info@french-biketours.com
The upper course of the Loire still shows what the Loire has always been: a natural, untamable river/stream. Cycle along past the sandbanks, old river curves and islands. Pass age old bridges and medieval castles. Admire the technical ingenuity of the canal bridge in Briare. And enjoy: ‘Chavignol up to Sancerre’!
The total ‘Loire à Vélo’ route runs from Nevers to ‘l'Océan‘, let's say from ‘source' to mouth. The route can be divided into 3 various stages which can also be booked separately.
You travel independently to Nevers. Check in at your hotel and take a walk through the charming town centre. Visit the potters, known for their faience pottery, a skill introduced by Italian craftsmen in the 16th century. Palais Ducal with its renaissance façade is also worth a visit. It’s one of the first castles that was built along the Loire. Nevers is a stop on the well known pilgrims’ route to Santiago de Compostella.
You leave the Burgundian town Nevers and you go on your way to the village of Cuffy, the place where the Loire and the Allier unite. This is the official start of the long ‘Loire a Vélo’ route, 800 km in total, ending after 13 stages at the Atlantic Ocean. You travel on to the monastery town Charité-sur-Loire where you approach the magnificent Roman church ‘Notre Dame’ via the oldest bridge (16th cent) across the Loire. This monastery church, included in Unesco’s heritage, is certainly worth a visit.
Challenge: 45km, 20m ascent, 48m descent
Cycle through the beautiful natural reserve ‘Loire Valley’ through vast, undulating vineyards. Admire the lovely bell tower/belfry of the church in Pouilly-sur-Loire. You go on through the woods and fields to the famous Sancerre wine region. Take a break on the way to taste a local wine grower’s (white) ‘Sauvignon Blanc’, of course this should be accompanied by a Chavignol goat’s cheese. Enjoy the magnificent view of the Loire Valley from Sancerre situated somewhat higher and dominated by its 15th cent donjon.
Challenge: 27.9km, 253m ascent, 110m descent
Leave Sancerre via the tow path along the ‘Canal Latéral’ and go via Bannay to the flower-bedecked town Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, beautifully situated on the right bank. Then go to Belleville-sur-Loire, Beaulieu-sur-Loire and finally the small town Briare. Admire the metal canal bridge, a monumental piece of hydraulic engineering, realized at the end of 19th cent. It crosses the Loire river and connects the 2 adjacent canals. With its 72 lampposts and decorated pilasters a beauty of traditional engineering/construction.
Challenge: 51.2km, 65m ascent, 215m descent
Cross the Loire river via the canal bridge, the ‘Pont Canal de Briare’, and cycle to Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire with its medieval castle, which specialized in catapults and cannons!!! This is followed by the lively town of Gien with its panoramic views. Here too is situated the castle of Anne de Beaujeu, built about 1500, and the beautiful 18th century bridge with its 12 pillars. Your destination is Sully-sur-Loire with again a remarkable medieval castle, completely surrounded by canals/moats and with a gorgeous view of the river.
Challenge: 41.7km, 152m ascent, 168m descent
Today you continue your route to Orléans. Enjoy the grand views on the way to Saint-Benoit. Once there visit the 11th-13th cent abbey that belongs to one of the most remarkable Roman churches in France. Then go on to Chateauneuf-sur-Loire, one of the important ports of the Loire in the 18th cent. You then get the first sight of your destination: Orléans, the town of ‘art and history’, liberated from the English (rule) by Jeanne d’Arc. Be sure to take a walk through the beautiful, historic centre.
Challenge: 51.1km, 73m ascent, 85m descent
End of your trip after breakfast. We advise you to extend your stay in order to take the time to visit the beautiful city of Orléans. Once it was the capital in the early French Middle Ages, but nowadays it’s a lively, modern town where there’s a lot to be seen.
All accommodations are carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services.
We choose comfortable 2*/3* hotels or B&Bs where all rooms have private en-suite bathrooms and every morning breakfasts are included.
For this trip you can choose between Comfort and Comfort +. The accommodations for a Comfort+ trip, will be in 3*/4 * hotels wherever possible (supplement applied).
If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bicycle (hybrid or ebike) from us. You will find your rental bikes waiting for you at your first hotel. The hotel reception staff will give you the keys for your bikes and direct you to the bicycle shed. All bikes are provided with chain locks. The frame and saddle height are set to your height, although you might want to adjust your saddle to be in the most comfortable position. We also recommend doing a first small test drive of couple of hundred meters to be comfortable with gears, brakes etc. If you have an issue with your bike, you can contact the service provider (name of bike rental in your reservation) directly. Or you can always call us on our emergency phone number.
