NOTE: This page will shortly be updated for 2012.

HOLIDAY DETAILS

The Area: France is perhaps the ideal destination for a cycling holiday. The country has a very varied landscape. There are high snow capped peaks, rich green dairy pastures, vast acres of vineyards, limestone cliffs and deep rocky gorges, as well as huge areas of forest, and one of the largest wetlands in Europe. This trip takes you through 3 of the best known areas of France; Burgundy has a typical French landscape and is well known for it's vineyards and some very pretty villages and towns; The Loire Valley is home to some of the finest chateaux in France and Brittany is an ideal cycling destination with some very attractive countryside and quiet minor roads linking peaceful villages and hamlets.

The Tour: This is a Fully Supported Cycling Holiday with a leader, and support vehicle to carry all the luggage and provide any necessary assistance. The holiday is designed to offer you the challenge of riding all the way across France, from the Swiss border to the coast of Brittany, while at the same time taking you through some of the most attractive areas of France. The total distance is about 800 miles. The average daily distance is 40 and 65 miles, and there are no rest days.
There is a mix of terrain on the trip, but in general it should not provide too much of a problem for regular cyclists. From Basle the first part of the ride takes you through the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, where the terrain is undulting with a few moderately steep climbs. The hilliest section is through Burgundy, most notably the hills of the Morvan Regional Park where there is quite alot of up and down along narrow winding roads, with a few steep hills along the way. However you then follow the Loire Valley for 5 days and the terrain here is mostly fairly level offering easier riding. The final part of the ride takes you through Brittany where the terrain is mostly undulating with the occasional steeper hill.
Most of the Bike Adventures route follows minor roads (as well as some sections of cycle path - most notably along the towpath of the Burgundy Canal and in the Loire Valley where an extensive network of cycle paths is almost complete), and traffic is generally very light. However the route does occasionally use busier roads wherer there is no alternative and also takes you through some larger towns and villages where the traffic can be heavier for a while.

Accommodation & Food: Accommodation is in small family run hotels, generally graded 2* or similar, offering clean and comfortable rooms. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a twin bedded room with another single member of the same sex – unless you have paid the single room price for the holiday. We book rooms with ensuite facilities where available, but this cannot always be guaranteed. Breakfast is provided at the accommodation, most hotels also have a restaurant attached for an evening meal, or there is at least one other restaurant nearby.

Start: The holiday starts at Basle in Switzerland. Direct flights are available to Basle from Gatwick and Heathrow airports in the UK, or there are high speed trains from Paris (with Eurostar connections from London). Transport will be provided from the airport (or railway station) to the campsite. You then have the remainder of the day to explore the city; the cycling starts the following day (Sunday).

Finish: The holiday ends at Brest. Direct flights are available from Brest to Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Manchester and Southampton airports in the UK. There are also regular trains to Paris (from where there are onward Eurostar connections to London), and to Roscoff and St Malo (from where there are ferries to Plymouth and Poole in the UK) Note: The cost of travel to Basle and the return from Brest is not included in the cost of the holiday. You may book flights or trains yourself or if you wish us to make the booking for you we can do so (an additional fee is payable). A separate form will be sent to you if required.

Cycle Transport: If required we offer a cycle transport service to take your bicycle from your home in the UK to the start of the holiday, and return it to your home at the end of the trip (additional fee payable).

Documents: You require a passport to visit France. Nationals of some other countries also require a visa. Non EU passport holders should check with the nearest French and Swiss Embassies. You are also required to have travel insurance for the duration of the holiday. If you do not purchase insurance through us you will be required to provide evidence of a suitable alternative policy.

Bikes: 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. Whatever type of cycle you are taking you should make sure that it has suitable gears for this sort of trip. As previously mentioned parts of the route are moderately hilly (with a few steep climbs along the way) and most people find that they need a bottom gear of about 25 - 30 inches, which will usually mean having a triple chainring. 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.

Weather: The weather at the end of August should be warm and sunny, with average temperatures in the upper 20’s, although as always you should be prepared for the odd shower.

BIKE ADVENTURES Cycling Holidays, 2 Woodbank Estate, Egremont, Cumbria, CA22 2RL
Tel: (+44) 07534 413591 E-Mail: info@bikeadventures.co.uk