TORINO-NICE: ALPS BIKEPACKING EXPEDITION
Discover the iconic mountain passes and gravel roads between the home of vermouth and the Cote d’Azur on one of Central Europe’s highest, finest bikepacking journeys…
Tour Difficulty Rating
Location
Cottian & Maritime Alps
# Nights
7
Distance
600KM
GROUP SIZE
9-15
Join
£1360 (€1595)
Supported bikepacking through the wonderfully wild Cottian and Maritime Alps? Riding iconic high mountain passes and gravel roads between the home of vermouth and the French Riviera? Staying at the finest agriturismos and rifugios going? Torino to Nice is arguably Central Europe’s finest adventure by bike…
Columbardo, Finestre, Assietta, Izoard, Agnel, Sampeyre, Cannoni, Gardetta, Tende, Via del Sale, Turini – the list of iconic mountain passes and gravel roads this expedition stitches together is heady. Add the amazing agriturismos, rifugios, hotels and camp-grounds we’ve sought to stay along the way, and these 8 days heading south amongst the mountainous Italian-French borderlands are unrivalled, really.
Torino-Nice is undoubtedly a challenging ride, but with the long summer days and Pannier levels of support, you’ve plenty of time to enjoy the big mountain experience. For more on the origins of the route this expedition is based on, and a Q&A with routesmith James Olsen, have a read of this Pannier Journal from early 2017…
Second Edition:
21 – 28 July 2024
Meet:
Central Torino
…for our Pannier Expeditions to ride, we need to reach the minimum group size, at least sixty days before the start date. Post booking, we’ll keep you informed as to numbers until we can confirm the expedition can go ahead. Please don’t book travel until then.
MEET
115KM
2400M+
Gather in the city centre for an early morning depart – headed along the flat Torino plains for the mountain town of Viu and the first off-road pass of the trip – Colle delle Columbardo. From 1888M+ at the high point, it’s a super descent to the Susa Valley for first night aperitif and recoup at the Agriturismo.
Accommodation: Agriturismo B&B
Food: Lunch, Dinner
70KM
3100M+
Discover two of the finest dirt roads in the European Alps – the Colle delle Finestre, made famous by the Giro d’Italia, and then the spectacular Strada dell’ Assietta, a 34km-long military road weaving across 2000m+ plateau – before dropping to the mountain town of Sestriere for the night.
Accommodation: Agriturismo B&B
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
75KM
2200M+
The big mountain col-ticking continues, pretty much all on road today. Once through the alpine hub of Briancon, it’s time to ride the Col d’ Izoard before spending the night part-way up the following mountain pass – Col d’ Agnel…
Accommodation: Mountain Lodge
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
70KM
2300M+
After summiting the third highest mountain pass in the Alps (2774m) for breakfast, you’ll be back in Italy and descending south around the Monviso Park towards Colle di Sampeyre.
Accommodation: Rifugio
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
46KM
1900M+
A short day by comparison, this summit day allows for a slower start and an amazing afternoon/evening up on the stunning Gardetta plateau – it really is other worldly; route-maker James Olsen refers to it as ‘Little Peru’ for a reason. That said, you’ll struggle to get a Pisco Sour over a Spritz…
Accommodation: Rifugio
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
76KM
900M+
If yesterday was a short day, this is the rest day before the final section of riding back into France, and the Maritime Alps. A hearty rifugio breakfast will fuel your special gravel ride across the Gardetta plateau, before a speedy drop out of the mountains and the big town of Borgo San Dalmazzo. You’ll spend the evening at the foot of Col du Tende, in a comfy touring hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
65 / 113KM
2300 / 4000M+
The penultimate day of the expedition crossing the high, spectacular border at Tende, offers up two options: a challenging but iconic ride along the Via del Sale before dropping down to the Roya Valley, or a direct descent down the switchbacked Col du Tende gravel road. Whichever route you decide the day finishes on the Col de Turini, with the Cote d’Azur almost in sight…
Accommodation: Camping
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
70KM
1100M+
A super last day’s ride through the Maritime Alp foothills, with an ultimate beeline for a swim and rest on the beach in Nice.
Finish drink(s) on us!
