HOLIDAY DETAILS
The Area: This trip links two of Europe's most popular cities. London is one of the largest cities in Europe,
with a population of nearly 7 1/2 million people. However once out of the city the countryside stretches from the leafy
suburbs of Surrey across the chalk hills and heathlands of Sussex to the English Channel, one of the busiest shipping
lanes in the world.
Across the Channel in France the region of Normandy has a long and turbulent history, and in the Middle Ages was under English rule for many years. Well known for its cider and cheese much of the area is rural with some attractive little villages and elegant chateaux. Flowing through Normandy is the mighty River Seine, which provides a route from Paris to the open sea. The capital of France, Paris is an elegant city with a population of just over 2 million people which makes it much smaller and more compact than London. With a wealth of attractions and a fascinating street life, it is the most popular city
in Europe.
The Tour: This is a Fully Supported Cycling Holiday with a leader cycling with the group, and support vehicle to carry all the luggage and provide any necessary assistance. The holiday is designed to offer a fairly gentle and interesting ride, together with a chance to visit (or perhaps revisit) Paris, and the wealth off attractions it has on offer. Most of the route is gently undulating, although there are a few steeper hills along the way (but they are mostly fairly short). The route is designed to avoid traffic as much as possible, and follows minor roads, cycle routes and cycle paths where feasible, and traffic on these is generally light. However you should be aware that it is impossible to avoid traffic completely, and there are a few busy sections along unavoidable main roads, and the centres of some towns can also have moderately busy traffic for a while. In addition London and Paris are major cities where it is impossible to avoid traffic. The route out of London follows a mainly traffic free cycle route much of the way, however there is not a similar route into Paris and there are some roads here with very heavy traffic, even though there are marked cycle lanes.
Accommodation & Food: This is a hotel based holiday and you will be staying in small family run hotels, generally graded 2* or similar, offering clean and comfortable rooms. We generally book en-suite rooms where available but this cannot be guaranteed. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a twin bedded room with another single person of the same sex – unless the single room price has been paid. Breakfast will be provided at the accommodation each morning. Most of the accommodation has an attached restaurant (or there will be another suitable restaurant nearby) for a meal in the evening.
Start: This holiday begins at Clapham Common, a couple of miles from the centre of London. The ride will start here at 10am.
Finish: The cycling ends at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Your bicycle will be collected here to return it to the UK. You
then have the evening and following day free in Paris. On Saturday morning we take Eurostar train through the Channel Tunnel back to London.
The train will arrive at St Pancras station in London at about midday. You will be reunited with your cycle here.
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 Embassy. You are also required to have travel insurance for the duration of the holiday. If you do not purchase insurance from us you will be required to provide evidence of a suitable alternative travel insurance 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. You should make sure that your bike has suitable gears as there are some moderately steep hills along the way. 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 in August should be warm and sunny with temperatures in
Paris averaging a degree or so higher than London. However of course this cannot be guaranteed and you should always be prepared for rain.
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