« Thank you Christian for your good humour, your humility and above all for the knowledge of your region! Even in Breton weather you found us beautiful, beautiful lines. And thanks too to the driver, discreet but just as friendly, and who takes good care of our bikes! »

3-day e-bike trip in the Aosta Valley for advanced riders: the finest high-altitude ridges
Three days of point-to-point e-biking on the finest ridges of the Aosta Valley, from the Great St Bernard Pass to the balconies of the Valpelline.
- Duration
- 3 days
- Technical
- 3/4 Check my level
- Physical
- 3/4 long days
- Group
- 10 max.
- Start
- Orsières 9h00
- Languages
- FR EN DE
The highlights
Three days of point-to-point e-biking on the finest ridges of the Aosta Valley, from the Great St Bernard Pass to the balconies of the Valpelline. A route built around the motor: every stage runs on a single battery, the shuttle handles transfers and luggage, and the first night is spent in a mountain hut. 145 km, 8'000 m of descent, advanced level, small group.
-
A route built for e-bikesClimbs swallowed in boost mode, endless ridges and alpine traverses: every day runs on a single battery.
-
A night in a mountain hutSleeping at altitude, far from everything, before heading back onto the ridge at first light.
-
The finest ridges in the valleyFacing Mont Blanc, the Grand Combin and the Vélan, with 360° panoramas at every pass.
-
Aosta, Cogne and the ValpellineThree valleys, a Roman town and alpine balconies few riders know about.
-
Shuttle, luggage and local cuisineExo'bus transfers, bags that travel without you, and Aosta Valley specialities in the evening.
The program
From the Great St Bernard to the hut
The trip starts at the Great St Bernard Pass, at over 2'400 m, where the hospice has watched over the crossing for a thousand years. First act: a long panoramic trail running along the balcony above the valley, with the Vélan and the Grand Combin closing the horizon to the north, before dropping into the forest, where the switchbacks come one after another and the flow takes over all the way down.
Lunch, then a bus transfer to start again. The afternoon opens with a solid climb, the kind the motor turns into a pleasure, up to a ridge that opens the landscape. Then comes an alpine traverse built for e-bikes, long and rolling, past pastures where you still see the stone roofs of the old rascards and the herds behind the fontina.
In the evening, the bikes go down outside a mountain hut. A simple, generous meal, polenta and alpine cheese, batteries on charge for the night, and the silence of the high country.
The ridge facing Mont Blanc
Breakfast at the hut, batteries full, and a short climb to warm up: steep, but in boost mode it's a game. At the top begins an endless ridge, straight across from Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses, unrolling one fast section after another. Over 2'000 m of descent down to the valley floor, with the scenery never letting up.
Lunch at a local restaurant, time to taste the specialities of the area, mountain charcuterie, polenta concia and a Valdostan coffee passed around in its friendship cup. Bus transfer, then a pleasant climb, with the view opening onto Mont Emilius and the Becca di Nona, the two guardians above the town of Aosta, before another ridge takes you back down to the plain.
Final transfer and a night at the hotel, with nearly 4'000 m of descent on the counter for the day alone.
Panoramic passes and Valpelline flow
Bus transfer, then a pleasant climb on a forest road before the alpine trail takes over, in boost mode. At the pass, a 360° panorama: the Vélan and the Grand Combin on one side, the Valpelline valley stretching out on the other, and on a clear day the outline of the Matterhorn to the north-east.
Descent towards the Valpelline, a valley that has stayed off the beaten track, with a fine alpine sequence, then as much fast forest flow as you can take: long, playful, the kind of descent you don't want to end. Lunch at a restaurant, batteries on charge, and one last run: a forest-road climb, then a great final descent towards Aosta, its Roman streets and its Arch of Augustus.
Back to Orsières by Exo'bus, your head full of ridges and forests.
Ready to ride the ridges of the Aosta Valley? Small group, limited places: book yours.
What is included
Included
- Local professional MTB guide, Swiss Cycling certified (fr/en/de)
- 1 night in a mountain hut and 1 night in a hotel, breakfasts included
- All transfers and shuttle drops during the trip
- Luggage transport
- Mechanical support and spare bike
- Riding tips
- Souvenir photos
Not included
- Travel to the meeting point in Orsières (free parking on site)
- An extra night before or after the trip, available on request at our Exo'base guesthouse
- E-bike and protection rental (optional, in the registration form)
- Lunches, dinners and drinks
- 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
145 km, 4'400 m of climbing and 8'000 m of descent in three days, on a single battery per stage: your e-bike has to be flawless.
- Full-suspension e-bike, 140 to 180 mm of travel, fully serviced (suspension and brakes included)
- Mixed-terrain tyres, 2.4" or wider, reinforced casings, set up tubeless with fresh sealant
- Dropper post
- New or very good brake pads
- Battery in good health and charger: recharge at the hut, at the hotel and during breaks
Spare parts
- 1 compatible derailleur hanger
- 1 inner tube
- 1 set of brake pads
- 1 quick link matching your chain
No suitable bike? We offer 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 for three days
In the backpack (or hip pack with a separate back protector)
- Back protector
- Rain-resistant windbreaker and a warm layer: the ridges are ridden at altitude
- Repair kit: tyre levers, tubeless plugs, multitool, chain tool, pump or CO2 cartridges
- First-aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Snacks and something to drink (bottles can be refilled regularly)
- Charged phone, ID and some cash in euros
For the night in the hut
The shuttle can't drive up to the hut: for the second half of day 1, bring a 23-litre backpack or bigger, with what you need for the night: a sleeping bag liner and a towel are compulsory at the hut, plus a change of clothes, toiletries and your charger. Blankets are provided on site.
