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Via Francigena - Section 4 Cycling
From Lausanne to Aosta - ""
Walking: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - Guided: 16 - Cycling: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
Between Switzerland and Italy, the fourth section of the cycling Via Francigena is a challenging trip across the Alps. After several stunning kilometres around the beautiful Lake Geneva, you will head south along the Rhone Valley toward Italy. This part of your trip is quite flat, except for some random steep hills. Your route starts to be more challenging after Aigle, and keep climbing from there to the Great St Bernard Pass. Throughout this History, a lot of army cross the Alps through this route, the more famous being Cesar and Napoleon. After that, as you are entering in Italy, your route steadily descends to Aosta, trough the beautiful Aosta Valley.
Your way on the Via Francigena is made easy by sign posting. Also, in our holiday pack is included detailed walking notes and maps making navigation even easier.
Following the footsteps of centuries of pilgrim, you will stay in 1,2,3 star hotel, and farmstay accommodation all en-suite. We transfer your luggage from hotel to hotel so you can travel comfortably with just a small backpack.
How to get there? Click here
Day by Day & Hotels
Hotels & country cottages have been carefully selected for their location, comfort, character, food, and friendliness of the staff. They are subject to availability and if the hotel described is not available, we will provide you with one of the same standard of comfort & price. Please click on hotel information below.
There are 6 days
Day 1: Lausanne
You will be booked in an en-suite hotel room in the centre of the town. Lausanne is called ... .. read more >
Meals: N/A Luggage Transfer: No
You will be booked in an en-suite hotel room in the centre of the town. Lausanne is called the Switzerland’s San Francisco. This nickname is due to the fact that Lausanne is scattered with incredibly steep hills, above the Lake Geneva. In there, highlights are the Notre-Dame cathedral, overviewing the Lake and the old town, the Olympic Museum and the Beaulieu Castle.
Day 2: Lausanne to Aigle
47km, +728 m / -711 m: From Lausanne to Aigle, you route follows roads and paths between m ... .. read more >
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Luggage Transfer: Yes
47km, +728 m / -711 m: From Lausanne to Aigle, you route follows roads and paths between mountains and water as you cycle along the Lake Geneva, offering you some magnificent spots like the Chateau of Chillon, close to Montreux, on your way. After reaching Villeneuve, you will head south in the Rhone Valley. The route stays flat until the end of your stage in Aigle.
Day 3: Aigle to Martigny
35km, +473 m / -397 m: After few kilometres by the quite flat bank of the Rhone, you could ... .. read more >
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Luggage Transfer: Yes
35km, +473 m / -397 m: After few kilometres by the quite flat bank of the Rhone, you could take a break in Saint Maurice where you can see the beautiful Abbey, situated against a cliff, offering a beautiful view of the area. However, after Martigny, the road is more challenging as you climb on higher paths and roads until Martigny. In there, look out for the Roman archaeological remains, and especially the amphitheatre.
Day 4: Martigny to Bourg-St Pierre
33km, +1916 m / -764 m: Today is a climbing day until Orsières. Right after leaving Mart ... .. read more >
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Luggage Transfer: Yes
33km, +1916 m / -764 m: Today is a climbing day until Orsières. Right after leaving Martigny, your route will follow narrow tracks, especially forest tracks, with stiff ascents. Highlights in Orsières are the church and its bell-tower. For the last walking day oh this section, you will steadily climb from Orsières to Bourg-St Pierre, on off-road sections with short steeper sections. Bourg-St Pierre is a very small and typical alpine village, which has been an important stage for the Napoleon’s Italy campaign.
Day 5: Bourg-St Pierre to Aosta
54km, +1751 m / -2793 m: Today is the most difficult day of your section. You will climb a ... .. read more >
Meals: Breakfast Luggage Transfer: Yes
54km, +1751 m / -2793 m: Today is the most difficult day of your section. You will climb and cross the Great St Bernard Pass, as Cesar or Napoleon did centuries ago. This pass is 2469m high, and the route is generally a steady but continuous climb to the summit with short steeper sections. Once the summit reached, the descend to Aosta is gentle and progressive, through the beautiful Aosta Valley. The town’s position as a gateway to the Alps saw it change hands many times over the centuries: Romans, Burgundians, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, and the Frankish before it finally became part of the Kingdom of Italy. As a result of this history there is an abundance of ancient remains around the town including the Augusta Praetoria Roman ruins.
