Backroad cycling France

Leisurely cycling through vineyards and villages on the border between France and GermanyRef CN15

Hopla Geiss ! Let’s go ! En route to discover one of the most endearing regions of France. The course of history has left its mark on the Alsace, caught between two world wars, two cultures, and two often belligerent countries. Alsace's terrific human and cultural richness is drawn from this permanent “yo-yo” between France and Germany. When in Alsace, one feels neither one side of the border, nor the other. Simply in Alsace! And what if we allowed ourselves to be drawn in by the clichés ? With its numerous quaint flowered villages, its orderly and neat vineyards covering the slopes of the Vosges foothills, its vast meadows on the Alsatian Ried, it’s easy to see why the region has such a strong identity. And of course everything looks better from the saddle of a bicycle ! This trip takes us between Strasbourg and Colmar along the famous Alsace wine route, passing on our way through some of the “most beautiful villages of France”, as well as taking in the quiet cycle lanes close to the Rhine. One of the France Bike Trips team’s favourite areas...

Self-guided tour: from 995€ - Details Duration : 7 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
- 1 reviews
+33 458 140 435 A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
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Physical level :  
This tour is E-bike compatible

Highlights

  • The Rhine Valley, and some of the most beautiful villages in France
  • The prestigious wines of Alsace
  • The charm of medieval towns and villages
  • The peaceful Alsatian Ried
  • Cities of Strasbourg, Obernai and Colmar
  • The lovely cycle paths of the Alsace Wine Route

Description


Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Strasbourg

Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin late afternoon on day 1 at your hotel in Strasbourg. On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Strasbourg.

Arrival in Strasbourg where we settle into our hotel before taking the opportunity to visit this superb city. Its rich and troubled history has left a remarkable architectural heritage, and the entire town centre, situated on the Grande Île, is a Unesco World Heritage site since 1988. The Notre-Dame de Strasbourg Cathedral and the beautiful Petite France district are of particular interest. Home to numerous European institutions, Strasbourg is often described as the "capital of Europe". A major university and cultural city, Strasbourg also has many museums. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will be of particular interest to art aficionados. The city also has a particularly prominent cycling culture. Keep your eyes peeled while moving around the city, as bikes often have priority on the streets of Strasbourg! The city is a real pleasure to discover with its small streets, traditional bakeries that make delicious bretzels, and café terraces serving the many varieties of local beer.

Day 2: Strasbourg - Region of Sélestat

For this first day of cycling we make the most of the great Canal du Rhône au Rhin cycle track which leads us gently out of Strasbourg. We're on the western edge of the Alsatian Grand Ried: an immense flood plain bordered by the Ill to the west and the Rhine to the east, and characterised by its luxuriant vegetation. The term Ried comes from "Rieth" which means "reed" in Alemannic German. There is water everywhere here, in the form of a dense network of small rivers and streams, whose sources rise directly from the ground water. The abundance of water offers a rich natural environment, completely different from the landscape of the Vosges foothills and the Alsace vineyards. We get a great first taste of this superb area, with some beautiful buildings such as the Ebersmunster baroque church. Sélestat also offers plenty to see: the Saint Georges Church, the synagogue, the Sainte Foy Roman Church and the Tour de l'Horloge (clock tower).

Distance covered: 25, 55 or 65 km depending on the location of your accommodation (Sand, Sermersheim or Selestat, according to category and availability); altitude gain: negligible.

Day 3: Region of Sélestat - Colmar

We continue our route across the Alsace Plain. Leaving Sélestat, we head south once again, along the border with Germany. Through a mix of small forests and farmland, we follow the Rhine upstream towards Colmar. With its source in Switzerland (not far from Liechtenstein), the Rhine finishes its 1320 km journey in Rotterdam, where it flows into the North Sea. For those with enough energy, there is an option to ride on to Neuf Brisach, a fortified Vauban town and Unesco world heritage site (10 km extra). After Marckolsheim, we turn and head west to join Colmar. The town is well worth an extended visit, and our early arrival leaves plenty of time to explore once you've settled into your accommodation. Colmar is considered the capital of the Alsace wines, as well as the most alsatian of the Alsace towns! The 17th century Maison des Têtes, the Dominican Church, and the collegiat Saint Martin Church are not to be missed. The "Little Venice" quarter, on the banks of the Lauch, is an ideal spot for a peaceful and romantic stroll…

Distance covered: 50, 60 or 65 km depending on the location of your previous night's accommodation; altitude gain: negligible

Day 4: Colmar - Guebwiller

A network of tracks leads us to the foot of the Grand Ballon. Culminating at 1424 metres, the Grand Ballon is the highest summit in the Vosges. Sometimes called the Ballon de Guebwiller, it's a popular cross country and alpine skiing destination. The first vineyards appear as we approach the mountain, offering a diifferent Alsace to the one we've seen so far… Once settled into our hotel, we can take the opportunity to discover the ruins of the Murbach Benedictine abbey a few kilometres from Guebwiller. Of the Saint Leger abbatial church, only the chevet and the chancel remain, but both are particularly impressive, and give a sacred feel to the village and its surroundings. Night in Guebwiller.

