Route des Grandes Alpes
The Route des Grandes Alpes is France's most spectacular mountain drive — 700 km from Thonon-les-Bains on Lake Geneva to Menton on the Mediterranean, crossing 16 Alpine passes including the legendary Col du Galibier and Col de l'Iseran (the highest paved pass in the Alps at 2,770 m). It is, by any measure, one of the world's great road trips.
Practical Information
- All 16 passes open: Typically late June to mid-October. The Iseran and Galibier are the last to open and first to close.
- Fuel: Fill up at every opportunity — some mountain sections have no stations for 50+ km
- Vehicle: Any car can do it, but high clearance and good brakes help. Motorhomes are possible but challenging on the narrower passes.
- Cycling: The route is legendary among cyclists — allow 7–10 days on two wheels
- Accommodation: Book ahead in July–August; rifugio-style mountain inns add character