Mountain biking & ATV

If you’ve always dreamed of taking a mountain bike ride through the mountains, now’s the time! The RivierALP traverse, straddling France and Italy, offers you an idyllic setting for riding through the heart of the Mediterranean Alps to the coast, in the fresh air.

The backdrop for our tours: peaks over 2,000 metres high in the Mercantour National Park and the Parco naturale del Marguareis, the emblematic Alta Via del Sale winding between 1,800 and 2,100 m above sea level, the fir forests of the Bosco del Prel and the Bosco delle Navette as far as the eye can see. There’s also the Roya Valley and the Bévéra Valley, not forgetting the balconies overlooking the Grande Bleue. A whole succession of landscapes in a single mountain bike route – that’s possible here. And in any season!

RivierALP by bike is made up of 7 signposted routes based around a common start at Limone Piemonte (1,010 m), with three emblematic finishes on the Mediterranean coast (Menton, Sanremo, Imperia) and three complementary Italian gateways (Ormea, Pian delle Gorre, Rastello), plus the cross-border La Brigue – Colle del Garezzo section. In all, almost 450 kilometres of mountain bike trails await you, whatever your riding style: mountain bike, gravel, road or electrically-assisted mountain bike (EABT). Rest assured, you don’t need to be an expert in the French Cycling Federation: some stages are still accessible to amateurs, while others, classified S3, are reserved for trained riders. When it comes to duration, it’s also up to you, whether you choose a complete crossing, a bikepacking-style itinerary in stages, or a targeted exploration of one side of the massif.

The region is also a real playground for mountain biking. Cross-country (XC) is all about endurance on a variety of routes; trail or all-mountain is a versatile sport ideal for long-distance mountain biking; while enduro focuses on technical descents. RivierALP is no exception, with a mix of former military tracks, mule trails, fun singletrack and rolling forest paths. This dynamism is reinforced by emblematic events such as the Trans Riviera, which makes the region a Mecca for mountain biking between the Alps and the Mediterranean!

If you love nature (almost) as much as you love cycling, then you’re going to love the Mediterranean Alps! Your tour will take place in the heart of an exceptional area, where unspoilt nature is combined with a remarkable heritage. From the wild landscapes of the Mercantour National Park to the Mediterranean relief of the Parco naturale delle Alpi Liguri, via the Parco naturale del Marguareis and the Natura 2000 protected areas of the Valli Pesio e Tanaro, the route passes through a mosaic of unique scenery.

In terms of villages, the itinerary links characterful villages such as Saorge, clinging to the mountains; La Brigue, the ancient capital of Brigasca and a land of transhumance; Upega, with its ciappe roofs and stacked wooden balconies; and Triora, the legendary “village of witches”.

All along the route, heritage sites tell the story of these border valleys: Maginot Line forts, barracks of the Vallo Alpino Occidentale (1924-1942), old military roads, cobbled remains of the Via Pompea (Roman road from the 1st century BC), and richly decorated places of worship such as the Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Fontaines, the “Sistine Chapel of the Alps”.

And don’t forget: around Sospel, recognised as a mountain biking site by the French Cycling Federation, there’s a wide network of signposted trails offering a variety of pleasures, from rolling tracks to more technical trails!

At RivierALP, road cycling is synonymous with wide open spaces and legendary mountain passes. The region is part of the emblematic Route des Grandes Alpes, a spectacular 700-kilometre route linking the peaks of the Alps to the Mediterranean, with a succession of not-to-be-missed mountain passes.

Another major route, La Méditerranée à Vélo, links the Pyrenees to the Alps along the south of France as far as Menton, with a gentler approach between coast and hinterland. On the Italian side, the Riviera dei Fiori cycle path is part of the Ciclovia Tirrenica project (Ventimiglia-Civitavecchia) and offers 32km of flat, seafront cycling between Ospedaletti and Imperia, punctuated by converted railway tunnels.

Finally, for those looking for a challenge, theascent of the Col de Turini is a must. Renowned for its tight bends and forest atmosphere, this legendary pass offers a demanding climb that is as full of history as it is of thrills.