Mountain bike France

Brilliant trail riding and unspoiled Alpine nature in the Queyras nature parkRef CY4C

How many French regions can boast 300 days of sunshine per year, an unspoiled mountainous environment, and as great a network of mountain bike trails? Welcome to the Queyras! Nestled between the upper Durance valley and the Alpine main chain separating France from Italy, this remote valley and Regional nature park is a gem of intact Alpine nature and culture. This mountain bike short break takes in some of the best singletrack of the area, alternating balconies, crests and great descents... A magical 100% Mountain route that criss-crosses the forgotten valleys and wild passes of the Queyras, also allowing the discovery of the Guil gorges, some of the highest inhabited valleys in Europe (Ceillac, Arvieux) and many strongholds and fortified villages built by Vauban. The superb descents and majestic panoramas will be long remembered.

Guided version: from 435€ - DetailsSelf-guided version: from 315€ - Details Duration : 3 or 4 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
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+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-MTB compatible

Highlights

  • One of the best mountain bike destinations in France
  • The unspoiled and preserved Alpine nature of the stunning and remote Queyras valley
  • Breath taking vistas and panoramic views...
  • Long flowy singletrack descents through the larch forests

Description

Comments

  • This trip exists in 2 versions : V2 = 2 wheels / V3 = 3 wheels.

Detailed itinerary (3 days)

Day 1: Château Queyras - Ristolas

Itinerary start: Rendezvous with the organisation team is on day 1 at 9 am at Château Queyras. We will leave directly from there. Please arrive in your cycle clothing. On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Briançon.

Bienvenus au coeur du Queyras ! Nous nous retrouvons dans la vallée du Guil, rivière tumultueuse qui scinde le massif du Queyras en deux parties. Les quelques jours de VTT qui nous attendent vont nous permettre de rouler sur les plus beaux sentiers du massif, que ce soit au nord au sud de la limite naturelle que représente la vallée du Guil. Le sud d'abord ! Nous partons à l'attaque du coeur du parc naturel du Queyras, dont une des portes à franchir sera pour nous le col de Chamoussière puis le col Vieux. La montée est l'occasion d'ouvrir grands les yeux et d'admirer les premières faces imposantes qui se dressent devant nos pneus. La couleur un peu bleutée des montagnes queyrassines est très particulière, et très esthétique. Nous ne sommes pas loin de la frontière avec l'Italie, le Queyras représentant, à l'instar de la Vanoise ou du Mercantour, un poste frontière naturel. Passage à Saint Véran, célèbre pour être qualifiée de "plus haute commune de France" et à l'architecture queyrassine très marquée : cadrans solaires, toits en lauze et en tavaillons, fontaines...le village est vraiment splendide. Nous poursuivons dans le sens de la montée jusqu'à atteindre le col de Chamoussière, puis, après une courte descente et une remontée un peu "bataille", le col Vieux. Nous sommes, à vol d'oiseau, à quelques centaines de mètres de l'Italie. La montagne pyramidale du Pain de Sucre nous fait de l'oeil, et tente de cacher son grand frère le Viso, juste derrière. Mais pour nous, il s'agit maintenant de profiter d'une descente mémorable en terrain de montagne...le sifflement des marmottes aidant, nous traversons la succession de lacs d'altitude qui nous sépare de l'amont du Guil, aux environs de Ristolas, où nous retrouvons notre gîte, dans un lieu paradisiaque...

Distance covered: approx. 40 km / ascent: approx. 1700 m

Day 2: Ristolas - Villard Gaudin

Le vrombissement du Guil sera de retour dès que nous mettrons le nez dehors ce matin. Parti du Mont Viso, il est déjà puissant et capricieux. Il nous sert de guide pour cette première partie de matinée, car nous roulons parallèlement à son lit, jusqu'à retrouver Château Queyras. L'échauffement étant terminé, nous attaquons la partie montant de cette journée. Pour nous motiver, pensons que la descente qui nous attend n'est rien de moins qu'une des 5 plus belles de tout le massif... Tout d'abord par une petite route montante, permettant de gagner quelques centaines de mètres assez vite, puis par une piste ombragée, la vue s'ouvre petit à petit...Le Pic de Rochebrune nous toise, nous défie. Nous baissons les yeux devant lui, car nous ne relèverons pas le défi avec nos vélos ! Nous montons à près de 2350 m, dans une ambiance "haute montagne" incomparable...Un superbe single track en balcon nous permet de contourner une croupe, derrière laquelle nous attend LA descente sur Souliers, la fameuse qui justifie à elle seule d'avoir avalé ce dénivelé. Nous nous élançons dans cette descente, avec le sourire aux lèvres que nous garderons jusqu'en bas : sentier étroit mais très roulant, alternant parties rapides et épingles faciles, les troncs des Mélèzes défilent dans notre champ de vision, le freinage est précis et le placement de roue aussi. Nous avons tous le bonheur au bout du guidon ! Arrivés à Souliers, joli petit village de montagne à la fontaine revigorante. Descente sur Arvieux, sur la route de l'Izoard, puis à Villard Gaudin où un bon repas chaud nous attend déjà !

