Backroad cycling France

Pedal, taste, contemplate!Ref CN40

In the heart of one of the richest terroirs in France are hidden some beautiful gems, in the form of narrow roads with very little traffic and beautiful cycle paths winding through the vineyards...
Starting from Chalon sur Saône, we discover the southern part of Burgundy on a dedicated cycle route, first by the route along a wild and bucolic Saône, then by the route lined with small medieval villages and vineyards. A 9-day version allows us to extend this discovery by the very pretty Ouche valley and its canal, which takes us to the capital of Burgundy.
Our stays in Burgundy are placed under the sign of the epicurean pleasures : visit of cellars, restaurants with Burgundian gastronomy, tastings along the way, local products, etc...

Self-guided tour: from 605€ - Details Duration : 5 or 9 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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This tour is E-bike compatible

Highlights

  • An ideal region for cool cycling, combining history, landscapes and gentle hills
  • The discovery of some of the most prestigious wine estates in the world
  • The discovery of South Burgundy from Chalon sur Saône on dedicated cycle paths
  • The wild canal of the Ouche, by the water, for the 9-day version
  • 2 possible versions to make the most of your stay in Burgundy

Description


Detailed itinerary - 5 days trip

Day 1: Châlon sur Saône - Tournus

Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 9 am at our local partner hotel Chalon sur Saône. On request we can book the previous nights accommodation for you in Chalon.

Our tour of Burgundy begins in Chalon-sur-Saône and already a first stop is necessary! Its old town with its beautiful medieval houses and its Saint-Vincent cathedral, the Saint-Laurent island with its street full of restaurants that reveal the excellence of Burgundian cuisine, without forgetting its Nicéphore-Niépce museum, one of the most beautiful museums in France dedicated to photography... It is well worth a visit! Our path then follows the Voie Bressane greenway, a former railway that has been rehabilitated as a soft path up to Ouroux-sur-Saône, before returning to small country roads that wind along the Saône. The river crosses a protected area and reveals a wilder aspect. We reach Gigny-sur-Saône and its leisure centre where we can take advantage of the banks of the Saône and its marina, and boat lovers can even hire a boat to discover the river from a different angle. Our stage continues along a towpath to Tournus, renowned for its Abbey, a masterpiece of early Romanesque art, and its historic centre with its many gastronomic and starred restaurants.

Distance and altitude gain : approx 33km and 50m

Day 2: Tournus - Mâcon

This morning, we set off again towards the south, still following the Saône on this route which we will follow until Mâcon. Let us not forget that we also cross the vineyards of the Mâcon region, the occasion for us to make some stops to discover and taste good wines. We continue our route through several villages, which gradually leads us to the gates of Mâcon, located on the river. This charming town has a southern character, with its colourful facades and round-tiled roofs. A visit to the historic centre allows you to discover the charming Place aux Herbes and its splendid Renaissance wooden house; the Vieux Saint-Vincent, a vestige of the former Saint-Vincent cathedral; the religious buildings of the Saint-Pierre church and the Saint-Vincent cathedral; the apothecary of the Hôtel-Dieu; or the Saint-Laurent bridge and its beautiful view of the quays and houses of the old town. The Musée des Ursulines houses collections of archaeology, paintings and sculptures.

Distance and altitude gain : approx 33km and 65m

Day 3: Mâcon - Cluny

We leave the Côte Chalonnaise to join the hillsides of the Mâcon region: a change of colour, a change of scenery and a change of height! A long tunnel (the Bois Clair tunnel, the longest tunnel in Europe open to cyclists) allows us to make this transition smoothly. We progressively discover another terrain made up of karstic rocks and strewn with vines that make the reputation of the Mâconnais. On our way, a few stops are necessary to discover Charnay Lès Mâcon and its Romanesque church, Berzé and its medieval heritage, Berzé le Châtel and its medieval fortress, and of course Cluny and its abbey, its beautiful residences and its museum of art and archaeology, the arrival point of this third stage in Burgundy.

Please note that the Bois Clair tunnel is open to cyclists from 15/04 to 30/09.

Distance and altitude gain : approx 30km and 250m (an extra 8km and 100m if you don't take the tunnel)

Day 4: Cluny - Saint Boil

We head back north on the cyclepath, the stage will be short in order to take advantage of the unmissable visit of the castle of Cormatin: surrounded by a large moat, this building built from 1606, impresses by the monumentality of its facades in military style. Our tour takes us through several villages of character before ending in Saint Gengoux, a small medieval town with a beautiful architectural heritage with its keep, its surrounding walls and its galleries... A lot of charm for this last stopover in Burgundy!

Distance and altitude gain : approx 25km and 75m

Day 5: Saint Boil - Châlon sur Saône

We complete the loop by visiting the last villages of the Côte Chalonnaise, such as the fortified town of Buxy with its Red Tower, the small winegrowing village of Givry and its monks' cellar for a final tasting, before reaching Chalon sur Saône, the final point of this 5 day Burgundy tour. It is possible, if you wish, to extend your discovery of Burgundy by joining Dijon, consult the 9-day version below!

Distance and altitude gain : approx 32km and 100m

Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end in Chalon sur Saône at 5pm for the 5-days trip and around 5pm in Dijon for the 9-days trip. On request we can book the following nights accommodation for you in Dijon or Chalon sur Saône.

