Legendary mountain biking from the Alps (via Provence) to the Pyrenees
ORGANISE YOUR TRIP | OUR FAVOURITE MTB RESORTS | FEATURED VIDEO | GALLERY
France is regarded as the ultimate destination for mountain biking in Europe. A reputation earned by the huge mountains, its laissez-faire attitude to danger and the sheer variety of terrain on offer.
The Portes du Soleil is undoubtedly the best known mountain bike area in France attracting riders from all over Europe with its dusty trails, endless lifts and legendary singletrack. But there’s a lot more to mountain biking in France than Morzine and Les Gets.
For mountain bikers seeking less extreme gradient, France has thousands of kilometres of waymarked trails and authentic mountain towns with plenty of classic singletrack through stunning scenery. The best thing about mountain biking in France is that whatever your style of riding, whether XC, enduro or downhill, there’ll be a destination to suit. So, if you haven’t yet been, France should be well up there on your bucket list. READ MORE
ORGANISE YOUR MOUNTAIN BIKING TRIP
Once you’ve chosen the perfect destination for your ability and style of riding, you need to organise your accommodation, airport transfers, mountain bike hire and guiding. We’ve got your back. We work with the best companies in the industry to help you organise an unforgettable biking trip.
Check out the best mountain bike locations in the South of France for your next biking holiday.
The best places to go riding in the French Alps, whatever biking style you’re into.
FRENCH ALPS MTB | GO >
Quiet trails, sunshine and traditional mountain villages – ride the Pyrenees!
PYRENEES MTB | GO >
Mountain biking holidays in the French Alps, the South of France and the Pyrenees.
MTB HOLIDAYS | GO >
Our airport transfers partners provide great value and reliable transfers to French Alps MTB resorts.
AIRPORT TRANSFERS | GO >
Rent a campervan and enjoy the ultimate mountain biking adventure!
CAMPERVAN RENTAL | GO >
the BEST MOUNTAIN BIKING RESORTS in FRANCE
Here’s a selection of our favourite places to go mountain biking in France.
Miles of classic singletrack with fast flowy descents and technical tracks that criss-cross France’s most famous valley.
CHAMONIX | GO >
Where the Pyrenees meet the Atlantic, the Basque Country combines epic terrain with rich culture and spectacular scenery.
BASQUE COUNTRY | GO >
With 8 downhill tracks, over 100 km of enduro trails and 3 dedicated cross country loops, Méribel has tons of great riding.
MERIBEL | GO >
Morzine is in the heart of the famous Portes du Soleil and offers superb riding including the legendary Pleney downhill track.
MORZINE | GO >
Tignes is situated high above the tree-line and known for its fast, open, rocky trails. The modern lift system is completely free!
TIGNES | GO >
Serre Chevalier has hundreds of kilometres of dry trails, 300 days sunshine a year, and a huge variety of riding.
SERRE CHEVALIER | GO >
WATCH THIS: South Crew X Isola 2000
THE MOUNTAIN BIKING
Similar to the grades in skiing, mountain bike trails in France use colour codes to tell you what to expect. Most trail centers have trails to suit all levels: green – novice, blue – beginner, red – intermediate, black – advanced. You’ll get the most out of your mountain biking trip if you choose trails that are tailored to your ability.
There are plenty of fireroads and gentle trails for novice mountain bikers, but there’s also fast, rocky downhill runs with jumps and berms for experts. If trails aren’t graded, generally you can gauge the difficulty of the trail by the distance and altitude climbed, so it’s down to you the rider to make the call as to the suitability of a trail depending on your ability, i.e. don’t strike out on a 50 km loop over the Vercors plateau if it’s been 6 months since your last big ride!
Mountain biking is well established in France, the FFC (Fédération Française de Cyclisme) together with local clubs have worked hard over the years to develop both the trail network and the signposting. The FFC is focused on improving and expanding the network of trails and as a result anywhere where there are hills, there are good cross-country mountain bike trails.
