If you want to go mountain biking for a weekend with the family, a weekend with friends, or a longer stay, Brides-les-Bains is the place to be. Offering a wide variety of accommodation and a wide range of walks and routes nearby, the village is definitely worth a visit.

A mountain biking holiday in Brides-les-Bains is guaranteed to leave you with unforgettable moments.

Eco-friendly highlights: Come to Brides-les-Bains with your bike by train and ride straight from your base camp. 

Hoping to offer a wide range of services to make cycling accessible to everyone, Brides-les-Bains also aims to be committed to a sustainable development approach. The community is therefore equipped with a set of 10 electrically assisted bicycles - equipped with hydrogen fuel cells - and an autonomous hydrogen production station. Financed by the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region, this initiative allows visitors and others to carry one with a sportive activity in an eco-friendly manner.

The Brides-les-Bains Tourist Office can provide you with all the practical information on the subject as well as a list of walking trails that can be done nearby.

If you are keen on physical exercise, setting yourself challenges or even a thrill-seeking experiences, you will find the surroundings of Brides-les-Bains a magnificent playing ground. The mountains and the valley are ideal for sporty ascents and exhilarating descents on mountain bikes (for the more experienced and hardcore riders!).

Various itineraries and tours exist to suit all tastes and desires.
Downhill mountain biking (also known as DH, Down Hill in short) involves riding down specially designed and constructed mountain bike trails. Though impressive, this activity remains accessible to all and in particular with the guidance of professional instructors.

The Enduro uses existing trails, shared with pedestrians. This activity is aimed at those with an experienced level due to the particular technical and physical requirements.

These different activites are facilitated by the possibility to use the ski lefts to access the different trails.

Surrounding Brides-les-Bains, a variety of paths and trails are available for relaxed mountain biking.

There are multiple reasons for cycling in these magnificent places: to explore nature, to discover the fauna and flora, to get some fresh air, to relax, to exercise, etc.
Accessible to all, cross-country mountain biking is practised in the middle of the countryside on a circuit course that generally offers superb viewpoints.

Mountain biking and electrically-assisted bicycles (EABs) are growing in popularity and can now be used in specific zones allowing you to explore more with less physical effort.

Whether you are a beginner or more of an experienced amateur, everyone will be able to appreciate these different ways of hiking the mountains and in total security.

While it remains a sport, mountain biking is still accessible to everyone. Whatever your age or level, you can go at your own pace whilst adjusting to your wants and current level of fitness.
The electric mountain bike offers an alternative to those who prefer a more moderate physical activity (or to get back into sport!).

From children's mountain bikes to the more technical downhill mountain bikes out of different available models, these two-wheeled bikes with their many characteristics can be enjoyed both individually and collectively.

Sitting alone in the saddle gives you more freedom in the choice of routes, speed and objectives.
Riding in a group creates a dynamic that maintains motivation, encourages the rider to surpass himself and to go further during more challenging routes.

These rides with friends or these opportunities to have fun with the family allow for pleasant moments of relaxation.

In Brides-les-Bains, health and well-being are an integral part of its DNA. Mountain biking although associated with leisure and pleasure, it’s also a beneficial activity for our health.

Mountain biking is a well-rounded sport that allows you to maintain and develop your physical energy. It contributes to the development of legs, arms, back, shoulders, pectorals and even the heart!

Riding through the mountains and valleys, pedalling up and down the slopes is an excellent way to increase your cardio endurance.

This endurance training is complemented by the improvement in breathing management.
Mountain biking can also help you lose weight thanks to the calories burned. It varies according to your size, age, gender, energy level, etc. but it is estimated to be around 450 calories per hour on average.

Mountain biking in the mountains on a range of trails also leads to improved balance and agility.

* Select your route whilst taking into account the difficulty level, your own physical condition and the weather conditions.

* Carefully choose a mountain bike adapted to your body and an appropriate outfit. And don’t forget your helmet!

* Warm up beforehand and calmly set your pace

* Stay hydrated and eat if necessary

* Learn how to repair a flat tire!

Located in the Tarentaise region, Brides-les-Bains is one of France's most renowned thermal spa destinations.

In addition to its many attractions, this lovely Savoyard village also enjoys a very special location at the heart of Les 3 Vallées, on the borders of the Vanoise National Park.
Offering easy access to the world's largest ski area and its resorts, Brides-les-Bains opens the way to a wide variety of mountain activities.

With an abundance of hotel and rental accommodation packages, the resort makes the perfect base camp from which to set off and explore some of the region's most attractive sites, while having a fantastic holiday with a real sense of escape and a change of scenery!

Please note: in summer, free shuttlebuses run between Brides-les-Bains and the resort of Méribel (between the 3rd of July and the 29th of August 2021, five round trips run daily between 9am and 5.30pm).

If you're planning to go for a multi-day hike in the mountains, you'll need to plan where you'll be able to source refreshments and find overnight accommodation.

The Vanoise National Park offers a list of mountain refuges and bivouacs that can be reached within its grounds.

You are advised to book in advance and check that you comply with the bivouac camping regulations.
To widen your search, you can also look on the French Federation of Alpine and Mountain Clubs website.

• Follow the signposted routes for a little hike,
• Have fun in the Alpine pastures,
• Have a picnic in the heart of nature,
• Cross mid-altitude mountain ranges on the back of a donkey,
• Play with your reflection in the most beautiful lakes of the Vanoise Regional Nature Park,
• Cool off in the waterfalls after a fantastic hike,
• Forge unforgettable family memories between valleys and summits...