8 ways to pedal Leman Mountains Explore

• Difficulty: 1/5 to 4/5, depending on itinerary and bike type

This is what’s known as “vélo gourmand”, a popular option for epicurean cyclists. How does it work? Select one of the 5 to 32 km gourmet itineraries on offer on the Gavot plateau.

Then set off, on two wheels, to meet local producers and enjoy a delicious stopover. An original (and ecological) way to enjoy organic fruit and vegetables, and craft beers (in moderation, of course, so you can get back in the saddle!).

You’ll also find cheese (Abondance PDO in particular, but not exclusively) and dairy products.

• Route “La traversée du Plateau de Gavot” (difficult without a vae) – 25km 560m+. Start from the Gavot college parking lot in St Paul en Chablais.
• Itinerary “Le tour du plateau de Gavot” (difficult without vae) – 32km 750m+. Start from Plage de la Beunaz in St Paul en Chablais.

• Difficulty: 2/5

How about entering the Portes du Soleil from Abondance or La Chapelle d’Abondance? A great way to learn about electrically-assisted mountain biking? And a brilliant idea for accessing the 56 itineraries offered by Europe’s largest mountain biking area, with a little help from technology.

Bonus: download the free “Portes du Soleil Summer” app to access all 56 Portes du Soleil mountain bike routes in just a few clicks. It also provides GPS tracking of the route, with details for each section. You’ll also find news, events, activities, games and the reassuring emergency alert function, which lets you send your GPS position in the event of a problem.

• Difficulty: 1/5 to 4/5, depending on the trails used.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a bikepark is quite simply the equivalent of a ski slope… but designed to accommodate mountain bikers, with marked, groomed trails for all levels and a main ascent by ski lift.

The Bernex bikepark was designed to be very accessible,” says Sébastien Giraldi, who manages the facility. We improve it every year to make it as complete as possible, but we’re careful to maintain its size. With, therefore, this desire to preserve, also, a family and general public aspect. “As soon as you can stand on the pedals, you can try it out. We have some very accessible trails, such as the beautiful ‘Verte’, over 2 km long in the forest, which is very fun and risk-free, or the emblematic blue ‘Bern’land’, which is very playful.

• Access by Pré Richard chairlift.