Cycling in the Haut-Jura

Day 1: Saint-Claude - La Pesse
Arrival at Saint-Claude train station. Meet at the tourist office to collect the bikes, prepare the panniers and listen to the briefing. Then it's off! It starts with a nice climb to reach the Haut-Jura plateau.
Autonomous activities on the way: stop at the Chèvres de la Cascade, meet Florence and taste her bread made the old fashioned way. At the end of the day, arrive at Anne's house, in an old farm, for dinner and overnight stay.
Difference in altitude: + 918 m; - 151 m Distance: 20.9 km Duration: 2 h

Day 2: La Pesse - Bellecombe
Breakfast at Anne's and then departure for Bellecombe. This is the beginning of the crossing of the Hautes-Combes, where the combes and spruce forests go on forever.
At lunchtime, we meet Bruno for a hike of several hours off the beaten track to meet the people who help make Comté cheese. On the programme: picnic on the roof of the Jura, observation of the flora and meeting with the producers who supply their milk to the Haut-Jura cheese factory in Les Moussières.
At the end of the day, arrival at Pitou's for dinner and overnight stay.
Height difference: + 141 m; - 161 m Distance: 11.6 km Duration: 1 h

Day 3: Les Moussières
Wake up early, have breakfast at Pitou's and meet Bruno at the gîte to leave for the Haut-Jura cheese factory in Les Moussières. The objective: to discover each step of the Comté AOC production process, the emblematic cheese of the Jura. At the end, tasting of Comté (and local wines).
In the afternoon, it's a rest or a hike to the belvedere La Roche Blanche for the more daring.
At the end of the day, we return to Pitou's for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Bellecombe - Prémanon
Last breakfast at Pitou's then departure for the Fort des Rousses to discover the last stage of Comté cheese making: the maturing process. There, 100,000 wheels of Comté AOC cheese are matured in exceptional conditions.
Independent activities on the way: swimming in Lake Lamoura, meeting Anthony in Prémanon and tasting his goat's cheese.
At the end of the day, arrive at Isabelle's house for dinner and overnight stay.
Difference in altitude: + 213 m; - 359 m Distance: 28.7 km Duration: 2 h

Day 5: summit of La Dôle
Breakfast at Isabelle's and meeting with Lucas. Departure for a 2-day hike on the tracks of the emblematic wild animals of the Haut-Jura. On the programme: recognition of the tracks, observation and tracking of the fauna.
Arrival at the end of the day at the summit of La Dôle (1,677 m). Up there, a breathtaking view as far as the mythical Mont-Blanc!
Before nightfall, we set up our bivouac, enjoy a Jura fondue in the heart of nature and spend the night in a tent (or under the stars for those who prefer).

Day 6: Prémanon - Saint Claude.
Wake up early and watch the wildlife at sunrise. Breakfast in the middle of nature with the Alps and Mont Blanc in the background.
Then, descent to Prémanon. Last shower at the gîte and departure for Saint-Claude.
Independent activities on the way: cool off in the Bienne, discover the Saint-Claude pipe and stock up on cheese and local produce at the Besace du Comtois.
Return of the bikes, end of the itinerary and rest of the calves!
Difference in altitude: + 102 m; - 757 m Distance: 39.1 km Duration: 2h30

Level: this is gentle roaming! Less than 3 hours of travel per day to take the time to meet the inhabitants of the Haut-Jura.

Accommodation: 4 nights in a guest house or gîte d'étape (in a double room) and 1 night in a bivouac.
Meals : breakfast from day 2 to day 6 + picnic lunch during the hikes with Bruno and Lucas. Dinners are not included, except for the night in the bivouac where we take care of the tent and the food. You can add them when you book.

Route book : we provide you, upon payment of the balance, a digital guide with the GPX route, the activities in autonomy and the practical information.

Equipment provided: 2 electrically-assisted bicycles + equipment for the itinerary.
Possibility to bring your own bike (295 € discount per bike).

Access: departure and arrival at Saint-Claude station. Accessible by train, in 4 hours from Paris or 3 hours from Lyon. The train journey follows one of the most beautiful railway lines in France (the Hirondelles line).