Our hybrid touring bikes are at least 21-speed gear. You can find all the information regarding our rental bikes below.
Experience the advantages of an electric bike on your cycling holiday, particularly when there's a significant gap in ability and experience among cyclists. An e-bike provides a gentle boost up hills, allowing you to easily keep pace with your companions. With a small electric motor and battery, e-bikes make bike trips more achievable, and their batteries can be conveniently charged at hotels. While you still need to pedal, the e-bike significantly reduces the effort required. Familiarity with e-bikes is advised due to their quicker acceleration and heavier build compared to regular bikes, attributed to the electric motor.
Our hybrid bikes have at least 21-gears with hand brakes.
The hybrid bikes are very good quality. Depending the trip, different model apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...
Whenever there is a big difference in level of ability, experience the many benefits of an electric bike on your cycling holiday. An e-bike will help you keep up with your fellow cyclists and give you a gentle boost up hills. An e-bike makes a bike trip more achievable. The e-bikes have a small electric motor and battery, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedalling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes, because of the electric motor.
The E-bikes are adapted to the route you will be doing. Depending on the trip, different models apply.
For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Racing bike, more details on request.
For children who are at least 125 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm). The child bikes come with at least 7-gears and hand brakes. The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm.
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and at their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.
The tag-along bikes cannot be rented for all our tours
Please note: depending the trip, different models apply.
Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
For children older than 9 months (max. 22 kg) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.
For some tours, it is possible to rent a GPS device, more details on request.
Helmets are not mandatory in France (if the cyclist is over 12 years old) but strongly recommended. The helmet is mandatory for children under 12 years. If you rent a bike with us, helmets are included. Please advise us, if you bring along your own.
All our rental bikes come with lights.
All our rental bikes come with a lock.
All our rental bikes come with at least a rear pannier and with a handlebar bag to put a roadbook/map if you wish.
The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals. On request, we are able to supply these pedals on certain trips.
If you wish to bring your own click-in/SPD pedals, please let us know prior to booking.
All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars.
There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. If a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop.
Saddles can be adjusted in height.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover. If you usually cycle with this, we recommend you bring them with you.
French Bike Tours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive at least 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.
Article 1 Bike Rental Price
The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the French Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.
Article 2 Payment
a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.
b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, French Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.
c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.
Article 3 Rental Period
a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (last cycling day), as stated in the booking confirmation.
b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.
c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.
d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip.
e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).
f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. French Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.
Article 4 Improper Use
a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.
b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.
c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.
d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.
Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft
The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.
Article 6 Costs During the Rental Period
Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs.
6 Nights included
2/3 Star Hotels or 3/4 Star Hotels (supplement applied)
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included, Halfboard optional on request
Maps and tourist information on all the places of interest
24/7 Bilingual Emergency hotline
Luggage transport to your next accommodations. Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum)
For time tables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
We strongly advise you to download the sncf mobile app prior to departure.
If you want to travel on a train with your bike, you can find more information via this link.
Parking possibilities at the first accommodation in Nevers (5 €/day)
We will supply the directions of this trip with a personalized code which gives you access to our travel App.
The international Paris airports Charles de Gaulle in the North and Orly in the South are served by a large number of scheduled and low cost airlines.They are connected with Paris by metro and bus services. From Paris you can take a train to Nevers, see below.
You can get to Nevers by train. On the end of your trip you can take a train from Orléans.
For timetables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
From Paris to Nevers (approx. 2h40 - 250 km/155 mi). Acces to driving routes see the website ViaMichelin.
We would highly recommend this trip for the varied scenery, beautiful towns and villages and easy to follow and safe cycling routes. The hotels were very friendly and welcoming and very good value for money. There are some hills to climb but the challenge was worth it the views were stunning.
Thank you to FBT for a seamless, perfectly organised trip which completely met our expectations. We travelled through many different landscapes and found ourselves in exciting, different places every day.
Cycling, Chateaus and Ice cream. A fabulous trip - even the extreme heatwave didn’t change that. With this weather we adapted and left accomodation early to cycle in the cooler mornings. Chateaus in the afternoons and ice cream at least twice a day. Accomodation was great. Staff were great. Bikes (not electric) did the job - It’s pretty flat cycling. The bags were generally waiting for us when we arrived. We stopped at 7 chateaus along the way and through ourselves into the pool as soon as we could. Perfect.
Amazing trip. Fantastic organisation - everything worked like clockwork. Beautiful route.
