Spotguide Val Varaita
The Val Varaita - one of three parallel valleys in southern Piedmont - is a real insider tip. To the north lies the Val Po, where the river of the same name rises, and to the south the Valle Maira, which is somewhat better known among bikers. However, while Val Po and Val Maira tend to be dead ends, Val Varaita is a through valley - with a real highlight at the end: the Col d'Agnel.
This 2748-metre-high Alpine pass leads behind the village of Pontechianale into the French Queyras. As the highest border pass in the Alps - and the third highest asphalted Alpine crossing after the Col de l'Iseran and Stelvio Pass - it has also made a name for itself in cycling: the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia have already delivered spectacular stages here.
Above it all towers Monte Viso, the highest peak in the Cottian Alps at 3841 meters. The locals reverently call it the "King of Stone". Although it remains mostly hidden from the valley floor, in the upper regions it rises majestically into the sky and offers a backdrop that will give you goosebumps.
For mountain bikers, Val Varaita was long a blind spot on the map. It was only when brothers Nicolò and Andrea Margaria launched the Trans Varaita enduro race in 2019 that the valley suddenly became better known. The Stone King Rally, successor to the legendary Trans Provence, did the rest. The name? A tribute to Monte Viso - the stone king.
Val Varaita has since developed into a true trail paradise. A huge network of historic paths criss-crosses the area: old supply and trade routes, military roads - many of which have been lovingly restored and optimized for bikers. Thanks to the races, even semi-derelict paths have been made rideable again.
The trails are as varied as the valley itself: Flowing forest trails dominate at the entrance to the valley, further back it gets high alpine. Tours over the 3000-meter mark start in Casteldelfino or Pontechianale, for example. And if you want to go even higher, you will find more spectacular options in the small side valley of Val Bellino - in the direction of Val Meira.
Bucket list
Trail tour to the Passo della Losetta - no other tour gets you this close to the Monviso
Sampeyre Trails - the Margaria Brothers' home trails. Experience time travel through enchanted villages on crisp enduro trails.
Punta della Battagliola - free fall at the end of the valley
Col d'Àgnel and Col Blanchet - high alpine panoramic adventure
Chianale - voted the most beautiful village in Piedmont. The historic stone village is well worth a visit.
Pass road to the Col d'Àgnel - a winding delight for car and motorcycle fans
Windsurfing or kitesurfing on Lake Varaita - water sports with an alpine backdrop
Best season
Getting there
Basically, if you want to travel to Val Varaita by public transport for your bike trip, you should think twice about it. The nearest train station is Cuneo and from there there are bus routes to Sampeyre. However, the plan with a bike in your luggage is a spit-and-polish route.
There are two main routes to Val Varaita by car. From southern Germany or Switzerland, you travel via Milan to Turin and on to Val Varaita via Saluzzo. From the more westerly parts of Germany and Switzerland, the route goes via the Aosta Valley to Turin and then via Saluzzo into the valley. From the Swiss border at Chiasso, it takes 3.5 hours to reach Sampeyre.
Inspirations
Trail Map
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Ride tours
Die zwölf beliebtesten Touren in der Region
Shuttles & Bike parks
There are no mountain lifts for mountain bikers in the valley. There is a chairlift at Pontechianale, but it does not transport bikes.
Mountain railways & shuttles
Bike parks
Hotels
Bike shops
Video
Latest news from the area of Val Varaita
User comments about the region (1)
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
We spent a few days in Sampeyre and there are many tours and trails in the valley with different characters. Incidentally, the Saluzzo-Chianale bus takes bikes in the luggage compartment.