La traversée de l'Oisans
A major 3-day raid linking the Galibier pass to Bourg-d'Oisans via the Emparis plateau and the wild valleys of La Buffe and Ferrand. The return to civilization will be gradual in the Grandes Rousses sector.
Itinerary of the “MTB in Oisans” guide (Oisans Tourisme)
Departure/arrival (loop): Col du Galibier, 2620 m
Arrival: Le Bourg-d'Oisans (720 m)
Duration: 3 days
Distance: 137 km
Highest point: 2620 m
Lowest point: 710 m
Elevation gain: + 4099 m
Negative elevation: – 6000 m
Technique: 2/4
Endurance: 4/4
Maps: Top 25 3435 ET Valloire Aiguilles d'Arves / Top 25 3335ET Le Bourg-d'Oisans, Alpe d'Huez
—
DAY 1 – LE GALIBIER > BESSE
Departure: Col du Galibier, 2620 m
Arrival: Besse in Oisans, 1550 m
Duration: 6 hours
Distance: 48 km
Elevation gain: + 1262 m
Negative elevation: – 2322 m
A mouth-watering crossing!
> The exceptional panorama that surrounds you will make you “lose” a lot of time, be generous with your schedule, this will allow you many breaks to admire La Meije and its glaciers. The trail from the Galibier Pass to the Lautaret Pass allows for a gentle downhill start. From Lautaret, descend towards the "Pied du Col / Villar d'Arène". At the Pied du Col, climb back up towards Les Cours to reach L'Aiguillon (passing near Lac du Pontet).
> After a beautiful descent from the Aiguillon towards the hamlets of Valfroide, we return to the small road which connects the hamlets of La Grave to Chazelet.
> At Chazelet, climb back up to the bottom of the wild valley of La Buffe. Arriving at the Baraque de la Buffe at the bottom of the valley, we begin the climb to the Emparis plateau. Join Besse via the St-Georges pass. We end this first day with a beautiful descent into the mountain pastures until Besse.
Besse is a small, typical village which offers some useful services for a first stop (grocery store, gîtes, guest rooms, bakery, etc. and the Maison des Alpages).
—
DAY 2 – BESSE > HUEZ
Start Point: Besse-en-Oisans, 1550 m
Arrival: Huez, 1450 m
Duration: 7 hours
Distance: 42 km
Elevation gain: + 1705 m
Negative elevation: – 1816 m
A trying day.
> From Besse, go back up the track towards “Bonnefin” and the oratory of St-Sébastien. Continue towards the Col de la Valette.
> At the chalets of La Valette (2 m), we climb towards the Col de Fond Ferrand / Échine de Praouat to enter the Ferrand valley. A portage on a steep and very narrow path awaits you towards the summit.
> Once at the top, we let ourselves go through this magnificent valley to Pont Ferrand then Clavans-le-Bas.
>͕ From Clavans, we continue the road towards Mizoën. At 600 m, take the small path that climbs on the right. Direction "l'oratoire du Follet / Puy-le-Bas". And follow this narrow balcony path above La Romanche to Puy-le-Bas.
> From Le Puy, continue up towards Les Cours via the Croix de Trévoux. From Les Cours, take the road to reach the resortAuris-en-OisansAt the St-Giraud chapel, take the small path which overlooks the road.
> From the resort, we continue to climb a little further, up to the Col de Maronne. From the pass, descend by a pretty path to Rosay, then we dive to the bottom of the Sarenne valley by a technical and committed path. At the Roman bridge, go back up to Huez to end this second day.
Huez is the historic village of the Alpe d'Huez resort. You will find a hotel-restaurant, a stopover gîte or a guest room to accommodate you and a grocery store to stock up on supplies.
—
DAY 3 – HUEZ > LE BOURG-D'OISANS
Departure: Huez, 1550 m
Arrival: Le Bourg-d'Oisans, 720 m
Duration: 5 hours
Distance: 47 km
Elevation gain: + 1168 m
Negative elevation: – 1897 m
Back to civilization.
> From Huez, go up the Sarenne Gorges to the Sarenne Bridge then take the paved road that leads to the Alpe d'Huez resort. Go up to the top of the resort via Avenue du Rif Nel and continue the road towards the Col de Poutran via the Route des Lacs. You have to go up to the arrival station of the "DMC". Go behind the station and take the marked path [XC 11] that crosses to the Alpette overlooking the lakes (Besson, Faucille and Carrelet). From the Alpette, continue along the track [EN 7] that goes to Vaujany via “Montfrais” and Roche Melon (a technical and very pleasant section).
> Cross Vaujany and follow the route [EN 8] to reach Lake Verney then AllemondThe path begins shortly after the church at the exit of Vaujany. Arriving at the level of Lake Verney, we cross to the right bank via the Himalayan footbridge.