Every step of the way the team at French Bike Tours were were responsive and happy to help. Our ride east from Bordeaux was a great experience and every part of the trip worked like clockwork. We felt comfortable on our bikes, the App was like a virtual guide and assistance who was with us for the whole journey, and the accommodation was always comfortable and conveniently located. We would not hesitate to recommend French Bike Tours - this is a team who really know France and and what is needed to create very memorable cycling holidays.
Great trip through the Alsace region of France. We very much enjoyed the route and the accommodations were great!
We thoroughly enjoyed our cycling adventures with French Bike Tours in the Loire Valley, cycling from Orleans to Angers over 10 days (we added 3 extra night to the beginning, middle and end). The accommodations and food were very good overall, the hybrid bikes were excellent, and the diverse scenery (including rivers, bird wildlife, parks, horses, chateaus and gardens) made our trip always an enjoyable experience. Discovering the relaxed and atmospheric “guingettes” (lovely outdoor resto-pub beer garden-like areas unique to this region) was a joy, especially after a long or hot day cycling enjoying a glass of rose or a cold beer. The people we met at the hotels and restaurants, and other fellow cyclists from all over the world, were so friendly, it made the whole experience a very special and unique holiday.
We had a wonderful cycling trip through Provence. The route was easy to follow, the bikes were comfortable, and the sights along the way were beautiful. We just wish we had more time in each town.
I ended up making some changes to my itinerary during the bike trip and FBT was right there to help me. I really appreciated their response and help.
Seamless, organized. Good communication. Enjoyable route with pastoral views.
The biking was easy and mostly on pathways avoiding busy streets which was appreciated. The French countryside and castles of the Loire Valley are beautiful to see. We enjoyed the convenience of booking through a company and having our luggage ready upon arrival!
We really enjoyed this fantastic trip - one of the best holidays we have had! In particular the history of the Canal du Midi, the Bastide towns and the changing countryside were so interesting and varied. The app directions and organisation were all faultless. The accommodation and the warmth of the hospitality of hosts was superb. Definitely recommended!
The overall trip was fine. We were very disappointed in the accommodations as compared to what our traveling friends experienced last year out of Bordeaux. The route and chateaus were beautiful.
Well organized tour with accommodation and breakfast each day was well up to standard. Would book again!
Overall a really enjoyable trip and the good weather helped. The scenery particularly on the first two days is beautiful and all the hotels were of a good standard in excellent locations. The app is relatively easy to use and the cycling routes were mainly very good avoiding busy roads. Make sure you apply mosquito repellent especially on days 3 and 4 and there are millions of them.
Fantastic four days cycling in the beautiful Rhône valley. We cycled through medieval towns and villages, miles of vineyards and along side the Rhône river and canal, with superb views and stunning wildlife en route. The choice of hotels was excellent, all the staff were really friendly and accomodating and I was able to practice my French too with the locals.Breakfasts were buffet style with a good choice and rooms and beds very comfortable. It was also wonderful to arrive after a long day in the saddle to find your luggage waiting for us. This was our first cycling holiday and now we can't wait to book another!
It was a wonderful experience. The scenery, the routes, the accommodations, the food and beverages were all great. FBT does a great job and I have recommended them to other cyclists and will continue to do so.
Sure. I'd be pleased to promote my experiences of French bike tours ..my friend Charlie has a better assortment.
We did a five day, four night stay in the Loire Valley. The bikes were excellent. We had a flat during our trip and the provider came and repaired the flat in the middle of our ride. We were thrilled with everything about our trip. The meals, routes, and castles were amazing!
Our trip was amazing from beginning to end. Such beautiful scenery, topography and food. Loved all the smells and being able to stop at anytime. Highly recommend
We loved our e-bike tour through picturesque rural Provence. We were two couples travelling together so it was nice to go at our own pace with the app guiding us along the way through small villages, olive groves and colorful vineyards. The hotels were very comfortable and in great locations to explore the beautiful places we stayed. We highly recommend this trip and are so glad we were able to do it!
Fantastic trip. I can’t recommend it enough. Great accommodations, responsive staff, beautiful countryside and small towns. We’ll be back for more.
Plan ahead
This is a wonderfully varied tour. My husband and I were very satisfied with the company, the bikes, the accommodations, the routing. We are over 70 and used tour bikes. There is a lot of elevation gain, and one needs to train for it to enjoy it. The GUIBO app is the best that we have ever used.
First rate do documentation and easy to use app made self guide tour a breeze. Love cycling in France.
First rate do documentation and easy to use app made self guide tour a breeze. Love cycling in France.
The Loire Valley is beautiful with many historic chateaux and other buildings, along with easy pretty canal/river trails. It was a joy every day to be cycling down through such beautiful country.
