Col des Aravis from Flumet in the Haute Savoie
Col des Aravis, at an altitude of 1486m, is in the Aravis region of the Northern Alps. It links the village of La Clusaz to the north-west with the village of Flumet in the Vallee d’Arly to the south-east.
The climb starts immediately from the village of Flumet up a dramatic road with exposed cliffs and waterfalls before levelling out through a forest.
The road rises in earnest after the village of La Giettaz where it winds up through alpine pastures dotted with farms before reaching the last dramatic kilometre to the col.
The Tour de France has crossed the col no fewer than 39 times, and the 2016 Tour de France climbs the col for the 40th time in its history.
Length: 11.5km
Height at start: 910m
Height at finish: 1486m
Average gradient: 5.0%
Maximum gradient: 11.8%