Mountain Biking in the French Alps

Sunny trails, an incredible lift network and miles of epic singletrack!

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Our Favourite MTB Destinations

The French Alps is home to some of the world’s best mountain biking! From high-altitude singletrack to epic lift-assisted bike parks, this region is a dream for MTB enthusiasts. With an extensive network of purpose-built trails, technical descents, and heart-pounding freeride lines, it’s no surprise that France has produced some of the world’s top downhill riders. If you’re planning a mountain bike adventure, must-ride destinations like Morzine, Les Gets, Chamonix, and Tignes should be at the top of your list!

Morzine

World-famous trails extending deep into the Portes du Soleil and endless lift-accessed terrain to explore.

Les Gets

Les Gets of MTB World Cup and Crankworx fame has some of the best riding in the French Alps.

Chamonix

Miles of classic singletrack with huge climbs and fast flowy descents that criss-cross the Chamonix valley.

Alpe d’Huez

With 35 dedicated MTB trails, Alpe d’Huez is at the heart of one of the biggest mountain biking areas in France and offers some of the country’s very best big mountain terrain.

Les Arcs

With 180 km of trails and a vertical drop of nearly 2 km from the highest lift to the valley floor, Les Arcs has loads to offer mountain bikers whatever your riding style.

Serre Chevalier

Serre Chevalier offers some of France’s best enduro trails, diverse high-altitude Alpine terrain, and 300 days of sunshine—perfect for an unforgettable mountain biking adventure.

Parc National des Écrins

Hike the Grand Tour des Écrins

The Tour des Écrins, or GR54, is a challenging yet hugely rewarding long-distance hiking trail encircling the Écrins Massif in the southern French Alps. 190 km in distance, the route covers over 12,000 meters of vertical ascent and crosses 14 high mountain passes. Typically completed in 10 to 15 days, you’ll trek through remote valleys, alpine forests and over high mountain passes.

Provence

With mountains, rivers and the Mediterranean sea, Provence is a haven for outdoor sports enthusiasts. From the exhilarating rock climbing routes in Buoux and to the rafting and canyoning of Verdon, there’s something for every thrill-seeker. The region’s varied terrain also provides excellent opportunities for mountain biking and paragliding, ensuring an unforgettable active holiday experience.

Surfing

The wild Atlantic coast of south-west France has some of the best surfing on the planet. From the powerful beach breaks of Hossegor and Capbreton in the Landes region to the point breaks of the Basque Country, there’s a wave for every surfer. While popular spots can get crowded with talented locals, the extensive coastline offers ample opportunities to find uncrowded waves.

Welcome to Ultimate France

A Thrill-seekers guide

Born out of experiences too amazing to keep to ourselves, ULTIMATE FRANCE is a thrill-seekers guide to the best destinations in France, including the French Alps, the South of France, the Pyrenees and the Atlantic Coast.

Skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, kitesurfing, rock climbing, canyoning, rafting, and paragliding … France has every adventure activity and extreme sport you can think of, all set to a backdrop of stunning landscapes.

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The Best Adventure Activities in France

Craving an adrenaline fix in the French outdoors? From wild whitewater rafting and epic paragliding flights to canyoning descents and cliff jumps, this action-packed video showcases some of the best adventure activities France has to offer. Whether you’re planning your next high-octane holiday or just dreaming of alpine air and ocean spray, hit play and get inspired to push your limits in the land of mountains, rivers, and azure coastlines.

Ultimate France Insta Gallery

Tag your France Instagram pics and clips @ultimatefrance to be featured here!

Crystal blue water that’s begging you to dive in. This is the Calanque d’En Veau near Cassis in the south of France courtesy of @jimmytrips83
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#calanques #marseille #calanquedenvau #paddleboarding #sup #wildswimming #provence #ultimatefrance

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Crystal blue water that’s begging you to dive in. This is the Calanque d’En Veau near Cassis in the south of France courtesy of @jimmytrips83
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#calanques #marseille #calanquedenvau #paddleboarding #sup #wildswimming #provence #ultimatefrance

Golden light. Glassy waves. The unmistakable silhouette of the Trois Couronnes (Peñas de Aia) in the distance. Welcome to Southwest France — a paradise for surfers where the pumping Atlantic meets the laid-back Basque Country. Whether you`re chasing barrels in Hossegor or longboarding mellow peelers in Hendaye, this coast delivers unforgettable sessions, all year-round.