The thing to bear in mind about XC mountain biking in France especially in the French Alps and the Pyrenees is that the riding is on another level. There’s no way you can get a measure on French mountains without visiting them. The sheer scale of the climbs you’re expected to peddle up is astonishing. But the rewards of your hard work are equally mindblowing. Miles of fast flowing natural singletrack and epic descents over thousands of metres of vertical drop.
Ski resorts have adapted their lift systems and trail networks to accommodate bikes in the summer months, and trail builders are constructing some really nice flowy trails aimed purely at putting a smile on your face. Freeride mountain biking is exploding in popularity with bike parks rivaling those across the Atlantic popping up in some of the bigger resorts.
Meanwhile, as more kilometers of trails are built, so the number of tougher, higher altitude XC rides increases. Having said that, mountain biking is much more of a mainstream sport in France than it is in the UK and mellow mountain biking for pure enjoyment is all the rage, with the sport’s popularity boosted by high profile events like the Roc d’Azur, the Trans-Provence and the Megavalanche.
MOUNTAIN BIKING FRANCE INSTA GALLERY
Tag your Instagram mountain biking pics and clips @ultimatefrance to be featured here!
Backcountry trail blazing with Yannis Pelé in Auron, France
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📷 @yannis_pele | @goprofr
#mtb #vtt #backcountry #freeride #biker #summer #pov #offgrid #ridgeback #lake #auron #frenchalps🇫🇷 #southoffrance #ultimatefrance
This year, Pass’Portes Du Soleil celebrates its 20th anniversary. 3 days biking bonanza in France’s best mountain bike destination.
28, 29 & 30 June 2024
80 km, 1000m of ascent, 6000m of descent
Grab your place at 👉passportesdusoleil.com
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#morzine #chatel #lesgets #montriond #champery #morgins #lescrosets #morzinemtb #mtb #vtt #mountainbiking #portesdusoleil #enduromtb #emtb #frenchalps🇫🇷 #ultimatefrance
Mountain biker Matteo Iniguez lets loose in Les 2 Alpes..!
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Rider @matteoiniguez999
📷 @dorian.jouvenal
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#2alpesbikepark #les2alpes #mtb #vtt #mountainbiking #downhillmtb #enduromtb #freeride #frenchalps🇫🇷 #ultimatefrance
Lucked out and got to ride the legendary DH Men (DH Uomini) MTB trail in Finale Ligure under a perfect blue sky. Rain the day before kept the dust down, so it was riding fast and loose without the usual dry spell hazards.
Thanks to Ale from @rideonnoli for the pro guiding - kept the stoke high and the risks in check!
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📷 @andrew_steen
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#finaleligure #dhmen #rideon #mtbthrills #mtb #mountainbiking #finalemtb #mtblife #downhillmtb #adventurebiking #pivotcycles #ultimatefrance
Cam Zink @camzink wins Red Bull Rampage 2023 with an unbelievable 58’ backflip!
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📷 @caleb_ely_
#rampage #mtb #mountainbiking #unreal #backflip #freeridemtb
Riders Simon Pierguidi and Pierre Christophe unleash downhill stoke at @bikeparkchatel!💥 Jumps, berms and flow – where gravity-fuelled dreams come true! 🌪️
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🎥 @cell__co & @ab.production.fpv
🚵🏼♂️ @simon_pierguidi & @pierree.c
#chatel #portesdusoleil #montagnes #mountains #alps #alpes #mtb #bikeparkchatel #nature #trail #fpv #outdoors #ride #cycle #wanderlust #foret #travel #riding #vtt #shape #mtblife #freeride #bikepark #frenchalps #ultimatefrance
MTB rider Kilian Bron shows us first hand how to battle through the mass start at the Megavalanche in Alpe d’Huez. Watch out for Borat cheering on from the sidelines..!
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🎥 @kilianbron
#gopro #megavalanche #alpedhuez #mtb #enduromtb #frenchalps🇫🇷 #ultimatefrance
Downhill champ @jacksongoldstone tears up the new jump, flow and boost trail in Les Gets. Bring it on!
#mtb #frenchalps #ultimatefrance #whipit
Please leave a comment below if you need specific advice for your mountain biking trip to France, or if you have any recommendations to help us improve this page. Happy holidays!
