Cycling around the City of Lights
Distance: 40-60 km average per day. Altitude: 100-500 hm average per day. Not too steep and not too long slopes on not very difficult terrain.
The rivers Oise, Seine and Loing offer a unique opportunity to make a relaxed biketrip around the City of Light, Paris. Follow the flow of these rivers and cycle quietly through the green countryside with charming little villages and richly decorated castles and palaces.
This tour winds between the artist towns of Moret-sur-Loing and Auvers-sur-Oise. Along the way you can visit the world famous gardens of Fontainebleau and Versailles. You will enjoy a very nice cruise to Paris on the Seine and of course we have reserved enough time for you to visit the highlights of Paris and to cycle through the city. A very diverse tour that allows you to have a cycling holiday with Paris as its center.
The barge is moored in Auvers-sur-Oise. You are expected to arrive at our barge on Thursday between 2 PM and 3 PM. When you arrive on board, you can settle in and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the tour leader, skipper and crew and of course your fellow passengers.
During dinner aboard the ship, the program for the next day and the global planning of the week are discussed. Instructions on cycling and safely procedures will also be given. After dinner the tour leader will escort you on the first kilometers on your bike during a short ride around the village.
Our first real bike ride this week around Paris will lead us to the town of Conflans on the Seine. Before we start, your guide will take you on an interesting walk through the town and to the graves of Vincent van Gogh and his beloved brother Theo. On the way to Conflans, we will visit also the gigantic work of art known as the Axe Majeur where you will also have your first and stunning view of Paris and La Défense.
Today you can visit the Royal Gardens of Versailles. On the way to Versailles we will pass the castle in Saint Germain-en-Laye and later through the forest of Saint Germain. Around lunchtime we will arrive in Versailles and you will have the whole afternoon to wander around the gardens. After this spectacular visit it is only a 10 kilometer bike ride to Bougival where the Clair de Lune is moored. In the evening the guide will take you on a guided walk through the town.
Right after breakfast you will hop on your bike and start the day with a bike ride to and through Paris. We will take it easy and ride as much as possible on separate bike paths and roads with little traffic. First you ride along the Seine, later we will pass La Défense, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Bois de Boulogne. Later in the afternoon we will reach Bassin de la Villette where our barge is moored. Today we will not have dinner on board and you can enjoy the pleasure of dining out in Paris.
Today is cruise day! As it is very busy and difficult to cycle south from Paris, we offer you the opportunity to stay on board an enjoy a relaxing cruise to Vigneux. The Clair de Lune leaves Paris around 15.00 hrs (3 PM), so there is plenty of time to visit Paris this morning and early afternoon.
Today we follow the Seine river for most of the time. In the first part of the tour you will ride through the beautifull Forêt de Senart. After that follows a nice and easy ride to Corbeil-Essonnes where you can have a coffee on one of the many terraces. Later in the day you will arrive in the lively town of Melun where the barge is moored. In Melun we ride along all the highlights such as the botanical gardens, the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame, City Hall (Hotel de Ville) and Eglise St Aspais. In het evening you can stroll through the streets of this nice town.
We conclude this week of cycling around and in Paris with a bike ride via the gardens and palace of Fontainebleau to the artist town of Moret. On the way from Melun to Fontainebleau we pass the beautifull village of Barbizon, famous for the many painters who stayed there at the end of the 19th century. During the ride through the Forêt de Fontainebleau you will see many old rocks and stones with surprising shapes. In Fontainebleau we reserve enough time so that you can visit the gardens. In the afternoon you will arrive at your destination. Moret-sur-Loing is a very nice town to walk around on your last evening on the trip.
End of the tour after breakfast; debarkation before 10 AM.
Cycling around Paris
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.
Boarding is between 2 PM and 3 PM.
You can recognise the barge by the banner with Cycletours written on it. The name of your barge is printed on the voucher, which you will receive separately. After arrival there’s coffee and tea on board. Other drinks are also available on cash payment. If you want you can bring your luggage in advance: from noon onwards.
The mooring place of the barge is near the centre of Auvers-sur-Oise.
The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) By train it is about 1,5 hours to the railway station. Walking distance from the train station to the barge is about 20 minutes. A taxi from the airport in Paris to the mooring place will take about 1 hour.
The nearest train station to the embarkation point of the barge is the Auvers-sur-Oise railway station. Walking distance to the barge is about 20 minutes. A taxi will take about 10 minutes and will cost around 30 euro.
Should you arrive by car, we strongly advise to arrive earlier to unload your luggage.
The tour ends one week later in Moret-sur-Loing on Thursday morning after breakfast. Debarkation is before 10 AM. You will spend the night from Wednesday to Thursday on board in Moret. The mooring place of the barge is near the centre of Moret-sur-Loing.
On this tour the following barge is scheduled
Rental bikes on this tour.
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.
Most cabins are 2-person cabins (twin or double beds), but some barges also have single and triple cabins. All cabins have central heating and a porthole or window; they are provided with running water (hot and cold), private shower/toilet and 220 voltage. Some barges have airconditioning. There is limited storage space in the cabin. We recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.
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 have special meal requirements 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.
In case of Celiac; gluten free diet; lactose free diet; vegan meals there is an additional charge of € 100, – per week.
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). Most groups are made up of 12 to 26 people.
Yes, but you must indicate this when booking. 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/ vegan meals, a surcharge applies. This is stated per tour.
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).
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.
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.
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.
