Rösti crisped in butter, fondue moitié-moitié bubbling table-side, air-dried Valais beef sliced paper-thin, alpine cheese still warm from a copper vat at Gryon, fresh trout from the Rhône Valley, and a slice of meringue à la crème double from a Vaud farmhouse kitchen.
Chasselas from the terraced vineyards above Lake Geneva, a crisp Villars lager after the last climb, espresso pulled strong before the morning roll-out, herbal génépi to finish a long day, and fresh apple juice pressed just down the valley in Ollon.
Villars-sur-Ollon sits at 1,300 meters above the Rhône Valley, a resort town with the kind of quiet, old-money charm that most cyclists fly straight past on their way to Chamonix or Zermatt. That’s exactly why we’re here. The roads above Villars, up through Gryon, over the Col de la Croix, and out toward the Col des Mosses, are some of the finest and least-ridden climbing in the Alps: proper gradients, real switchbacks, and barely a car in sight.
We’re based at the Chalet RoyAlp Hôtel & Spa, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and the kind of ski-to-door chalet you’d otherwise only find in the depths of winter. Our guide for the week is Alain Rumpf, a Swiss cyclist, photographer, and former UCI staffer who lives just up the road in Gryon and has been riding these climbs since he was 12 years old. Nobody knows this valley better.
One day mid-week, we trade the mountains for the valley floor with a coffee ride down to Aigle, home of the UCI World Cycling Centre, the sport’s own training ground for future champions. It’s a rare glimpse behind the curtain of professional cycling, and a fitting reminder of exactly whose backyard we’re riding in.
This place is better when shared. Non-riding companions can enjoy a full program of cultural experiences, relaxation, and exploration while you’re on the bike.
Big days, big elevation, big reward. These routes take you into proper mountain terrain — sustained climbs, dramatic landscapes, and descents worth every metre gained. For cyclists who measure a great ride in altitude as much as distance.
Stay in the stunning locations that we know and love, and spent years finding.
The latest DOGMA F engineered for any road, equipped with the lightest electronic groupset available. E-bike option also available.
Every breakfast, lunch and dinner — from handmade pasta to Fiorentina steak grilled while you watch. Wine, espresso and aperitivi included.
Seamless transfers to and from major airports in our inGamba fleet of vehicles.
High-tech performance meets luxury for the optimal riding experience with our Custom 36.5 kit.
Professional soigneurs with peloton experience ease sore muscles and prepare you for the next day.
Five mechanics work meticulously to ensure your Pinarello is race-ready every single morning of your trip.
Don't worry about chores whilst you're away, all cycling kit is cleaned overnight, so it’s fresh, dry and ready to go each morning.
Make use a beautiful day bag from Ideal & Co. Yours to keep after the trip.
Fill your pockets with fresh snacks, or make use of an entire Enervit collection.
Your first pedal strokes of the week, and a gentle one. This short loop out from Villars eases you into the altitude and the legs, with quiet lanes and an early look at the mountains that will fill the rest of your week. Easy pace, big views, no surprises.
Deeper into the valley today, dropping through the market town of Bex before climbing steadily toward the Portes de Culet on the fringes of the Chablais massif. The riding is remote and the roads are quiet, with long views west toward Lake Geneva on the clear stretches.
The week's first real test. We climb out of Villars toward the Col de la Croix before continuing on to the Col des Mosses, two of the finest passes in the Vaud Alps. Long, steady gradients, switchbacks with a view over the valley floor, and a descent that will have you grinning into your helmet straps.
A change of pace, and a rare one. Today's ride drops down from Villars into the Rhône Valley to Aigle, home of the UCI World Cycling Centre, where the next generation of professional cyclists trains under the same roof as the sport's governing body. We'll pause for a VIP look inside before an easy roll back up to the hotel. Mostly downhill on the way out; save something for the way home.
A day of contrasts. We drop off the mountain into the Rhône Valley floor, spin through open, rolling terrain to loosen the legs, then turn back uphill for a long, steady climb home to Villars. Less altitude than the queen stage, but no less honest a day in the saddle.
