Vercors, the Lans balcony

🏍️ Included in the €49 discovery deal. This loop is under 100 km, so it fits inside the mileage allowance of your half-day on a Triumph — from age 20 on an A2 licence.

The route

Base map © IGN · Géoplateforme. Indicative track from our Grenoble shop — adapt it to the weather and to whether the passes are open.

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The route, step by step

The loop in detailGrenoble, Sassenage, Engins gorges, Lans-en-Vercors70 kmapprox. 1 h 40

envie2rouler shop — Grenoble (La Tronche)start
Sassenage+10 km
Engins gorges+19 km
Lans-en-Vercors+10 km
Sassenage+19 km
envie2rouler shop — Grenoble+11 km

What you pass along the way

The Cuves de Sassenage at the foot of the climb: show caves and a waterfall, at the mouth of the gorges.
The Engins gorges: the road cut into the cliff that takes you from 200 to nearly 1,200 metres.
Lans-en-Vercors and the Quatre Montagnes plateau, overlooked by the Moucherotte and the Grande Moucherolle.

Photo stops not to be missed

Five stops scouted along the 70 km of the loop.

The Cuves de SassenageShow caves and a waterfall at the foot of the climb, at the mouth of the gorges.

The Engins gorgesThe road cut as a ledge under the rock face. Photograph it from a wide spot, never from the carriageway.

Arriving on the plateauOpen meadows with the rock wall behind — a wide frame that captures the contrast with Grenoble.

Lans-en-VercorsThe village and the pastures, with the Grande Moucherolle behind.

The Moucherotte from the plateauThe most recognisable outline of the Vercors as seen from Grenoble, here taken from the other side.

What you will see along the way

The Engins gorges, the gateway to the Vercors

The climb from Sassenage runs through the Engins gorges, a road cut into the cliff. In a few kilometres, the loop goes from 200 metres beside the Drac to nearly 1,200 metres on the plateau. It is the most spectacular section of the ride: vertical walls, ledge bends and an immediate change of atmosphere as soon as you leave the city.

The Lans-en-Vercors plateau

Once up there, the scenery opens all at once onto the pastures and forests of the Quatre Montagnes plateau, above 1,000 metres. The roads are wide, flowing and rarely busy: perfect for linking fast curves facing the cliffs of the Moucherotte and the Grande Moucherolle.

Another massif, twenty minutes from the shop

This is our only discovery loop outside the Chartreuse. It lets you change scenery completely without adding distance: 70 kilometres, a technical climb, a flowing plateau, and the return through the same western gateway.

Good to know before you set off

70 km: the loop fits inside the 100 km included in the €49 discovery deal.
About 1 h 40 of actual riding — an unhurried half-day.
Best season: April to October. The Vercors plateau stays rideable late in the year.
The Engins gorges are narrow and busy: watch for oncoming buses and for damp surfaces in the shade.
The plateau is markedly cooler than Grenoble, even in summer. Bring an extra layer.

Frequently asked questions

Can you reach the Vercors from Grenoble in half a day?

Yes, very easily. The Lans-en-Vercors plateau is about thirty minutes from the shop via the Engins gorges. This 70 km loop fits into half a day.

Is the climb through the Engins gorges difficult?

No, but it is narrow and winding. The road is well surfaced and traffic is moderate outside weekends. It remains fine for a less experienced rider going at their own pace.

Why choose the Vercors over the Chartreuse?

For the contrast: the Chartreuse strings together forest passes, while the Vercors offers a wide open plateau with fast curves and cliffs as a backdrop. Both are less than thirty minutes from Grenoble.

What does the €49 discovery deal include?

A half-day rental with 100 km and insurance included, from Grenoble, on an A2 or a full A licence. Helmet and gloves are optional extras. The discovery deal is non-cancellable.

Ready to ride for €49?

The Triumph Trident 660 (A2) is waiting for you in Grenoble, prepared and insured. Book your discovery half-day, pick your date and your slot, and set off on this loop.

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