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Road bike France

A journey through the jewels of the South West, from La Rochelle to Sète !Ref CR35

All the atmosphere of the south-west is brought together in this completely new cycling trip! From La Rochelle to Sète, from the Atlantic ocean to the Mediterranean sea, we cross a wide range of landscapes, landforms and villages. With the two Medieval towers of La Rochelle in our backs, our journey begins through the Charente countryside and the Cognac vineyards. Then come the splendid Perigord valleys of the Vézère and the Dordogne, they later accompany us to Rocamadour, one of the most beautiful villages in France. As the landscape begins to take shape, we head towards the Lot valley and its perched villages, until we cross the Rouergue and Conques, the famous site of the Way of Saint James. Like citadels that we hope to be able to take, the Causses now rise up in front of us: we stick with them as far as the Salagou lake, the gateway to the Hérault hinterland, which we discover before reaching our target : the Mediterranean sea!

Tour with assistance vehicle: from 1365€ - Details Duration : 8 days | Level : Customer satisfaction : - 2 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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In the event that there are official travel or mobility restrictions in France or in your country of origin at the booked tour dates (official travel warning, quarantine upon return, closed borders) which make it impossible for you to undertake the trip, we offer to defer your booking to a later date at no extra charge. If no suitable date can be found, we offer a full reimbursement.
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Highlights

  • A crossing available in 3 different difficulty levels
  • The changing landforms
  • The beautiful valleys crossed or followed: Charente, Vézère, Dordogne, Lot, Aveyron, Dourbie...
  • The numerous villages full of character: Sarlat, Rocamadour, Conques...

Description


Choose each day

Each day you choose between different routes with varying distances and altitude gain (from level 1 to level 3).

Day 1: La Rochelle - Cognac

Itinerary start: We will meet you on day 1 at 9am at the SNCF train station in La Rochelle (precise meeting point given in your travel file).

The driver of the assistance vehicle will welcome you at the main exit of the train station, take care of your luggage and give you a short briefing on the organisation of the week and, more particularly, on the day's stage. You are now ready to leave!

Let's go for this new crossing of the south west of France! We leave the towers, the arcaded houses and the port of La Rochelle and discover the Charente region, with the first look upon the Cognac vineyards.

Highlights:

  • Tonnay Boutonne and its 14th century St Pierre gate (level 1)
  • Rochefort and its Corderie Royale (level 2)
  • Brouage, a city fortified by Richelieu (17th century) (level 3)
  • Marennes, its oyster farms (level 3)
  • The banks of the Charentes river, its castles
  • Arrival in the Cognac region and its trading houses (possible visit)

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 1 : approx. 90 km and 700 m.
  • Level 2 : approx. 110 km and 700 m.
  • Level 3 : approx. 160 km and 990 m.
Day 2: Cognac - Nontron

A rolling stage between the Charente valley and the Périgord Limousin natural park, or between vineyards and châteaux...

Highlights:

  • Dolmen de Garde Epée (level 2)
  • Feudal castle of Pranzac , Bouteville , Montbron (level 2)
  • Chatain Besson pass (235 m)

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 1 : approx. 100 km and 1100 m.
  • Level 2 : approx. 110 km and 1200 m.
  • Level 3: approx. 140 km and 1700 m.
Day 3 : Nontron - Thonac

As we approach the Périgord, the valleys become more entrenched and offer us our first challenges.

Highlights:

  • Castles of Vau Goubert, Agonac, Ajat, Puy Robert, Losse (level 1)
  • Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park (level 2)
  • Castles of Le Cheylard, La Falquette and Les Evêques (level 3)
  • Arrival near the prehistoric site of Lascaux (visit possible on reservation)
  • The banks of the Vézère river

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 1: approx. 90 km and 1000 m.
  • Level 2: approx. 115 km and 1300 m.
  • Level 3: approx. 130 km and 1500 m.
Day 4: Thonac - Rocamadour

Second and last day of crossing the Périgord: we enjoy its beautiful villages, the Dordogne valley and the castles overlooking it...and we make our first turns towards the Causse du Quercy: the vegetation starts to change...

Highlights:

  • Les Eyzies, its caves and troglodyte houses (levels 2 and 3)
  • Th medieval town of Sarlat, regional capital of truffles and foie gras
  • The Bastide of Domme
  • The Dordogne valley
  • Arrival at Rocamadour, one of the most beautiful villages in France!

