Route des Grandes alpes - website

[Bury_Dave]

Apologies if this link has been posted within another thread ( i wasn't able to find it doing a search) but I thought that bearing in mind the number of enquiries made about the RDGA, it might be worth giving this website a thread of its' own

http://www.grande-traversee-alpes.com/en/my-journey/by-road/the-great-alps-trail.html

And here's a link to a Garmin GPS download of the route:

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=jwggqvuztzveukww

The map is useful as are the approx times for the various sections. Obviously with the caveats of the speed you ride and how often you want to stop etc, etc but at least a baseline for steady continuous riding.

I'll be doing it in its' entirity as part of a tour next May/June (did from Guillestre this year) .
Cheers,
Dave

 

[yamonda1]

Although I've done it that'll come in handy I'm sure .. thanks

 

[donnie]

Very useful. Also heading down there in July. Can't wait

 

[Wapping]

Good find

 

[ebbo]

Just downloaded the tracklog from the second link (gpsies.com) and noticed it takes you over the road of death** (D119) just south of Cluses instead of the D4, if I was heading south I’d be very tempted to take the D4, going north your fine on the D119 as your on the inside of the hairpin, it’s a lot easier on the nerves


** So named by me for the precipitous 1000ft fallaway of the road side right on a narrow hairpin…

 

[Bury_Dave]

Isn't that what so-called 'Adventure Motorcycling' is all about ? Pushing yourself and your machine

There are several routes through the Grandes Alpes corridor. For example, I like heading up the Tinee valley from Nice and over the Col De Bonnette. Smoother, faster and generally better surfaced. But on a weekend I might be tempted to take the road less travelled.

Don't take any prescribed route but use the info to make your own.

Whatever route you chose to take, all are way better than the Napoleon which is now too civilised and too well traffiked.

 

[JayC]

Thanks BD!

 

[Beth]

......
http://www.grande-traversee-alpes.com/en/my-journey/by-road/the-great-alps-trail.html

I'll be doing it in its' entirity as part of a tour next May/June (did from Guillestre this year) .
Cheers,
Dave

Yep, that's the site we took our route from when we did the Alps a couple of years ago, absolutely beautiful the whole way. There's no real need to miss any 'alternative' routes unless you're very short of time, just plot your camping spots well so you can do all of them and back again. We took Route Napoleon back up North with a detour to the Verdon Gorges, busy but worth it