Make The Most Of Your Biking Holiday - Morzine's Best Trails

When it comes to a complete and well-rounded biking holiday, Morzine is still one of the resorts to beat in the Alps. Not only does it offer relatively affordable accommodation and sufficient infrastructure to make for a comfortable and trouble-free break, it also presents cyclists of all levels of expertise with a wealth of trails, tracks and courses ripe for exploring. Encompassing all the main types of cycling - from road and downhill courses to woodland trails and all-mountain tracks - cyclists (like skiers in the winter) will find this region to have a considerable amount to offer to visitors of all ability levels.

Something For Everyone

Much like ski courses (which, in essence, they become once winter sets in), Alpine mountain biking tracks are colour-coded according to difficulty. The easiest level is blue, which is generally accessible to even a beginner. From there, the ranking system gradually escalates its way up to red and black, which should not be attempted by any but the most assured and experienced riders.

Keen riders will be pleased to know that, for a cyclist visiting the region on a biking holiday, Morzine offers a generous mixture of all three. Those who like to mix up things a little bit will also take solace in the knowledge that, depending on which direction a rider heads towards, he or she will find different kinds of tracks to keep them entertained.

For Veterans

Perhaps the best known of all these tracks is Pleney, a frighteningly steep downhill drop stretching over more than three kilometres. This purpose-built course is rated black, mostly due to its dizzying inclination, which makes it negotiable by none but the most accomplished of riders. They, however, will have an absolute ball navigating this descent, and owe it to themselves to try it when visiting the area on a cycling trip.

Technical cyclists who would rather indulge in a more pedal-oriented track may also find nearby Grand Pre to be to their liking. Again significantly difficult, this is nonetheless a challenging and very scenic track, which can also serve as a worthy continuation to the round-trip from and back to the resort.

Finally, the Super Morzine side also offers a few opportunities for straightforward speeding, with just enough technical sections thrown in to keep accomplished riders on their toes!

For Beginners

For those not quite prepared to take on a nearly vertical downhill trail on their first biking holiday, Morzine's surroundings also offer a few rather gentler tracks. Nearby Avoriaz and Les Gets boast enough blue-rated tracks to keep newbies entertained without risking life and limb, while intermediate riders may also want to tackle the trails further up the mountain, accessible through the omnipresent cabin lifts.

Featuring a nice mix of road cycling, downhill and mountain trails, across all levels, this lovely resort asserts itself as one of the best-rounded locations in the Alps for a cycling holiday.

Liz Olkowicz is the Business Development Manager for Ski and Summer Morzine, a tour operator, based in Surrey, offering tailor-made holidays. If you're looking for a thrilling biking holiday, Morzine routes offer a diverse and challenging terrain. Morzine is the perfect location from which to explore the French Alps on a mountain bike, so for a great-value Alpine holiday, call us.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.