Would this be the start of bigger things or maybe just put us off long distance cycle touring? Fortunately for me this wasn’t the first time spending back to back days in the saddle, whilst Andrea on the other hand was going to find out what is was all about! The EuroVelo 17 is the second from shortest of the long distance cycling routes throughout Europe, still coming in at an official 1,250 kms – pretty respectable I would say. Still a far cry from EuroVelo 1 which comes in at 11,000 kms. The main reasons we chose this route were for its relatively close proximity to Chamonix, the start being a comfortable 6 hour train ride away in Switzerland, and with the route passing a short distance away it gave us an easy bail-out option!
The route begins in the small Swiss Alps town of Andermatt where it picks up the Rhone Route (Swiss National Cycle Route 1), continuing into France a little south of Geneva on the ViaRhona, before ending in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône on the Mediterranean Sea.
The mighty Rhone, beginning as glacial meltwater, turning into a major river
Distance: 119.44km, Ascent: 1,452m, Moving Time: 6:42:58
Total Distance: 119.44km, Total Ascent: 1,452m
Distance: 110.52km, Ascent: 248m, Moving Time: 5:30:51
Total Distance: 229.96km, Total Ascent: 1,700m
Distance: 97.92km, Ascent: 886m, Moving Time: 5:43:10
Total Distance: 327.88km, Total Ascent: 2,586m
Distance: 100.85km, Ascent: 901m, Moving Time: 5:24:33
Total Distance: 428.73km, Total Ascent: 3,487m
Distance: 96.22km, Ascent: 377m, Moving Time: 4:43:24
Total Distance: 524.95km, Total Ascent: 3,864m
Distance: 83.62km, Ascent: 399m, Moving Time: 4:16:59
Total Distance: 608.57km, Total Ascent: 4,263m
Distance: 94.22km, Ascent: 260m, Moving Time: 4:51:38
Total Distance: 702.79km, Total Ascent: 4,523m
Distance: 117.87km, Ascent: 383m, Moving Time: 5:39:40
Total Distance: 820.66km, Total Ascent: 4,906m
Distance: 82.44km, Ascent: 300m, Moving Time: 4:10:21
Total Distance: 903.1km, Total Ascent: 5,206m
Distance: 112.26km, Ascent: 217m, Moving Time: 6:01:50
Total Distance: 1015.36km, Total Ascent: 5,423m
Camping
Sleeping bags x2
Sleeping mats x2
Pillows x2
Towels x2
Headlamps x2
Water purifier
Stove & gas
Pots & mugs
Utensils – sporks & knife
Mini backpack
Bike
Tubes, levers, tire patches, patch kit, pump, multitool, chain tool, zip ties, duck tape, lube, rag
Wayne
Cycling bibs x2
Jerseys x2
Cycling Socks x2
Cycling shorts
Light jacket
Arm coolers
Baseball cap
Flip flops (bring cheap pair)
Tee-shirts x2
Running shorts x1
Boxer shorts x1
Personal
Toothbrushes & toothpaste
Liquid soap
Hairbrush
Lip balm
Bandaids
Battery pack
Charging cables – phone, watch, bike computers
Food
Dinners x3
Salt tablets
Next Time!
Hub dynamo
Bike grease
Stans
Charging brick – 2 usb
Sea to Summit Big River 8l bags x2
Insulated cooking pouches x2
Repair tape
Washing line
Bell x2
Dates
June 18th – June 27th 2021
Accommodation
Night 0: Hospental
Sust Lodge – 120 CHF
Night 1: Susten-Leuk
Camping Gemmi – 25.60 CHF
Night 2: La Tour-de-Peilz
Camping de la Maladaire – 24 CHF
Night 3: Geneva
City Hostel Geneva – 72.50 CHF
Night 4: Belley
L’Etape – €56.82
Night 5: La Balme-les-Grottes
Gîte Le Clos Dauphin – €64.90
Night 6: Vernaison
La Fée des Eaux – €89.61
Night 7: Tournon-sur-Rhône
Gîte le Pied du Géant – €71.40
Night 8: Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Camping du Lion – €18.32
Night 9: Avignon
Hôtel Le Médiéval – €70
Night 10: Salin de Giraud
Camping Les Bois Flottés de Camargue – €23
Travel
Bus
Salin de Giraud to Arles – €1 pp
Train
9:43 – 13:30 Arles to Grenoble €38.90 pp
13:33 – 17:16 Grenoble to St Gervais €33.70 pp
17:28 – 18:03 St Gervais to Les Bossons €10.20 pp
IMAGES
I think that with trial and error both my photography and website design are getting progressively better so hopefully these newer, better quality images will inspire you to get out there and travel. Click HERE to see more and if you like the content then feel free to comment.