The Vars – Embrun descent | Vars: Hautes-Alpes ski resort

©2019 080819120619 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

©2019 080819131345 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

©2019 080819152759 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

Mountain morning

Aprem' plage

Try out the not-to-be-missed downhill mountain bike ride: from Vars to Embrun, 32 km from the summit of the Mayt to the shores of Lac de Serre-Ponçon, 1800m of ascent and descent, with a swim at the lake at the finish! The Vars-Embrun is your chance to enjoy all the best the Hautes-Alpes has to offer, in a single day.

Load your mountain bikes onto the bike racks on the chairlifts at La Mayt, your starting point. Before you set off, take in the view of the entire Vars area. On your descent, don’t skimp on panoramic breaks to enjoy the scenery around you.

©2019 080819120433 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

©2019 080819122555 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

©2019 080819123916 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

©2019 080819131755 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

©2019 080819132720 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

©2019 080819141624 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

©2019 080819145001 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

©2019 080819152641 Rémi Morel Ot Vars|Remi Morel

Downhill with a view

The 32 km Vars Embrun will let you discover the charm of the Southern Alps. Starting from La Mayt, enjoy a 360° panorama of the Vars resort, the Guillestrois valley and the most beautiful peaks of Ubaye. Once on the descent, you cross the Valbelle valley, known to skiers in winter as Clos Chardon. Once past this valley, the ski lifts are gone, and the trail winds through the Saluces forest to the Col de la Coche. This shady passage offers plenty of opportunity for a cool picnic break.

Once you’ve reached the Col de la Coche, your descent takes on a whole new look, with a balcony view over the immense Lac de Serre-Ponçon and the Embrunais valley. This view will not leave you until you reach Embrun. Close to your goal, you pass through the charming village of Saint-André d’Embrun, which will take you gently into town after this long descent into the Forêt. All that’s left is to let yourself roll gently down to the Embrun lake and enjoy the ride while waiting for your shuttle back to Vars.

All details3MB

Access
Shuttles
Our advice

Access to La Vars-Embrun is from the top of La Mayt via the La Mayt chairlift, open from July 5 to August 31, 2025.

You will need a PASS VTT:

Adult rates

1/2 day: €22
Full day: €25
Excluded web day: €26

Children’s rates :

1/2 day: €18
Full day: €21
Excluding web day : €19

Embrun – Vars shuttle

The organized shuttle service to Vars runs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

From July 8 to August 28, 2025, two departures from the Embrun / Baratier car-sharing area:

10 a.m. to go up to Vars and complete the itinerary. Reservations required with the transporter on 04.92.45.18.11 or by e-mail at contact@autocars-imbert.com
17:30 to return to Vars

Rates: €13.50/adult and €11.50/child under 12 years old

– Don’t embark on this descent unless you have a decent level of mountain biking experience.

– Check the weather forecast before setting off.

– Equip yourself with mountain bike protection and check your equipment before setting off.

– Don’t forget your first-aid kit and repair kit.

– If anything goes wrong, call 112.

– And don’t forget your swimsuit for a dip in the lake when you arrive.