Distance covered: approx. 40 km / altitude gain: approx. 200 m.

For the out and back trip to the Murbach Abbey add 10 km and 150 m of altitude gain.

Day 5: Guebwiller - Region of Riquewihr

Today marks a turning point in our tour: it's the end of the Alsace Plain… replaced by the foothills of the Vosges and an abundance of vineyards. The Alsace wine producing area is actually very narrow: a mere 3 kilometres wide, and a hundred kilometres in length, protected from the wind and the rain by the Vosges. Today is also the start of a succession of great Alsace wines! It would be impossible to name them all, but the most famous are Eguisheim, Turckheim, Kaysersberg, Mittelwihr, Riquewihr… Aside from the prestige the famous vineyards bring to the Alsace, they also provide ample work for the local population, helping to keep villages from falling into decline. Each peaceful and quiet village is marked by its slender church steeple and its beautiful tall houses. Characteristic of the Alsace is the proximity between one village and the next, offering a varied and rythmical feel to each day. Our overnight stop along the wine route is in Riquewihr.

Distance covered: approx. 45 km / altitude gain: approx. 400 m.

Day 6: Region of Riquewihr - Obernai

From wine villages, to vintage wines, and some of the most beautiful villages in France, the area certainly has plenty to offer! We stop off in Bergheim, one of the most beautiful villages in the Alsace: the 14th century Porte Haute, the parish church with its Gothic chancel that dates back to 1347, as well as its ramparts and numerous turrets offer a pleasant visit… On the riding side, although the tour is relatively gentle, today offers its fair share of climbs. For the fittest members of the group, there’s the opportunity to ride to the Haut Koenigsbourg Château. The 12th century château is perched at 757 metres, high above the Alsace Plain (our route is at only 200 metres above sea level…). Visible since leaving Sélestat, the château watches over us for the best part of the day. As we gain altitude in the foothills of the Vosges, the plains of the Rhine and the Ried slowly open up before us. We pass through the pretty village of Dambach la Ville: with its colourful facades and multicoloured flower arrangments, the fortified town is a typical example of alsatian architecture. But there are plenty more to follow! Other great vintages await us along our route, in Mittelbergheim (Zotzenberg) and Andlau (Kastelberg and Wiebelsberg). We pass through the village of Barr, where the vintage Kirchberg wine is made on the forty hectares of vineyards overlooking the village, before joining our overnight stop: Obernai, a beautiful village with its fine half-timbered houses and its abundance of flowers. Once settled into our hotel, we take the time to discover the town’s small medieval streets…


Distance covered: 35 or 50 km / altitude gain: approx. 450 m.

Day 7: Obernai - Strasbourg

Our last stage takes us north along a series of small country lanes. In Rosheim, we discover the Saint Pierre et Paul church, jewel of Alsace's Romanesque architecture. We also pass the residence of the Bugatti family (the family of the famous car manufacturer is from a small village to the south of Molsheim). As with many of the villages during this tour, Molsheim is full of wonderful flower displays. Don't miss the superb géraniums which decorate the imposing buildings in the town centre. Molsheim is also steeped in history: a Merovingian tomb, a Gallo Roman tombstone, and the ruins of the town's 14th century fortifications make for an interesting visit. In Molsheim we pick up the Canal de la Bruche cycle track which leads us right to the heart of the European capital, Strasbourg. France Bike Trips services end in Strasbourg mid-afternoon.

Distance covered: approx. 45-50 km / Altitude gain: negligible

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

Itinerary end: France Bike trips services end in Strasbourg on the last day at 18h00 (luggage collection). On request we can book the following night's accommodation for you in Strasbourg.

Dates

Tour departures available from April to October 2023.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person in a double room :

Important note: Single room supplement will be charged automatically for all groups with an odd number of participants.

The price includes:
  • 6 nights in comfortable hotels in double rooms with en-suite facilities
  • 6 breakfasts
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Detailed road book, maps and GPS tracks in digital format
What is not included:
  • Lunches and dinners
  • International flights
  • Bike rental
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Insurance, assistance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Supplementary services

Prices per person:

Single room accommodation, 3* hotel (6 nights) 435 € / 

Single room accommodation, 3*/4* hotel (6 nights) 525 € / 

Extra night in Strasbourg in 3* hotel, double or twin room, including breakfast 115 € / 

Extra night in Strasbourg in 3* hotel, single room, including breakfast 165 € / 

Extra night in Strasbourg in 4* hotel, double or twin room, including breakfast 130 € / 

Extra night in Strasbourg in 4* hotel, single room, including breakfast 190 € / 

Bike rental: see below

Bike rental

Standard bicycles and e-bikes are available for rent.

Standard bike (7 days) 150 € / 

E-bike (7 days) 365 € / 

All bicycles are equipped with mudguards, a rear rack, and a puncture repair kit.

Please confirm your height on your trip reservation from.

