Difficulty Rating : 9 Start: Geneva Finish: Nice Terrain: Sportive style challenge Daily Average: 120km Weekly Average: 720km Tour Type: Sportive,Group Teaser: The Raid Alpine connecting Geneval to Nice is an epic road biking challenge.
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The Raid Alpine connecting Geneval to Nice is an epic road biking challenge. It follows the classic Randonnee Alpine, Lac Leman - Cote d'Azur 712km - 31 cols and 17485m climbing (including the Iseran, Mont Cenis, Izoard, Vars and Restefond Bonnet - the highest pass in Europe.)

Starting by the beautiful shores of lake Geneva, we ride about 110km each day staying in local hotels where the food and hospitality is excellent. The hotels know cyclists are hungry after a long day in the saddle. Fully supported, our minibuses are around all day and take your luggage from hotel to hotel. We finish this week in Antibes - with some lovely champagne and food in a local restaurant to celebrate our achievement. A fantastic road biking holiday in the French Alps! After successful completion of the Raid Alpine you receive a very impressive medal from the Cycle Club de Thonon(the club that organises the route of the Raid) as a memento of your epic adventure.

As well as the set tour dates for this trip we have extensive knowledge and experience of organising this tour for groups of cyclists.  If you and a gang of friends fancy taking this challenge on please contact our office for a private tour quotation.

Please click on our tour dossier below for more details on this trip.

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Itineraries

Day 1

Arrival Geneva

Arrive and check in to our hotel just above Thonon des Banes. We used this hotel last year and they provide great food and hospitality prior to our “Grand Depart”.

Day 2

Distance 100 km

Our ride today takes in the foothills outside Geneva through Habere Poche (where we get our first ‘Stamp’), over the Col de Ramaz and through Praz de Lyz. Taninges provides a good lunch stop before we roll along the valley floor and through Sallanches. The last climb to Megeve at 5% over 10km provides a relatively easy finish to day 1.

Day 3

Distance 105 km

We start with a gentle downhill before we hit the Col de Saises. It’s a 14km climb but at 6/7% not too demanding and it has some welcome flat sections! We then descend to Beaufort before tackling the Col de Pre (a nasty little 9% over about 8km) and the Cormet de Roseland. There is a great spot for lunch just before the lake below the Cormet summit. The final climb from Bourg St Maurice to Tignes Reculaz is long and steady. Our hotel is perfectly placed on the lake just before Val d’Isere.

Day 4

Distance 125 km

We have a short 5km warm up before we climb 12km to the Col d’Izeran. This is another spot for your card to be stamped (2,764 metres) before a long sweeping descent to Bessans. The next climb is the Col de Mont Cenis where we pass the border into Italy. The road surface to Souza is perfect and it is a fast descent before the gradual climb to our Hotel Cesane where plentiful Italian food will be on offer for supper – pasta in readiness for tomorrow.

Day 5

Distance 110 km

The first climb is the Col de Sestriere where an early morning espresso or cappuccino is welcome before we ride over the short Col de Mongeneve and back over into France. The ride takes us through the old historic town of Briancon before tackling the monster Col d’Izerad. There are some great lunch stops just before the peak and the long descent to Guillestre. The descent allows you a welcome recovery before we climb up to St Marie de Vars where we have reserved rooms in a lovely friendly alpine hotel.

Day 6

Distance 135 km

We start today with the Col de Vars - a relatively easy 6km climb to the summit. We then have a long descent before we hit one of the great cols of the Alps. It’s also the highest at 2,850 metres. It’s called the Col de Bonette. Although long it’s not super steep and is a lovely ride. It’s a great place to take some photos and you begin to feel the Mediterranean coming. The descent is long but the road surface is excellent. Our last Col today is the Couillole which winds through the rocks on very small roads and is over 16kms. It’s a short descent before we ride into the lovely southern alpine ski station of Valberg. The Chastellan is a friendly hotel offering a great evening menu.

Day 7

Distance 135 km

Last day. Although there is a lot of downhill today there is still 135kms to cover with small cols. The great thing is that they seem small in comparison to what we have already conquered! Once we are over the Col de St Raphael we have a fantastic ride through Grasse and the Mediterranean appears in the distance. On arrival in Antibes, we normally have a couple of celebratory drinks and supper in a pre-booked restaurant in the old town.

The tour finishes after breakfast the next morning.

