P'tites Routes du Soleil (Little Routes of the Sun)
Cycling Collection by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourisme
21
days
1-4 h
/ day
908 km
17,430 m
17,870 m
P’tites Routes du Soleil®: a gentle alternative to Route des Grandes Alpes®? If you think so, you are on the "wrong path"! A little over 900 kilometers with more than 17,000 meters of positive elevation gain, that's no small feat! However, none of the 25 significant passes exceed 1400 meters, and you have the option to divide the route into 21 stages. If, moreover, you choose an electric bike, the route becomes frankly very accessible.
The Pre-Alps Route
P’tites Routes du Soleil® "follows the edges" to the west of the Alps, crossing most of the Pre-Alpine massifs: Chablais, Chartreuse, Vercors, Diois, Baronnies, Buëch, Pre-Alps of Digne, Castellane, Nice. The Pre-Alps are the cradle of a very ancient and solid rural mountain civilization in remarkable balance with the natural environment. As incredible as they are diverse, the landscapes take you from forests to wild plateaus, from lavender fields to perched villages. Everywhere, limestone has shaped breathtaking horizons. It is no coincidence that the first Geopark, classified by UNESCO, was born in Haute-Provence, around Digne-les-Bains.
From North to South or from South to North
There are no variants for this beautiful getaway in the shape of a semicircle, where car traffic remains very reasonable. As with Route des Grandes Alpes®, you can follow P’tites Routes du Soleil® from north to south or from south to north. Depending on your level and appetite, do not hesitate to group the stages, some of which are less than 40 kilometers. While standard precautions always apply in terms of weather, there is little chance you will be surprised by snow or encounter extreme conditions.
In summary, do not underestimate P’tites Routes du Soleil®, but do not hesitate for a second to take on the challenge!
Easier, thanks to the E-Bike!
To make the route accessible to as many people as possible, the entire route is marked with E-Bike (electrically assisted bicycle) charging points every 30 to 40 kilometers. Thus, the group can consist of people of different levels, some on bicycles and others on E-Bikes. The E-Bike makes the ascents of the great passes accessible and allows everyone to find their balance between effort and pleasure.
On The Map
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Last updated: August 26, 2025
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Activities
02:57
37.2km
12.6km/h
1,000m
690m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
In Haute-Savoie, between Lake Geneva and the Vallée Verte, cycle along a balcony overlooking one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, on the border between France and Switzerland.
It all begins in Thonon-les-Bains, the official starting point for the great Alpine crossings: on foot, by road bike…
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•02:50
35.7km
12.6km/h
980m
550m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.The route continues along the Menoge River towards Mont Salève (1,335 meters) via the Col des Pitons: this green island is your destination. The long climb is amply rewarded by one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the P'tites Routes du Soleil®!
Between the Geneva plain and the peaks of Haute-Savoie…
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02:41
43.8km
16.3km/h
610m
1,270m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.After the Salève challenge, you're now on one of the easiest sections of the P'tites Routes du Soleil®! A very smooth route with a predominantly downhill profile awaits you on this next stage.
The descent from Salève offers beautiful views as you reach the Val des Usses, where the Haute-Savoie countryside…
translated by•02:43
42.7km
15.7km/h
540m
700m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.Gently curving valleys with magnificent panoramas of the Alps: you are entering the Albanais region, a region where rivers with steep gorges, hills, and forests coexist.
Between countryside and mountains, this cycling stage is certainly one of the hilliest of the P'tites Routes du Soleil®. There are no…
translated by•02:46
36.8km
13.3km/h
890m
920m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.Climbing the Épine mountain, you'll enjoy a bird's-eye view of the 18 kilometers of France's largest natural lake, formed by melting glaciers.
The cycle tour of Lake Bourget is a classic among Savoyard cycle tours, and it's also the largest natural lake in France. With the P'tites Routes du Soleil®, you…
translated by•03:21
45.3km
13.5km/h
1,070m
1,010m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.From one great Alpine lake to another! You're on your way to the shores of Lake Aiguebelette, France's third largest natural lake. You'll leave behind the Épine mountain range, its viewpoints, and its mysterious legends, to follow a cycling route that winds through the heights.
Between the lake and the…
translated by•02:48
36.0km
12.9km/h
930m
680m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.From Lépin-le-Lac, you drive below the Épine Massif to reach Les Échelles. You're now at the gateway to the Chartreuse region and its regional natural park!
The P'tites Routes du Soleil® access the massif via the Col de Couz (590 meters) and the Col des Égaux (958 meters). The beautiful climb that awaits…
translated by•03:06
41.2km
13.3km/h
1,100m
1,540m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.This P'tites Routes du Soleil® cycling tour through the land of the Carthusian monks offers a spectacular and unspoiled natural setting, with emerald green forests, rushing torrents, and sheer white cliffs.
From Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont, you'll cross several passes that link together across the massif…
translated by•03:04
35.7km
11.7km/h
1,090m
280m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.The climb to Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte (1,168 meters), which takes you from Grenoble to the Vercors Plateau, is known for its superb panoramic view.
As you wind through the bends, the P'tites Routes du Soleil® rise above the Grenoble metropolitan area with Belledonne as a backdrop. Be careful, though…
translated by•04:49
73.4km
15.3km/h
1,230m
1,850m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.Arriving in the Diois region of the P'tites Routes du Soleil® promises a change of scenery: head south! But first, you have to cross the Vercors fortress.
Hostilities begin as you leave Villard-de-Lans, with the ascent of the Petit Col d'Herbouilly (1,370 meters). Further on, the Col de Proncel (1,100…
translated by•03:46
53.2km
14.1km/h
960m
580m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.The Diois region is far from flat, and its charm stems from the contrast between steep valleys, plateaus, and mountains. Ultimately, it's on a bike that you can best experience this landscape!
Taking wild roads through the pine trees, this stage of the P'tites Routes du Soleil® promises a wonderful escape…
translated by•02:07
30.4km
14.4km/h
540m
560m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.From Haut Diois to the Oule Valley, the P'tites Routes du Soleil® route in the Hautes-Alpes skirts the Dindarêts ridge.
The climb to the Col de Rossas (1,125 meters) is steady. It's the only difficulty before descending to the Château de la Charce, home to the family of the local heroine: Philis de la…
translated by•02:18
35.7km
15.6km/h
560m
750m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.The P’tites Routes du Soleil® leave the Oule Valley and enter the Rosanne region. With a route that "jumps mountains" from one valley to the next, this stage takes you into the Baronnies Provençales Regional Natural Park.
On this mostly downhill route, you still encounter a few small passes. The first…
translated by•02:32
36.8km
14.5km/h
610m
540m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.Partly along the Route des Princes d'Orange, which connects the town of Orange (Vaucluse) to Orpierre, this varied P'tites Routes du Soleil® cycling route follows the Céans Valley.
A stop at the medieval village of Orpierre, also known for its cliffs and climbing area, is a must. The variety and quality…
translated by•01:34
27.6km
17.6km/h
190m
350m
IntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.Two wonders await you on this section of the Little Sun Routes® by bike: the descent to the bottom of the Gorges de la Méouge, then the citadel of Sisteron overlooking the Durance Valley.
A gentle and pleasant descent leads you to the Gorges de la Méouge, one of the "Wonders of the Hautes-Alpes." Unspoiled…
translated by•04:22
60.5km
13.9km/h
1,270m
1,170m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.From Sisteron, you'll embark on one of the longest climbs of the P'tites Routes du Soleil® by bike. A great opportunity to take the time to stop and visit the Saint-Geniez Wildlife Park, or to grab a bite to eat in Saint-Geniez or Authon.
After flirting with the Monges massif and crossing the Col de Font…
translated by•03:24
45.5km
13.4km/h
970m
610m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.While Sisteron marks the entrance to the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region, the Pays d'Dignon is its heart. In this mountainous region, straddling the Alps and Provence, you can enjoy both views of the peaks and lavender fields.
The P'tites Routes du Soleil® by bike follows part of the Nationale 85, nicknamed…
translated by•02:52
44.2km
15.4km/h
650m
710m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.Between gorges, lakes, and high valleys, Les P'tites Routes du Soleil® discreetly enters the Verdon Regional Natural Park.
Ideally located at the crossroads of the Alps, Provence, and the Mediterranean, the Middle Verdon offers magnificent and wild landscapes. You follow the river and its turquoise waters…
translated by•02:27
34.3km
14.0km/h
700m
560m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.The P’tites Routes du Soleil® by bike offer a beautiful bike ride between the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes regions.
From Saint-André-les-Alpes, you cycle along the shores of Lake Castillon, passing through Saint-Julien-du-Verdon, a picturesque village with Provençal charm. You then climb…
translated by•03:17
50.1km
15.2km/h
840m
1,260m
ExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.The P’tites Routes du Soleil® follows the Tour des Préalpes d’Azur, which crosses the regional natural park of the same name. The profile of this section is mostly downhill.
The Estéron River accompanies you on this route with its vertiginous gorges and turquoise waters. In landscapes bathed in light…
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Collection Stats
- Activities21
- Distance908 km
- Duration63:27 h
- Elevation17,430 m17,870 m
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