The booking and all the arrangements were very well organised and every step of the process went without a hitch. The Champagne Region is a fabulous area to bike in with lots of up and downs which are well marked on the travel app. No unexpected surprises. It is worth doing the full extended trip offered which is another opportunity for more route and scenery variety. The Loisium Hotel in Mutigny was fabulous.
The itinerary was great. Enjoyed the variety of landscapes, villages, and the warmth of the people who we met. Definitely practice on an e-bike. I had to adjust the bike to get a comfortable geometry for me.
We were unlucky to have the first 2 days of our cycling trip in heavy rain and wind but we enjoyed most of the days cycling through different terrain - coastal, country, along waterways etc. Luckily the weather improved as we headed south.
We had a wonderful time on our tour through the Loire valley. It was a great way to see the area close up and at our own pace.
An excellent tour along the Canal du Midi. The e bikes were comfortable and useful in the headwind. The scenery was varied and there were even some slopes! The hotels and staff were well used to cyclists and provided a good welcome. there was time on most days to explore the towns which enhanced the whole experience. A great trip.
What a lovely trip we had along the Loire River with French Bike Tours! The routes were beautiful, easy to follow, and with interesting sites along the way. The only thing we might have changed would be to stay an extra day midway through the trip to enjoy the cities and all they had to offer!
We had a wonderful experience riding from Strasbourg to Colmar. The route is peaceful, not difficult and mostly free of cars. The villages along the way are very cute and there were many opportunities to stop at vineyards or places to eat.
We recently completed an e-bike tour through the Alsace region, and it was a great experience from start to finish. The route was thoughtfully planned, taking us through stunning countryside, vineyards, and one charming town after another. The e-bikes were good quality and made the ride enjoyable and accessible, even on the hillier stretches. Accommodations were comfortable and well-located. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and would highly recommend this company to anyone looking to explore France in a fun, active, and immersive way.
Good trip overall although the hotels weren’t great. We encountered a thunderstorm and heavy rain on the 4th day. We enjoyed the lunch restaurant in Ribeauville and the Tunisian restaurant in Colmar.
A great first cycle tour trip with French Bike Tours - we chose a self-guided holiday using our own bikes, and loved the opportunity to explore a new area of France. Our week included coast and countryside, and a lovely selection of accommodations. Highly recommended!
Much harder than I expected. Still enjoyable but never again without e-bikes.
Un esperienza molto gradevole, con la libertà di muoversi senza fretta tra la campagna francese
This was an introduction to an ebiking holiday for us and we really enjoyed it. Everything went well so we feel confident to do it again - maybe even to try the tour with luggage transfer (rather than stay 4 nights in one hotel). Top notes from us - the e-bike battery was great, the phone battery needed a booster pack and we definitely needed padded shorts!
Voyage immersif dans la magnifique nature de la vallée de la Loire. La région regorge de pistes cyclables qui traversent des bois, bordent des rivières, traversent des villages. C'était une belle visite, nous nous sommes sentis en sécurité et soutenus.
Everything was perfectly organised by French Bike Tours - directions, hotels, bike hire arragements. I would not hesitate to book another holiday with them again!
This was a well organised and lovely trip ; there was plenty of variety through villages and open countyside, seaside and substantial towns. The daily distances were comfortable the accommodation was mostly very good and the hired ebikes were excellent. We’d highly recommend it.
Fantastic bike tour through the Vendee, everything was as described , hotels were all centrally located and the hire e-bikes were of good quality and easy to use.
I was in love with the French language since I was a student but apart from visiting Paris I have never been to the country. The trip to Provance was a dream come true. Not only did I travel by bike but also had the opportunity to see so many beautiful villages and towns dated mostly from the ancient Rome era on my way. Thanks to the app provided I did not got lost even once. The route was empty, we hardly met a car or a person during the day. In the evening however we enjoyed great meals in the small, picturesque restaurants. I also indulged myself in the tarte l’apricote in almost every bakery recommended by the app. The trip was perfectly organised by French Bike’s and it went smoothly without any problems what so ever for which I am really thankful to all people involved.
We had a great trip. This was our second trip with FBT and would happily recommend there tours to anyone. This trip was a mixture of coastal, marshes and vineyards routes. We loved La Rochelle (Harbour and Shopping), Rochefort (town), Traemblade (Seafood), Royan (Beach) and Marguax. All in all a very enjoyable holiday. Thank you.
Trip gave the opportunity to see the real, rural France. Good variety of cycling, some of it challenging, but generally on good tracks. Photos already sent via email.
