« A splendid day! Incredible trails in Upper Valais, perfectly adapted to the group's level, Chris is super friendly and extremely accommodating! (precious mechanical help on this day when my bike didn't feel like working! :D) »

Solstice MTB shuttle day in the Valais: 10'000 m of descent on the longest day of the year
A handful of sessions a year, around the summer solstice, from sunrise to sunset: over 10'000 m of vertical drop in a dedicated shuttle, on the best trails in the Valais.
- Distance
- 60 km
- Descent
- 10'000 m
- Technical
- 3/4 Check my level
- Physical
- 3/4
- Group
- 10 max.
- Start
- Martigny-Combe 7h30
- Languages
- FR EN DE
The highlights
A handful of sessions a year, around the summer solstice, from sunrise to sunset: over 10'000 m of vertical drop in a dedicated shuttle, on the best trails in the Valais. Transfers streamlined so you ride instead of waiting, terrain changing with every run, between technical larch woods, fast alpine pastures and more mineral sections. Advanced level, small group, limited places.
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10'000 m of descent in one dayThe number you never reach on a normal day, saved for the longest days of the year.
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Minimum waiting, maximum descendingYears of fine-tuning to cut transfer times: you ride, you don't sit around in the van.
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Trails that change with every runTechnical between the larches, fast on the pastures, a bit of rock to spice it up: every descent has its own character.
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The Solstice concept, by ExorideThe first MTB shuttle operator in Switzerland to run this format, refined season after season.
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Only a few sessions a yearThe format only runs around the solstice, and the shuttle seats go quickly.
The program
Your longest day on the bike, guaranteed
Climb into the Exo'bus at first light, for a day of enduro shuttles making the most of the longest days of the year. The stated goal: over 10'000 m of vertical drop on the counter, which means you'll be coming down from the top far more often than you go up.
Over the years, we've refined this format, unique in Switzerland, to link even more great trails with a minimum of time between runs. The result: a day built for riding, not for waiting in the van or pushing your bike. The tracks change and so do the moods, from technical between the larches to fast and open on the pastures, with a bit of rock now and then to spice up the descent.
Your guide, a Swiss Cycling certified instructor and still an active racer, picks the sectors according to the conditions and runs the group smoothly, for maximum rhythm from the first to the last run. Whether you come alone, with friends or as a team, you'll ride with people who have the same thing in mind: making the most of the Solstice.
The day ends the way it should, around a cold beer on us before heading back to Martigny.
Ready for your longest day on the bike? Change your brake pads, get your legs ready and book your spot: Solstice sessions go fast every year.
- Distance
- 60 km
- Descent
- 10'000 m+
What is included
Included
- Local professional MTB guide, Swiss Cycling certified (fr/en/de)
- All transfers in a dedicated shuttle (Exo'bus), to and from Martigny
- Around ten rotations during the day, from sunrise to sunset
- Mechanical support and spare bike
- Riding tips
- The end-of-day beer
- Souvenir photos
Not included
- MTB or e-bike and protection rental (optional, in the registration form)
- Packed lunch, snacks and drinks for the day
- Personal insurance
- Tips
- Anything not listed under « Included »
Options at registration
Book them in the registration form. Give us your size, we handle the rest.
Your equipment
Your bike
Over 10'000 m of vertical drop in a single day: that's three normal rides in one, and your gear has to go the distance.
The bike
- Full-suspension MTB or e-bike, 150 to 180 mm of travel, fully serviced the day before (no DH bikes or dual-crown forks)
- Mixed-terrain tyres, 2.4" or wider, reinforced casings, set up tubeless with fresh sealant
- Dropper post
- New brake pads, no exceptions, 200 mm rotors recommended
- Charged battery if e-bike
Spare parts
- 1 compatible derailleur hanger
- 1 inner tube
- 2 sets of brake pads
- 1 quick link matching your chain
No suitable bike? We offer MTB or e-bike rental, to be booked in the registration form.
Your gear
On you
- Open-face MTB helmet or helmet with removable chin bar
- Sunglasses
- Knee pads (elbow pads recommended)
- Long-finger gloves
- Bike clothes suited to the weather, plus a change of kit to leave in the van
In the backpack (or hip pack with a separate back protector)
- Back protector
- Rain-resistant windbreaker and a warm layer: we start early and finish late
- Repair kit: tyre levers, tubeless plugs, multitool, chain tool, pump or CO2 cartridges
- First-aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Packed lunch, bars and drinks for a long day: bring plenty, you'll burn far more than usual
- Charged mobile phone
We meet the Exo'bus at every rotation: you can leave food, spare kit and anything you don't need for the descent in it.
Good to know
Required level
The Solstice is rated 3/4, but it's above all a question of endurance: over 10'000 m of vertical drop, from morning to evening, on varied alpine singletracks. You need an advanced level, ease on technical terrain and, most of all, the ability to stay focused and take the hits right through to the last run.
Is this your first shuttle day? Start with a level 2/4 day or a standard 3/4 day, and save the Solstice for next season.
Location and times
A very early start from Martigny and a late evening return: the day follows the sun, that's the whole point. The exact place and time, along with the chosen sectors, are confirmed with the practical details after registration.
Meals
Bring plenty: on a day like this you burn far more than usual. Packed lunch, bars, drinks and a spare stash to leave in the Exo'bus, which we meet at every rotation. Bottles can be refilled regularly during the day.
