Trip ideas · Route des Grandes Alpes: Iseran, Galibier and Bonette

Route des Grandes Alpes: Iseran, Galibier and Bonette: a One-Week Road Trip From Lyon

Checked 8 October 2026 against each tourism board's, city's and operator's own page · skynomad

Day by day

Most hours at the wheel in a day No limit3 hours4 hours5 hours6 hours

Kilometres and hours are motorway estimates between the cities named, without stops or traffic. Where you sleep in a smaller place nearby, the real place and its distance are given.

1. Day 1

   Lyon → Geneva 168 km · about 2 h 15 driving

   Official northern start of the Route des Grandes Alpes on Lake Geneva. Source The place itself: Thonon-les-Bains (France, Lake Geneva), about 30 km straight-line from geneva, approx.

2. Day 2

   Geneva → Aosta 146 km · about 2 h driving, plus the way back from Thonon-les-Bains (France, Lake Geneva)

   Mountain village at the southern foot of the Col de l'Iseran, after the Aravis, Saisies, Roselend and Iseran passes. Source The place itself: Bonneval-sur-Arc (Haute-Maurienne), about 45 km straight-line from aosta; much further by road (via the Petit-Saint-Bernard), approx.

3. Day 3

   Aosta → Grenoble 206 km · about 2 h 55 driving, plus the way back from Bonneval-sur-Arc (Haute-Maurienne)

   Fortified town after Télégraphe, Galibier and Lautaret; spare day for the Col d'Izoard. Source The place itself: Briançon (Serre Chevalier), about 80 km straight-line from grenoble, approx.

   

4. Day 4

   A day for Briançon (Serre Chevalier) No long drive

5. Day 5

   Grenoble → Nice 466 km · about 5 h driving, plus the way back from Briançon (Serre Chevalier)

   Southern end of the route after Vars and the Bonette road (2,802 m at the Cime). Source

6. Day 6

   A day out from Nice No long drive

7. Day 7

   Nice → Grenoble 466 km · about 5 h driving

8. Day 8

   Grenoble → Lyon 120 km · about 1 h 35 driving

Why go in July

• Col de l'Iseran (highest pass on the route) is open: 12 June – 2 November 2026 (planned closure, weather permitting); 2027 dates not published yet. Source
• Savoie Département's 2026 reopening schedule for the high passes: Galibier 5 June, Iseran 12 June, Cormet de Roselend 13 May: from 5 June (Galibier) and 12 June (Iseran) 2026; 2027 dates not published yet. Source
• Route des Grandes Alpes organisers: highest passes open from mid-June; recommended window mid-June to mid-July or late August to mid-October (August has heavy traffic): mid-June – mid-July; late August – mid-October. Source

What to watch for

• Col du Galibier closed to motor vehicles for a cyclists-only morning (Tuesday 4 August 2026, 9:00–12:00; 2027 dates not published yet). Source
• Col d'Izoard closed to cars in both directions for cyclists-only mornings (2 July and 6 August 2026, 9:00–12:00; 2027 dates not published yet). Source
• Col de l'Iseran: bike-only climb during the Iserane cycling event in late June (exact date not given) (late June). Source
• Bonette road is seasonal; opening date varies with snow (reopens May or June, closes October or November). Source
• Grenoble ZFE (13 communes): Crit'Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified cars banned on weekdays 7:00–19:00 (no fines for Crit'Air 3 until 30 June 2027); sticker required (Monday–Friday 7:00–19:00). Source
• Nice ZFE (Promenade des Anglais and hypercentre): private cars not banned but a Crit'Air sticker is required (year-round (page dated April 2025)). Source
• Geneva Stick'AIR: only if you drive into the canton during a smog episode; centre restricted 6:00–22:00 to cars with a valid sticker (only on declared smog days). Source
• Lyon ZFE (start and end of the loop): only Crit'Air 0, 1, 2 vehicles may drive and park; Crit'Air sticker required (from 1 January 2026, year-round). Source

What the week costs to drive

Not included: Lyon–Geneva/Annemasse–Thonon A42/A40/A41 (APRR, ATMB) (operator); Grenoble–Lyon A48/A43 (AREA) (operator); hotels, food and parking. For your own car and exact days, use the trip cost calculator.

The rules on this route

Driving in France

Use this route in my plan to get every vignette, zone, kit rule and deadline for these countries in one checklist, with dates. The speed limits and sign words pages can then show only these countries.