In the travel bag, carried by the shuttle
- Casual clothes and comfortable shoes for the evenings
- The rest of your things for the valley nights
Good to know
Required level
This trip is for advanced e-bikers: technique 3/4, fitness 3/4. The days are long, with big high-altitude traverses, demanding alpine trails and up to 3'900 m of descent on a single stage. You need to be at ease on committed terrain, able to manage your range and to link three days in a row.
If in doubt about your level, write to us before signing up: we'll point you in the right direction in two minutes.
Culture
The Aosta Valley is an autonomous Italian region wedged between Switzerland and France, where people speak Italian and French, and still Franco-Provençal patois in the villages. It's a land of passes and crossings: the Great St Bernard and its thousand-year-old hospice, the Roman roads of which Aosta keeps the Arch of Augustus and the theatre, the castles watching over the valley since the Middle Ages.
It's also a land of flavours: alpine fontina, Bosses ham, polenta concia, mountain wines grown on vertiginous terraces. Your guide knows the valley and its good addresses: he tells you all about it along the way.
Lodging & food
One night in a mountain hut, high up and far from everything, then one night in a hotel, breakfasts included. The luggage travels by shuttle: you only ride with your day pack.
Lunches and dinners are not included, but the programme plans for them: a meal at the hut, stops at local restaurants to taste Aosta Valley specialities, and time to recharge, yours as well as the bike's.
Climate
The Aosta Valley enjoys a privileged climate, often dry and sunny. The ridges and the hut night are at altitude: take a windbreaker and a warm layer. If the weather is uncertain, the guide adapts the routes to the day's conditions.
Safety
Small group, professional Swiss Cycling guide who knows the valley, mechanical support, mandatory protection. The pace is the group's, and nobody is pushed to do what they don't feel. Italian rescue services are quick and efficient; just make sure you're covered for mountain biking in the mountains.
Ready to ride?
Convinced? If your gear matches the programme, hit the registration button and book your spot: small group, limited places, and they go fast.
No date suits you, or you'd rather travel just with your group? We also run this trip privately, on the date that suits you: request your private trip.
A doubt, a question? Write to us, we answer quickly.
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.
They ride with Exoride
« Upper Valais outing, perfect weather, pure pleasure. Thanks to Chris and his organisation, everything was superb! »
« The very best! Insane singletracks, 6,400 m of descent, in a superb atmosphere among riders! Just like Finale, but on Valais soil. Can't wait for the next outing with Chris and Exoride! »
Frequently asked questions
How many riders per group?
A small group: enough for the atmosphere, few enough to ride the ridges together, keep a real rhythm and enjoy the Aosta Valley tables like friends.
Is this trip right for me?
It's for advanced e-bikers: big high-altitude traverses, committed alpine trails and up to 3'900 m of descent in a day. Looking for a more accessible trip in the Aosta Valley? Have a look at our intermediate-level e-bike trip in the Aosta Valley.
Who is our guide?
A professional MTB instructor and guide, Swiss Cycling certified, who knows the Aosta Valley and its ridges by heart. He rides with you, adapts the route to the group and the conditions, gladly shares riding tips along the way and knows the valley's good addresses.
What kind of riding should I expect?
Three days of point-to-point riding, 99 % on trails: long high-altitude ridges, alpine traverses built for e-bikes, forest switchbacks and fast flow. 145 km, 4'400 m of climbing and 8'000 m of descent across the trip.
Is one battery really enough?
Yes: every stage is set up to run on one battery, with the motor mainly there to swallow the link climbs. Recharge overnight at the hut and the hotel, and during meal breaks. Bring your charger, it travels in the shuttle.
What is the night in the hut like?
High up and far from everything, in a real mountain hut: a simple, generous meal, dormitory and blankets provided. A sleeping bag liner and a towel are compulsory, to carry in your backpack. Batteries recharge overnight.
The shuttle can't drive up to the hut: for the second half of day 1, bring a 23-litre backpack or bigger with the bare minimum for the night. The rest of your things meets you again down in the valley the next day.
Do I ride with all my gear?
No: the luggage travels by shuttle from one stage to the next. You only ride with your day pack, protection included.
What if I get tired during the trip?
The pace is the group's, and the shuttle is never far at the transfer points: we can shorten a section if the day gets too long.
What gear do I need?
A full-suspension e-bike with 140 to 180 mm of travel, fully serviced, with protection: helmet, knee pads, long-finger gloves, back protector. The full list is in the gear tab.
Can I rent a bike?
Yes, e-bike and protection rental are offered as options in the registration form. Give us your size, we take care of the rest.
What happens in bad weather?
The Aosta Valley is known for its dry, sunny climate. If the weather turns, the guide adapts the routes and the timing; if a day is really unrideable, the programme is reorganised on the spot.
No date suits me: can I organise this trip privately?
Yes, at any time of the season. If no date suits you or if you'd rather travel with friends, family or your club, we run this trip privately: request your private trip.
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. The cover must be valid in Italy, where the trip takes place.
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?
Small group, registration open until 17 september. Book your spot.
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