and the actual time of the Tour)

Thursday 13th July: Arrival Day

We will collect you from Geneva airport at 09:00hrs & 15:00hrs for transport to our hotel, the 4* Hotel Neve in Morzine.

Evening meal at the hotel

Friday 14th July: Stage 13 - CHÂTILLON-SUR-CHALARONNE > GRAND COLOMBIER

The Tour de France comes in reach today. Today's stage will see the Tour ascend the well-visited Grand Colombier in the Jura Mountain range.

The Grand Colombier is approached via the Lèbe observatory before descending to Artemare. As in 2020, the climb starts in Culoz. The last 17.4 kilometres average at 7.4% to get to the finish. The Grand Colombier stands at 1,500 metres and gives a great panoramic view from the top as there are no surrounding mountains.

Evening meal at the hotel.

Saturday 15th July: Stage 14 – Annemasse>Morzine Portes du Soleil

Today’s stage of the Tour de France is coming to Morzine.

Stage 14 of the 2023 Tour de France will be the 16th time that the Tour de France finishes in Morzine. The start is in Geneva’s commuter town on the French side of the border; Annemasse.

There are four KOM climbs on the route and a series of smaller mountains that will make this a tough challenge. The Col de Cou (7 kilometres at 7.4%) and Col du Feu (5.8 kilometres at 7.8%) need to be conquered in the first part of the route.

The final 65 kilometres of the route are the same as in 2016 with two big climbs - Col de la Ramaz and Col de Joux Plane and a descent into Morzine. In 2016 the Col de la Ramaz was cut out of the Etape du Tour route due to a landslide, but many still struggled on the Joux Plane in hot conditions.

The Col de la Ramaz is 13.9 kilometres long with an average of 7.1%. After the descent and about 10 kilometres in the valley, the Joux Plane starts. The Joux Plane is 11.6 kilometres long with an average of 8.5%. After a few kilometres at altitude the descent leads into Morzine. The last few hundred metres are a false flat uphill to the line.

Sunday 16th July: Stage 15 – Les Gets > Saint Gervais

Today’s stage of the Tour de France is a tough mountain stage.

After an easy first 30 kilometres, todays’ stage sees a lot of climbing and descending throughout the day. There are 4 main climbs today. The Col de la Forclaz de Montmin (7.2 kilometres at 7.3%), Col de la Croix Fry (11.3 kilometres at 7% (and its extension Col des Aravis)), and the climb to Saint Gervais.

Evening meal at the hotel.

Monday 17th July: Rest Day

Today the Tour de France will take a well-deserved rest day as they have 3 consecutive mountains stages to follow.

Our location in Morzine is ideal for the rest day of the Tour de France. You can spend some relaxing time. There are lots of beautiful bike rides around Morzine.

• Col de Ramaz
• Col de Joux Plane

Evening meal at the hotel.

Tuesday 18th July: Stage 16 – Passy > Combloux ITT

The 22-kilometre time trial between Passy and Combloux takes in the short and sharp Côte de Domancy before finishing in Combloux. The course is like the one in 2016 between Sallanches and Megève.

Evening meal at the hotel

Wednesday 19th July: Stage 17 – Saint Gervais > Courchevel

First on the menu today is the Col des Saisies, which is a 13km climb at 5.3% average. From Beaufort the Cormet de Roselend is 19.9 kilometres long and averages 6%.

After a long descent the duo of Côte de Longefoy and Notre-Dame-du-Pré are relatively easy. After Moutiers the real fun starts. The climb to the Col de la Loze is nearly 30km long. It starts easy with the climb up to Meribel but they rise to over 10% and the climb is very irregular. After the descent into Courchevel, the last 600 metres to the Altiport is tough at 10.8%.

Evening meal at the hotel

Thursday 20th July: Stage 18 – Moutiers to Bourg en Bresse and departure day

As the riders leave the Alps today for a likely sprint finish in Bourg en Bresse, our tour ends. We offer a return airport transfer to Geneva departing Morzine at 09.00.

Allowing for transfer time and check-in, please book flights to depart after 12.30 lunchtime

Airports

The fastest way to get to Morzine from abroad is by plane. Morzine also has one of the shortest travel times with around an hour and a half drive up to the resort. Numerous flights arrive every day from major cities across Europe and further afield.

Closest airports to Morzine

• Geneva-Cointrin International Airport (75 km) For further information, contact the Accueil France : acc-france@bluewin.ch
• Chambery Aiport (127km)
• Lyon Aiport (135km)

 Once you arrive in Geneva, Lyon or Chambery, you can then use a transport company or a taxi that will connect the airport to your accommodation in Morzine. Create the most responsible, fastest or cheapest combined itinerary for your trip to Morzine with Go Savoie Mont Blanc.