The queen stage, and the week's finale. We link the Col de la Croix, the Col du Pillon, and the Col des Mosses, before a final pass back over the Col de la Croix, the single biggest ride of the trip in both distance and climbing. Save your legs for this one. A long, satisfying descent brings you back to Villars for a final night's celebration at the Chalet RoyAlp.
This is our final morning together and after a leisurely breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye, or at least arrivederci, until we meet again. Transfers to the airport will be arranged by our hard-working crew but if you’re planning on staying a few extra days, let us know if we can help with reservations or a few recommendations.
A longtime friend of inGamba, Alain now works as a cycling photographer, bike guide and cycling tourism consultant. Based in nearby Gryon, he knows the roads and landscapes around Villars and the Chalet RoyAlp particularly well, from the quiet lanes of the Rhône Valley to the long Alpine climbs that rise above it.
With years of experience in the professional peloton, our mechanics and soigneurs bring WorldTour-level care to every detail of your ride. Up to five mechanics work meticulously each day to ensure your Pinarello is perfectly tuned and adjusted for you alone—not just race-ready, but dialed to your precise preferences. Meanwhile, our soigneurs draw on their own experience as professional riders to anticipate your needs before you voice them: bottles filled and positioned exactly right, ride food prepared and timed to fuel you through the hardest climbs, post-ride massages that ease tired muscles, and the kind of quiet, confident support that prepares you mentally and physically for whatever the road brings next. This is the care that once belonged only to the pros. With inGamba, it’s yours.
Chalet RoyAlp sits in the heart of Villars-sur-Ollon, a ski-to-door chalet hotel and member of the Leading Hotels of the World that trades the crowds of the bigger Alpine resorts for something quieter and more personal. The 62 rooms are wood-lined and dressed in traditional Alpine textiles, warm in the way only a real chalet can be, with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with mountain light. At the center of it all is the Spa by RoyAlp, a 1,200m² retreat built like a mountain lagoon, with a pool, sauna, hammam, and treatments to match anything you’d find in a bigger city.
For inGamba, the choice was instinctive. This is a hotel built around the same idea we are: that a proper day in the mountains deserves a proper place to come home to. After a week riding the Col de la Croix and the Col des Mosses, there’s nowhere better to land than a chalet that already feels like it was built for cyclists, even if most of its guests arrive on skis.
* Please note that hotels may be subject to change.
”"An amazing travel experience. They make you feel like a star. I was blown away by the treatment that can only be likened to a professional athlete — just without the race."
Daniel B.Guest in 2024
”"The whole experience is magical. The rides are stunning. The care and attention to detail is first class. The massages are a lifesaver."
Lyn K.Guest in 2018, 2019 & 2023
”"The best in the industry. A once in a lifetime experience every time! The people that make inGamba are the reason you will want to travel with them again and again."
Victoria P.Guest in 2024
Single Supplement: $1,200 per person · Private Trips: Available on request for groups of 6+
Guests of inGamba are passionate cyclists who love the sport and the lifestyle that surrounds it. Most of our community are experienced riders of all ages and various abilities, who appreciate great roads, fine food, and unforgettable company.
While everyone enjoys a challenge, no one’s chasing a pro contract here. Instead, the focus is on sharing incredible rides at a comfortable pace, soaking in the scenery, and enjoying the journey. You’ll find more “middle of the pack” and “social” riders than hard chargers at the front, and with our exceptional staff-to-guest ratio, every rider is fully supported, no matter their speed or style.
Fly to: Geneva
Pick-up: Geneva Airport 11:00
Drop-off: Geneva Airport, departure day 8:30am
We recommend arriving the night before. Our concierge can help with hotel recommendations.
Gratuities are customary if you feel the staff delivered an exceptional experience. Most guests find 10-20% of the trip cost appropriate. All tips are split evenly among the entire team.
We recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your booking. View our cancellation policy →
Need to change dates? Contact us as early as possible and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
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