France offers several different motorcycle trips rather than one national “best roads” list. The high Alps suit a multi-day summer traverse; the Verdon and Route Napoléon work as a southern pairing; and the Vercors provides shorter balcony roads closer to Grenoble. Combining all of them in a few days creates transfer mileage, not a better tour.
This guide compares four route groups and shows how to use them. For filtering rules, compulsory equipment, autoroute payment and other national requirements, see the separate France motorcycle touring guide.
1. Route des Grandes Alpes
The official main itinerary runs approximately 720 km from Thonon-les-Bains on Lake Geneva to Nice. It is a chain of roads and passes rather than one numbered highway. The official network also documents variants that can change the distance substantially.
Our Route des Grandes Alpes guide divides the ride into four practical stages: Thonon to Beaufort, Beaufort to Valloire, Valloire to Barcelonnette and the southern Alps to Nice. That is a sensible minimum. Five or six days provide more room for weather, traffic and official alternatives.
Col de l’Iseran, Galibier, Izoard and the southern high roads do not share one opening date. A clear road in Haute-Savoie does not prove that a pass hundreds of kilometres south is open. Check each department’s live road information before every stage.
2. Gorges du Verdon and Route des Crêtes
A complete Verdon road day can combine the D952 on the north side, the D23 Route des Crêtes near La Palud-sur-Verdon and the D71 Corniche Sublime on the south side. The roads are narrow, shared and lined with viewpoints; the objective should be the canyon circuit, not maintaining a high average speed.
The official tourist office describes Route des Crêtes as a 24 km loop with about fifteen viewpoints. Its central section is one-way and the full circuit must be ridden clockwise. The route is normally closed in winter; published 2026 visitor information listed operation from late April to late November, subject to conditions.
Verdon planning notes
- Approach the D23 in the signed clockwise direction from La Palud-sur-Verdon.
- Use designated viewpoint parking rather than stopping on the carriageway.
- Expect buses, cyclists and pedestrians around the most popular overlooks.
- Check live notices for rockfall, winter closure and roadworks before committing to the full circuit.
3. Route Napoléon
The historic corridor connects Golfe-Juan with Grenoble through Grasse, Castellane, Digne-les-Bains, Sisteron, Gap and the approach to the Alps. The current road journey is commonly associated with the N85 and related departmental sections. The official route brochure gives roughly 328 km between Golfe-Juan and Grenoble.
Route Napoléon stays lower than the highest Route des Grandes Alpes passes, which makes it a useful shoulder-season choice. That does not make it weatherproof: the northern approach, shaded sections and higher points can still be cold or affected by works.
Two days is a comfortable motorcycle schedule. Grasse or Castellane to Sisteron makes a logical first stage, followed by Gap, Corps, Laffrey and Grenoble. Riding the whole corridor in one day leaves little time for towns and turns a historic route into a transfer.
4. Vercors and Combe Laval
The Vercors west and south of Grenoble is a network of gorge and balcony roads rather than a single branded traverse. Combe Laval on the D76 is the signature cliff section, with short tunnels and limited stopping space. Col de Rousset, the Bourne gorge and nearby plateau roads can form a full day when current access allows.
Rockfall, maintenance and event closures occur on these roads. Vercors tourism maintains a dedicated road-information page, which is more useful than an old saved GPX. Build the day from roads confirmed open and avoid assuming every gorge connection is available simultaneously.
Three realistic France itineraries
Four to six days: French Alps
Ride the Route des Grandes Alpes from Thonon to Nice. Keep at least one flexible stage for a closed pass or storm and avoid pre-booking a schedule that cannot tolerate an official variant.
Three days: Provence and Verdon
Use Castellane or Moustiers-Sainte-Marie as a base, devote a full day to the Verdon circuit and use a second riding day for a selected part of Route Napoléon.
Two days: Vercors
Base near Grenoble, Die or Pont-en-Royans. Separate Combe Laval and the southern plateau from the transfer day so roadworks do not force an unrealistic detour.
Season, city access and toll choices
Late June to September is the broad planning window for the highest Alpine itinerary, not a guarantee that every summit is open. Verdon, Route Napoléon and Vercors extend the useful season, but winter closures and short-notice hazards still apply.
Motorcycles are included in the Crit’Air vehicle classification. A valid sticker is required in low-emission zones where the scheme applies, and local access restrictions vary. Order only through the official French government service and check whether a planned hotel or urban approach enters a ZFE.
Many autoroutes charge tolls, while the scenic roads described here are generally ordinary public roads. Paid tunnels and occasional special facilities are separate. Use autoroutes deliberately for long transfers rather than allowing navigation software to insert short tolled sections unexpectedly.
Route-selection rules that improve the trip
- Choose one regional cluster for each riding day instead of joining distant famous names.
- Check high passes and gorge roads separately on the morning of travel.
- Keep an official lower-altitude variant for every Alpine stage.
- Expect cycling events, roadworks and viewpoint traffic during summer.
- Finish outside historic-centre restrictions and confirm motorcycle parking before arrival.
Continue planning
Use the complete France touring guide, the expanded Route des Grandes Alpes itinerary or compare France with the wider Alps guide.