Centre-based tour in the Drome Provençale

8 days (7 nights) centre-based trip: arrival day + 7 cycling days

On this location trip, the Diois, as the wild valley of the Drôme is also called, welcomes us with its subtle blend of the French Alps and Provence. An area for which the diversions from the Rhône valley is certainly worthwhile. Far from the crowds, the valley, just over 100 km long, exerts a calming force on visitors with its unspoiled nature and relaxed flair. Racing bike enthusiasts will find both sporting challenges and the perfect terrain for picturesque rides. As a link between the Vercors and Baronnies nature parks, the region is criss-crossed by countless small roads and passes, to discover in the course of our centre-based trip. It is also home to the famous race "La Dromoise", attracting thousands of participants every year since 2007.

We move into our accommodation not far from the small village of Châtillon en Diois, at the foot of the Col de Grimone and the Col de Menée and not far from the main village of Die, the starting point of the Col du Rousset. We have chosen a charming and comfortable guest room where we can switch off, relax and enjoy peace and nature after our road bike tours.

For this centre-based tour, we will provide you with detailed tour documents for 5 full-day and one half-day loops, starting from your accommodation. For each day tour we provide 3 route variations (easy, medium, difficult). On the remaining one and a half days you can choose to relax, repeat a great route section or explore the area without a bike. We suggest to ride the loops in the order described below. Of course, you are free to cycle the itinerary in any order, according to your daily form and weather conditions.

You will discover the following places during your stay: 

• The Haut-Diois and the Grimone pass, with the famous Gats gorges, Archiane and its impressive cliffs, views of the mighty Mont Aiguille, the Menee pass. 
• The southern Diois and its numerous quiet passes in the area of La Motte Chalancon... 
• The magnificent gorges of the Roanne, dominated by the "3 Becs" mountains, and the remote village of Saint-Nazaire-le-Desert… 
• The Vercors plateau, that you can reach via the Rousset pass… 

But also: 

• Lavender and sunflower fields, orchards, walnut trees, and the vineyards of the famous Clairette de Die! 
• Authentic stone villages, typical of the Drome Provencale, and their small shaded squares and café terraces, their labyrinth like alleys... 
• The elegant Griffon vultures reintroduced above Die and around La Motte-Chalancon.

The programme:

• To the source of the Drôme (Loop #1): Road cycling day south of Châtillon. Exploring the upper Drôme valley to the Claps rockfall. Return via the Col Miscon (1,022 m). Levels 2 and 3 treat themselves to a detour to the small town of Valdrôme via the Col du Fays (1,052 m).
  Level 1: 80 km / 1200 m of altitude gain
  Level 2: 100 km / 1700 m
  Level 3: 120 km / 2200 m
• Between Drôme and Roanne (Loop #2): Head west on this sunny day! We cycle down the Drôme and discover the heart of the Diois with the medieval town of Die and its lively streets. On levels 1 and 2, we climb in the picturesque Roanne valley and up to the Col de Pennes (1,040 m), while the fittest can tackle the Col de la Chaudière (1,047 m) below the peaks of the "3 Becs" beforehand.
  Level 1: 75 km / 1100 m
  Level 2: 80 km / 1200 m
  Level 3: 140 km / 1900 m
• Trièves and Mont Aiguille (Loop #3): The sportiest road bike day of the week. We leave the Diois north towards Trièves. This wide plateau is nestled between the mountains of the Dévoluy and the eastern slopes of the Plateau du Vercors. The climb up to the Col de Grimone through the famous Gats gorge (1,319 m) and to the Col de Lus la Croix Haute is obligatory, while the level 2 and 3 routes take in many of the small roads of Trièves. We keep a constant eye on Mont Aiguille, the famous table mountain of the Dauphiné Alps. All routes then lead us back to the now "home" Diois via the beautiful Col de Menée (1,457 m).
  Level 1: 80 km / 1650 m
  Level 2: 105 km / 2200 m
  Level 3: 150 km / 3300 m
• Gorges and passes of the Baronnies (Loop #4): On today's loop, we point our GPS devices south. Our level 1 route takes us to the small village of Valdrôme via the Col de Fays (1,052 m), while the level 2 and 3 routes head towards Mont Ventoux with the Montagne de Raton and the village of La Motte Chalancon.
  Level 1: 80 km / 1150 m
  Level 2: 110 km / 2000 m
  Level 3: 150 km / 2900 m
• The southern falls of the Vercors (Loop #5): The starting point of today's loop is the main village of the Diois, Die (if you do not have your own vehicle on site please indicate this when booking). The village is located at the foot of the impressive southern falls of the Vercors. The level 1 and 2 routes take us through the Diois hinterland on quiet roads, including the Quint and Gervanne valleys. The level 3 route takes the more athletic among us up to the Col de Rousset (1,249 m), the gateway to the famous Vercors plateaus, and back over the no less impressive Col de la Bataille (1,313 m).
  Level 1: 80 km / 1050 m
  Level 2: 120 km / 1950 m
  Level 3: 130 km / 2950 m
• Valleys and Gorges of the Diois (Loop #6) - half day: Vallon de Combeau, Cirque d'Archiane, Gorges des Gâts, Vallon de Borne - four beautiful routes as little side trips and appetisers that we can recommend as half-day excursions.
  Level 1: 30 km / 500 m
  Level 2: 40 km / 800 m
  Level 3: 50 km / 1050 m