Destination: France

Beyond landscapes worthy of the most beautiful postcards, come and discover the most authentic facets of traditional and picturesque Alsace. This tour will take you to the crossroads of Roman, Gothic and Baroque architecture, to museums with priceless treasures, to the forests of the Vosges, to the peat bogs of the Ried and to a sparkling vineyard. The warm welcome of the Alsatians, the liveliness of the traditions, the generosity of the gastronomy and the so characteristic palette of the aromas of the Alsatian wines, compose the portrait of a corner of France where it is good to live and that we invite you to discover by bike.

At the crossroads between France, Germany and Switzerland, the “Dreilandereck” is a unique region that brings together three countries, three languages and three cultures: one of the most beautiful regions in Europe! This easy and quiet bicycle route without borders, on beautiful cycle paths, will allow you to discover a superb nature between mountains and vineyards. This trip will also delight the gourmets who will be able to taste exceptional local products accompanied by wines from the best vineyards on each stage. Highlights include the cities of Freiburg, Colmar, Mulhouse and Basel and the amazing architecture of the city of Neuf-Brisach, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The starting point of this romantic journey is the city of Strasbourg, European capital. Then the picturesque little towns follow each other like pearls along the Alsace Wine Route for about 170 km. In many of these villages, time seems to have stood still in the middle Ages. Naturally, everything here revolves around wine – Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner – and culinary delights such as munster, sauerkraut, baeckeoffe, kougelhopf and tarte flambée. You will also pass through the beautiful cities of Colmar and Mulhouse before discovering Basel, its life style and its gentle cosmopolitan bustle.

An easy route to appreciate all the charms of Alsace. Discover the traditional Alsace of postcards but also the authentic Alsace, with its more unusual and still unknown facets. This tour will take you to the crossroads of Roman, Gothic and Baroque architecture, to museums with priceless treasures, to the forests of the Vosges, to the peat bogs of the Ried and to a sparkling vineyard. Highlights include the cities of Strasbourg and Colmar, the Alsace Wine Route and its typical villages and the nature and landscape by the Rhine.

Alsace is a land of castles. From the north to the south of the Vosges Massif, a hundred stone sentinels watch over the plain. So many witnesses of a thousand year old history that we suggest you discover thanks to our hiking trip. This escapade in the Vosges du Nord Regional Nature Park, classified as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, will give you a range of new sensations. At the bend of shaded paths, you will discover ancient churches, castles, military remains of the Maginot Line, sandstone peaks covered with magnificent forests of fir, beech or pine, and charming little villages, with their crystal artisans or stonecutters. It is in this harmonious landscape that the spire of the Strasbourg cathedral can be seen in the distance. Highlights include the cities of Wissembourg and Saverne and the numerous castles, beautiful villages and landscapes of the regional Park of the North.

From the vineyards to the Vosges summits, you will hike in total freedom on paths that cross the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park. The hundred year old castles offer from their sandstone promontories many surprising panoramas on the plain of Alsace and the Black Forest Mountains. These troglodytic fortresses tell you the tumultuous history of this region between the 12th and 18th centuries. Highlights include visiting the cities of Eguisheim and Munster, numerous castles and beautiful villages on the wine route and beautiful well marked trails.

There is a very good reason why Northern Burgundy is referred to as “The Land of Good Living”, and if nothing else, once you complete this memorable boat and barge tour, we hope you understand why. If you’ve never seen Northern Burgundy you are in for a sensual overload of divinely beautiful countryside, ancient medieval villages, serene, meandering rivers and of course, some of the best wines, cheeses, honey and ciders in the world! Burgundy is known throughout the world for its laid-back pace of life, friendliness and mild climate. Both the cultural experiences of visiting wonders such as the gothic cathedral of Sens or the cities of art and culture of Auxerre and Joigny, and the biking itself which alternates between easy stretches of free-wheeling alongside the river Yonne and more challenging uphill sections that lead to spectacular views, will lea will leave you feeling enriched, enlightened and recharged.

This eight day bike and barge tour starts in Paris, where the barge Fleur is docked in the center of the city, not far from the Notre Dame Cathedral.  Unlike other river cruise ships, you will follow the Seine upstream, in southern direction.  This region has a rich, royal history and the castle of Fontainebleau is a magnificent example of this past. The castle was much in favor among the French kings, because of the extensive possibilities to hunt in the surrounding forests. Just as impressive are the royal gardens, which the French kings had their royal architects lay out for them.  You will cycle through the wonderful forests to the painter’s village of Barbizon, where since the first half of the 19th century many painters (Barbizon School) have lived and worked. Next stop is Moret-sur-Loing, a charming medieval fortified town, strategically situated on the banks of the Loing River, where painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful impressionist paintings. From there you will follow the Canal du Centre to the beautiful medieval towns of Ferrières with its splendid monastery and Château-Landon with the Abbey of St. Severin. Your final destination is Montargis, a picturesque town with beautiful little canals.  The canals are decorated with many flowers and give the town a lot of charm.  The bicycle tours go mainly over quiet country roads, off the beaten track.

Our rally tour in the heart of Alsace will allow you to discover the charms and secrets of Alsatian towns and villages. From the capital of Alsace wines, our bike trips will allow you to appreciate each day, in all tranquility, the multiple facets of this corner of France. Beyond a brilliant nature, the traditional villages of Alsace are full of mysteries to discover. Between the colorful half-timbered houses, the banks of the Rhine, the vineyards as far as the eye can see and the great local wine houses, each stopover will provide you with exciting discoveries in the heart of Alsatian culture

The wild-romantic Loire is one of Europe’s last remaining unregulated rivers flowing through gently undulating terrain towards the Atlantic. This river accompanies the culture-enthusiastic cycling-holidaymaker following its course along the Loire-cycle path from Orléans until Saint Nazaire past magnificent palaces and blooming gardens taking you back into France‘s glorious past – and you are off into the heart of the royal cycling holiday bliss. Look forward to one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, enjoy.