- 7 nights accommodation 
- All breakfasts
- 7x 3 course evening meals with wine
- Luggage transfers
- Minibus with snacks & drinks enroute
- All rides with guides
- Support van with bike mechanic

- Amazing terrain following Tour routes
- Transfer from Geneva/to Nice Airport

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GROUP TOUR PRICE 2024
€1,870 per person sharing
€   410 single room supplement

OPTIONAL
Road bike rental around €350
Shimano 105 or Ultegra Group set on a triple chain set.
Bikes will be either Carbon or lightweight Aluminium frames.

Self Guided Tour Information

Not available as self guided tour.

Flights to Geneva or Nice Airport. Airport transfer included.

As always please contact us in the office for more information (info@cyclingsafaris.com).

Info coming soon

Tour Date Options

Red = booked out / not available, Blue = Limited Availability, Green = available

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Primary Contact Details.

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Insurance

We require you to have Travel Insurance when you book the tour. It is important that you are covered in case of cancellation due to injury as the deposit is non refundable

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Other members of your group if applicable.

Please indicate below how many people are in your group including yourself.

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Acommodation

For single travellers, we organise accommodation on a twin sharing basis. Please note it may not be possible on all our tours and a single supplement will be applied.

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Other Information

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Payment Information

If you have been on a previous tour, there is a €50.00 discount on our week long tours in Ireland (unfortunately this discount does not apply to other European trips)

A €250.00 deposit is required for each person booking on a holiday. The Balance payment is required two month prior to the starting date. The deposit is forfeited in the event of a cancellation of your booking. The balancing payment is also non-refundable in the event of the cancellation occuring within 14 days of the tour starting date. All transactions are taken in Euro.

We will contact you to confirm your booking and payment details.

Please ensure that you have read the terms and conditions before proceeding.

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Booking Conditions

Irish Cycling Safaris Ltd (“the Company”) accepts bookings subject to the following conditions:

  • The contract is between the Company and the client, being any person travelling or intending to travel on a tour operated by the company. The contract, including all matters arising from it, is subject to Irish law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts. A booking is accepted and becomes definite only from the date when the company sends a confirmation. It is at this point that a contract between the company and the client comes into existence. Before your booking is confirmed and comes into existence the company reserves the right to increase or decrease brochure prices. The company or their agents reserve the right to decline any booking at their discretion.
  • To secure a booking the Company or their agent requires a completed booking form and the necessary deposit. (Full payment if travel within 60 days). The first named client must be over 18 years of age. Clients booking by telephone, by website/E-mail or fax will be deemed to have signed the booking form and read and accepted our terms of booking. The person signing, or being deemed to sign, the booking form warrants that he/she has full authority to do so on behalf of all persons whose names appear thereon, and confirms that all such persons are fully aware of and accept these conditions.
  • The balance of all monies due, including any surcharges applicable at the time, must be paid to the company or their agents not later than 60 days before departure. In the case of non-payment of the balance by the due date the Company reserves the right to cancel your booking and cancellation charges will apply. If any cheque is dishonoured we reserve the right to charge €25 to cover administration costs.
  • Travel Insurance is mandatory for all clients whilst on a tour organised by the Company. Clients are wholly responsible for arranging their own insurance. Clients are responsible for ensuring that they are in possession of private Travel insurance with protection for the full duration of the tour in respect of at least medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment, with adequate cover.
  • An administration fee of €25 per booking plus any additional costs incurred will be charged if a confirmed booking is changed or transferred to a different departure date or tour, up to 60 days prior to departure. Thereafter all changes will be treated as cancellations and subject to the relevant charges. Changes are subject to availability. For an administration fee of €25 you may request a credit voucher. This must be redeemed within 12 months of issue and must be used against a new booking. The voucher is non transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. In certain circumstances, which the Company considers reasonable, the booking may be transferred to another suitable person; however the tour arrangements must remain the same and will only be allowed if all suppliers agree to accept the name change. If a transfer is allowed an administration charge of €25 per person will be charged plus any extra charges levied by suppliers.
  • Should the client wish to cancel, cancellation charges will be imposed. These are calculated from the day written notification is received by the company or their agent as a percentage of the total tour price, including surcharges as follows:

