Cycling

This route was designed by one of the Pedal Nation tour guides as offering the ‘best’ route across France (en route to Athens) after much research, and there is little that she wishes to change having ridden it! It offers a wide range of riding, from long flat days with big skies, to the rolling terrain of the Loire and Burgundy, before finishing with a few hills in the Alpine foothills! France really is such a joy to ride in thanks to its quiet C and D roads, which actually take you somewhere, and locals who love cyclists! And it is no accident that the route takes in some of the best gastronomic and wine growing regions in the country. The trip also takes in a wide range of stunning medieval towns and villages and even the opportunity to check out a Loire chateau in close proximity.

Highlights

• half timbered medieval towns and villages
• the real sense of a journey with the landscape and terrain changing as we wind south
• your first sight of the mighty Loire river, framed by Amboise chateau, and the chance to check out Chateau Chenonceaux the following day while the guides guard the bikes
• an intriguing loop up and down through lesser known Burgundy, and a night in Cluny (one of France’s most important medieval towns and its vast abbey)
• a ride through reputedly Europe’s longest cycle tunnel!
• an exciting and spectacular sting in the tail through the Alpine fothills to Chambery and then through the Chartreuse mountains en route to Lyon
• a night out enjoying Lyon’s gastronomy to celebrate

Accommodation

Accommodation is on a Twin sharing bed and breakfast basis, in a comfortable hotel or B&B with ensuite facilities.

You pay on a sharing basis, although single rooms may be available on payment for a single supplement of £395.

Meals

Breakfast will be included in the hotel and  picnic lunches will be provided during the cycling days.

You will need to purchase your own evening meals, which are usually eaten communally although you are free to opt out if you wish.

We will carry emergency energy gels and bars in the support van but you are advised to bring along your own preferred sports nutrition to fuel your ride.

In the Tour Plan, (B, L, D) refers to meals included in the trip cost i.e. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Arrival / Departure

Tour Starts in Caen, which can be accessed both by ferry from UK and trains from Paris. The ferry terminal in Caen is a short taxi ride from the city,  and the tour ends in Lyon. There are options to take train to Paris / Le Havre / Caen at the end of the trip and the ferry to UK.

For a more carbon emission friendly option you can also take the Eurostar train from London to Geneva.

Bike Transfers

We happily transport your bike to the start and back for free. You would drop your bike off at our Sheffield office up to three days before departure we will carefully pack it in the support van, drive it to the start and then return it to Sheffield ready for you to collect. If that isn’t convenient, then depending on where you live, we may be able to collect your bike on our journey from Sheffield to Portsmouth. Please get in touch with us to discuss arrangements.

Taking your bikes to the continent, As we are no longer part of the EU customs unions, any bike we transport to Europe requires an ATA Carnet which incurs a fee of £60 per bike. This cost will be added to your invoice.

Tour Plan

This tour is a point to point cycle tour, where we follow a pre set route. Local conditions, weather or fitness could lead to changes in our daily plans. All times and distances are approximate.