Distance covered: approx. 50 km / ascent: approx. 1450 m

Day 3: Villard Gaudin - Château Queyras

Perché au dessus de la vallée du Guil, notre gîte s'éloigne tout doucement de notre champ de vision, au fur et à mesure que nous nous élançons à la conquête de notre difficulté du jour : le col de Furfande (2500m). Une ascension de 900m sur piste...sur le papier, cela paraît vraiment difficile. En réalité, il s'agit de la seule partie montante de cette journée, que nous réalisons le matin, à notre rythme. Les deux tiers du dénivelé se font sous les bois, offrant une fraîcheur de l'air qui favorise notre "grimpette". Et puis...comme nous avons appris à le constater dans le Queyras, on ne monte jamais pour rien ! Que ce soit pour le splendide panorama du haut du col de Furfande, depuis lequel il nous est possible de dessiner au doigt notre itinéraire du premier jour, où bien la mythique descente qui s'en suit, nous ne regrettons jamais les "bavantes".  Descente sur single track puis itinéraire à profil descendant jusqu'au col de la Lauze. La fin est proche...nous continuons notre dévalade avant de rejoindre le point de départ de ce week end, à Château Queyras.

Distance covered: approx. 40 km / ascent: approx. 1900 m

Itinerary end: Separation is on the last day at Château Queyras at around 5 pm.

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

Detailed itinerary (4 days)

Day 1: Château Queyras - Ristolas

Itinerary start: Rendezvous with the organisation team is on day 1 at 9 am at Château Queyras. We will leave directly from there. Please arrive in your cycle clothing. On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Briançon.

Bienvenus au coeur du Queyras ! Nous nous retrouvons dans la vallée du Guil, rivière tumultueuse qui scinde le massif du Queyras en deux parties. Les quelques jours de VTT qui nous attendent vont nous permettre de rouler sur les plus beaux sentiers du massif, que ce soit au nord au sud de la limite naturelle que représente la vallée du Guil. Le sud d'abord ! Nous partons à l'attaque du coeur du parc naturel du Queyras, dont une des portes à franchir sera pour nous le col de Chamoussière puis le col Vieux. La montée est l'occasion d'ouvrir grands les yeux et d'admirer les premières faces imposantes qui se dressent devant nos pneus. La couleur un peu bleutée des montagnes queyrassines est très particulière, et très esthétique. Nous ne sommes pas loin de la frontière avec l'Italie, le Queyras représentant, à l'instar de la Vanoise ou du Mercantour, un poste frontière naturel. Passage à Saint Véran, célèbre pour être qualifiée de "plus haute commune de France" et à l'architecture queyrassine très marquée : cadrans solaires, toits en lauze et en tavaillons, fontaines...le village est vraiment splendide. Nous poursuivons dans le sens de la montée jusqu'à atteindre le col de Chamoussière, puis, après une courte descente et une remontée un peu "bataille", le col Vieux. Nous sommes, à vol d'oiseau, à quelques centaines de mètres de l'Italie. La montagne pyramidale du Pain de Sucre nous fait de l'oeil, et tente de cacher son grand frère le Viso, juste derrière. Mais pour nous, il s'agit maintenant de profiter d'une descente mémorable en terrain de montagne...le sifflement des marmottes aidant, nous traversons la succession de lacs d'altitude qui nous sépare de l'amont du Guil, aux environs de Ristolas, où nous retrouvons notre gîte, dans un lieu paradisiaque...