Driving to Morzine has been becoming increasingly popular despite it being just over an hour from Geneva airport. With two or more people in the car it is the more environmentally friendly option, and this year with worries over Covid-19 and air travel we are seeing an increase in people wanting to drive to Morzine. Located in the Northern French Alps, Morzine is one of the closest ski resorts to drive to from the UK, Belgium or Holland. 

Driving to Morzine gives you flexibility, but more importantly, it will keep you and your family safer and more isolated than taking the plane.

Getting To Morzine From The UK

Firstly you’ll need to cross the channel! There are a lot of different options to choose from.

Eurotunnel

The fastest way to get to France by car is with the Eurotunnel. It is more expensive than a ferry, but the journey across the channel only takes 35 minutes. Their policies have always been flexible, so are a good option. And you will only have about 8 hours of driving at the other end. Allow 9-10 hours with stops.

Crossing The Channel By Ferry

The 90 minute Dover to Calais crossing is one of the most popular ways to travel to France from the UK. A huge choice of crossings is on offer, and Morzine is only about 8 hours’ drive from Calais.

There are other options that may be more convenient if Dover isn’t close by. You can embark at Portsmouth, Poole, Plymouth, and Newhaven to other French ports like Caen, Dieppe, Dunkerque and, St Malo.

DFDS is one of the main cross channel ferry companies with a flexible booking policy.

Hull To Zeebrugge

If you are traveling from the North of England or Scotland, you may want to catch the ferry from Hull. This takes you overnight to Zeebrugge in Belgium. You can book a cabin on board. Morzine is about a 10-hour drive from Zeebrugge.

Driving to Morzine from Calais

Driving from Calais is around 8 and a half hours of driving time. It is generally worth paying to use the autoroutes unless you have time to go to take more scenic routes. Avoid the centre of Paris as it will be snarled up and we recommend taking the A26 through Reims, as it is more direct and faster.

There are plenty of places to stop and refill on the autoroutes or in the towns. And for those of you with electric cars, the French charging network is now extensive. You’ll also find numerous charging points in Morzine.

The last part of your journey will likely be on the A40 (Autoroute Blanche) you’ll need to take Exit 17 at Bonneville or Exit 18 at Cluses and follow signs to Morzine. Alternatively, if you have come through Switzerland, around the lake, take exit 1 at Feternes, which is signed for Morzine and follow the signs. Don’t forget you will need to buy a Swiss motorway pass if you use Swiss motorways.

Whichever way you drive, you may want to break up the trip over two days. This is quite common, especially if you have driven a long way on the British side of the channel. You can stop at the port the night before your crossing and book an early morning crossing. Alternatively, you can stay at the port on the French side, then head onto Morzine in the morning. Alternatively, there are plenty of motorway hotels to quickly break the journey.

If you’re looking to take some time out and visit somewhere on the way, just over halfway down you’ll find Dijon, which is a picturesque city about three and a half hours away from Morzine. Dijon has medieval architecture, and boasts excellent food and wine, as well as the mustard it’s famed for. Otherwise around 5 hours from Morzine, is Troyes, a very pretty town with a beautiful historical centre.

Checklist for Driving Through France

• Full valid driving licence
• Motor insurance certificate
• Country sticker on your car’s rear window
• Self-breathalyser test kit (these are a requirement in France)
• Warning triangle and reflective jacket in case you break down (it’s the law to always carry these in your car in France)
• Critair sticker – check here if you need one - https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/law-change-for-uk-drivers-in-french-cities/

By Bus

Here are the bus time tables

• Thonon > Morzine [ line Y91 | Schedules and prices | Booking ]
• Cluses > Morzine [ line Y92 | Schedules and prices | Booking ]
• Genève > Morzine [ Informations | Booking ]

Reserve online or by telephone: +33 4.50.79.15.69   

All the practical info about public transportation in Haute-Savoie are on OURA. [ Informations | Booking

• Cluses > Morzine [ line Y92 | Schedules and prices | Booking ]
• Genève > Morzine [ Informations | Booking ]

By Train

The closest stations are Cluses (30 km) and Thonon-les-Bains (33 km). Trains run to these stations daily, with direct TGV trains on Saturdays and Sundays. Other good options are Annecy (86km) and Geneva (61km). You could also stop at Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (75min from Morzine). To check schedules, prices, and book online, visit https://www.oui.sncf/

You can transfer from the train station to Morzine by regular bus or by taxi.

Schedules and prices: SAT (SNCF office and bus). Call +33 (0)4.50.79.15.69 or visit  www.altibus.com

You’ll find a list of taxi services here https://en.morzine-avoriaz.com/transport-taxi-1.html