Cycling holiday Champagne, Epernay-Paris

Champagne, Epernay – Paris

Vineyards and cheese farms

Starting at € 1.190,-
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Summary
  • 8 Days Saturday to Saturday
  • 48 km average per day
  • Arrival Epernay Paris Charles de Gaulle
  • Departure Paris Paris Charles de Gaulle
Highlights
  • Champagne tasting in Epernay
  • Meaux region for Brie cheese
  • WW1 monuments at Château-Thierry and Dormans
  • Paris
Characteristics
  • Guided Tour
  • Group Tour
  • Bike & Barge
  • Cycling level 1

    Distance: 35-50 km average per day. Altitude: 0-100 hm average per day. The lightest cycling holiday; over mostly flat terrain, with not too long daily distances (average 50 km). Short spicy slopes with height differences of up to ± 100 meters occur.

Vineyards and cheese farms

Thinking about champagne you can already hear the sparkling. Perhaps you never thought of combining a visit to this region with a bike and barge trip but here it is, a bike and barge tour from Epernay, the true capital of the Champagne region to Paris.

At the starting point, Epernay you are in the middle of the Champagne industry and can start your tour with the tasting of various sparkling wines. After the Champagne region follows the rural countryside of the Meaux region, famous for its Brie cheeses. You pass through country fought over heavily in WW1 and you will visit several monuments commemorating the men that fought here over 100 years ago. You ride into Paris via the Marne and its parallel, the Marne-Rhine canal. A very French tour centered around good wine and good cheese!

Daily Program

  • Day 1 Saturday: Epernay
    Cycletours Holidays Barges Clair de Lune on River

    Arrival between 12 and 2 p.m. at the mooring place of the Clair de Lune near center of Epernay. In the evening the guide can take you on a guided city walk. Epernay is with Reims the major wine center of the Champagne region. Epernay has many town houses dating in neo-renaissance style or classical style dating from the 19th century, especially around the beautiful Avenue the Champagne where prestigious champagne houses, such as Moët & Chandon and Mercier, are situated.

  • Day 2 Sunday: Epernay, roundtrip 25 km

    On this first cycling day we have not made it too hard for you in distance At first you ride along the quiet canal parallel to the Marne river to Ay and Mareuil-sur-Ay. After that you ride via the village of Dizy to reach Hautvillers. A bit of a challenging ascent brings you to this picturesque village. Hautvilliers on the southern slopes of the Montagne de Reims is the place where champagne was in fact invented. You will visit the chapel with the tomb of the monk Dom Pérignon (1638-1715). Dom Pérignon pioneered several techniques, and was the first to blend grapes to improve wines and make them of a better quality. Double fermentation, characteristic for the making of champagne, was introduced also by him. Upon you return you can take your time to visit the center of Epernay. Why not enjoy a Champagne tasting and take a tour in one of the major Champagne houses.

  • Day 3 Monday: Epernay – Dormans - Château-Thierry 45 km

    In the morning the first ride is to the Château de Boursault, a large castle built in 1848 by the widow of Mr. Cliquot, who gave her name (“Veuve Cliquot”) to a famous Champagne wine. A ride up the hill to the village of Châtillon-sur-Marne rewards you with a stunning panorama over the Marne valley and the Champagne vineyards. From here it is mostly downhill to Dormans, a quiet village on the Marne with a castle and chapel in memory of the battles of the Marne in WW1. In Domans the Clair de Lune is waiting for us and we sail downstream to Château-Thierry. This nice little town was the site of two important battles: the Battle of 1814 in the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle of 1918 at the end of World War I.

  • Day 4 Tuesday: Château-Thierry - La Ferté-sous-Jouarre 50 km

    A long and somewhat challenging ride today from Château-Thierry to La-Ferté-sous-Jouarre. At first the cycling track leads you to the large WW1 American War Cemetery and Monument near Belleau. Later on you ride along the little stream Clignon. Still riding uphill you finally reach the plateau above the northern part of the Marne valley. This is an area with woods in the valleys and fields with wheat and other crops on the hills. Going down you will take a side valley and follow country roads through various small villages until you reach the Marne and eventually the charming village of La Ferte?-sous-JouarreJouarre, is a center of Brie making and you will be able to find a place where you can enjoy a the tasting of the famous Brie de Meaux and Brie noir cheeses.

