The Col de l'Iseran and Col du Galibier are the two great high passes of the French Alps, both open only in summer and both legends of the Tour de France. The Iseran climbs from Val d'Isère and descends to Bonneval-sur-Arc in the Haute Maurienne; the Galibier, further south, links Valloire with the Col du Lautaret and Briançon. Val d'Isère lies about 180 km and 2 h 45 from Geneva Airport, and AirportsTransfers.ch can drive a full day over both passes on a chauffeured basis.
- Col de l'Iseran: Val d'Isère to Bonneval-sur-Arc, around 2,760 metres
- Col du Galibier: Valloire to the Col du Lautaret, around 2,640 metres
- Season: summer only, both closed by snow in winter
- Heritage: regular Tour de France climbs and part of the Route des Grandes Alpes
- Link: the Maurienne valley joins the two passes
The Col de l'Iseran from Val d'Isère
In winter, Val d'Isère is the end of the road: the Iseran is buried in snow and the ski area takes over its slopes. From late spring the road reopens, and the climb from the village leads past the Pont Saint-Charles and through the Parc national de la Vanoise to the summit. At around 2,760 metres it is often cited as the highest paved pass in the Alps, with a small chapel and a broad view of glaciers and peaks.
The descent on the Maurienne side is long and open, ending at Bonneval-sur-Arc, a stone-built village classified among France's most beautiful villages. Snow walls can line the road early in the season, and the summit can be chilly on any summer day.
Through the Haute Maurienne
From Bonneval the road follows the Arc valley down through Bessans and Lanslevillard to Val-Cenis, quiet mountain villages with baroque chapels and a strong local identity. This is where the road to the Col du Mont-Cenis branches off towards Italy. Further down, Modane marks the entrance to the Fréjus tunnel, and the valley becomes more industrial as it approaches Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne.
At Saint-Michel, the classic route to the Galibier turns south and climbs first over the Col du Télégraphe, a wooded, steady ascent that cyclists treat as a warm-up, before dropping slightly into Valloire.
The Col du Galibier
From Valloire the road climbs through a wide, open valley before the final, steeper ramps to the summit at around 2,640 metres. The scenery is wilder and more rugged than on the Iseran, with views across to the Écrins massif and the glaciers of La Meije. A monument to Henri Desgrange, the founder of the Tour de France, stands on the southern side, a reminder that the Galibier has featured in the race since its early years.
The southern descent leads down to the Col du Lautaret, a lower pass that stays open year-round and connects the Romanche valley towards Grenoble with Briançon. Briançon, with its fortified old town built by Vauban, is a fitting end to the day.
Cycling heritage and sharing the road
Both passes are bucket-list climbs for cyclists, and on summer mornings the road is busy with riders of all levels. Some days the roads are reserved for cyclists for a few hours, and during the Tour de France they close entirely. Professional drivers adapt their speed, overtake with generous clearance and avoid peak cycling times when possible. For passengers, watching riders tackle the hairpins is part of the experience.
Motorcyclists and campervans also favour the Route des Grandes Alpes, which links Lake Geneva with the Mediterranean via both passes, so patience on narrow sections is part of the drive.
Season and planning
Neither pass is open in winter. They typically reopen in late spring or early summer, depending on snow clearance, and close again in autumn when the first heavy snow falls. Conditions at the summit can be wintry even in July. A day over both passes is long, so an early start from the Geneva area, or an overnight stay in Val d'Isère or Valloire, makes the route more relaxed.
Before departure, the chauffeur checks the status of both passes, as well as any planned closures for cycling events, and adjusts the itinerary if needed.
Booking with AirportsTransfers.ch
A chauffeured pass day removes the strain of long hairpins and lets passengers stop where they like. You see a fixed price per vehicle before paying online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the chauffeur can be booked by the hour or for a set route. Travellers flying in are met at Geneva Airport with a name sign, with flight tracking and waiting included if the plane is late. Child seats are available on request, and bicycles or large bags should be mentioned at booking so a Mercedes V-Class or Sprinter can be sent. For help planning, call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77.
