A road with very nice scenery to Col des Aravis

Col des Aravis is this stunning mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,487m (4,879ft) in the French Alps, right where Haute-Savoie and Savoie departments meet. You'll find it in the southeastern Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and it's part of the legendary Route des Grandes Alpes—basically a dream drive for any road-tripper.

The 19.2 km (11.93 miles) journey on the D909 (Route du Col des Aravis) takes you from the village of Flumet in the southeast to the charming resort town of La Clusaz in the northwest. The entire route is fully paved, but don't be fooled—this isn't a straightforward cruise. You'll tackle plenty of hairpin turns and some seriously steep sections that max out at 10% gradient. It's the lowest pass in the Aravis range, which hasn't stopped it from becoming a favorite challenge in the Tour de France over the years.

Here's the real magic though: as you climb from La Clusaz, Mont-Blanc gradually reveals itself, emerging majestically from the surrounding peaks like something out of a postcard. When you finally reach the summit, you're greeted by a charming 17th-century chapel dedicated to St. Anne—built way back in 1624 to watch over weary travelers just like you.

Fair warning if you're tackling this in July or August: the heat can be intense, and you'll share the road with plenty of other drivers doing the same climb. But trust us, the views are absolutely worth it.