Distance covered: approx. 40 km / ascent: approx. 1700 m

Day 2: Ristolas - Villard Gaudin

Le vrombissement du Guil sera de retour dès que nous mettrons le nez dehors ce matin. Parti du Mont Viso, il est déjà puissant et capricieux. Il nous sert de guide pour cette première partie de matinée, car nous roulons parallèlement à son lit, jusqu'à retrouver Château Queyras. L'échauffement étant terminé, nous attaquons la partie montant de cette journée. Pour nous motiver, pensons que la descente qui nous attend n'est rien de moins qu'une des 5 plus belles de tout le massif... Tout d'abord par une petite route montante, permettant de gagner quelques centaines de mètres assez vite, puis par une piste ombragée, la vue s'ouvre petit à petit...Le Pic de Rochebrune nous toise, nous défie. Nous baissons les yeux devant lui, car nous ne relèverons pas le défi avec nos vélos ! Nous montons à près de 2350 m, dans une ambiance "haute montagne" incomparable...Un superbe single track en balcon nous permet de contourner une croupe, derrière laquelle nous attend LA descente sur Souliers, la fameuse qui justifie à elle seule d'avoir avalé ce dénivelé. Nous nous élançons dans cette descente, avec le sourire aux lèvres que nous garderons jusqu'en bas : sentier étroit mais très roulant, alternant parties rapides et épingles faciles, les troncs des Mélèzes défilent dans notre champ de vision, le freinage est précis et le placement de roue aussi. Nous avons tous le bonheur au bout du guidon ! Arrivés à Souliers, joli petit village de montagne à la fontaine revigorante. Descente sur Arvieux, sur la route de l'Izoard, puis à Villard Gaudin où un bon repas chaud nous attend déjà !

Distance covered: approx. 50 km / ascent: approx. 1450 m

Day 3: Villard Gaudin - Arvieux

Départ de Villard Gaudin en mettant le cap au nord, en direction du col de l'Izoard, une des portes d'entrée du massif du Queyras. Nous remontons le torrent de l'Izoard en alternant passages en forêts et en lisière de champs, les rares champs cultivés des ces vallées de montagne. Nous effleurons Brunissard, dernier bastion habité avant le col fameux du Tour de France, mais divergeons rapidement pour partir à rouler sur un itinéraire en boucle avec pour phare le Pic du Béal Traversier. Là encore, ambiance haute montagne assurée ! Passages aux bucoliques chalets de Clapeyto, au col du Néal (2509m), avant de redescendre par un itinéraire tantôt technique (mais pas trialisant), tantôt plus roulant, comme le Queyras en compte tant. Retour à et nuit à Arvieux.

Distance covered: approx. 40 km / ascent: approx. 1800 m

Day 4: Arvieux - Château Queyras

Au départ d'Arvieux, montée tonique par single track dans la forêt, avant de retrouver la piste qui nous mène au col de Furfande. Une ascension de 900m sur piste...c'est la première partie montant de la journée, que nous réalisons le matin, à notre rythme. Les deux tiers du dénivelé se font sous les bois, offrant une fraîcheur de l'air qui favorise notre "grimpette". Et puis...comme nous avons appris à le constater dans le Queyras, on ne monte jamais pour rien ! Que ce soit pour le splendide panorama du haut du col de Furfande, depuis lequel il nous est possible de dessiner au doigt notre itinéraire du premier jour, où bien la mythique descente qui s'en suit, nous ne regrettons jamais les "bavantes".  Descente sur single track puis itinéraire à profil descendant jusqu'au col de la Lauze. Descente dans la vallée puis remontée de 450 m de dénivelée pour rejoindre le bucolique lac de Roué. Petite partie de montagnes russes, puis nous nous approchons de la fin du périple..Superbe dernière dévalade sur single track avant de rejoindre le point de départ de ce week end, à Château Queyras.

Distance covered: approx. 40 km / ascent: approx. 1900 m

Itinerary end: Separation is on the last day at Château Queyras at around 5 pm.

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

Dates and price

Dates
Please, contact us.

Costs and services guided tour

Price per person for 3 day biking programme:
The price includes:
  • Fully qualified English-speaking French mountain bike guide 
  • 2 nights in mountain lodges (gîte d'étapes) in double rooms
  • 2 breakfasts
  • 3 picnic lunch
  • 2 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
Price per person for 4 day biking programme:
The price includes:
  • Fully qualified English-speaking French mountain bike guide 
  • 3 nights in mountain lodges (gîte d'étapes) in double rooms
  • 3 breakfasts
  • 4 picnic lunch
  • 3 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
What is not included:
  • International flights
  • 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 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:

Extra night in Chateau Queyras in a gite, double room, breakfast included 75 € / 

Full suspension MTB Down Country (3 days) 165 € / 

Full suspension MTB Down Country (4 days) 220 € / 

Mountain bike rental

  • Front suspension mountain bike rental: (130mm suspension travel, Scott Spark 960 or equivalent): 165€ (3 days), 220€ (4 days)
  • Full suspension mountain bike rental: (150mm suspension travel, Scott Genius or equivalent): 195€ (3 days), 255€ (4 days)

Please confirm your height and bike choice on your trip reservation form.

