Bike Across France
Serene cycling through unspoiled southwestern France
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It’s time to discover a new world! Nouvelle Aquitaine and Occitanie in the southwest rival the best of Italy for its storied history, castles, lush green scenery, stone villages, excellent wines, ancient art, prehistoric sites, generous people, and hearty provincial cuisine. Explore it with us on this deliciously offbeat itinerary.
On this bike across journey, we cycle along country lanes and discover that every trail reveals a fantastic scene from traditional France: timeless villages of golden stone, hilltop castles shining like visions from a medieval tale, and towering oak forests where a knight on a white horse might not look out of place. The full cultural immersion in this corner of France is facilitated by the amazing enchanting towns visited and included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, like Saint-Emilion in Bordeaux area and Albi and Carcassonne. The medieval town of Sarlat located in a region called Perigord Noir, is also another treasure we will explore.
Tour Essence
- Discover four UNESCO World Heritage sites: Saint Emilion, Vezere Valley, Albi, and the Carcassonne fortress
- Discover the road less traveled in the rural idyllic regions of Nouvelle Aquitaine and Occitanie.
- Savor the wines of four major wine areas: Bordeaux, Bergerac, Cahors, Gaillac
- Learn about the prehistoric sites of Grotte de Font-de-Gaume and Medieval Castelnaud Castle in Dordogne
- Visit the town of Carcassonne and the museum of Toulouse-Lautrec
- Stay in charming hotels, stunning castles, and classic properties
- If it is market day, feel like a local in Sarlat
- Go on a stunning canoe ride on the Dordogne River
What to Expect
Terrain
Rolling with a few climbsStart Location
Saint-EmilionEnd Location
CarcassonneMileage
Average Daily: 40/46 miles Total: 285/319 milesElevation
Average Daily: 3,030/3,383 ft Total: 21,210/23,687 ftOnce you have a trip confirmed, we will feed you a steady diet of additional pre-departure information that includes: How to train, prepare, pack and all the wonderful, inspirational and practical things you want and need to know before you go! Our Travel Advisors will be available to help plan your pre- and post-tour travel.
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Service of professional guides throughout the program
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2 wine tastings
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Cycling clinics and one-on-one coaching
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4 guided visits: prehistoric decorated cave, Castelnaud Castle, historical town of Carcassonne, Albi historical center and Cathedral
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Canoe ride on the Dordogne River
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Shuttle at the end of the tour
What’s Included
- Use of our exclusive carbon road bike, La Classica Ribelle (or Equivalent Carbon Road Bike)
- Garmin Edge Explore GPS loaded with the GPX tracks of your rides
- Two water bottles
- Saddle bag with repair kit
- Optional: Map holder on handlebar
Pedal Options:
- Flat pedals
- Half-toe pedals (without straps)
What’s Not Included
- Helmet
- Optional: clipless/SPD pedals with shoes
- Optional: your own saddle
- All accommodations
- All breakfasts
- 2 lunches
- 6 dinners
The list of activities range from two wine tastings to a canoe ride on the Dordogne River. This tour has been beautifully tailored to peel back the layers of history, while savoring the gastronomy and the French lifestyle in the southwest, all from the vantage point of our saddle to really feel immersed in the nature, looking for the right rhythm to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience in this unforgettable corner of Europe. Allez, allez les cyclistes!
2025
Start Location
Saint-EmilionFly Into
Paris, FranceEnd Location
CarcassonneFly Out Of
Paris, FranceSaint-Emilion Warm-Up Ride
Meals Provided
Lunch, DinnerAverage Mileage
12 milesElevation Gain
472 ftRiding Terrain
Flat and rollingMeals Provided
Lunch, DinnerAccommodations
Château Grand Barrail Hotel & Spa
The 5-star hotel Grand Barrail offers sumptuous guest rooms, split between the château and its smaller guest buildings, and a gourmet restaurant serving mouthwatering food and fine wines. The hotel is surrounded by a tree-acre park, and facilities include a spa, outdoor swimming pool, fitness room, sauna, hot tub, and Turkish baths.