The Alsace tour was spectacular! The views were incredible. Thanks to French Bike Tours our trip went without any hiccups, from picking up our bikes to the luggage transfer, accommodation and guided route our trip was faultless! My partner and I had the best experience and hope to do another trip in the near future with French Bike Tours!
We thoroughly enjoyed the Loire Valley from Orleans to Saumur with the beautiful country side of farms, vineyards and castles! With the extreme heat in June we had to rely on the E-bikes more than usual later in the day however for the most part we cycled on Eco. We also, took a side route to Chenonceau castle which added 30km to the 62 km trip to Villandry which made it a long day but worth the castle tour!
We had a lovely trip through Brittany on this tour, and would recommend every aspect of it with these two caveats: The tour is worth it without visiting an island, but if you want to do the island visit, check with the ferry companies before you book, as they may not be available on the day you want to go. Secondly, I am a 72 year old but reasonably fit woman, but I could not push my ebike (no walk-assist) up the recommended cobblestone route to the hotel in Dinan. My husband had to help me. Sounds like a lot of complaints, but the tour was well worth it for the countryside seen, routes and accommodation.
A beautiful trip, initially along the end of the Loire Valley and then down the Atlantic Coast. Stunning countryside and sea vistas. FBT did a great job structuring this tour and ensuring it works really well. One of the beautiful towns encountered was Pornic, set on its canal which gently flows out to the Atlantic (see picture).
Very well organised with decent accommodation. The GPS apps for both tours were particularly good. Unfortunate that we were unable to meet up with Melanie in Monpazier at end of second tour to thank her personally, but it was her day off!
The Via Rhona is a great bike route and easy to follow. The river and its environment is very stimulating with a great sense of history and industry.
Good biking roads and stunning nature.
A self guided tour is great way to see some of the French countryside and history. Taking a tour takes care of accommodation and moving your luggage transfers and very reliable. Its fun to arrive at a new destination with a surprise location and hotel. If worried about the effort book an ebike.
What a fantastic trip we had down the canal du Garonne. The scenery was beautiful, we got to ride through vineyards, ancient towns, and sampled wonderful food. Everyday had something new to explore. It was great to have the app to point us towards places of interest along the way. The accommodations were fabulous and we look forward to our next trip.
Easy cycling through beautiful countryside. The fields were full of flaxseed, rape, red clover and poppies. Still plenty of wild flowers in late April. Some quite long stretches away from the river. We loved the architecture in the towns and the chateau’s were stunning. Didn’t have time to look inside any. Found some very lovely and unusual places to eat and drink.
Easy cycling through beautiful countryside. The fields were full of flaxseed, rape, red clover and poppies. Still plenty of wild flowers in late April. Some quite long stretches away from the river. We loved the architecture in the towns and the chateau’s were stunning. Didn’t have time to look inside any. Found some very lovely and unusual places to eat and drink.
Wonderful scenery, French designated bike lanes even in cities are super! And the French drivers were very courteous!
Great fun, well organised and a fabulous opportunity to enjoy the amazing French countryside.
The Alsace wine route (EuroVelo route 5) was a great introduction to this region, the villages and towns of the area are very picturesque and made for a great 3 days cycling, we chose e-bikes as it is a hilly area, and made for a leisurely experience. Even though we didn't have hot and sunny weather in October it didn't detract from the enjoyment of the bike trip.
We had a wonderful time on our ride from Bordeaux to Sete. The bikes were very comfortable and sturdy; the hotels were very nice and atmospheric; and the level of planning and response from French Bike Tours was way beyond our expectations. We especially appreciated the excellent GPX guides which made everything easier. We are in our early 70s and hauled our own gear with our own panniers. We’d highly recommend this company and this trip to anyone, though next time I will ride an ebike!
Well organized and designed trip with great accomodation in historic parts of towns.
We did three tours this summer with FBTs. Brittany, Provence and Alsace. The routes through Brittany and Alsace were absolutely beautiful and the accomodation was great at all three. We have recommended FBTs to so many people for the service, the value and the incredible holiday that we had
The accommodations were lovely, tge route was straight forward and tge bikes were very comfortable.
days of cycling from Bordeaux to Toulouse, the changing scenery was a source of delight and wonder. We started the journey on a rail trail then cycled among hills of vineyards and distant towns and villages. Midway through the 2nd day we reached the canal, and cycled along the FLAT terrain for the remainder of our journey. The canal locks are an engineering marvel though we witnessed only 1 in action. The region is so fertile & green, we passed by fields of sunflowers and corn, apple and plum trees and kiwifruit. Finding the local cafe for a coffee break became a ritual, and we really enjoyed sitting down to the French cuisine at the end of each day.
