The « Alpes-Provence » starts at the Col de Larche (1991 m), situated at the gateway to the Mercantour national park at the French-Italian border. After crossing the alpine meadows at over 2000 m altitude, the route follows the Ubaye river and the waymarkers for the TransUbayenne as far as the village of Le Lauzet-Ubaye, a stone’s throw from the famous Serre-Ponçon lake.
This section is perfectly adapted to leisure mountain bikers, coming before the ascent to Col Bas, culminating at 2113 m. Having discovered the high altitude lakes, the route heads into the Blanche valley and the area around Seyne les Alpes.
Next comes the crossing of Europe’s largest geological reserve with its villages and isolated hamlets and the legendary site of the Terres Noires, then on towards Digne les Bains and the valleys of the Bléone and the Durance rivers.
More single-track paths lead to the Lure mountain (the summit of Haute-Provence), the countryside around Forcalquier and the Luberon régional natural park. The tour finishes in Provence, at Manosque, the end of 300 km of pure pleasure.