  • Day 5 Wednesday: La Ferté -sous-Jouarre - Meaux 40 km

    After breakfast you hop on your bikes and will have to climb a few challenging hills, leaving the valley in the direction of Meaux. In the afternoon you stay in the valley of the river with a ride through Lizy-sur-Ourcq and Trilport. Today’s destination is the city of Meaux, famous for its “Brie de Meaux” cheeses and the magnificent Cathedral St.-Etienne.

  • Day 6 Thursday: Meaux - Lagny-sur-Marne 45 km

    From Meaux you will first follow the small Canal de l’Ourq and the road will be mostly flat. The next part of the day is quite hilly, because you have to leave the valley of the Marne. Later on you again ride down to the river and follow the Marne river and its parallel canal to Lagny-sur-Marne.

  • Day 7 Friday: Lagny-sur-Marne - Paris 35 km

    This last cycling day takes you along the banks of the Marne until you reach the canal de l’Ourcq. This canal was built by order of Emperor Napoleon and provided the city of Paris with water. It also played an important role in the transportation of goods to and from Paris. A separate bike path along the canal takes to the mooring spot of the Clair de Lune in the Basin de la Vilette or the Bassin de l’ Arsenal in the center of Paris.

  • Day 8 Saturday: Paris

    End of the tour after breakfast, before 10 AM. 

Cycling in France

Our carefully selected routes will lead you along the most beautiful spots of the country. The average daily distance is around 45 kilometers. Most participants prefer riding in a group with the cycling guide, but you can also ride individually. A road book is included (1x per cabin). Gps-tracks can be provided by e-mail.

Blue cornflower and orange poppy
Champagne Winery
Jouarre
Cycletours Holidays Barges Clair de Lune on River
Clair de Lune
Epernay
Grapes
Champagne region
Feniks

Travel Dates

Departure
End
Accommodation
Starting at
Availability
Departure
29 Jun 2024
End
06 Jul 2024
Accommodation
Feniks
Starting at
€ 1.190,-
Availability
Fully booked

What else do you need to know?

Prices are per person in 2024

Supplements:
Reservation costs € 25,- per booking
Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)

Feniks

Luxury cabin € 1.550,-
Twin cabin € 1.345,- 
Bunk bed cabin € 1.190,- 
Bunk bed cabin single use € 1.625,- 

Feniks: Special diet if requested when booking € 75,- per diet, if requested when boarding € 100,-.

Extra options:
Rental touring bike per week € 100,-
E-bike per week € 195,-

Included

  • Cabin with shower/toilet ensuite
  • 7x Breakfast, 7x lunch and 6x (3 course) dinner per week
  • Coffee, tea and biscuits
  • Afternoon snacks
  • Multi lingual tour guide
  • Bike insurance
  • Daily check and cleaning of your cabin
  • Daily care of your personal laundry

Not Included

  • Reservation fee 
  • Contribution Dutch Guarantee Funds (Insolvency Protection)
  • Bike rental (incl. pannier, helmet and water bottle)
  • Entrance fees
  • Meals other than mentioned
  • (non-) alcoholic beverages aboard and ashore
  • Personal insurance

Special details

  • This tour is operated by our partner (owner of the barge Feniks)
  • Please take good notice of our Terms & Conditions
  • The program is subject to change without notice

Info

You are expected at the barge on Saturday afternoon, between 12 PM and 2 PM. You can bring your luggage earlier to the barge, but not  before 11 AM. We are busy cleaning the barge, but we can provide you with suggestions to have a nice walk into town.The mooring place of the barge in Epernay is near the city center.

Airport

The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). From the airport you can take a train to Epernay. You have to change trains in Reims (TGV station Champagne/Ardennes) and the travel time is about 2,5 hours.