Day 6: Aosta
This is the end of your holiday after breakfast. .. read more >
Meals: Breakfast Luggage Transfer: Yes
This is the end of your holiday after breakfast.
Prices & Booking
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There is no intermediaries when booking with us, so feel free to contact us for advice, customisation or if you wish to combine several sections together. If you just wish to make a quick payment, submit your credit card and reference on our booking page. |
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Classic |
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Note:
Options: We can upgrade your holiday in 4, 5* and Paradors. We can also offer extra nights and airport transfers. Ask us!
Families: We are now offering 40% off prices for children aged between 3-9 years old, and 20% off prices for children aged between 10-17 years old. Children under 3 come free.
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Price € PPS |
Single Room |
Extra Nights |
Solo departure |
Airport Transfer |
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High Season |
649 |
786 |
Single: 95 |
294 |
ask us |
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Mid Season |
629 |
749 |
Single: 90 |
294 |
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Low Season |
569 |
673 |
Single: 90 |
294 |
PPS: Per person sharing
Currency Converter by OANDA |
General details
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5 What is this?
Distance: 151km
Duration: 5 nights
Activity: 
Cycling
Comfort: In Style
Meals: Half Board
Available:
Price: From €569
10 reasons to book with us
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(1,2) Leisurely (3,4) Stimulating (5) A Challenge
Our holidays are graded by 3 categories of difficulty: Leisurely, Stimulating and A Challenge. This grading system will allow you to select the ideal holiday for yourself or your group. We aim to offer you the best experiences and unforgettable memories on a holiday where your desire for a challenge, comfort and safety are our priority. As the abilities of everybody are different, it’s important that you decide on a holiday which best suits your own needs and capabilities. You should take some time to look over our grading system so you can decide which holiday is best for you!
How do we grade?
When grading our holidays we take 3 main factors into consideration: Distance, Gradient and Trail Type (i.e. mountain track, forest road, surfaced road, etc.)
Our Easy walking and cycling holidays are best for families with young children. With older children, experience and fitness level should be considered when deciding on a holiday.
Leisurely(1,2)
• Time: Under 5 hours per day on average.
• Gradient: Gentle, no steep climbs
• Trail Type: Walking path, easily accessible
• Suitable for: Everybody. Some easy preparation walks should increase your enjoyment.
Stimulating(3,4)
• Time: 5 to 7 hours / less than 20km per day on average
• Gradient: Up to 1000m ascent per day on average, possibility of some steep climbing
• Trail Type: Walking paths, mountain trails, not technically difficult
• Suitable for: Moderate level of fitness required. Some weekend walks of around 3-4 hours should help your preparation.
A Challenge (5)
• Time: Days can be over 7 hours / 20km
• Gradient: Days can be more than 1000m, some steep climbing
• Trail Type: Walking paths, mountain trails, can be technically difficult
• Suitable for: Good level of fitness required. Previous experience would be best. Regular weekend walks of 4-5 hours or more are advisable in the months leading up to your holiday. These should include some mountain walks.
Lausanne
Best option: Zurich airport (210km)
A lot of airlines offer flights from/ to Zurich airport. In Europe, a route from/ to the major hubs exist. There are also flights between Zurich and, for example, the USA, Canada, China or Dubai. See www.skyscanner.com .
Zurich airport has a direct train route from/ to Lausanne, taking approx. 2h30 (with at least hourly departures). See fahrplan.sbb.ch.
Other option: Geneva airport (60km)
Geneva has an international airport, serving a lot of routes all over Europe. EasyJet and Jet2 have many destinations in the UK, e.g. London (Luton and Gatwick), Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Belfast (seasonal) or Bristol, while Aer Lingus flies from/to Dublin. See www.skyscanner.com.
The airport is directly served by train ("Lausanne Gare", central station in the city centre). The route is well-served with several departures each hour and the trains take approx. 45min (intercity) or 1h (regional trains). See fahrplan.sbb.ch.
Included:
Luggage transferred from hotel to hotel
Rooms en-suite
Half Board during the hike
Holiday Pack: inc. notes & map(s) & pilgrim passport, what to bring, language book
Not Included:
Flights
Insurance (recommended)
Drinks
Dinner first and last nights
Transfer from/to airport
Bike rental (extra)