Well-organised accommodation and luggage transportation. Route planning, in the main, was good and bike quality overall was good,
I had a great holiday cycling along the Canal du Midi. Although I booked at quite short notice the French Bike Tours team worked hard to put together an itinerary that exactly met my needs. Everything went smoothly and, based on my recent experience, I highly recommend French Bike Tours for anyone looking for a self-guided cycling holiday.
The beautiful Loire cycle routes are great for a relaxed cycle holiday with lots to see along the way. The whole trip was organised very well and went smoothly. In the main the comfort plus accommodation was lovely and it was great to have a pool to swim in at each hotel after a days cycling.
We had such a great time The accomodations were fantastic. The service from FBTs was top notch. There was a lot of variety in the scenery and we appreciated that most riding was on trails or quiet roads
Very well organised trip. Excellent path well signed and mostly very good surface. Comfortable e-bikes and good accommodation - not posh but good value.
This was my first cycling holiday in France. I was very happy with the information provided in advance, the bikes, accomodation and the choice of route. This cycling holiday was a beautiful route, with charming villages, lovely accomodation. The information provided in advance by French Bike Tours was very helpful. There were no problems at all with the bikes, luggage transfers or the Guibo app.
FBT offer an Active vacation, experiencing all that Southern France has to offer. Highlights being, Lyon - culinary , Vienne - Jazz Festival, Avignon - Palais de Pape, Arles - Van Gogh, Chateauneuf- du- Pape - Brotte wine museum and Tour de France stage 5/16. Tour was as described, booking flawless and outstanding staff. Cycling routes mostly on ViaRhona network, centrally located accommodations, efficient luggage transfers and adequate bike rentals. We were very pleased and having done 11 cycling tours in Europe , FBT is as good as you get. Thanks to the three M’s at FBT
We had a wonderful trip cycling along the via Rhona in Provence. Arles and Avignon were real highlights with excellent hotels. The routes we cycled on were quiet and safe , the app made the it really easy to find points of interest but importantly places to stop and refresh.
All in all it was nice.
Es war ein kulinarisches und kulturelles Highlight entlang der Rhone zu fahren. Die Menschen waren sehr freundlich, hilfsbereit und aufgeschlossen. Es gab viel zu sehen und zu entdecken. Gut, dass wir für Lyon 2 Tage eingeplant hatten.
Had a great biking holiday. The routes were very good on very quiet roads and plenty to see and do. The Navigation App was vert good.
Riding along the canal was beautiful even in the rain, but even better when the sun came out! Luckily we were able to fix the puncture we had. Meeting others along the way was great. Everything was well organised, and there were no hiccups. A great experience!
Would have liked a more detailed/ description of the trip before paying. Cycling through more villages would have been more interesting too.
Beautiful weather, friendly people everywhere, old charming hotels and ample breakfasts. Sadly, too many times the route was on roads through areas with little view of the river or wildlife.
Wonderful landscapes, cities and nice smaller places. Great, friendly and excellent support by email and phone by the travel advisor.
It's a wonderful route along the Rhone river for 300 miles, a lot of fun and a lot of nice towns and good food.
We took the express train to Strasbourg where we enjoyed our hotel included in the tour package. Our day one ride was perfect, and day two even better. Each town that we visited we enjoyed more than the last, and the riding got better and we progressed as well. We encountered no issues and had a very enjoyable experience.
A relaxing, beautiful, ride through the country of Southern France. There were some hills on the first day, but for the most part, the rest of the tour is flat and hugs the Rhone river. The majority of the tour is on paved bike trails, which is really nice. We chose the comfort plus option, and most of the places were comfortable. Not all of them have AC but we didn't need it. The one caveat important to know is that most of the hotels will not let you enter before 4 PM or 5. And that is a hard and fast rule. So take your time riding and stop often along the way.The provided E-bike and the touring app were great. Didn't get lost once!
The bike trip was very enjoyable with the cycle route ranging from coastal cycle paths, green ways and quiet country roads passing through pretty villages. The maps and App instructions were easy to follow.
