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A mountainous department in the French Alps, the Isère offers a huge range of sports and outdoor activities during the summer months.
A patchwork of alpine peaks, glacial valleys, rich grasslands and tranquil lakes, the Isère – a massive region whose eastern section borders the Alps – is home to mountain resorts such as Alpe d’Huez, Les Deux Alpes, Chamrousse, Les 7 Laux and Alpe du Grand Serre. With so much space and high terrain, there’s no shortage of summer activities on offer.
Cycling
Three different mountain stages of the Tour de France will pass through the Isère this summer. On July 23rd, the best road cyclists on the planet will head off from the city of Voiron to Orcières-Merlette. The following day they will attack several cols, including Col du Bayard, Col du Noyer and Col d’Ornon, before taking on the 21 legendary hairpin bends on the final 13.8-km ascent to the ski resort of Alpe d’Huez. There are plenty of great viewing opportunities along the route.
Then, on the Saturday, it’s the final mountain stage of the Tour, with an enormous 5,600 metres of elevation gain over 171km. Starting in Bourg-d’Oisans, the riders take on Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier and Col de Sarenne before again finishing in Alpe d’Huez.
You don’t need to be a professional to enjoy cycling in the Isère, though. Across the South Grésivaudan valley, a network of six newly introduced cycling routes offers days out for all levels. Ranging from relaxed 25km rides to more challenging 54km circuits, they pass through medieval villages, quiet country roads and sweeping alpine scenery, with views of the Vercors and Chartreuse mountains. Many of the mountain resorts also offer mountain biking, gravel biking and e-mountain biking.
Trail running
2026 sees the inaugural edition of an ultramarathon called Trail des 3 brasseries de Chartreuse (Sept 20th, 2026). There are distances ranging from 12km up to 64km. Expect plenty of lung-busting climbs. Once you’ve finished, enjoy a weekend of concerts, craft workshops and organic beer tastings, courtesy of the local breweries sponsoring the event. Between July 3rd and 5th, there’s an ultramarathon just for women. The Festival du Trail Féminin offers distances of 5km, 11km and 23km. There will also be yoga, talks and an exhibitors’ village with stands promoting well-being, nutrition and health for women.
Canyoning
Adventurous families will love the sport of canyoning, close to the mountain resort of Oz-en-Oisans. Children aged 10 and above can join in this exhilarating sport which sees brave souls abseiling, jumping, crawling, slithering, sliding and doggy-paddling down a steep section of mountain river. All safety equipment is supplied. Available between June 26th and August 30th, 2026.
Donkey trekking
Here’s an unusual way to explore the Isère, while getting a long-eared friend to do the heavy carrying: donkey-trekking. Operating across the Trièves region, and beyond, distances range from one-day treks to multi-day odysseys.
One group called A Fleurs de Montagne will lead you along the paths with their three donkeys Jojo, Elmo and Bogus. Another donkey-trekker, who specialises in carrying disabled people, is Christian Diénot.
Astronomy
High up in the Alps, with clear skies between you and the heavens, the Isère is perfect for stargazing. One mountain guide who knows his Big Bear from his Big Dipper is Freddy Melmoux, based in Trièves. One of his adventures includes hiking up to a high mountain pasture, enjoying a trapper’s meal around the campfire, and then camping out under the night sky. Expect plenty of shooting stars.
Cliff camping
Few overnight locations can compete with sleeping suspended on the side of a mountain. New for this summer in Alpe d’Huez is an experience called the Nuit en Paroi (Night on the Rock Face), giving you the chance to sleep on a portaledge (a hanging tent system for climbers), 70 metres above ground. With the majestic Oisans massifs as your backdrop you can enjoy the sunset, admire the starry night sky and wake up to the sun rising over the mountains.
Overnight cave adventure
Saint-Marcellin might be best known for its creamy, melt-in-the-mouth cheese but it’s also here that you can enjoy a very unusual overnight stay. With a company called Vertical Aventure, you embark on a sunset hike to the mouth of a cave where you then follow an underground trail to base camp. Here you will enjoy dinner surrounded by other-worldly stalagmites and bacterial stars sparkling on the rock walls before bedding down for the night.
Local cuisine
All this activity is sure to build up your appetite. Fortunately the Isère has some of the best regional food in France.
Sooner or later you’re going to enjoy the cheese. There are dozens of different types in the Isère, including Saint-Marcellin, Saint-Félicien, tomme du Revard, tomme de Belledonne, bleu du Vercors-Sassenage, Vercorais, Chambaran, tomme de Vercors, tomme de Gresse and tomme de Chartreuse.
Other great local dishes include gratin dauphinois (thinly sliced raw potatoes and cream with garlic); le murçon (sausages made with caraway seeds); la tourte de l’Isère (a tart with Saint-Marcellin cheese, walnuts, potatoes, leeks, butter, eggs and onions); l’onctueuse (a tart with two halves – one filled with poached pear, the other with chocolate and walnut cream); vercouline (a raclette using the local blue cheese bleu du Vercors-Sassenage); and les ravioles du Dauphiné (cheese, eggs, butter and parsley in small ravioli packages).
Getting to the Isère
The nearest airports are Grenoble, Lyon, Chambéry and Geneva, all served by UK airlines. The high-speed TGV train takes around three hours from Paris to Grenoble, Isère’s capital city.
March 24, 2026
