The Via Rhôna: 700 kilometers by bike from Lake Geneva to the sea! (Travel journal and video, July 2018)

I (Maria) even dared to make this video

https://youtu.be/E6PF0iJuNzw

in case it gives you an idea

The route is well-marked, no worries there There are campsites like in Sion, and Switzerland’s cycling website (Rhône Route) is super well done There are a few great tips—accommodations are pricier than in France (due to exchange rates), but always top-notch

(The Swiss were 10 years ahead on this!)

Claudio Still in La Faverges

Dear fellow travelers! It's time to start planning your trip for next spring/summer on the ViaRhôna!

Don't hesitate to ask any practical questions on this forum. I'd be happy to answer them, as well as some other users :)

Happy travels to everyone!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_cpBro6Df8&t=12s

Love your video—it’s so inspiring! Too bad you didn’t (or didn’t show) take the Voie Bleue starting from Glun. We don’t see anything of Valence either, which is definitely worth a visit, as is a stop at the famous Vélo Gîte.

Otherwise, bravo! Any new projects in the works?

Marjorie

claudio made 47 videos about the ViaRhona here’s one of them

https://youtu.be/zCuQI_avODs

Hi Marjorie, thanks for your message!

Yes, you're right—it's impossible to fit 700 km of landscapes, towns, and villages into the video, so unfortunately I had to pick certain sections.

The Via Rhôna really inspired me! We’d love to do a EuroVelo route for our next trip. I think that’s the next challenge. We haven’t decided which one yet, but why not in 2019 or 2020 anyway? :)

Flo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_cpBro6Df8&t=12s

Awesome, thanks for this lovely travel journal! We’ve decided—we’re heading out next summer from Geneva toward the Mediterranean. Coming from Brittany, do you have a great tip for parking our car in Geneva? Thanks for your help... Wishing you a great continuation and a wonderful next trip! 😊 Cathy

parking your car in Geneva is going to be really tough! You might end up finding it in the impound lot. You’ll probably have to leave it in neighboring France.

claudio

50th post on ViaRhôna for Claudio for his traditional closing ride

You can come throw stones at him from one of the N+1 bridges over the Rhône Departure Monday morning from Geneva Passing through Seyssel around 11 a.m. Here are the stages

cbandiera.free.fr/...arhona-bas-cevennes/ Passing by the foothills of the Cévennes if the cévenol wind doesn’t get in the way...

Happy trails claudio

Bambée completed without any issues in 6 days for the 680 km on the 50th viarhona but a lovely detour through the Cévennes, Alès, and Anduze (Vi raccomando) http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/index1.php

A few improvements for the viarhona, but still a mess around Anthon, where you get lost in the Isère backcountry...

The authorities really aren’t very responsive. The Virignin footbridge is still pending. Stop in Valence at bruno velogite valence

www.velogitevalence.fr/

Managed to avoid the rain

Story coming soon

Well done, Claudio, on this 50th (Yes, fiftieth!) ViaRhona ride!

The Vélo Gîte in Valence is proud of you ;-)

Bru

thanks here are a few photos (just a few because after a while I’ve got nothing left to re-photograph) including the infamous Chavanoz section that’s always a problem

http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2019-viarhona-bas-cevennes/F/8.html

Well done, Claude!

Impressive! Did you complete your 50th ViaRhôna?? Or just parts of it?

to be honest at least 50 times for 3 days or more on the ViaRhona more than 100 nights on the ViaRhôna, so and 15 full end-to-end rides Geneva or Annecy -- to the sea

hi, I’m planning a family adventure along the Via Rhôna for next April. I’ll be traveling with my kids, aged 8, 11, and 13, from Vienne to the Mediterranean Sea. Is it worth following the official signage, or is it better to veer off now and then for more beautiful scenery? Thanks for your feedback! Perrine

Hey there, fellow travelers! Here’s a little post to share our cycling trip from this summer. We rode the Via Rhôna from Geneva all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. It was a truly amazing adventure—no hitches, plenty of independent greenways, and we felt like we had the Rhône all to ourselves as our guide for 700 km over 7 days. That averages out to about 100 km per day. We thought we’d do less, but the Via Rhôna is flat and not too tiring, which let us push to around 100 km each day! Here’s the full video of our route: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_cpBro6Df8

We’re not seasoned cyclists—we just love biking, and this trip was our first big cycling adventure. As for our bikes (see photo), we had road bikes, sturdy with fairly large wheels and panniers for our gear.

