Continue the great September Alpine road trip from the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys to the Southern Alps, discovering dramatic mountain passes, historic villages, spectacular landscapes and the golden larch forests of the Queyras.
In this episode of the summer season, Steve Thomas continues the 10–14 day Alpine road trip that began on the shores of Lake Geneva, heading south through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the French Alps.
From the Roseland Reservoir and the world-famous resorts of the Tarentaise to the high-altitude villages of the Haute Maurienne, the historic city of Briançon and the beautiful Queyras, Steve explores a very different side of the French Alps.
This is Part 2 of a two-part journey, completing the route through the Southern Alps and highlighting why travelling slowly can reveal so much more than simply ticking famous resorts off a list.
The route crosses the Cormet de Roselend before descending into the Tarentaise valley, home to destinations including Tignes, Val d’Isère, Les Arcs and La Plagne.
Steve also discovers Le Monal, a traditional mountain hamlet reached by foot, before continuing towards Val d’Isère and the spectacular Col de l’Iseran, at approximately 2,770 metres.
The journey continues to Bonneval-sur-Arc, one of France's Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, and nearby Bessans.
A detour to Col de Mont Cenis takes the route towards the Italian border before returning through the Haute-Maurienne and onwards to Valloire.
Valloire is a popular four-season destination with strong summer appeal, particularly for cyclists. From here, Steve crosses the famous Col du Galibier, at 2,642 metres.
Further south, Briançon combines year-round mountain life with historic Vauban fortifications, while the nearby Clarée Valley offers quieter scenery, mountain lakes and larch forests.
The route continues over Col d’Izoard, including the dramatic Casse Déserte, before entering the Queyras Regional Natural Park.
Steve explores Saint-Véran, one of Europe's highest permanently inhabited villages, surrounded by traditional Alpine architecture and spectacular mountain scenery.
September brings quieter roads and the first autumn colours. In the Queyras, the larch forests begin turning gold, orange and copper, creating a beautiful finale to the journey.
Steve also shares practical advice for tackling the Route des Grandes Alpes, including allowing plenty of time, checking mountain pass conditions and being prepared for businesses to close during the inter-season.
🏔️ Cormet de Roselend and the Tarentaise
🚗 Val d’Isère and Col de l’Iseran
🏡 Bonneval-sur-Arc and Bessans
🇮🇹 Col de Mont Cenis
🚴 Valloire and Col du Galibier
🏰 Briançon and the Clarée Valley
⛰️ Col d’Izoard and the Queyras
Visit Alpine Property Investments to explore properties for sale, or contact Steve and Lesley to discuss your requirements.
And if you're visiting the French Alps this autumn, why not combine your trip with some property viewings? The team would be happy to help arrange viewings alongside your Alpine adventure.
Thank you for joining us for the summer series of the Alpine Property Podcast. We'll be back this winter.
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📧steve@alpinepropertyinvestments.co.uk
📧lesley@alpinepropertyinvestments.co.uk
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