Bike Adventures

Overview

A stunning ride across France taking you all the way from the lovely Western city of Bordeaux to the shores of Lake Geneva along incredibly quiet roads and with breath-taking scenery. The tour starts in Bordeaux and finishes on the shores of Lake Geneva. Along the way we will experience an ever-changing landscape, with almost every day offering something new. The route makes extensive use of extremely minor roads and is largely traffic free, though we try and visit towns of some substance for refreshment and overnight stops. Where available we utilise cycle routes/paths and along the Rhone we exploit the Via Rhona cycle path wherever possible. Daily riding distances are between 40 and 60 with an average of 52. This is a Fully Supported cycling holiday with a leader/mechanic and support vehicle to carry all the luggage and provide any necessary assistance. The holiday is designed to offer you the challenge of riding the breadth of the country, while at the same time taking you through the great variety of scenery that France has to offer. The riding distance is about 600 miles. The first few days are mostly flat as we cross the coastal plain and then follow the meanderings of the Dordogne. The central portion of the ride is hillier and there are several significant climbs, through gradients are generally reasonable. For the last few days we follow the Rhone and the riding is generally very flat. The average daily distance is 52 miles, and there is one rest day in Murat. Accommodation will generally be graded 2* - 3* or similar, offering clean and comfortable rooms. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a twin bedded room with another person of the same sex – unless the additional single supplement has been paid. We book rooms with en-suite facilities where available, but this cannot always be guaranteed. Breakfast is provided at the accommodation and most hotels also have a restaurant attached for an evening meal, or there is at least one other restaurant nearby. Note that French breakfast is continental and may comprise little more than coffee, bread jam and pastries. The holiday starts in Bordeaux and we will collect guests from the airport for transfer to the hotel (provided your flight arrives no later than 6pm). Flights to Bordeaux are currently operated by several carriers. The holiday ends in Geneva, from where there is a good choice of carriers. Transport will be provided to Geneva airport. If required, and for an additional fee, we can also arrange for your cycle to be transported to the start at Bordeaux and/or to return your bike from Geneva to anywhere in the UK. All types of cycle are suitable for the trip. The most important thing is that the bike functions properly and that you are comfortable riding it. However you should make sure that your bike has suitable gears as parts of the route are hilly, with some quite long climbs. Most people will require a cycle with a triple chainset. If you are riding a mountain bike then you should fit it with narrow 'slick' tyres. You should also make sure that you are able to carry some spare food and clothing with you on the bike.

Daily Ride Schedule

Accommodation & Services

Accommodation

Hotel

What's Included