We embarked on a very pleasurable holiday adventure, traversing picturesque landscapes with splendid hire bicycles—one standard, the other electric. Each day began with a delightful buffet breakfast, setting the perfect tone for our explorations. Our journey commenced in the stunning 'La Ville Rose' of Toulouse, where a great cycle path guided us to our first destination, the charming town of Castelnaudary, with its ‘Grand Bassin’ and our accommodation the enchanting old judges' residency, "Les Ordalies". Despite encountering a shift to dirt roads and gravel on the second day, the scenic canal, majestic plane trees, and idyllic countryside vistas more than compensated for the rough terrain. A short detour led us to the circular village of Bram, where we meandered through its quaint streets to reach the historic church. Our day culminated in the UNESCO-listed city of Carcassonne, where we had time to tour the medieval castle and enjoyed dinner at 'La Place de Vieille Ville'. One of the highlights was enjoying breakfast outside on the terrace of Hotel du Chateau, looking up to the walled city. Despite grappling with challenging headwinds and the sad sight of plane trees stumps the following day, we anticipate returning in fifty years to cycle beneath the replanted oak trees. Our route led us to the small town of Olonzac for the night, where we were warmly welcomed. Post-Olonzac, the cycle path significantly improved, albeit with occasional detours due to ongoing path work. The ancient city of Breziers greeted us with a decent along its nine impressive locks with views to the picturesque River Orb below. Perched atop a small hill, Breziers has charming streets with numerous terraces, and the Saint-Nazaire Cathedral is certainly worth a visit. The final leg of our journey was a leisurely cycle ride into Sete, with a substantial portion of the route tracing the coastline, offering ample opportunities to pause for refreshments at seaside terraces. Despite a slight detour prompted by the arrival of the Olympic torch, we arrived promptly at our hotel, the charming and eccentric Le Grand Hotel, where we would be staying for the next two nights. With an extra day in Sete, amidst rain showers, we were able to relax, unwind and reflect, on our unforgettable cycling tour.
The tour around this part of Provence took us to some wonderful villages and towns, and through some delightful countryside, mostly on quieter roads and lanes. The weather was perfect for cycling. And the chance to sample the local food and wines was an added bonus.
We spent a month cycling through Loire Valley and Canals Garonne and Midi. Our self guided tour was prepared to include personal requests. During the organisation period we experienced helpful advice and excellent communication. Hire bikes were of excellent quality and comfortable to ride. Hotels were usually of high standard, always in good locations to explore old towns etc and in most cases breakfasts were more than adequate. Route instructions were thorough, provided in an app, printed booklet and gpx files for uploading onto our own device. Support was available during the ride using WhatsApp. While the weather was not in our favour, making some of the route unrideable, we thoroughly enjoyed the time and appreciated the preparation done for us.
Beautiful views along the ride, quaint mágical Towns to visit and stay. Would do another ride similar....longer though! 3 days was not enough!
We had a great time, people were nice, drivers were respectful, weather was mostly good.
See Google review.
Bikes were amazing! Very high quality.
Paul B.
What a great trip! Cycling through fields and small villages was everything I hoped for. We used e-bikes, which helped with the hills. The route map was easy to use and though we took a few wrong turns we were never lost. I would recommend to anyone, and can’t wait to book another trip.
French Bike Tours did an amazing job of keeping our route off major roads, and on beautiful backroads, with lots of variety and charm along the way.
Off the main roads biking
Seamless fun as FBT arrangements were spot-on. All we had to do was pedal and enjoy.
This trip was absolutely amazing. It was everything that we hoped it would be. A friend and I biked through the most beautiful country side, saw amazing Roman ruins, adorable little villages, and had fabulous food and wine the whole way. The route was a fun and surprising mix of small roads and paths that kept us out of traffic and seeing a great mix of pastoral, woodland, and village scenery. ❤️🚴🍷🥖
Well located accommodations and Melani a fabulous communicator!
Well located accommodations and Melani a fabulous communicator!
We really enjoyed our cycling experience in the Alpilles. Beautiful countryside, cosy hotels with relaxing pools, breathtaking scenery and villages rich in culture. If you want to immerse yourself in the world of Van Gogh and cycle among olive trees, lavender fields and vineyards. This is your trip.
Beautiful countryside. Delicious wines. A great workout.
Scenery Toulouse to Castelnaudary was gorgeous. Scenery Castelnaudary to Carcassonne not as nice.
We rode our bikes through beautiful varied landscapes with lots of altimeters; We visited beautiful medieval villages and were able to meet and talk with other pilgrims on foot.
Riding through the beautiful towns of the Alsace region on a bicycle was an amazing experience that I could not have appreciated by car. I'll never forget the stunning view of the church in Obernai as I rode down the hill and into town, truly magical. I'm so grateful for French Bike Tours for putting this trip together on relatively short notice. Merci!
The tartiflette we had in Seyssel was amazing, and we did go swimming in the river before Perouges.
An amazing trip through beautiful landscapes filled with history and beauty. Most of the way we cycled on small paths through fields, olive grooves and forests, which we would never have been able to find on our own had we only used a normal map! We loved the hotels which all had a unique charm and personal touch!
