During January's dramatic La Grande Odyssée, 20 dog sledders race a 470-mile route through France's Savoie Mont-Blanc region. Teams compete for a $100,000 (£62,000) prize purse, and both drivers and dogs are subject to random drug tests.
La Grande Odyssée is an arduous 470-mile dog-sled race up and over the snowy slopes of the Savoie Mont-Blanc region between France and Switzerland. The 11-day event attracts an international mix of more than 20 dog sledders, know as “mushers”, who compete for a prize purse of $100,000 (£62,000). Organised along the same lines as the Tour de France, the competition features day races with mass starts, individual time trials and even random drug testing – for dogs as well as drivers. It’s a dramatic journey that tests the dog teams as they climb a total altitude of 28,000m (92,000ft) at temperatures as low as -22C.
To appreciate the skill and strength of the racers, you can try your hand with a team of 14 Siberian huskies on an hour-long solo ride through the Haute Savoie, booked through your hotel. It is exhausting, exhilarating and the most thrilling way to travel through a snowy forest. Just remember that the dogs are French speakers, so it is “Allez, allez!”, not “Mush, mush!”
Spectators don’t have to endure the same extreme conditions because the race route passes through 24 ski resorts. One of the best places to watch is Megève, where the howl of the dogs and the whoosh of the sleds bring an earthy excitement to the upmarket ski town. Situated roughly halfway along the route, Megéve is the only resort where you can witness a night trial, plus the start and finish of a day race. For the best close-up views, head to the morning start at the town’s aerodrome. Position yourself at the first bend at the end of the starting slope and enjoy the drama of the mushers manoeuvring 14 dogs at full speed.
Next year’s Odyssée, which marks the 10th anniversary of the great race, runs from January 11-22, arriving in Megève on January 16 for an evening time trial over a distance of 7km (roughly 4.5 miles).
The historic Hôtel Mont-Blanc in the centre of Megève provides a convenient and sophisticated base for enjoying the race; doubles from €290 (£243). Les Fermes de Marie, built around a cluster of original alpine chalets on the outskirts of town, offers a more family-friendly option; doubles from €290. Both hotels can arrange dog-sleigh experiences and transfers to the race.
Official race website: grandeodyssee.com. To enjoy a thrilling aerial view of the course from a Cessna snow plane, see aerocime.com.