Climate
The Solstice is ridden in the best conditions of the year, but we start early and finish late: temperatures change a lot between the first and the last run. A windbreaker and a warm layer are essential. If the weather is really bad, the day is moved to another session in the period.
Safety
Small group, professional Swiss Cycling guide, checked gear, a briefing before every descent, mandatory protection. On such a long day, fatigue is the real risk factor: the guide runs the group smoothly, calls the breaks that are needed and adapts the programme if necessary.
Ready to ride?
Convinced? Solstice sessions only come round once a year and shuttle seats are limited: hit the registration button and book yours.
Riding with us often? The Exo'Pass gives you ten shuttle days for the price of eight.
Want to ride the Solstice just with your group? We also run this format privately: send us your request.
Christian
Chris has been organizing MTB shuttles in Valais since 2010, and he's been riding on two wheels since 1989: mountain biking is basically his whole life. A true local who knows the region like the back of his hand and will show you the most beautiful routes around, far from the beaten track.
An enduro enthusiast, Chris also competes alongside his work as a guide. This hands-on racing experience directly feeds into what he brings you on the trail: line choices, trail reading, and technical tips that always hit the mark.
A certified Swiss Cycling instructor, he also drops a few well-placed tips throughout the day to refine your riding, without ever overdoing it: here, the fun of riding always comes first. He always adapts the pace and trail choices to your group, so everyone gets the most out of it.
Reviews
« Haut Valais outing, perfect weather, what a pleasure.Thanks to Chris and his organization, everything was top-notch! 🚵♂️😋🏞🤩 »
« The Best of the Best! Insane singletracks, 6400m of vertical drop, in a superb atmosphere among riders! Just like in Finale 🇮🇹, but in the Valais Region 🇨🇭 🇨🇭 ☀️Can't wait for the next outing with Chris and Exoride! »
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from a regular shuttle day?
The length and the volume: we set off at first light and finish at dusk, for over 10'000 m of vertical drop, against 5'000 on a normal day. Transfers are streamlined to the maximum and the pace stays high from the first run to the last.
How many riders per group?
A small group, in a dedicated shuttle: enough for the atmosphere, few enough to keep the rotations quick and nobody waiting.
Do I need a particular level?
Level 3/4, and above all endurance: the trails are varied, with gradient, roots and rock, but it's the repetition of the descents that makes it hard. New to shuttles? Start with a level 2/4 day.
How should I prepare physically?
Arrive rested and hydrated, and bring enough food for the whole day. Preparation counts as much as technical level here: on a Solstice, it's the forearms, the legs and the concentration that give in first.
What extra gear should I bring?
New brake pads at the start and a spare set, a bike serviced the day before, and everything to fix a mechanical. The full list is in the gear tab.
Can I come with an e-bike?
Yes. Bring a battery in good health and your charger: recharging happens during transfers and the lunch break. As the van does the climbing, MTBs and e-bikes ride together without any problem.
Can I rent a bike?
Yes, MTB or e-bike rental and protection are offered as options in the registration form. Give us your size, we take care of the rest.
What if I get tired during the day?
You can skip one or several rotations and rest in the van, then set off again when you feel like it. On a Solstice nobody judges: the point is to enjoy it, not to hit a quota.
Who is our guide?
A local professional MTB instructor and guide, Swiss Cycling certified, who has been running these days since 2010 and developed the Solstice format. He picks the sectors according to the conditions and runs the group smoothly, for maximum rhythm.
He is also an active racer, winner of major international enduro mountain bike races in recent seasons.
How many sessions a year?
Only a few sessions, around the summer solstice, when the days are longest. Shuttle seats are limited and go quickly every year.
I'm planning several days: is there a better rate?
Yes: with the Exo'Pass, you buy ten shuttle days and only pay for eight. It's valid on all our shuttle days in the Valais, Solstice included.
What happens in bad weather?
The sectors are chosen the day before according to the forecast. If the day looks really unrideable, it's moved to another session in the period, at no cost to you.
Can we book a private Solstice, with or without a guide?
Yes, in both formats. With a guide, you get what makes our open days good: trail choice according to conditions and level, management of the group dynamic and of whatever comes up, mechanicals as well as crashes. That's not for the participants to handle.
A guideless option exists, but the experience isn't the same: it's meant above all for locals who already know the trails well, along with the sensitive points on certain paths, slowing down, erosion or conflicts with other users.
What insurance do I need?
Every participant must be covered for accidents, including on a mountain bike, and hold all the cover needed for mountain biking in the mountains: accidents, personal liability, as well as search, rescue and evacuation costs, helicopter included. For participants coming from abroad, the cover must be valid in Switzerland.
Note: some insurers apply special clauses or even exclusions for bike-park and lift-served riding. Check this point with your insurer before signing up.
Ready to ride?
Registration for this departure has ended.
Other rides
This ride as a private event, on your date
The same program just for your group, any time of the season. Tell us your level, your dates and your group size: we get back to you quickly with a proposal.
Stay in touch
Don't worry, we ride way too much to have time to flood your inbox.
The levels, made clear