> Arrived at Allemond, we continue towards Bourg-d'Oisans via Rochetaillée and its famous Roman road. Follow the "Roman path" to La Paute then we arrive at Bourg-d'Oisans by taking a path that runs along the cliff.
Departure/arrival (loop): Col du Galibier, 2620 m
Arrival: Le Bourg-d'Oisans (720 m)
Duration: 3 days
Distance: 137 km
Highest point: 2620 m
Lowest point: 710 m
Elevation gain: + 4099 m
Negative elevation: – 6000 m
Technique: 2/4
Endurance: 4/4
Maps: Top 25 3435 ET Valloire Aiguilles d'Arves / Top 25 3335ET Le Bourg-d'Oisans, Alpe d'Huez
—
DAY 1 – LE GALIBIER > BESSE
Departure: Col du Galibier, 2620 m
Arrival: Besse in Oisans, 1550 m
Duration: 6 hours
Distance: 48 km
Elevation gain: + 1262 m
Negative elevation: – 2322 m
A mouth-watering crossing!
> The exceptional panorama that surrounds you will make you “lose” a lot of time, be generous with your schedule, this will allow you many breaks to admire La Meije and its glaciers. The trail from the Galibier Pass to the Lautaret Pass allows for a gentle downhill start. From Lautaret, descend towards the "Pied du Col / Villar d'Arène". At the Pied du Col, climb back up towards Les Cours to reach L'Aiguillon (passing near Lac du Pontet).
> After a beautiful descent from the Aiguillon towards the hamlets of Valfroide, we return to the small road which connects the hamlets of La Grave to Chazelet.
> At Chazelet, climb back up to the bottom of the wild valley of La Buffe. Arriving at the Baraque de la Buffe at the bottom of the valley, we begin the climb to the Emparis plateau. Join Besse via the St-Georges pass. We end this first day with a beautiful descent into the mountain pastures until Besse.
Besse is a small, typical village which offers some useful services for a first stop (grocery store, gîtes, guest rooms, bakery, etc. and the Maison des Alpages).
—
DAY 2 – BESSE > HUEZ
Start Point: Besse-en-Oisans, 1550 m
Arrival: Huez, 1450 m
Duration: 7 hours
Distance: 42 km
Elevation gain: + 1705 m
Negative elevation: – 1816 m
A trying day.
> From Besse, go back up the track towards “Bonnefin” and the oratory of St-Sébastien. Continue towards the Col de la Valette.
> At the chalets of La Valette (2 m), we climb towards the Col de Fond Ferrand / Échine de Praouat to enter the Ferrand valley. A portage on a steep and very narrow path awaits you towards the summit.
> Once at the top, we let ourselves go through this magnificent valley to Pont Ferrand then Clavans-le-Bas.
>͕ From Clavans, we continue the road towards Mizoën. At 600 m, take the small path that climbs on the right. Direction "l'oratoire du Follet / Puy-le-Bas". And follow this narrow balcony path above La Romanche to Puy-le-Bas.
> From Le Puy, continue up towards Les Cours via the Croix de Trévoux. From Les Cours, take the road to reach the resortAuris-en-OisansAt the St-Giraud chapel, take the small path which overlooks the road.
> From the resort, we continue to climb a little further, up to the Col de Maronne. From the pass, descend by a pretty path to Rosay, then we dive to the bottom of the Sarenne valley by a technical and committed path. At the Roman bridge, go back up to Huez to end this second day.
Huez is the historic village of the Alpe d'Huez resort. You will find a hotel-restaurant, a stopover gîte or a guest room to accommodate you and a grocery store to stock up on supplies.
—
DAY 3 – HUEZ > LE BOURG-D'OISANS
Departure: Huez, 1550 m
Arrival: Le Bourg-d'Oisans, 720 m
Duration: 5 hours
Distance: 47 km
Elevation gain: + 1168 m
Negative elevation: – 1897 m
Back to civilization.
> From Huez, go up the Sarenne Gorges to the Sarenne Bridge then take the paved road that leads to the Alpe d'Huez resort. Go up to the top of the resort via Avenue du Rif Nel and continue the road towards the Col de Poutran via the Route des Lacs. You have to go up to the arrival station of the "DMC". Go behind the station and take the marked path [XC 11] that crosses to the Alpette overlooking the lakes (Besson, Faucille and Carrelet). From the Alpette, continue along the track [EN 7] that goes to Vaujany via “Montfrais” and Roche Melon (a technical and very pleasant section).
> Cross Vaujany and follow the route [EN 8] to reach Lake Verney then AllemondThe path begins shortly after the church at the exit of Vaujany. Arriving at the level of Lake Verney, we cross to the right bank via the Himalayan footbridge.
> Arrived at Allemond, we continue towards Bourg-d'Oisans via Rochetaillée and its famous Roman road. Follow the "Roman path" to La Paute then we arrive at Bourg-d'Oisans by taking a path that runs along the cliff.