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 1: approx. 80 km and 1100 m.
  • Level 2: approx. 110 km and 1700 m.
  • Level 3: approx. 125 km and 1700 m.
Day 5: Rocamadour - Conques

Just like the 2022 Tour de France, departure from the hilltop town of Rocamadour with the goal of reaching a major site of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage. Heading for the Rouergue region, crossing the Causse de Quercy and then being guided by the Lot. This time, the landform is more and more pronounced !

Highlights:

  • Departure from Rocamadour, stage town of the 2022 Tour de France
  • The roads of the Way of Saint James, the route from Puy en Velay
  • The Causse du Quercy, its dry stone walls and the beautiful valleys that surround it
  • The Lot valley and its meanders
  • Saint Cirq Lapopie, medieval village (level 3)
  • Conques and its Romanesque abbey church

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 1: approx. 90 km and 1200 m.
  • Level 2: approx. 125 km and 1300 m.
  • Level 3: approx. 145 km and 1400 m.

Please note that in case of availability issues, the night in Conques could be replaced by a night in Decazeville, without any impact on the quality of the routes.

Day 6: Conques - Millau

Head south to the capital of Rouergue, Rodez, before reaching Millau, at the gates of the Grands Causses via the Causse Comtal and its dry grasslands.

Highlights:

  • Castle of Floyrac
  • The banks of the Viaur, the Rauzes peat bogs
  • Aujols pass (870 m) (level 1)
  • The Levezou plateau
  • Dolmen and castle of Varés, castle of Loupiac (level 2)
  • Gliding down the Tarn gorges via the Saint Rome de Dolan pass, 909 m, (level 2)
  • Sainte Eulalie d'Olt, one of the most beautiful villages in France (level 3)
  • The banks of the Lot, Pomayrols castle (level 3)
  • La Canourgue, medieval village at the gates of the Causse de Sauveterre (level 3)
  • The Millau viaduct and its belfry

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 1 : approx. 100 km and 1500 m.
  • Level 2 : approx. 130 km and 1300 m.
  • Level 3 : approx. 150 km and 1900 m.
Day 7: Millau - Lodève

Depending on the level chosen, our route of the day faces the causses or avoids them by staying in the valley. In any case, a good number of viewpoints and remarkable sites, whether natural or man-made.

Highlights:

  • The Dourbie gorges
  • Col de la Barrière 808 m
  • The Causses of Campestre and Blandas (Navacelles cirque)
  • Belvedere of the Doline, Vis gorges (level 3)
  • Col de la Pierre Plantée 867 m (level 2 et 3)
  • Col des Rhodes 922 m (level 2 et 3)
  • Col de la Barrière 808 m (level 2 et 3)
  • Col de Campviel 754 m (level 2 et 3)
  • Col de Fontaret 714 m (level 2 et 3)

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 1 : approx. 90 km and 1000 m.
  • Level 2: approx. 120 km and 1800 m.
  • Level 3: approx. 140 km and 1900 m.
Day 8: Lodève - Sète

The mediterranean sea is finally ours! Today we switch from the southern foothills of the Causses to the plains of the Hérault hinterland. A shorter stage to take advantage of the moment, put the bikes down facing the sea and enjoy a refreshing swim!

Highlights:

  • The Salagou lake and its ochre soil
  • The Thau pond, located between land and sea
  • The seafront and the Sète port

Distance and altitude gain:

  • Level 1: approx. 75 km and 800 m.
  • Level 2: approx. 90 km and 1100 m.
  • Levels 3: approx. 145 km and 2300 m.

Itinerary end: The tour ends at the SNCF train station in Sète from 2 pm. Usually, before the separation, we enjoy a little drink together by the sea (not included in the price).

The Vélorizons Sète - Clermont Ferrand vehicle (see paragraph "Transfer from and to Clermont Ferrand"), leaves Sète at the latest at 4 pm. It will be waiting for you in front of the station with your luggage from 3pm.

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

Average tour rating:

5/5 - 2 Reviews
Chris S. | Participant rating:
"Really happy with everything. Really good value for money. Henry was great with his logistics.
It would have been nice to have a little more focus on the local foods. We went through some iconic regions but there was no special focus on the cuisine. A relatively minor matter in what was otherwise a fantastic trip."
Courtney O. | Participant rating:
"Overall great value for an amazing trip across France. I was surprised by the beauty of many of the regions we cycled through - especially the Dordogne, which felt like riding through a fairy tale. If you care more about beautiful routes and quaint hotels than luxury travel (that costs 3-4 times as much...), I highly recommend!"