We had a great time. Nice ocean views. We loved having fresh seafood for lunch and/or dinner along the coast.
The chain ferry on the trip to Angers was hilarious!!
Everything was just as described in the materials. There were no bad surprises only good ones!
Along the canals this was a great way to see some of the most beautiful parts of France at a slow pace and surrounded by nature. In the cities it was more difficult to navigate and we looked forward to getting back into the countryside. Carcassonne was a highlight for us and we recommend spending a couple of nights there.
Five days of easy cycling on e bikes in beautiful countryside. Guibo app very easy to use. Love the fact that we went through many small villages during the daily trips which allowed us to stop for coffee/lunch. One leg had no towns to stop in (Baux de Provence to St. Remy).
The experience of being in the outdoors cycling along bike paths and country roads with beautiful scenery was pure pleasure (even though we had rain 3/4 days). We passed through several small villages every day, often stopping to enjoy a pastry at the local patisserie. Stopping to visit a chateau gave nice cycling breaks.
Bordeaux. A magnificent city. Bike friendly with great attractions .
Bike touring through the Alsace region was spectacular! Winding vineyard paths were a peaceful route through the small towns steeped in history, culture and degustation. We wish we could have stayed longer!
Each day we visited a different castle on a different route. They were each unique. In addition, we liked the variety of country and villages we biked through.
I believe it will be hard to find a better bike ride through France. It had it all. I recommend going the full distance from Le Puy to St Jean. The terrain, ancient towns and villages, and the churches were breath-taking. The trails taken were well thought out so to keep busy roads and rough paths at a minimum. The lodging and food were the other half of what made for a great experience. I felt like I was immersed in the culture of the French people and the region I was in for that day. I was made to feel very welcome even though I don't speak hardly any French.
Our family of four had a total blast riding through summer in Provence, the accommodation and bike tours service was excellent. A trip we will always remember.
In fact, everything was according to plan, the GPS really helped. I would not recommend going to France in the month of August, it seems that everything is closed, or at least on the routes and places we were.
My cycling tour along the Viarhôna from Geneva to Arash was everything I hoped it would be! I experienced the beautiful french landscape, great accommodations and many interesting cities. I would definitely book with this company again.
Each town and village visited offered something diffferent and interesting.
Hard to pick just one - great views, Chateau de Colmartin, riding through the longest cycling tunnel in Europe, but mostly the great hospitality (often totally unexpected gestures), & the delicious local foods & wines. We were amazed that 2 grapes (Pinot Noir & Chardonnay), could produce such great variety in both regions. Lastly, we loved Cassis with Cremmant & had these as apéritifs many nights before dinners.
It's hard to say which parts were the best we had 7 days of great adventures, if your looking for a great cycling holiday you can't go wrong
Interesting and varied. First day not recommended.
Photo of tomb of Toulouse Lautrec in cemetery at Basilica Notre Dame de Verdelais , an unexpected find.
Me, my bicycle and the eager anticipation of the beautiful back roads of Provence. I found myself over the course of several days discovering new places, decadent foods and some of the most beautiful sites on the planet. Each twist and turn in the road was an opportunity to explore and reveal a new treasure of an experience or to meet the characters of the local towns. A castle on the hill, an iridescent angel in a sunlit graveyard, a meal in front of a Roman amphitheater, a rowdy breakfast room full of students visiting Arles!!!, an excited puppy at the hotel in Tarascon licking my face, a warm coffee and pastry on a cool morning ride, the sweat of great memories crystallizing on my face as I reach another milestone. What a ride.
Great nature, great villages and very fun biking.
Une expérience unique sur la côte Atlantique ! Nous sommes parties avec une amie à la découverte de la côte Atlantique à vélo durant 8 jours. Nous avons pu découvrir le magnifique port de La Rochelle, les célèbres vignobles du Médoc et nous avons terminé notre voyage par la visite de Bordeaux ! Tout a été organisé par l’équipe de French Bike Tours, la seule chose que nous avons eue à penser était de pédaler et de découvrir ! Je recommande French Bike Tours, une équipe à votre écoute et des voyages de qualité. Manon
- Marije
We had a wonderful 5 days of biking with FBT. The attention to detail from the time we made our first inquiries until the end of the trip was top notch. We asked to modify our tour from their standard tour and those changes were readily accommodated. The bike delivery/pick-up were smooth as well as all the luggage transfers. I highly recommend FBT
It was beautiful ride through the country side and along rivers. A couple days were challenging due to a lot of hills (constant up and down). Riding through all the villages was great.
55, rue Saint Jacques
24540 Monpazier
France
info@french-biketours.com
+33 (0)5 53 24 22 10
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