    > 60 days before departure – retention of deposit

    60-14 days before departure – 50%

    < 14 days before departure – 100%

  • Clients are responsible for arranging, and must be in possession of, a valid passport and any visas and vaccination certificates required for the whole of their journey. Information about these matters or related items (climate, clothing, baggage, personal items etc) is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company.
  • Should the client have a reason to complain, you must immediately notify our representative and the relevant supplier. If the client’s complaint is not dealt with satisfactorily at the time, they must write to us with full details of the complaint within 28 days of the end of the tour. Failure to notify complaints entirely within accordance of this clause will diminish or extinguish the client’s ability to claim compensation.
  • The company provides all services on a “ground only” basis. The client is responsible for arranging their own travel to the designated start points of each tour. The company cannot accept any liability for any delay/cancellation in your transportation and cannot offer any refunds for lost holiday time.
  • Clients agree to accept the authority and decisions of the Company’s employees, tour leaders and agents whilst on the tour with the company. If in the opinion of such persons the health, level of fitness or conduct of a client at any time before or after departure appears likely to endanger the safe, comfortable or happy progress of a tour the client may be excluded from all or part of the tour without refund or recompense. In the case of ill health the company may make such arrangements as it sees fit and recover the costs thereof from the client. If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the tour and the Company shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. If you are affected by a condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect you or affect other people’s enjoyment or active participation of the tour, you must advise us at the time of booking. No refund will be given for any unused services.
  • The Company will use its best endeavours to operate all tours as advertised. However, it reserves the right to change any of the facilities, services, prices or itineraries described in our brochure/website. If a major change is necessary or deemed advisable, the company will advise the client as soon as reasonably possible, if there is no time before departure. A major change does not apply to a change of transport or named accommodation, but is usually considered a major change in itinerary or change in duration of a client’s holiday. If advised of a major change before departure, the client will have the choice of accepting changes (at additional cost if applicable), purchasing another available tour from the company, or cancelling the tour with a full refund.

    Provided that the major change is not as a result of situations outside the company’s control or consolidation, compensation will be paid as follows:

    Notification Period Given / Compensation Per Person

    More than 30 days: Nil

    14-30 days: €40

    Less than 14 days: €50

     
  • Force Majeure. We regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by reasons of circumstance amounting to “force majeure”. In these conditions “force majeure” means any event which we the supplier of services in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events include war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions, epidemics or health risks and all similar events outside our control.
  • The company reserves the right to cancel a tour in any circumstances but will not cancel a tour less than 4 weeks before departure except for “force majeure”, consolidation, or the client’s failure to pay the final balance. Unless the client fails to pay the final balance, the company, upon cancellation will return all monies paid to it, or offer the client an alternative holiday of comparable standard if available (if less expensive than original we will refund the difference, if more expensive, the client will have to pay the difference). Compensation will not be payable (1) where the company is forced to cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) where an insufficient number of people book the clients chosen holiday and we notify we are cancelling for this reason not less than 28 days before departure. In all cases our liability is limited to offering the above choices and the compensation payments (where applicable) set out in clause 11. No compensation is payable if we notify you of cancellation more than 8 weeks before departure. We cannot be held responsible for any costs or expenses you may have as a result of cancellation.
  • Client’s bookings are accepted on the understanding that they appreciate the risks inherent in adventure travel and that they undertake the tours featured in our programme at their own volition. Our obligations, and those of any suppliers providing any service or facility involved in any travel arrangements you book with us, are to provide services and facilities with reasonable care and skill. Facilities will be provided to the realistic minimum standard recommended by the regulatory authorities responsible.
  • Bike Hire: The equipment including all accessories supplied is let out on hire. The equipment remains the property of the company and the Client will not sell, hire out or otherwise part with the possessions thereof.

    The Client undertakes not to misuse the equipment and to return it with all accessories in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear accepted). The company shall be entitled to charge the client for any damages caused to equipment during the period of hire. In event of a breakdown, other than a result of the Clients misuse, the company will use its best endeavours to repair or procure repair of the equipment.

    The company will not be liable for any damage or loss whatsoever, through breakdown or other defect in the equipment or other circumstances beyond the company’s control. The Client shall indemnify the company with respect to all costs, claims, expenses and demands suffered or incurred which arise directly or indirectly out of the use of the equipment during the period of hire. The company reserves the right to charge the client for partial or full settlement of any claim. In the event of the equipment being stolen or lost, the company reserves the right to call upon the client to indemnify the company the replacement of the equipment. However, should the equipment subsequently be returned in a satisfactory condition, the company undertakes to refund the clients indemnity within 14 days.

    The Client will ensure that the equipment is adequately secured when not in use, will not use the equipment whilst under the influence of drink or drugs and will immediately notify the company in the event of breakdown or loss of equipment.

  • Clients bringing their own bikes do so on the proviso that their equipment is in a suitable condition for participation in a tour. Responsibility for maintenance of bicycles brought by clients rests with the client. The company will endeavour to accommodate such clients, but cannot guarantee that correct tools and spares will be available, given the wide range of possibilities that exist.