E-Bikes offer an alternative solution in two cases: 

  • You do not feel able to complete a level 1 wheel (lowest level) circuit. With electric assistance, this trip becomes accessible. 
  • You would like to complete a circuit with a person who is fitter than you and you are worried that you will be unable to keep up, or that the other person will find your pace too slow.

Private groups / Custom tours

You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.

  • If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
  • If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.

For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435  or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.

Travel insurance

It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.

You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:

  • I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
    This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.

Recommendation:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

Booking procedure / Cancellation

How to book

In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.

Last minute booking

All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.

Expert advice
  • Unsure which tour to book?
  • Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
  • Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.

Tour confirmation

In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.

Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.

In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.

Balance payment

Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation

In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

  • More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium

Full details of our sales conditions are available here

Getting there

By train: From Paris Est train station to Strasbourg train station (about 2h by TGV train).
https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

By plane:

  • From Strasbourg airport: head to Strasbourg train station.
  • From Paris Charles de Gaule airport join the Paris Est train station and head to Strasbourg.

By car:
Route planner: en.mappy.com


Route navigation

You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:

Our dedicated smartphone app

Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.

See the mobile app presentation video

To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.

Velorizons app compatibility
Operating systemAndroidAppleWindows PhoneBlackberry
CompatibilityVersion 8.0 minimumiOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equippedNon compatibleNon compatible
A detailed Road Book

Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:

  • Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
  • Step-by-step route description,
  • Route profiles
GPS tracks

Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.

Car sharing

If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.

Group size and guiding

For guided trips we limit the size of our groups from 5 (min) to 12 (max) persons in order to ensure security and conviviality.

You will be guided by English-speaking French mountain bike guides.

No size limitation for self-guided groups.

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality. For more details, please see the "Costs and services" section.

For private groups and self-guided tours it is possible to choose alternative accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

Food

"L'art de la table"

We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals.  Fresh and local produce will be served wherever possible.

Depending on the meals included in your chosen tour:

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
  • Cold picnics for lunch (mixed salad, bread, cold meats, cheese and fruit). Each participant carries his picnic in his daypack
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)

Please check the "Dates & Prices" section for meal plan details.

Baggage

During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.

Health

We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday. 

Our / Your state of mind

- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.

- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.

Bike and plane / train

If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any TGV and SNCF trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.

Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.

Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.

Your equipment

Equipment provided by France Bike Trips on guided tours:
  • A group first-aid kit
  • A bike repair kit and tools
Personal equipment to bring:
Baggage

All your luggage must fit in two bags: a daypack and a travel bag.

1/ Daypack

This is the bag you will keep with you each day whilst riding. This bag should not be too large (up to 30 litres).

It will contain: a picnic lunch, camera, waterproof and extra clothing, etc.

Each day, your guide will advise you on what to bring in your bag according to the route and the weather.

2/ Travel bag

This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It should contain all the belongings you will not use during the day.

IMPORTANT: Your luggage transported from one accommodation to the next must fit in a single bag and must not exceed 20kg.

List of equipment to pack in your bag the day of departure:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or headband
  • A bike helmet.
For your upper body
  • Two base layers (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm shirt or a sweatshirt
  • A fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
For your legs
  • Two good quality cycling shorts
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
  • A swimsuit.
For your feet
  • Comfortable sports shoes 
  • Sports socks
  • Sandals (not obligatory, but nice during breaks and in the evening...).
For your bike

If you rent a bike from France Bike Trips, this material is not necessary.

  • 2 spare tubes and a puncture repair kit
  • Lubricant for chain and derailleur
  • A pump
  • A spare derailleur hanger
Various
  • A pair of cycling gloves
  • A bike lock
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or Camelbak)
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Self-guided formula

Self-guided tour "user guide"

Active autonomy: what you need to know for our self-guided tours

In order to achieve the planned tour programme, you must:

  • Guide yourself with the highlighted maps and road book;
  • Choose suitable start times adapted to the lengths of the daily stages as well as your own riding pace, and leave an adequate safety margin of time;
  • Obtain daily weather forecasts from your hosts, and take into account the weather conditions when planning journey times;
  • Arrive at the booked guest houses and hotels listed in the programme on the given dates; 
  • Bring the necessary personal equipment to carry out the tour. France Bike Trips equipment list constitutes the necessary minimum;
  • Carry insurance policies and emergency telephone numbers with you at all times;
  • Be familiar with basic first-aid steps;
  • In the event of any problems during your trip, contact France Bike Trips (contact information in your travel documents). Possession of a mobile phone that works in France is strongly recommended.

Self-guided tours are undertaken without a guide and at your own risk. France Bike Trips cannot be held liable for any route error, misconduct, personal imprudence, inadequate planning or inappropriate reactions in the event of incidents.

Any programme change of your own initiative is under your responsibility and at your expense. 

Having said this, with our advice and good preparation, you should be able to look forward to a wonderful, trouble free holiday. Enjoy your trip!

Average tour rating:

5/5 - 1 Reviews
Tom B. | Participant rating:
"fantastic - i put it together but worthy of you to consider for those that want a more upmarket experience"
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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.


Phone number: +33 458 140 435

Contact us

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.

Please type in your email address in order to access tour details and description

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