Col des Aravis, Mountain pass in Haute-Savoie, France

The Col des Aravis is a mountain pass at 1,487 m in the Aravis Range, the lowest crossing of the chain, joining La Clusaz in Haute-Savoie with La Giettaz in Savoie on the D 909. Above the pass, steep rocky peaks hold patches of snow, and the road descends toward La Giettaz through two short unlit tunnels.

The Col des Aravis has been crossed by the Tour de France 41 times since 1947, most recently in 2020. In 1948 Gino Bartali was the first rider over the pass. It is regularly classified as a second-category climb and also features in the Critérium du Dauphiné, including the 2020 edition.

The pass marks the boundary between La Clusaz in Haute-Savoie and La Giettaz in Savoie, and the D 909 crosses it at 1,486 m. Each year the Time Megève Mont Blanc brings cyclosportifs over the climb, and the Tour de France has crossed it 42 times, first in 1948 with Gino Bartali ahead. The descent toward La Giettaz passes through two short unlit tunnels.

The road requires careful driving, especially during peak summer traffic and in poor weather conditions. Good tires and cautious driving are essential to handle the numerous curves safely.

The pass has been crossed 41 times by the Tour de France since 1947, most recently in 2020. In 1948 Gino Bartali was the first rider over the top. The descent toward La Giettaz is sinuous and passes through two short, dark tunnels that call for caution.