#SouthwestFrance #SurfFrance #SurfTrip #Hossegor #BasqueCountry #WavesForDays #FrenchSurfing #SurfLife #UltimateFrance #AtlanticVibes

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Golden light. Glassy waves. The unmistakable silhouette of the Trois Couronnes (Peñas de Aia) in the distance. Welcome to Southwest France — a paradise for surfers where the pumping Atlantic meets the laid-back Basque Country. Whether you're chasing barrels in Hossegor or longboarding mellow peelers in Hendaye, this coast delivers unforgettable sessions, all year-round.

#SouthwestFrance #SurfFrance #SurfTrip #Hossegor #BasqueCountry #WavesForDays #FrenchSurfing #SurfLife #UltimateFrance #AtlanticVibes

Snowboarder @arthur_longo gives us the lay of the land out in📍Chamonix, FR 🇫🇷
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🎥 @reggiejrego
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#snowboarding #freeride #backcountry #capitasnowboards #chamonix #montblanc #frenchalps #ultimatefrance

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Snowboarder @arthur_longo gives us the lay of the land out in📍Chamonix, FR 🇫🇷
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🎥 @reggiejrego
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#snowboarding #freeride #backcountry #capitasnowboards #chamonix #montblanc #frenchalps #ultimatefrance

Speedrider Vincent Delluc gives📍Avoriaz in the French Alps 🇫🇷 a good going over..!
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🪂 @valentindelluc
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#speedriding #paragliding #skiing #backflip #skiresort #frenchalps #avoriaz #avoriaz1800 #portesdusoleil #ultimatefrance

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Speedrider Vincent Delluc gives📍Avoriaz in the French Alps 🇫🇷 a good going over..!
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🪂 @valentindelluc
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#speedriding #paragliding #skiing #backflip #skiresort #frenchalps #avoriaz #avoriaz1800 #portesdusoleil #ultimatefrance

The good stuff ❄️
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Rider @betterthanthepolice
📷 @pow_ders
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#backcountry #snowboarding #freeride #powderday #ultimatefrance

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The good stuff ❄️
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Rider @betterthanthepolice
📷 @pow_ders
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#backcountry #snowboarding #freeride #powderday #ultimatefrance

Snapper @max.hwrd captures the action in Alpe d’Huez..!
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📷 @max.hwrd
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#alpedhuez #ski #skiing #paragliding #freestyleskiing #frenchalps🇫🇷 #ultimatefrance

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Snapper @max.hwrd captures the action in Alpe d’Huez..!
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📷 @max.hwrd
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#alpedhuez #ski #skiing #paragliding #freestyleskiing #frenchalps🇫🇷 #ultimatefrance

Stuff that dreams are made of!
Snowboarder Elias Hardt floats a huge 360..!
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🏂 @eliaselhardt
📷 @sebastian_schieren
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#snowboarding #snowboarder #backcountry #freeride #powderday #alpsmountains #ultimatefrance

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Stuff that dreams are made of!
Snowboarder Elias Hardt floats a huge 360..!
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🏂 @eliaselhardt
📷 @sebastian_schieren
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#snowboarding #snowboarder #backcountry #freeride #powderday #alpsmountains #ultimatefrance

Side hit perfection in Chamonix with snowboarder Arthur Longo..!
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🏂 @arthur_longo
📷 @volcomsnow @oliviergittler
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#snowboarding #sidehit #precisionlanding #chamonix #chamonixmontblanc #frenchalps #volcompresents #ultimatefrance

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Side hit perfection in Chamonix with snowboarder Arthur Longo..!
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🏂 @arthur_longo
📷 @volcomsnow @oliviergittler
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#snowboarding #sidehit #precisionlanding #chamonix #chamonixmontblanc #frenchalps #volcompresents #ultimatefrance

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