Speaking of gear, here’s what we brought: just the essentials for 7 days of biking and camping—one tent for two, two sleeping bags, a few clothes (not too many), one book each, toiletries, phone chargers, a basic bike repair kit... and maybe two or three things I’m forgetting. The idea is to travel light so you’re carrying as little as possible!

We camped every night. Along the Rhône, it’s pretty easy to find campgrounds, and they’re affordable too! Each morning, we’d decide on our destination for the evening (usually based on available campgrounds) and call ahead to book. We always managed to find a spot right away (except when we reached the Mediterranean coast, but we should’ve seen that coming 😛).

For expenses, we camped each night (between 15 and 25 € for a pitch for two) and either picnicked or ate at restaurants. Beyond that, there weren’t many other costs—just a few little souvenirs here and there. In total, we spent about 500 € for two over 7 days (so 35 € per person per day). I think it’s possible to spend even less, since we decided not to skimp on restaurants or campground prices.

For us, the most beautiful stretch was between Geneva and Lyon! The Rhône is still a bit wild there, as are its banks. Not too many roads, highways, trains, or factories around—just nature and peace. You gradually leave the Alps behind and head further south. It was truly stunning. We also loved the "Rhône Valley" after Lyon. The succession of dozens of suspension bridges and charming little villages enchanted us.

The trickiest part was leaving Lyon... The Via Rhôna disappears for a long stretch, forcing you to alternate between roads, traffic, danger, and pollution. We had to wait until Givors, further south, to finally get back to the quiet path and the Rhône guiding our way. Also, after Lyon, the Rhône becomes a bit more industrial—you pass by dams, factories, and power plants more often. But it’s really just a small detail, the exception that proves the rule of this magnificent Via Rhôna.

The Via Rhôna is a wonderful way to see how water from the mountains of Lake Geneva flows, meanders, and winds its way for hundreds of kilometers to reach the sea. With this trip, you grow closer to the Rhône—it becomes your accomplice, your guide. Plus, you cross a beautiful part of France, with its charm and quaint villages. It’s the France we love, and it’s great to explore our own country.

That’s our little travel journal. I didn’t go into too much detail about our daily routines because everyone will follow the same route, and each person can go at their own pace :) But I’m happy to answer any questions (logistics, technical stuff, routes, etc.)—I’d be delighted to help!

Here’s the video of our route again. I also composed the music—I hope you’ll like it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_cpBro6Df8

Happy travels,

Flo

you can follow the signage, which is now well done and passes through beautiful spots claudio

Hello to all travelers!

How are you doing in this slightly unusual time? I hope the current crisis hasn’t stopped you from taking your trip if you had one planned... Has anyone had to cancel their trip planned for March-April or May this year along the Via Rhôna?

In any case, I feel like we’re in a period of reflection. Maybe now’s the perfect time to plan our next trips once everything gets back to normal! I think this forum has become a goldmine for travelers eager to organize their trip along the Via Rhôna! I just wanted to thank all of you—see you on the road soon!

Long live the ViaRhôna and bike travel!

Flo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_cpBro6Df8&feature=emb_title

Hi everyone! We're planning to bike from Geneva to the sea with our 3 daughters (ages 9, 10, and 11) at the end of August... are there really some sketchy spots along the way? This isn’t our first trip, so we’re not too worried...! Also, it seems like there aren’t any campgrounds at the start—is wild camping allowed along the Via Rhôna? Thanks for your tips! Clémentine

from Geneva first campsite at Seyssel (60 km) well signposted in this area and pretty quiet (nice!) watch out: a bit of elevation gain from Chancy to Valleiry over 2 km and after the lock gorge up to Clarafond (a 5 km climb at 5-6%) http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2017-viarhona/T/telecharger-E.php

Claudio wrote a guide after 50 trips on the ViaRhôna, but he burned it—some clever folks wrote their own after just one trip.

http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/index1.php

a few tricky sections, like at the Lagnieu bridge, over 100 m! the exit from Lyon to Givors

Claudio... from La Faverges

Claudio just went back through Saint-Gingolph, Évian, and Thonon Still just as dangerous along the main road Almost nothing has changed Slight improvement in signage before Thonon, but not the whole way—don’t get too excited

Further down before Avignon Big improvement, though! From Sorgues toward Avignon, you now avoid the road and... Avignon But nothing’s stopping you from taking the 500 m detour to check out the famous Pont d’Avignon (Bénézet)