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.

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 Château-Ville-Vieille train station (about 6h by TGV train).
https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

By plane:

  • From Lyon airport: join the Lyon train station and head to Château-Ville-Vieille.

By car:
Route planner: en.mappy.com


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.

Groupe 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.

  • 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
  • Cereal bars and dried fruit during the day
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)

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.

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.

Important note: Our insurance contract is only valid for persons with a permanent residence in Europe. The “liability insurance abroad” included in the contracts is only valid for persons with a permanent residence in France. Details can be found in the policy booklet (see below).

If you subscribe to one of the contracts, the insurance policy will be available on your France Bike Trips customer account.

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.

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

Material provided by France Bike Trips (guided version only):
  • A group first aid kit
  • A repair kit and tools
Personal equipment to bring:
Luggage

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, extra clothing, sunglasses...

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:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or headband
  • A mountain bike helmet (COMPULSORY).
For your upper body
  • Two cycling jerseys (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 with chamois
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
  • A swimsuit
  • Waterproof trousers (recommended for our alpine tours)
For your feet
  • Mountain bike shoes (“multi-activity / outdoor” type with grippy soles or clipless biking shoes)
  • Sports socks (+ warm wool socks for our alpine tours)
  • Sandals (not compulsory, but nice during breaks...).
For your mountain bike

If you rent your MTB from France Bike Trips, this material is not necessary.

  • If you have tires with tubes: 2 spare tubes + puncture repair kit
  • If you have tubeless tires: sealant, a tube with presta valve (just in case), a spare tire
  • If you have V-brakes: 2 sets of replacement brake pads
  • If you have disc brakes: 2 sets of replacement pads
  • A rear derailleur cable + 1 rear brake cable
  • Chain lube
  • A pump
  • A high pressure pump for your suspension  (optional, your guide will have one).
  • VERY IMPORTANT: A spare derailleur hanger  (only if your rear derailleur is not integral to the frame).
Various
  • A pair of MTB gloves (+ warm waterproof gloves for our alpine tours)
  • A bike lock
  • A head torch with batteries
  • A pair of spare laces
  • A toiletry kit and towel
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or camelbak)
  • A pocket knife
  • Some plastic bags to protect your equipment
  • A needle and thread
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Dates

Can be booked any time from July to middle of October.

Supplementary services

Prices per person:

Extra night in Chateau Queyras in a gite, double room, breakfast included 75 € / 

Full suspension MTB Down Country (3 days) 165 € / 

Full suspension MTB Down Country (4 days) 220 € / 

picnic lunch : 12 € per day

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person for a group of:

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

3 day biking programme:
The price includes:
  • 2 nights in mountain lodges (gîte d'étapes) in double rooms
  • 2 breakfasts
  • 2 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Detailed travel documents, maps and GPS tracks
4 day biking programme:

The price includes:

  • 3 nights in mountain lodges (gîte d'étapes) in double rooms
  • 3 breakfasts
  • 3 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Detailed travel documents, maps and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • Lunch meals
  • International flights
  • 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 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".

Option analogue maps

We offer digital map material with highlighted tracks for our self-guided tours by default. These are printable (A4, pdf format). On request, we can provide you with analogue maps containing the highlighted itinerary and route infos (official French maps at a scale of
1:25,000). Shipment will be made to the accommodation of your extra night before the tour.

Price of this option incl. shipping within France: see above

Please let us know in the booking form if you would like this option. Please also give us an accommodation address for shipping if you do not
book an extra night through us before the tour.

GPS tracks

If you choose to book a self-guided tour, we provide the GPS tracks of the route. You will be able to download the GPX type files from your France Bike Trips user account once you receive our travel documents by email. They are compatible with all current GPS software applications and editors.

Accuracy

These tracks have been created using professional mapping software. There may be slight differences between the GPS track and the reality on the terrain. The GPS tracks should thus be considered a "plus" to help you find your way. However, they are by no means a substitute for orientation with the help of the highlighted map material.

The distances and altitude gain in the tour's programme remain the reference. Indeed, real-world altitude and mileages can be different and vary significantly from the data shown in GPS software applications.

Data privacy

We ask you not to publish these GPS tracks on any website, social network or anywhere else. Their elaboration required many hours of hard work, both to create the track in the field, but also in our software applications. The non-respect of this ethic would force us to remove these valuable tool from our offer.

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
Pieter G. | Participant rating:
"Stunning scenery, next level riding. Maybe losing half a star for accommodation but it was a trip we will never forget! "
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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

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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.

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