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

Detailed itinerary - 9 days trip

Day 1 to day 4 : identical to the 5 days trip
Day 5: Saint Boil - Chagny

We are halfway through our adventure in Burgundy and finish the visit of this southern part by discovering the last villages of the Chalonnaise coast such as the fortified town of Buxy, the small winegrowing village of Givry and its monks' cellar or Dracy le fort and its castle. We bypass Chalon Sur Saône by the west and go on to visit the castle of Germolles, and above all to discover one of the greatest wines of Burgundy, Mercurey. A stop in one of the village's cellars to taste this internationally renowned wine is a must! We get back on our bikes to reach the charming village of Rully, dominated by a beautiful castle, from which a panoramic view of the Chalonnaise coast awaits us to finish this day in beauty.

Distance and altitude gain : approx 33km and 250m

Day 6: Chagny - Nolay

After two days of riding between the wine domains, appreciating the châteaux and the prestigious names, we go into a more discreet but no less endearing Burgundy. The itinerary does not leave us time to get bored. Through an exceptional network of small roads winding between the vineyards as we leave our accommodation, then between the fields, we head west towards the Dheune valley, a right bank tributary of the Saône. We descend the Dheune and pass through the villages and the bucolic atmosphere that emanates from them. Our route then skirts the limestone spine of the Côte de Beaune from the south, to abandon the vineyards for good, at least for today, in favour of the limestone cliffs. Our stage of the day, Nolay, is in sight.

Distance and altitude gain :

  • Level 1: approx. 30 km and 350 m
  • Level 2: approx. 35 km and 450 m
Day 7: Nolay - Bligny sur Ouche (or surroundings)

Today's stage is shorter depending on the option chosen, but it includes some gentle uphill sections that will certainly slow down our pace somewhat. Let's remember that this trip is not a race, on the contrary, and that we take our time to appreciate the places we cross. From Nolay, after having completed the previous day's visit (Saint Pierre district, paleontology museum, town hall), our itinerary takes us not far from the cliffs of Saint Romain. In the heart of a real limestone cirque, the village of Saint Romain can be seen from above! Some parts under the woods, others in the open, the landscapes change and invite contemplation. We then head north, following the golden coast to the west. We end up at the source of the Ourche river, towards Lusigny sur Ouche. After a short stretch near the Ouche, we head to Bligny, where we set up for the night.

Distance and altitude gain :

  • Level 1: approx. 25 km and 400 m
  • Level 2: approx. 30 to 45 km and 500 m to 650 m
Day 8: Bligny sur Ouche - Pont de Pany (or surroundings)

Unlike yesterday's stage, today's stage is a little bit longer in distance, but has a rather downhill profile. A set of small villages that we discover with delight, so enchanting is the setting of this pretty valley. Thorey, la Bussière, Saint Victor, Barbirey, Gissey, Sainte Marie, Fleurey and Velars, so many opportunities to capture the warm soul of this small country valley. 200m of negative difference in altitude separate the source from the confluence of the Ouche, 200m along which we will let ourselves slip quietly along this day!

Distance and altitude gain :

  • Level 1: distance covered approx. 30 km; almost no positive change in altitude
  • Level 2 (Châteauneuf option): + 15 km; + 250m of positive altitude difference
Day 9: Pont de Pany - Dijon

We are now only a few laps away from the centre of the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy. This short day offers us the possibility of a little rest after this busy week, and especially the possibility of enjoying the many sites (natural and architectural) of the city... and then, for those of us who come to look for other treasures, the renowned Dijon gastronomy, well beyond the famous mustard. In short, a city to discover without hesitation, with or without a bicycle.

Distance and altitude gain : approx 20km and 10m

Extension to Beaune: possibility to continue your discovery of Burgundy with an extra day (D10) by bike (40-45km approx.) to Beaune (please contact us).

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

Dates

This tour can be booked anytime between april and october.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person for a group of:

Single-room supplement will be automatically charged in the case of odd-numbered groups.

The price includes:
  • 4 or 8 nights in guest houses and  2* or 3* hotels in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 4 or 8 breakfasts
  • Dinner on day 4
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Detailed road book, highlighted maps and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • International flights
  • Lunches
  • Dinners (except for day 4)
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
  • 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 (4 nights) 195 € / 

Single room accommodation (8 nights) 395 € / 

Extra night in Dijon or Chalon sur Saône in 2* hotel, double or twin room, including breakfast 60 € / 

Extra night in Dijon or Chalon sur Saône in 2* hotel, single room, including breakfast 105 € / 

Extra night in a 3* hotel, double or twin room, including breakfast 85 € / 

Extra night in 3* hotel, single room, including breakfast 140 € / 

Dinner reservation:

On request, we can book the dinners of your trip in restaurants carefully selected by our teams (budget generally between 30 and 35 € per person, starter, main course and dessert. Drinks not included). Meals are to be paid by you upon arrival at the restaurant.

Dinner reservations (5 days) 35 € / 

Dinner reservations (9 days) 45 € / 

Bike rental

Two types of bikes are available for rent:

Standard bike (5 days) 180 € / 

Standard bike (9 days) 265 € / 

E-Bike (5 Tage) 315 € / 

E-Bike (9 Tage) 395 € / 

The bikes are equipped with mudguards, a luggage rack, a pannier and a helmet. They are delivered with a repair kit in case of a puncture.

Don't forget to tell us your size on your booking form.

Electric bikes offer pedaling assistance, greatly reducing the effort needed to cover a given distance compared to a classic "human-powered" bicycle. They 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 Gare de Lyon train station to Châlon sur Saône train station (about 3h by TGV train).
https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

By plane:

  • From Roissy - Paris Charles de Gaulle airport: head to Châlon sur Saône train station.
  • From Lyon airport: join the Lyon train station and head to Châlon sur Saône train station.

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
Donna W. | Participant rating:
"We enjoyed the variety in what we experienced. The combination of being along the Saône, cycling on wooded paths, passing vineyards, and exploring villages was perfect."
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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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