11:30am. Same road. The sun is hammering down, motorbikes are overtaking you, you're 800m of elevation in and your quads are already burning.
The challenge in Morzine isn't knowing which cols to climb. It's understanding how much elevation you can stack, and when to do it. Here, we don't count in cols. We count in metres of climbing and timing.
In the morning, all you hear is cowbells. By afternoon, it's motorbikes.
Yes, you can find lists of the best cols around Morzine everywhere. What we focus on here is how to link them together intelligently.
🚴 Morzine or Alpe d'Huez for road cycling?
We get asked this a lot. Alpe d'Huez is iconic, but Morzine is more varied: the cols fan out in every direction, the combinations flow naturally, and the atmosphere is calmer.
In Morzine, you can link Joux-Plane, Avoriaz, Encrenaz, Ramaz or Colombière without ever repeating the same ride. And crucially: you're rarely alone — but never in a crowd.
📋 Quick Contents
🎯 What kind of cyclist are you? (Elevation around Morzine)
Before planning anything, the real question is: how much elevation can you actually sustain over a week? Because a col at 1,600m altitude is not a col on flat ground. It's steeper, higher, and hotter.
3,000–5,000m / week
Philosophy: One col every other day. Plenty of coffee on a terrace. You're here to discover, not to suffer.
Example week: Day 1: Les Gets (600m). Day 2: Rest. Day 3: Colombière (850m). Days 4–5: valley rides. Day 6: Encrenaz (700m).
8,000–10,000m / week
Philosophy: The standard for those coming to "do" the Alps. Sustainable rhythm, active recovery, enjoyment maintained throughout.
Example week: Joux-Plane (1,050m) + Avoriaz (800m) + Colombière (850m) + Aravis (650m) + Ramaz (1,100m) + valley rides.
12,000m+ / week
Philosophy: Tour de France training camp territory. But let's be honest: beyond 12,000m, it's often the ego doing the talking. The last cols are never the best ones.
Example week: Multiple daily combinations, long loops (Colombière + Aravis + Saisies), minimal rest.
The golden rule: better to finish the week with legs that still respond than to blow up on day three. We've seen too many cyclists go flat-out on Joux-Plane on the first morning, rack up 2,000m of climbing, and spend the next four days recovering.
Local truth: the real wall in Morzine rarely hits on day one. It hits on day three.
⏰ What time to climb the cols in Morzine (and why 7am changes everything)
Here is the information that no classic guide ever gives you, and yet it changes everything: the time you choose to climb a col matters as much as the col itself.
☀️ 7am–9am: The roads belong to cyclists
The tarmac is still cool from the night, the temperature is perfect (15–20°C), zero traffic. This is the magic window. Joux-Plane at 7:30am is a genuinely wonderful experience.
🌤️ 10am–12pm: It starts to go wrong
The sun is up, campervans appear, the heat sets in. Still doable, but the experience is already different. Leave at 10am and you'll finish the col in 30°C heat.
🔥 2pm–5pm: Hell (especially July–August)
Maximum traffic, extreme heat (35°C+), the day's fatigue piling up. Joux-Plane at 2pm in July is a punishment. Same col, 100% different experience.
A concrete example: Col de Joux-Plane is 11.6 km at an average of 8.5%. At 7:30am, you climb in silence, with a cool breeze, enjoying every hairpin. At 2:30pm, you're fighting motorbikes, crushing heat, and empty bottles. Same watts, radically opposite experience.
⚠️ The local rule
If there's one thing you do differently: leave at 7am, not 10am. You will never regret it. The locals know it: mountain roads in the morning are another world entirely.
Another local truth: after a night storm, the climbs are often perfect in the morning — fresh air, washed road surface, incredible visibility.
What we always tell cyclists staying with us: in July and August, leave between 7am and 8am for Joux-Plane. After that, the experience changes completely.
🌿 The Holy Grail: Where to ride without the engine noise?
Traffic can quickly become a nuisance on the main arteries (like the climb to Les Gets or the road to Thonon). Here are the local secrets for finding absolute peace and quiet:
Pro Tip: If you're riding in July or August, Sunday morning before 10:00 AM is surprisingly quiet. Most holidaymakers are either traveling on Saturday or sleeping in on Sunday. The road is yours!
🗺️ Strategic Route Combinations (By Level)
Rather than listing cols at random, here are coherent "menus" that have been tested and approved. Each menu follows a clear logic: elevation volume, timing, recovery.
