Cycling in the royal garden of France
The lightest cycling holiday, covering largely flat terrain, suitable for everyone and people of all ages; with distances to 45 kilometers. You spend about 4 hours on your bicycle
This one-week bike and barge tour starts in thriving Paris and ends in Briare on the Loire River. It offers a combination of history, culture, nature and agreeable rides in a varied countryside. You will bike in a historically very interesting part of France and will visit the palace Fontainebleau and its vast forest. The tour is not only historically, but also culturally interesting.
It leads you along famous painters’ villages like Barbizon and Moret-sur-Loing where Alfred Sisley lived and painted. Most of the time you ride through slightly sloping countryside with occasionally some steeper hills. Daily average distance of 40 – 45 Km. This is a one week tour and can easily be fitted into your other holiday plans like for instance staying on the Clair de Lune and riding further along the Loire River to Nevers. Briare has good train connections to Paris.
Arrival between 12 and 2 pm. The Clair de Lune will be moored near the Seine river in central Paris. Departure at 3 pm for a river cruise to and on the Seine, around the Isle de la Cité (Notre Dame) and then to Evry.
Near Melun are Château Vaux-le-Vicomte, a nice example of a 17th century castle with gardens in French style and the impressive medieval castle of Blandy-les-Tours. Because of the distance today only one castle can be visited, but you can choose which one. They are near each other. We follow our way along the river, with some villages, pass patches of forest and arrive in Melun later in the afternoon.
This region has an impressive history. Many places witnessed historic events. Many castles near Paris were used by French kings and nobility. You will pay a visit to the to the 19th-century artists village of Barbizon, and make a nice ride through the forest of Fontainebleau to visit the immense castle. By many considered to be the most beautiful of all castles.
The Clair de Lune sails from St. Mammès, where the Loing and the Seine rivers meet to Nemours. The Loing is a narrow stream parallel to the canal which is called after the river. Heading for Nemours we’ll meet a number of famous rock formations in a forest region. We also visit Moret-sur-Loing wich is famous for the painter Alfred Sisley who lived and painted there at the end of the 19th century.
This day leads us on country roads from Nemours to Néronville, a small village along the Loing. Highlights are the covered market of Egreville and the musuem on prehistoric times in Nemours.
We leave Néronville via the small town of Château- Landon on a hilltop, and bike via Dordives (glass museum) and Ferrières (abbey) to the charming old town of Montargis.
Your last bike ride this week will lead you to the village Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses, known for its historical seven locks. Via the 16th-century castle near Bléneau you will cycle through a region of lakes to Ouzouer-sur-Trézée and eventually to Briare. A long riding day and a worthy ending of your bike adventure in the heart of France.
End of the tour after breakfast, before 10 AM.
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.
Supplements:
Reservation costs € 20,- per booking
Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)
Double cabin, with double bed € 1.350,-
Twin cabin with split-level beds € 1.350,-
Cabin with single bed € 1.420,-
Extra options:
Rental touring bike per week € 100,-
E-bike per week € 195,-
Insurance for rental bike € 30,-
Insurance for e-bike € 40,-
Special diet (gluten free, lactose free, vegan) € 75,- per diet (possible on request up to 14 days prior to start of the tour)
You are expected at the barge on Saturday afternoon, between 12.00 AM and 14.00 PM. You can bring your luggage earlier to the barge, but not before 11.00 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 Paris: Bassin La Vilette or Bassin de l’ Arsenal near the Seine in the center of Paris.
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 Paris Gare du Nord. The train runs on a very regular basis and the travel time is about 35 minutes..
The nearest train stations to the embarkation point of the barge are the Gare du Nord or Gare de l’ Est. From there you can take a metro to very near the embarkation points. If you take a taxi that will take you between 10 and 20 minutes and cost between 25 en 40 euro, depending on where the barge will be moored.
Should you arrive by car, we strongly advise to arrive earlier to unload your luggage. Finding a parking place in Paris is not easy and is expensive. More information on parking in Paris
The tour ends one week later in Briare on Saturday morning after breakfast at 10 AM. You will spend the night from Friday to Saturday on board in Briare. The mooring place of the barge in Briare: on the Canal Lateral á la Loire at Rue du Pont Canal
On this tour the following barges are scheduled
By this tours you can rent the following bikes:
All our rental bikes and accessories. Read more....
Unisex low-entry frame. Bosch motor. Range: approx 90 km (flat terrain, average speed).
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.
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).
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 at the latest until 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.
In case of vegan meals, gluten free or lactose diet, there is an additional charge. This charge is € 75,- per diet per person when you order the diet when booking and € 100,- per diet per person per week when ordering on spot.
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, France 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).
Yes, this must be notified when booking, but at least 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. In case of Celiac; gluten free diet or vegan meals there is an additional charge of € 50,- per week. On some tours there also is an additional charge of € 50, – for lactose-free meals.
Most of the participants then wear rainwear. When the weather is so bad that cycling becomes really impossible (and that is almost never the case!), The guide organizes an alternative program with, for example, cultural excursions and city tours.
The main countries represented by our cycling guests are: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and France. The common language on board is English.
No, the barge doesn’t take the same route that 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.
Cyclists can choose a longer route than the group takes. The guide will gladly advise you on the choice of an alternative route.