First tracks
Wide paths, rolling doubletrack, the odd loose rock. MTB without traps, to build pleasure and confidence.
- comfortable on gravel and forest roads
- the word singletrack intrigues you more than it speaks to you
- you are discovering braking on loose ground

Singletrack bliss
Narrow but flowing trails: moderate roots and rocks, wide switchbacks, a few spots where you pick your line.
- you ride singletrack regularly and enjoy it
- tight switchbacks still make you dab a foot sometimes
- you brake hard without locking up in the rocks

Technical ground
Rock gardens, steps, tight switchbacks, off-camber: the terrain demands clean lines and active riding.
- tight switchbacks without dabbing, almost
- 30-40 cm steps do not stop you
- you read the trail several metres ahead

Committed
High mountain, exposed sections, big steps: places where mistakes cost, precise riding is mandatory.
- you ride what many carry
- exposure does not cloud your judgement
- you stay in control on the steep even when tired
Easy
Short outing, minimal climbing: shuttles or lifts do the work, frequent breaks.
- 2-3 h out
- under 300 m of climbing
- no training required
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Active
Half to full mellow day: we pedal, but the pace leaves time for the view.
- 3-5 h out
- 300-700 m of climbing
- occasional exercise is enough
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Sporty
A proper MTB day: hours in the saddle, real climbing, punchy sections. You need juice, not a palmares.
- full day, 5-7 h including breaks
- 800-1'200 m of climbing
- regular sport, endurance follows
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Enduring
Big days or back-to-backs: climbing stacks up and the pace stays high.
- 1'500 m+ of climbing, or several days in a row
- regular training
- fast recovery is part of the game
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Between two grades? Halves (2.5) exist: aim higher if you are fit, lower if you are coming back.
Not sure? Write to usWe will advise you honestly, even if it means suggesting mellower.See the full page