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La descente VTT Vars - EmbrunLa Vars - Embrun, 32 km de descente entre le sommet de la Mayt à Vars et le plan d'eau d'Embrun.
©La Vars - Embrun, 32 km de descente entre le sommet de la Mayt à Vars et le plan d'eau d'Embrun.|Remi Morel

La Vars-Embrun

From peak to beach

Start your day at an altitude of 2,500 metres and end it on the beach in Embrun, all without touching your car? It’s possible, thanks to the 32 km of downhill mountain biking on the Vars-Embrun!

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  3. The Vars descent – Embrun
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©2019 080819120619 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel
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©2019 080819131345 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel
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©2019 080819152759 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel
    Mountain morning

    Aprem' plage

    Try the unmissable mountain bike descent: from Vars to Embrun, 32 km between the summit of the Mayt and the shores of Lac de Serre-Ponçon over 1800m of ascent, with a swim at the lake at the finish! The Vars-Embrun is your chance to enjoy all the best the Hautes-Alpes has to offer, in a single day.

    Load your mountain bikes onto the bike racks on the chairlifts at La Mayt, your starting point. Before you set off, enjoy the view of the entire Vars area. On your descent, don’t skimp on panoramic breaks to appreciate the scenery around you.

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    ©2019 080819120433 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

    Before embarking on the descent, take a moment to enjoy the panoramic view from the top of the Mayt chairlift.

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    ©2019 080819122555 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

    The first part of the descent can be tricky as you reach the Vars-Risoul junction. It’s a fairly short slope, but requires the utmost care.

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    ©2019 080819123916 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

    Arriving in the Valbelle valley, the trail widens. Off we go for more than 30 km of rolling descent to Embrun.

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    ©2019 080819131755 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

    After 5km of fairly physical descent, you arrive at the Valbelle hut, ideal for a well-earned break.

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    ©2019 080819132720 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

    The route continues through the magnificent Saluces forest: this is the least technical and most rolling part.

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    ©2019 080819141624 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

    Halfway down the slope, Lac de Serre-Ponçon comes into view.

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    ©2019 080819145001 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

    After passing the Pra Mouton hut, you follow the Col de la Coche. The path becomes more technical and steep again before you reach the first hamlets, but the view over Serre-Ponçon and Embrun is superb. The final stretch is on the departmental road to the lake: be careful!

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    ©2019 080819152641 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

    Plan d’eau d’Embrun, terminus! Now you’ve reached your destination, all you have to do is enjoy the beach and the gentle waters of the Embrun lake.

    Descent with a view

    The 32-km Vars Embrun will let you discover the charm of the Southern Alps. Starting from La Mayt, enjoy a 360° panorama of the Vars resort, the Guillestrois valley and the most beautiful peaks of Ubaye. Once on the descent, you cross the Valbelle valley, known to skiers in winter as Clos Chardon. Once past this valley, the ski lifts are gone, and the trail winds through the Saluces forest to the Col de la Coche. This shady passage offers plenty of opportunities for a cool picnic break.

    Arrived at the Col de la Coche, your descent takes on a new face with a balcony view over the immense Lac de Serre-Ponçon and the Embrunais valley. This view will be with you all the way to Embrun. Close to your goal, you pass through the charming village of Saint-André d’Embrun, which will take you gently into town after this long descent into the Forêt. All that’s left to do is let yourself roll gently down to the Embrun lake and enjoy the ride while you wait for your shuttle back to Vars.

    Access to the Vars-Embrun start is from the top of the Mayt via the Mayt chairlift open from July 8 to September 2, 2023.

     

    1 ascent Telésiège de la Mayt: 10.00€.

    Children: 8€

    Shuttle Embrun – Vars

    The organized shuttle back to Vars runs every day except Sundays, and Mondays.

    From July 11 to August 26, two departures from Embrun lake

    -10am to Vars and complete the itinerary. Reservations must be made with the transporter on 04.92.45.18.11 or contact@autocars-imbert.com

    -17:30 to return to Vars. Reservations are compulsory and must be made directly with the controller of the Mayt chairlift.

    Prices: 13.5€/adult and 11.5€/child under 12.

    – Don’t embark on this descent without a decent level of mountain biking.

    – Check the weather before setting off.

    – Equip yourself with mountain bike protection and check your equipment before setting off.

    – Don’t forget your first-aid kit and repair kit.

    – If anything goes wrong, call 112.

    – And don’t forget your swimsuit so you can take a dip in the lake on arrival

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    Always more

    The Vars Bike Park

    3, 2, 1, ride! Discover the entire Vars mountain bike area for outings in touring mode with the VTTAE, enduro for purists or sporty on dedicated trails.

    Find out more

    Thibaut Blais Vtt Bikepark Vars 8Thibaut Blais Vtt Bikepark Vars 8
    ©Thibaut Blais Vtt Bikepark Vars 8|thibaut blais
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