What’s included with your tour

“What was really outstanding was the professionalism and the service provided by the guides, in particular Joe and Ross! They are really incredibly nice, professional and amicable.”

Frank & Gillian, England

Not all cycle vacations are the same. Compare what is included in a French Cycling Holidays bike tour:

• Flexible collection from local airport or train station
• Quality Trek bicycles
• Quality helmets (if required)
• Water bottles (to take home as souvenirs)
• Detailed riding instructions and colour route maps
• Charming 3* (occasionally 4*) auberges, inns and hotels
• Gourmet dinners for all 6 nights of your holiday
• Fine wine (or soft drink alternative) with all evening meals and cofee to follow
• 2 experienced bilingual guides with each tour
• Delivery of your luggage to your hotel room each day
• Entry fees to attractions and historical sites
• Flexible onward transfers
• An unforgettable experience!

We try to include as much as we can within the price, while keeping things as flexible as possible. With the explosion of low cost airlines and the easy access to the TGV rail system from the UK, we believe that it is more economical and convenient for customers to arrange their own travel to the region. Links to the airlines and railway companies can be found in frequently asked questions.

Transfers

We provide the transfers to and from the local airports and the nearest TGV stations, and other locations by arrangement. If you have driven down, we arrange secure parking for your car and return you to it after the tour.

Hotels

“The places we ate, the places we stayed were first rate. We enjoyed every minute and cannot recommend this company enough.”

Peter, USA

We stay in very comfortable hotels, mostly 3***, occasionally 4****, and very occasionally superior 2** hotels which we choose if they have charm and comfort above their rating. All rooms have en-suite shower or bath facilities. We select our hotels for their character as well as their facilities, and avoid chains in favour of independent privately run hotels. Prices are based on two sharing in twin or double rooms. Singles are available on request. Where possible, we choose hotels with swimming pools as there is nothing quite like a dip after a day in the saddle!

For examples of some of the hotels we use on our tours, please follow the following links:

• Mas de Cure Bourse, L'Isle sur la Sorgue (both Provence tours)
• Hotel Calendal, Arles (Provence Roman Heritage tour)
• Le Castellas, Collias (Provence Roman Heritage tour)
• Château de Saint-Martin-des-Champs, Murviel-les-Béziers (Languedoc tour)
• Hostellerie des Sept Molles, Sauveterre de Comminges (Classic Cols tour)
• Hostellerie Le Beffroi , Vaison-la-Romaine (Provence Villages of the Luberon tour)
• Le Bon Laboureur, Chenonceaux (Loire Valley of the Kings tour)
• Château de Rochecotte (Loire Valley Sunflowers Vines & Chateaux tour)
• Relais des Landes (Loire Valley of the Kings tour)
• Chateau de Mazan (Provence Villages of the Luberon tour)
• Chateau de Bellecroix (Burgundy tour)
• Le Ranquet (Languedoc tour)
• Chateau de Saulon (Burgundy tour)
• Chateau de Madieres (Languedoc Tour)
• Manoir de Beaulieu (Dordogne tour)
• Manoir St-Thomas (Loire Valley of the Kings tour)
• Chateau de Vigiers (Bordeaux tour)
• Chateau de Beaulieu (Loire Valley Sunflowers Vines and Chateaux tour)

Meals

All evening meals are included, and we carefully select the restaurants for cuisine and ambience, and favour those with a strong regional flavour. All meals include a starter, main course and dessert, some will have an additional cheese course.

We also include wine with the meals, again favouring the local appelations of which there are so many! Breakfasts are included, usually continental although many hotels will provide a buffet-style breakfast. We do not include lunch as different people have different requirements, but we do suggest restaurants for lunch. On some tours, a picnic lunch may be provided on one or two days.

Bikes and equipment

We provide lightweight alloy framed Trek ‘hybrid’ touring bicycles with 24 indexed gears, fully equipped with lock, pump and toolkit (although our guides will generally be on hand to fix punctures and minor mechanical problems).

For carrying the items you might need during the day (camera, wallet, windbreaker etc.) we fit a capacious handlebar bag which also features a large map pocket. These clip on and off the bike in a flash so that you can always take your valuables with you when off the bike.

The bikes are meticulously maintained and we keep a wide range of sizes. We do not provide helmets automatically, as we find people prefer their own if they want to wear one, and sizing and fit is quite personal; however we always have helmets available for use. We also carry rain-capes should they be required (but hopefully not!). For certain tours we also have available 27 speed drop-handlebar race-style bikes, and tandems may also be available on certain tours by special request. Please contact us for details.

Guides and backup

“Hi Mike - we thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Would love to go back and do more. Your guys John and Ali were great.”

Con, South Africa

There will be two guides on every tour; one cycling with the group and one in the minibus which will follow the group. The bus carries all luggage not required for the day's ride and will always be available for anyone at any point during the day. If for instance you want to take a day off the bike, or if a particular day seems a little hard, the bus will take you for as long or as little as you wish it to.

Everybody is provided with detailed route maps for each day, and both guides are easily contactable by mobile phone. The guides are enthusiastic experts on the local area and will be able to sort out any problems or special requests that you might have.