📊 Major Cols Comparison Table
| Col | Altitude | Elevation gain | Distance | Avg gradient | Best timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joux-Plane | 1,691m | 1,050m | 11.6 km | 8.5% | 7am–9am |
| Colombière (from Cluses) | 1,613m | 850m | 11.7 km | 6.8% | 8am–10am |
| Ramaz (from Praz de Lys) | 1,619m | 1,100m | 13.9 km | 7.5% | 7am–9am |
| Avoriaz (from Morzine) | 1,800m | 800m | 14 km | 5.5% | 8am–10am |
| Aravis (from Flumet) | 1,486m | 650m | 12 km | 5.4% | 8am–10am |
| Encrenaz (from Morzine) | 1,432m | 700m | 10 km | 7% | 7:30am–9:30am |
| Joux Verte (from Montriond) | 1,760m | 900m | 12 km | 7.5% | 8am–10am |
A note on gradients: A 6% gradient at 1,600m altitude is harder than 6% at sea level. There's less oxygen, the body works harder. Factor in cumulative fatigue across the week.
🧠 What Only the Regulars Know
- Joux-Plane: the last 3 kilometres are the hardest, especially after the lake.
- Avoriaz: frequent wind in the final kilometres, even when it's warm at the bottom.
- Colombière: rolls better than it looks — ideal as a second col of the day.
- Ramaz: irregular and relentless — harder than it appears on paper.
- Encrenaz: never really finds a rhythm — difficult to settle into a pace.
🏔️ What Nobody Tells You About Altitude
Morzine sits at 1,000m. The cols climb to between 1,400m and 1,800m. It's not the Himalayas, but it's not the flatlands either.
The Altitude Effect (For Real)
At 1,600m, there's roughly 15% less oxygen than at sea level. In practice: you tire faster, recovery is slower, and intense efforts are harder. Take it easy for the first two days. Your body adapts gradually.
The Heat at Altitude
Counter-intuitive but true: the sun hits harder at altitude. Less atmosphere filters the UV. Result: you dehydrate twice as fast as at lower elevations. One bottle per hour in summer is the bare minimum. Two bottles on Joux-Plane in July is the norm.
Recovery After a Big Day
After a hard day (2,000m+ of climbing), your body needs:
- Quality sleep: altitude can disturb sleep. Ventilate the room well and stay hydrated.
- Stretching & spa: a sauna or massage helps enormously to flush out lactic acid. It's why professional cyclists spend so much time on passive recovery. See our article on spas in Morzine.
- Nutrition: protein in the evening, carbohydrates in the morning. Simple but effective.
It's also why we designed our Morzine apartment for cyclists with a relaxation area and sauna: after Joux-Plane or the Ramaz, it makes all the difference.
⚠️ Warning signs
Headache, nausea, or crushing fatigue when you wake up: you pushed too hard. Mandatory rest day. Non-negotiable.
❌ Mistakes We See Every Day
Every summer, we see the exact same mistakes from cyclists staying in Morzine — and often with us.
1. Going Too Hard on Day One
The classic mistake: arrive full of motivation, pull on the kit, and head straight up Joux-Plane + Avoriaz first thing. Result: 2,000m of climbing in the legs, and the next four days in survival mode. The real wall usually hits on day three, not day one — that's when the legs stop responding if you've overloaded early on. Start conservatively: 500–800m on day one is plenty to test the legs.
2. Underestimating the Heat
July or August at 2pm on Joux-Plane means 35°C+ in full sun. That's not a performance, it's an ordeal. If you have to ride in the afternoon, stick to shaded roads (Les Gets, Encrenaz) or the valley.
3. Wrong Gearing
What gearing for Joux-Plane and Avoriaz?
Climbing Joux-Plane on a 39×25 (or worse, 39×28) is the best way to end up walking. Compact chainset essential (50×34) with an 11–32 cassette as a minimum. You're not here to prove anything — you're here to enjoy yourself.
4. Neglecting Hydration
One bottle for Joux-Plane in summer is not enough. Two bottles minimum, plus a resupply at the top if possible. Dehydration slows you down well before you actually feel thirsty.
5. Ignoring Your Body's Signals
Cramps creeping in? Unusual fatigue? Heart rate that won't come back down? That's your body telling you to stop. Listen to it. One rest day now beats three days wrecked later.
❓ Cyclist FAQ
🏡 Need the Perfect Base Camp?
Our chalet Morz'Inn sits above Morzine, 5 minutes by car from the start of the cols. Panoramic mountain views, secure bike storage, and — crucially — a sauna and relaxation area to recover after your rides. Leave at 7am, back for lunch, recover in the afternoon.
Discover the chalet →