Bergerac Area
Meals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAverage Mileage
57 milesElevation Gain
3,100 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling with a few climbsMeals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAccommodations
Château Les Merles
The 4-star boutique hotel is situated near Bergerac amidst vineyards and forests, providing stunning views of the scenic Dordogne Valley. The hotel boasts a contemporary and stylish design and spacious rooms. Guests can enjoy two swimming pools, a tennis court, and a nine-hole golf course. The hotel’s gourmet restaurant, rated by Gault Millau, serves modern and creative cuisine using regional products and produce from its garden.
Sarlat
Meals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAverage Mileage
45/62 milesElevation Gain
3,000/4,000 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling with some 1-2 mile climbs—more climbs and descents on extra loopMeals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAccommodations
Plaza Madeleine Hotel & Spa
The 4-star Plaza Madeleine is ideally located at the entrance of the medieval city, home to famous monuments, markets and shops, numerous restaurants, and street shows and performances. The hotel offers a heated pool with a terrace and sun lounge and a relaxing space with a sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi.
Dordogne River Canoe Ride
Meals Provided
Breakfast, LunchMeals Provided
Breakfast, LunchAccommodations
Plaza Madeleine Hotel & Spa
The 4-star Plaza Madeleine is ideally located at the entrance of the medieval city, home to famous monuments, markets and shops, numerous restaurants, and street shows and performances. The hotel offers a heated pool with a terrace and sun lounge and a relaxing space with a sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi.
Château de Mercuès
Meals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAverage Mileage
47/59 milesElevation Gain
4,100/4,700 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling with a few 2-3 mile climbs—more climbs and descents on extra loopMeals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAccommodations
Château de Mercuès
Be transported by a unique feel at the four-star Château de Mercuès, a wine-estate hotel in the Relais & Châteaux group. This beautiful medieval castle, perched on a rocky outcrop, overlooks the picturesque Lot Valley and Cahors vineyards, giving exceptional views from every vantage point. Stroll along the castle’s vast halls to find a small chapel hidden inside one tower, down the immense staircases to the underground 21,500-square-foot cellar, or to the outdoor swimming pool.
Albi
Meals Provided
BreakfastAverage Mileage
45 milesElevation Gain
4,000 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling with a few climbs between 2 and 3 milesMeals Provided
BreakfastAccommodations
Hotel Alchimy
This family-run 4-star design hotel, housed in an Art Deco building on a quiet street right next to the old town, offers chic rooms and suites alongside friendly, unobtrusive service. The brasserie is hip and quirky, and the deconstructed cocktails served in the bar are really quite special.
Fiac
Meals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAverage Mileage
35 milesElevation Gain
2,800 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling with some 2-mile climbMeals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAccommodations
Château de Fiac Hotel & Spa
The Château de Fiac is a 4-star hotel located in the charming village of Fiac in the Tarn region. The estate dates back to the 19th century and spans over 3 hectares of beautifully landscaped grounds. The hotel offers a peaceful, relaxing experience and has 16 rooms that perfectly blend modernity and history. The Renaissance Restaurant on the premises serves exquisite dishes that celebrate the region’s flavors. The chef expertly pairs locally sourced products to create delicious and unforgettable meals. The hotel also features a stunning infinity pool and a Spa.
Carcassonne
Meals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAverage Mileage
44/49 milesElevation Gain
3,738/4,615 ftRiding Terrain
One 6-mile gradual climb and long descentMeals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAccommodations
Hotel de la Cité
Located in the heart of the medieval city, the 5-star Hotel de la Cité was built on a former episcopal palace site. It adjoins the Saint-Nazaire Basilica and offers an enchanting view of the lower town from the ramparts, showcasing the city’s gardens, walls, and stones that have survived the centuries. The Hotel is a magical 19th-century Neo-Gothic masterpiece situated in medieval Carcassonne. It features 46 rooms and 13 suites, an outdoor pool, and a shaded park.