You will be immersed in nature on these wide yellow tracks typical of the region. Over a distance of about forty kilometers, the route is very smooth, and the elevation gain is barely noticeable. The view gradually opens up, allowing you to fully appreciate the surrounding landscapes.

From the seaside to the wide gravel tracks of the Estérel Forest, this traffic-free itinerary will allow you to fully enjoy a beautiful day on your gravel bike.

Starting from Zonza, head towards the beautiful forest trails of the area. This section of forest covers just under 10 kilometers with 3 steep slopes of a few meters, which might require you to get of your bike.

As with any loop itinerary, you can choose your starting point. However, I recommend beginning this one from Andorra-la-Vella or Escaldes.

You will climb to reach the path of the Solà Canal, el Rec del Solà, which offers you a privileged view of the capital. You will likely need to push your bike as the incline is very steep to access it. This canal was built in 1880 to irrigate the terraced fields located on the mountain slopes. So, don’t be surprised if you are surrounded by vegetable gardens, as they are the remnants of the areas once destined for agriculture. Nowadays, they have been replaced by buildings due to the growing population of the Principality.

Note: The path is quite narrow, so do not ride too fast as this space is also reserved for pedestrians.

From the shores of Lake Annecy, embark on an adventure to discover one of the most beautiful gravel climb in the area. This route will take you to the Col de St-Eustache, and then you will cross the Bauges region through some low-traffic country roads. While there will be asphalt sections throughout this ride, you will encounter numerous small gravel sections, and most importantly, you will have the opportunity to climb the Col de Chérel, which is only accessible by gravel.

After a good coffee at Matchy, you take the road towards the bike path around the Lake Annecy. Some alternatives to the asphalt track are possible by alternating with the singles on its sides. If there are too many pedestrians on the tracks, stay on the bike path.

Enjoy the flat roads before climbing to Veyrier-du-Lac and reach the Menthon wood. This wood reserves a magnificent gravel passage on the edge of the forest with a view of Annecy’s Lake in the background. The descent is a bit technical with big pebbles, but especially crossing with hikers can sometimes be difficult, be careful. After this pleasant passage, you continue on the roads of small villages before reaching a 100% gravel hill. It lasts about 1km, try to stay on your bike all along because if you put your foot on the ground you may not be able to get back on. The next stop is at a viewpoint on the lake from the Ermitage de Saint-Germain-sur-Talloires.