I havent done a lot of camping in France, only at the Isles site in Chamonix. We're going to be riding at the usual resorts in the title and it looks like Bourg St Maurice and Bourg D'Oisan could be the best places to use as bases.
But, are there places to stay where you can ride these resorts straight from your door step, without needing a car or public transport.....that have campsites? And that are worth staying in for a few days? I heard that the Megavalanche route can be difficult to do without a couple of cars or a long climb at the end, as the ski lift start is higher than the end of the course?
Camping - sites I've looked up seems to be at least €20+ per night with minimum stays, but all seem to have bars, shops, pools etc. Do the French have cheaper, farmer's field type camping options?
cheers
I have camped at this place in Le Bourg D'Oisans several times in September.
http://www.camping-piscine.com/
Basic and quite at that time of year.
What time of the year are you going?
There are no lifts from Bourg up the mountain but there are trails which start in the valley. Basically if you stay in Bourg you will start your rides with a climb if you stay in Alpe D'Huez you will alwys finish with a climb.
Mail in profile if you want to ask more questions.
Thanks. some climbing is OK, we wont be on DH bikes, but do want to ride the Mega course before the race weekend.
Doesnt look like that site has minimum stay, around €90 for 3 nights plus electricity.
That site is right at the start of the Alpe D'Huez climb. The only way is up!!
In Bourg Saint Maurice, there is a campsite just a couple of minutes ride from the Funicular up to Les Arcs. Bourg is a good place to be based, especially if you have your own car - you can ride Sainte Foy, Tignes, La Plagne, La Rosiere/La Thuile as well as Les Arcs (all within 10-30mins drive).
The campsite in Bourg is this one: [url= http://www.leversoyen.com/gb1.html ]http://www.leversoyen.com/gb1.html[/url]
Haven't stayed there (I live in the area) but it gets good reports.
Give me a shout if you're in the area looking for guiding. Properly qualified and will be offering day-guiding next summer. Good way to hit some great trails outside of the resorts.
EDIT: The French certainly do offer cheap camping options - google for "Camping a la ferme" or "camping municipale" . Don't think there's one in the Tarentaise/Les Arcs area. The site up at Tignes Les Brevieres could be another option, might be cheaper.
That site looks good to, thanks Stevo, cheaper too. We'll definitely be up for a days guiding, so get off the beaten track a little. What are you charging?
We'll definitely be up for a days guiding, so get off the beaten track a little. What are you charging?
Haven't fully figured it out yet, but probably around 30€ per person per day depending on group size. Should be possible to join one of our holiday package groups to keep cost down if there's only 1 or 2 of you.
OK, I'll take your details. We'll be arriving 18th or 19th June and staying for a few nights at least. 2 of us.
For Alpe D-Huez, camp in Allemont (end of the mega course) and use the free shuttle bus to get to the Oz lifts.
In Les Arcs, stay in Bourg and use the funicular to get to Arc 1600.
Deux Alpes - stay in town ?
Edit: most lifts open from July onwards so with June arrival then pedalling up may be required 🙂
Yeah, as allthepies says, there will be no lifts open in the Les Arcs area in mid/late June. We'll be running uplift for our guests.
Mmmm, thanks guys - looks like I need to spend more time planning the best time to go. Want to be able to use uplifts, but hadnt realised how late some of the lifts open. Maybe July would be a better time, and just accept the ban in Chamonix or ride somewhere else.
Trail addiction are worth speaking to, as they know that area very well.
Might make sense to come out to France late June, ride Chamonix before the ban kicks-in, then head south to catch the lifts opening?
A few of the Tarentaise resorts will have "taster days" in the last week of June, so there will be chances to get some uplift, but better to wait a week and have it all open.