Lakes and Mountains of Haute Savoie

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW
This tour has been improved from ones we led in 2012 and 2015, and will be our 9th BAC tour in the French Alps. This tour starts and ends in Ferney-Voltaire, France (adjacent to the Geneva, Switzerland, airport). We ride through Geneva and along the south side of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) to the beautiful medieval French towns on the way to famous spa town, Évian-les-Bains, where we will drink the water as it comes out of the tap. We then head into the French Chablais Alps to the small mountain ski town of La Chapelle d’Abondance, where Abondance cheese from Abondance cows milk has obtained Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. Then we cycle over the Col du Corbier to the Drone Valley of Faucigny and on to Thyez. Next is a climb to the elegant resort town of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc where we spend two nights. From Chamonix we cycle to another resort town, Megève. We continue over the Col des Saisies and through the village of Beaufort to Arêches, with a challenging option for the Cormet de Roselend. Beaufort cheese is another PDO cheese produced in this area from Abondance cows milk. The following day we ride downhill through Albertville and Chambéry to Aix-les-Bains, a gorgeous resort town at the foot of Mont Revard and on beautiful Lac du Bourget. Then we ride through the Bauges mountains to another gorgeous resort town, Annecy. With it’s beautiful lake and canals, Annecy is often called the Venice of the Alps and is known for Roblechon, another delicious PDO cheese, and loads of active outdoor options. Our last day cycling takes us back through Geneva to our hotel in Ferney-Voltaire.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
Participants must be vaccinated for COVID with whatever age appropriate vaccine doses are recommended by the CDC prior to starting the tour. Participants will be asked to provide verification. Participants must also comply with all local health mandates.

Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

We will meet with tour participants 60 days prior to the tour start date using a video conference to discuss as a group how we will proceed if participants get sick. You may be required to wear PPE in public, maintain social distance in public and limit social gathering in public depending on whether there is a COVID outbreak in the area. COVID tests may be requested. Ideally we would like to consider our group a COVID-free bubble.

RIDE RATING
The ride is rated 2B! with the average distance of 35 miles and average climbing elevation of 2436 per day. We added the exclamation point because there are long and frequent climbs on this tour with occasional grades above 8%. The longest required day is 61 miles that exceeds the B rating. There are 3 required days with 2875, 2834 and 3510 ft. of climbing that exceed the 2 climbing rating. When we stay more than one night in a town, optional rides are provided. Cycling is mostly on lightly traveled secondary and tertiary paved roads in good condition. Several days have alternate routes for riders wanting longer rides. Overall, this is a hilly ride and best suited to riders who aren’t intimidated by climbs. Participants must be comfortable using maps with route sheets.

CUE SHEETS, MAPS AND GPS FILES
Electronic versions of maps and route sheets will be provided, and participants are expected to print their own copies of them. GPS tracks will be provided for those who want them, but it is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS or phone app before the tour begins.

WEATHER
The weather can vary from 50 to 80 degrees. Extreme weather conditions are possible in the Alps so be prepared for cool weather and/or rain. Expect the unexpected and be prepared for any weather. Check your favorite weather site on the web just before your departure for a long range forecast.

LODGING & MEALS
There are 2 nights in a 5-star hotel, 3 nights in 4-star hotels and 10 nights in 3-star hotels. There are three 2-night stays in La Chapelle d’Abondance, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, and Aix-les-Bains, and one 3-night stay in Annecy. We use your Preferences in your Profile to try and accommodate your special medical and dietary needs. In order to provide you with some choice we ask hotels to serve two main dishes to each couple. If you receive one dish and prefer the other, you may trade with others. Very few hotels allow a group to order off the menu and some insist on serving only one main dish. Participants may not wear blue jeans, shorts or t-shirts to group dinners.

LOGISTICS
The tour starts on June 5 in Geneva at 6 PM and ends in Geneva on June 20 after breakfast. The hotel is actually in Ferney-Voltaire, France, about 4 km from the Geneva airport, the airport is accessible by air and rail. Taxi is the prefered transport option from the airport to the hotel. Those who wish to arrive ahead of the tour or stay after may do so at our group rate. Bike boxes will be stored at the hotel. Tandems and E-bikes are welcome, but riders are expected to bring or arrange for their own bikes. The first meeting and dinner will be at the hotel on 5 June with the meeting beginning at 6 PM and dinner at 7:30 PM. We will have a luggage van and van driver. The van's primary role will be to transport luggage and supplies. While it will be available to assist with any emergencies, it will not serve as as sag vehicle and participants are expected to complete the ride each day.

COST & ADMINISTRATION
Cost estimate $3300 per person double occupancy at $1.15/Euro for 15 nights including 10 dinners, 15 breakfasts, luggage van, maps, route sheets, daily socials and sightseeing information. Tickets for sightseeing are not included. This is only an estimate as it is dependent on the value of the Euro. Initial deposit is $1100 with additional payment of $1100 on August 1, 2024 and $1100 on December 1, 2024. Note: The final payment may be adjusted depending on currency exchange rate fluctuations.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY
Singles are welcome, but encouraged to find compatible roommates and/or riding partners. Ride Directors will introduce and assist singles to find roommates, but singles must make their own rooming decision. We do not accept solos, as the number of rooms available are limited.

CANCELLATION POLICY
The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

INSURANCE STATEMENT
Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, and repatriation. This coverage applies when touring outside the US and your home country, regardless of your nationality. It will cover you door-to-door for a maximum of 90 days but will expire if you make a side trip not related to the BAC tour for more than 7 days before or after. There is limited coverage for a family member to join a covered person in an emergency. The policy covers the cost of treatment for COVID and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. 

SIGN-UP
To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.