Help me plan Summer 2025. Mtb and via Ferrara.

I’m planning a 9 day trip to Europe with my 15 yr old son next summer holidays. Leave Saturday, return the following Monday.

Driving down (me doing all the driving obviously) and then riding and doing some via ferrata.

We’re happy riding blacks, and prefer off piste adventures to bike parks. VF-wise we’ve done a few but aren’t big climbers, we’re keen to do some exposure/adventures.

Been to BSM/Les Arc/Tignes before, so would like to try somewhere new.

What would you do, where would you go? How would you find trails?

Will need to camp/go cheap, so sadly no catered chalet and guide.

All advice appreciated!

Durance Valley, loads of small bike parks and a fair amount of VF available and rafting, etc. if you want that too.

Val Gardena in the Dolomites. Beautiful place, small bike park and, as you’d expect, loads of hut to hut/VF type stuff.

I agree with @mrhoppy

https://www.viaferrata-fr.net/via-ferrata-departement-5.html

I would look at camping somewhere like Les Vigneaux. You can catch a bus up to Puy Saint Vincent, ride uplift all day and then ride back to the campsite via the Via Novo.

Good biking at Les Orres, Montgenevre, Serre Chevallier, also Risoul and Vars.

TBH, you’ll need 3 weeks…

Good biking at Les Orres, Montgenevre, Serre Chevallier, also Risoul and Vars.

FTFY!

We’re looking at going to Guillestre, there is a Navette up to Risoul from town that you can put the bikes on, ride the uplifts then take off piste back into town at the end of the day, or take a single uplift then head into Vars, or off the back and down to towards Embrun then take the train back. And there’s supposed to be decent riding out around the Dauphins castle at the bottom of the Guil valley. Putting all that there I’m not sure why we’re only looking at doing 1 week.

The train running up the valley opens up some interesting rides.

Guillestre is also home to Dedan Dehars which is the most amazing restaurant.

We actually go to Guillestre every summer for 3 weeks. The navette to Risoul is very useful but incredibly under used. I am worried it will be axed. I take an ebike and it has opened up incredible riding. Whatever we have been doing, I try to catch the last bus of the day to Risoul then ride to the top of L’Homme du Pierre, then down any number of ways – Ride Crete de Martinat

Beyond Mont Dauphin, ride Bois Durat. If you are on for a challenge, ride up through Bois Noir to Lac du Lauzet and ride (hikeabike) through Col Moussiere, then down to Bois Durat. This can be accessed by Beal Noir bowl in the west facing slope, but watch out for the dogs guarding the flocks. I encountered 9 of them plus 2 Collies and I thought I was going to be lunch.

Another must do is Col du Furfande down to either Maison du Roy or via Gros to Guillestre, although the latter is not for the feint hearted.

Further into the Queyras there is loads of riding. From Chateau Queyras to Col Du Fromage then back via Montbardon has views and “reveals” that will make you gasp.

Get a copy of the local trail map, and speak to the guys at Guil E Bike  , they do guided rides too.

I have been exploring around there for years, and the ebike has been the gamechanger. I have only found a few trails that I WOULDN’T ride again. Some of the trials down from Risoul were pretty badly damaged by extreme flooding in Dec ’23. When I say extreme, we’re talking houses buried and the only road to Risoul severed for 2 weeks.

This is an “older” trail map of the Risoul trails. Trails 7 has disappeared and trail 8 has been heavily re-routed over to join 6, which then seems to follow the green from Gaudissart. Disappointing. The original trails are followable if you have an IGN map, a nose for a trail and a bit of luck.

Good biking at Les Orres, Montgenevre, Serre Chevallier, also Risoul and Vars.

FTFY!

MrHoppy is wise. Montgenevre MTB is utter utter shite. Apart from l’ Infernet if course.  The area in general is brilliant.

Lemme do a search….

Briancon MTB trail recommendations

The second stage Klettersteig at Ailefroide is brilliant. Photos in the link above.

Val Gardena in the Dolomites. Beautiful place, small bike park and, as you’d expect, loads of hut to hut/VF type stuff.

My mate went there for MTB a while back and really didn’t rate it, even with a guide. So OP make sure you do your research to see if it has got better.  The area is of course best in world for Klettersteig though…..

Thanks @mrhoppy @troutwrestler @thegeneralist and all posters.  Will have a look. The other thread linked to is helpful too ?

Will have a look and try to work out a plan.

For VF planning look at this website. It’s excellent and the German grading system is widely used across Europe. Most of the routes have a topo so you can look at each section/pitch and understand where the difficulties are before you do the route.

https://www.bergsteigen.com/touren/klettersteig/

Here’s the one by the “coffin” lifts near Passo Sella

https://www.bergsteigen.com/touren/klettersteig/ferrata-furcela-de-saslonch-klettersteig-langkofelscharte/

Some great info here, thanks everyone.

We’re heading to the Queyras next September so particularly interested in the Col de Fromage!