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in Crest-Voland

Q: Is it possible to cycle to the Col des Saisies without using the main road?

Oui, et c'est l'un des grands plaisirs de la station. Si les routiers préfèrent l'asphalte de la départementale, les pratiquants de VTT, de Gravel ou de VTT-AE peuvent utiliser la piste forestière et pastorale qui monte à travers bois en direction du mont Lachat. Ce tracé en terre compacte permet de rejoindre la station des Saisies en évitant totalement le trafic automobile, au milieu des alpages.

Q: Is Crest-Voland suitable for a family cycling holiday?

C'est probablement l'une des stations les plus adaptées du Val d'Arly. Le secteur du Cernix et les liaisons douces autour du village offrent des portions presque plates, idéales pour les enfants. De plus, la station propose des boucles vertes et bleues spécifiques pour le VTT de randonnée, très larges et sécurisées, permettant d'initier les plus jeunes aux joies du vélo de montagne sans affronter de pentes effrayantes.

Q: What is the best time of year to schedule your outings?

La saison bat son plein de début juin à fin septembre. Dès le printemps, la faible altitude de la station (1 230 m) garantit des routes parfaitement sèches et dégagées, bien plus tôt que les grands cols d'altitude voisins. Le mois de juillet est idéal pour l'ambiance et l'ouverture de toutes les liaisons de l'Espace Diamant, tandis que septembre offre des lumières rasantes magnifiques sur le Mont Charvin et des températures parfaites pour rouler sans souffrir de la chaleur.

Perched at an altitude of 1,230 metres on a mostly wooded plateau, facing the majestic Mont Charvin, Crest-Voland is the perfect embodiment of a Savoyard village-resort. Here, there are no hostile terrains or stifling bottlenecks: the landscape opens up widely onto the Val d'Arly, offering generous sunshine and a gentle relief rarely found in the high mountains. By bike, Crest-Voland is a strategic goldmine. Situated on the natural border between the Aravis and Beaufortain massifs, this village allows you to explore the most beautiful road profiles in Savoy while offering direct access to rolling alpine pastures. It is a destination that prioritises visual pleasure, versatility, and accessibility, ideal for cycle tourists, road climbers, and long-distance riders.

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INTERSPORT CREST-VOLAND SNOWFRONT

Road between 2 towns

Road cycling at the heart of the Aravis, Beaufortain and Val d'Arly triangle

For road cycling enthusiasts, Crest-Voland is a fantastic springboard. The iconic climb starting from the Flumet Gorges is a regional classic: a 7-kilometre climb along a winding road suspended above the Arly, with a steady gradient of around 7% before levelling off as you approach the first chalets in the village. But Crest-Voland’s greatest asset is its geographical location. From the village centre, you can reach the Route des Grandes Alpes in just a few minutes to tackle the legendary Col des Saisies (1,650 m). More experienced cyclists will use the resort as a base camp for planning ambitious loops, heading north towards the Col des Aravis or heading down towards Albertville to tackle the major passes of the Tarentaise.

Contemplative cycle touring: the Route des Balcons and the Aravis

Beyond pure performance, Crest-Voland is a rallying point for lovers of contemplative cycle touring. The resort's secondary road network is connected to the famous «Route des Balcons,» a route suspended along the mountainside that links the different villages of the Val d'Arly (Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, Flumet, Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle). The terrain is hilly, with short climbs and gentle downhill false flats amidst traditional farms where Reblochon cheese is aged. It's the ideal activity for travellers with panniers or cyclists who like to take their time, stopping to photograph the spectacular panoramas of the Aravis mountain range without having to endure the punishing gradients of glacial valleys.

The e-MTB paradise of the Espace Diamant mountain pastures

Crest-Voland attracts lovers of wide tyres so much because its terrain is naturally suited to electric mountain biking (e-MTB). Connected to the Espace Diamant domain, the resort offers kilometres of pastoral trails and gentle ridges that link Crest-Voland to Les Saisies or Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe. The terrain, made up of firm ground, forest passages and grassy ridges, offers fluid and fun riding, without the demanding nature of high altitudes. It’s the ultimate discovery ride, accessible to a wide range of abilities.

The topography of the plateau and the panorama of the Charvin

The topography of Crest-Voland is distinguished by its suspended plateau profile. Unlike sheltered valley floor resorts, the village benefits from a gentle slope that facilitates links between hamlets (from Le Cernix to the village centre). The road surfacing is generally excellent, very well maintained due to the regular passage of major cycling events. The climate is milder, sheltered from strong winds by the Aravis mountain range, which avoids sudden temperature drops in summer.

FAQ

What is the real difficulty of the climb from Flumet to Crest-Voland?

This is a climb classified as intermediate. At 7 kilometres with an average gradient of just over 6.5%, it requires a sustained but short burst of effort. The first half features the steepest sections (a few brief stretches at 8%), but the numerous bends allow you to pick up speed and find your rhythm.

Is it possible to cycle to the Col des Saisies without using the main road?

Yes, and it’s one of the great pleasures of the resort. While road cyclists prefer the asphalt of the departmental road, mountain bikers, gravel riders, or e-bikers can use the forest and pastoral track that goes up through the woods towards Mont Lachat. This compacted earth path allows you to reach the resort of Les Saisies, completely avoiding car traffic, amidst the mountain pastures.

Is Crest-Voland suitable for a family cycling holiday?

This is probably one of the most suitable resorts in the Val d'Arly. The Cernix area and the gentle paths around the village offer almost flat sections, ideal for children. Furthermore, the resort offers specific green and blue loops for mountain biking touring, which are very wide and safe, allowing beginners to experience the joys of mountain biking without facing daunting slopes.

What is the best time of year to schedule your outings?

The season is in full swing from early June to the end of September. From spring onwards, the resort's low altitude (1,230 m) guarantees perfectly dry and clear roads, much earlier than the neighbouring high mountain passes. July is ideal for atmosphere and the opening of all connections within the Espace Diamant, while September offers magnificent low-angled light on Mont Charvin and perfect temperatures for riding without suffering from the heat.

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