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Did the DH La Bougeious a couple of years ago and very much enjoyed it. We're in Morzine again this summer and looking for similar out there away from the lift runs for one of the days to explore, having done Col du Cou and out towards Chapelle D'Abondance in previous trips.
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/dh-la-bourgeoise/ shows two versions. We did the one of on the left of this map. Riders right off the top.
Can anyone who has done both comment on the Ver Samoens one the the right of the map (riders turn left off the top)?
The one we did was great but towards the top of the skills of the whole group. This year I'd say the average is a bit lower and we're all getting older ;->! If Vers Samoens is a bit less nadgery-steep and still good that'd be perfect.
Bumpity bump
I've ridden both, I do the left hand one mostly and I think it was because I was told it was the "better" one of the two. I can't remember the two well enough to say if one is easier or harder than the other I'm afraid.
There are 2 main routes if you go straight on, the left one very direct along the ridgeline, the right a little more mellow. None of the ways down are 'easy', certainly avoid if it's damp as all options are pretty rooty. The left turn near the top option is steep to begin with, although all very rideable, although there is one hard rocky steep bit. The mid and last sections are great so worth doing if you haven't done that before. I often do the top half of the straight route then traverse to Cessonex and road across to Chantemerle for the better ending. If you're on ebikes there are a couple of good return routes.
I can very much confirm that the ridgeline variant in the wet is not the place to be with a less capable rider. I've been riding a long time inc many summers in the Alps. Wet, steep and techy rooty, pretty much all the things I like to avoid TBH. It was a great feeling when I finished. Would I do it again? Yes, but only in the dry.
Sounds good. How do you get back to Morzine on a normal bike?
Yes it was dry when we did it and a great techy run - can see how in the wet it would be a nightmare though!
@GeForceJunky - what you describe seems different to what I described on trailforks - where the run simply labbelled La Bourgeoise right along the ridge through the woods by the road at times was what we did.
The secnod route (Vers Samoen) takes a big left on riders left as you come off the top looking at this map and off down a completely different part of the valley, seemingly not on a ridge - see this screenshot here - https://gyazo.com/bb5835177aaf71a32a9a0c6076d1e4a6
It's that one I'm interested in knowing about?
Sounds good. How do you get back to Morzine on a normal bike?
We did one trip back to the top on the scheduled public bus. Only 5 or 6 bike slots on the back
We then got a shuttle with the rental/ rafting base in SamoensÂ
 They were a pain to get in contact with, but did the bizÂ
Last summer we were able to get a place on the public bike trailer 2 or 3 times without any issue. And only 2 euros per day from what I remember. Did both routes but cant remember which was which, so I'd defer to the replies above. Worth doing the climb up to the cross (?) at the start, rather than immediately dropping down the road from the bus drop off.
Purple = Best bit
Orange = Good bit
Blue = ways across from straight on La Bourgeoisie route instead of dropping straight to valley to make it a longer descent.
There are multiple options of the straight on La Bourgeoisie route was what I was trying to say. After the first road crossing if you turn right it's quite a different descent. The 'left turn near the top' is what I was referring to the Vers Samoens option.
To get to the start most people prefer the more climb but rideable green route rather than the super bumpy orange route.
