This spectacular and remote region is crossed by only one route, the Col de l’Iseran, which separates the Maurienne Valley from the Arc Valley of the Tarentaise mountains to the north.
The landscape is marked by a stark, rugged grandeur, reflected in the solid stone houses built to withstand the harsh climate.
The area is very popular with motorcyclists from across Europe who begin their Alpine crossing on the Route des Grandes Alpes, and it is also perfectly suited to high-mountain hiking.
The most beautiful stages of your Spyder road trip in the Vanoise, in the heart of the Alps.
Bessans
This village lies on a small high-altitude plain surrounded by steep mountains. Wherever the eye turns, the view is filled with glaciers, snowfields, or foaming waterfalls cascading down from the heights.
Bessans, in the heart of the Maurienne Valley, has preserved much of its traditional character and features several charming old houses, even though it has become an increasingly popular winter sports resort.
Above the village stand the church and the Saint-Antoine Chapel. The church houses several 17th-century statues, while the chapel is particularly noteworthy. It contains fine examples of the ornate art found in the Arc Valley, along with a Renaissance-style ceiling, wooden statues, and 15th-century frescoes.
Bonneval-sur-Arc
One of the most beautiful villages in France in the Vanoise region.
Bonneval, at the foot of the Col de l’Iseran, is one of the oldest villages in the French Alps.
Telephone lines, power cables, and television antennas are all buried underground, and only village vehicles are allowed to circulate.
The houses nestle closely together, as if to protect one another from the harsh climate, and the rust-colored flat stone roofs are almost works of art. Wooden balconies and old doors complete this rustic scene, seemingly preserved from another century.
At the center of the village stands the Grande Maison, a large historic chalet housing the butcher’s shop, the bakery, and an information center.
On the way out of the village, you can purchase regional cheeses such as Emmental and Beaufort.
The hamlet of L’Écot is perched on the mountainside above Bonneval-sur-Arc and lies right on the edge of the Vanoise National Park.
Crossing Europe’s highest mountain pass by motorcycle: the Col de l’Iseran
The Col de l’Iseran, the highest mountain pass in Europe, is a stark and austere place. From Bonneval, the road winds and twists its way up steep slopes—offering fine views over the village—before climbing nearly 1,000 meters from the valley floor to the pass itself.
There are several outstanding viewpoints along the way, such as the Belvédère de la Maurienne, just after the Pont de la Neige tunnel, offering a remarkable panorama over Mont Albaron, the snow-covered pyramid of Pointe de Charbonnel, Pointe de Ronce, and the impressive ridgeline of the Mulinet massif.
Snow remains abundant near the pass, and summer skiing is possible on the well-marked Grand Pissaillas Glacier. Snow can fall at any time of year, and the road is almost always closed from November to June.
At the pass itself, there is a small shop designed to help motorcyclists cope with the extreme climate, as well as a small church built in 1939, three years after the road was opened.
Compared with many other Alpine passes, the scenery here is stark and unwelcoming. The finest viewpoint is Pointe des Lessières, the peak located to the west of the summit.
Hiking is reserved for experienced and well-equipped walkers; others should limit their walks to the immediate surroundings of the pass.
The road climbing to the pass from Val d’Isère becomes, during the season, a favorite playground for photographers, who will be sure to capture you and your motorcycle as you negotiate the hairpins of the pass. Don’t forget to smile!
Avérole Valley
This magnificent valley in the upper Maurienne is home to remarkably well-preserved villages such as La Goula, Vincendières, and Avérole. It is dominated by Pointe de Charbonnel, whose glaciers stand like majestic sentinels overlooking the rocky escarpments below.
The region is wild and desolate, with large patches of snow—remnants of winter avalanches—often lying beside the road well into summer.
Vanoise National Park
National parks cover 7 percent of France’s surface area and represent a relatively recent contribution to the protection of natural landscapes. The Vanoise National Park was the first to be created, in 1963.
Situated between the high valleys of the Maurienne and the mountains of the Tarentaise, the Vanoise reaches an altitude of 3,855 meters, with its lowest point at 1,280 meters.
A wide variety of rock types has given rise to an equally rich diversity of flora and fauna, making the alpine and subalpine zones particularly interesting. These areas are home to chamois, ibex, golden eagles, and a splendid range of alpine plants.
The chalets of the Maurienne
The high valleys of the Maurienne are home to small villages that have survived and developed despite a challenging environment. Their hardy inhabitants adapted by building homes capable of withstanding the harsh climate.
The traditional permanent chalet, located at lower altitudes, is usually built of stone and wood and includes barns for hay and tools. Higher up, chalets are built entirely of stone; people and livestock share the same structure, with hay stored at the back of the house for winter use.
The roofs are often remarkable, covered with heavy slate slabs known as lauzes.
Where to stay during your trip in the Alps?
Planning your road trip in the Vanoise Alps
To help you plan your motorcycle weekend, visit the local Tourist Office website. You’ll find all the practical information you need, along with suggestions for sightseeing and riding itineraries.
Discover the region with the travel agency Ride in Tours.
Join our motorcycle tour on the Route des Grandes Alpes, available as a guided group trip or a self-guided tour, by motorcycle or Can-Am, following these valleys and crossing the Col de l’Iseran.