DEPART
Accommodation: –
Food: Breakfast, Lunch
>> Bikepacking Bags
>> Refuge Kit (sleeping bag, sleeping mat, liner)
>> 8 hosted and supported bikepacking days in the Alps
>> All accommodation
>> All food and drink, minus out-of-pocket expenses like fancy drinks
>> Pannier.cc tourer pack
>> Travel to/from Turin and Nice
>> Any required visas or vaccinations
>> Travel insurance – required up to 3000M+
>> Bikepacking Bike
>> Bags / Kit Hire
>> Out-of-pocket expenses
*Please Note:
– see Trip FAQ/Field Notes for more info, and note about booking travel before a tour is guaranteed
– given the point-to-point nature of this expedition, we will transfer any bags / bike bags along our journey to Nice so you’ll have them with you each evening (except for the Gardetta rifugio night) and at the end.
– if you’re planning to travel in and out of Nice, please let us know re. bike boxes and we can look to arrange storage in Nice. The best options for travel to the start in Turin, as it stands with the Roya Valley storm damage are: driving/bus-coach (around 3-4 hours) and train (around 5H along the coast via Savona/Genoa).
>> RIDE
!>> TRAIN
Nearest Stations: Turin and Nice>> FLY
Nearest Airports: Turin (/Milan+Transfer) and Nice
Join Us
FAQ / Field Notes
Torino-Nice, European Alps Expedition
Joining instructions >>
This tour starts in Turin, Italy and ends in Nice, France. We will meet early morning on Day 1 in central Turin, but would advise tourers to arrive the night before and spend the night in the city. A joining itinerary will be sent out to all tourers at least 4 weeks before the tour start date, and will likely include the option for social meet and meal the evening before.
There are several carriers offering routes to Turin (or Milan) and from Nice – we recommend checking on Skyscanner (or similar) for available route options. Please factor in travel days at the start of the tour to allow plenty of time to meet the group, and ensure your bike arrives with you. Make sure to sort and book bike-box luggage properly with your carrier 🙂
Please do not book non refundable travel before a tour has been guaranteed to go ahead [see our general FAQs]
Food & Drink >>
All sorts. Two nations that pride themselves on their food and drink, so arguably the finest options going! The expedition will feature a mix of meals at our overnight stops, lunchtime rifugios and restaurants, and some bikepacking-style picnics along the way. Vegetarian and vegan options available, of course.
Accommodation >>
A mix of Agriturismos, Mountain Lodges and Rifugios, and a nights camping.
What to bring >>
(We’ll go into this in more detail post-booking!)
Adventure bike (see bike details)
Bikepacking bags
Tent (if you want, or are able to bring one)
Sleeping bag (rated down to -10degs)
Sleeping mat (rated down to -10degs)
A basic personal bike tool kit – inc. patches, tyre lever and tubes / tubeless repair kit
Cycling kit, shoes, helmet, pedals
Spare Derailleur Hanger for your bike is essential
Off the bike clothes – warm layers for mornings and evenings + clothes for travel days
Warm and Waterproof jackets
Gloves
Head torch
Sketchbook
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Bike details >>
The ideal bike for this tour is a big-volume tyre gravel bike, really. The most important thing to consider is the range of gears on your bike. There are some long and tough ascents and having a low range of gears will help you keep riding…
Pannier hosts will be have some spare tools and parts in the support vehicle, and will be on hand to help build, fix and dismantle bikes if needed. We recommend you bring basic spares that are specific to your bike with you on this tour as once we’re off, there are very few bike shops. If you have wheels with strange spokes, specific tools needed or a belt drive bike for example, we’ll need to be able to fix it.
We’ll transport bike bags and any bags from Turin to Nice.
General information >>
Visas
N/A
Vaccinations:
N/A
Passport:
You will need a passport that is valid for a minimum of six months beyond the start date of your tour. You will also need a minimum of two blank pages for arrival/departure stamps.
Weather:
A whole mix. Above 2000M+ expect anything from 35-degree sun to minus-degree snowstorms, even in July.
Money:
Euros. Always carry some cash.
Local Time:
CET
Health and Fitness:
Whilst our daily distances aren’t crazy, this tour is physically demanding and requires a base level of fitness, and basic gravel riding to complete. Please read through the itinerary and make sure you are capable of completing the outlined distances and elevation before signing up.
Please make us aware of any medical conditions or ongoing injuries before traveling with us. This information will be requested before departure as it is vital we know of anything before heading to remote areas.
Allergies and Dietary Requirements:
Please make us aware of any allergies or dietary requirements before traveling with us. This information will be requested before departure as it is vital we know of anything before heading to remote areas.