Train

The nearest train station to the embarkation point of the barge is the station of Epernay, about 1,5 km away. From there you can take a taxi to the embarkation spot or you can walk.

Car

Should you arrive by car, we strongly advise to arrive earlier to unload your luggage. More information on parking in Epernay:

End of the tour

The tour ends one week later in Paris on Saturday morning after breakfast at 10 AM. You will spend the night from Friday to Saturday on board in Paris. The mooring place of the barge in Paris: Bassin La Vilette or Bassin de l’ Arsenal.

Our barge, your hotel

Imagine a floating hotel sailing to the next stage, while you are calmly pedalling along. No lugging of luggage: that is exactly what Bike & Barge is all about! In the pleasant atmosphere on board you can have a chat, go through the day with the others, and enjoy the meals prepared specially for cyclists. In the evenings you can enjoy a drink in the salon or admire the setting sun on deck. Do not expect a cruise ship with its passive luxury. The Bike & Barge Holidays are for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability more than wholesale luxury.
Free WiFi is (limited) available in lounge and on deck.

What are the cabins like?

The cabins have central heating and a porthole or window; they are provided with running water (hot and cold), private shower/toilet and 220 voltage. There is limited storage space in the cabin. We recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.

The team, hospitality comes first

The captain/skipper, the chef and your tour guide all welcome you warmly. They are prepared specifically for these trips and will provide good and safe passage, good meals, and a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. They will, of course, also give you a great deal of interesting information during and after the cycling and sailing. The skipper is responsible for the smooth running of things on board; the cook is in charge of the catering. A tour leader accompanies you during the bike ride and can assist in case of breakdowns. He/She will be your guide to point out the things of interest along the way and is multi-lingual (Dutch/English, some speak German and/or French).

The meals

Your chef is used to cook delicious meals for hungry cyclists. Besides an extensive breakfast, you will also be offered a packed lunch for on the road. It consists of different types of bread and sandwich fillings, juice, a snack and a piece of fruit. Lunch package needs to be prepared by yourself after breakfast. Dinner is different every day. There is a first course, main course and dessert The meals on board are included in the price, as are coffee and tea. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks can be obtained at a reasonable charge. When you return on board after the day’s cycling, a cup of tea or coffee with a biscuit will be waiting for you.
If you suffer from food allergies or food intolerance (such as lactose- or gluten- intolerance/-allergy) or if you have special meal requirements (vegetarian; pescetarian; vegan meals; gluten free meals etc.), we ask you to mention this when booking, but no later than 14 days before arrival. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best  to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus and special food requirements cannot always be met in all details. Special diet if requested when booking € 75,- per diet, if requested when boarding € 100,-.

You and the group,new friends from around the world!

One of the most attractive aspects of the Bike & Barge holidays is that you encounter an international company on board, including people from e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, Germany and United Kingdom. It’s a great opportunity for you to get to know various cultures at the same time! We have people of all ages, solo travelers, couples and also families with children (during the school holidays). 

F.A.Q.

  • Do you accommodate for special diets

    Yes, this must be notified when booking, but no later than 14 days before arrival. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus.
    On some trips, in case of a gluten-free diet; lactose-free diet or vegan meals, a surcharge of € 75,- per diet per week applies. This is stated per tour.

  • What happens when it rains?

    Most of the participants then wear rainwear. When the weather is so bad that cycling becomes really impossible (but that is almost never the case!), you can stay on board or your guide can organize an alternative program with, for example, cultural excursions and city tours (at your own expense).

  • Which countries do the participants come from

    The main countries represented by our cycling guests are: United States and Canada. We also receive guests from United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand. The common language on board is English.

  • Can I rejoin the barge before the end of a stage

    No, the barge doesn’t take the same route as the cyclists do. Sometimes the route may be altered because of weather conditions or repairs to bridges or locks and then the guests and the guide can arrange with the skipper to be met at a different place. Naturally you can always stay on board for one or more days.

  • What is the average age of the participants

    The average age varies between 50 and 80, but of course we have younger and older guests. In particular it is quite possible during the school holidays that children might be booked on your tour.