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FRANCE
SELF GUIDE BICYCLE TOURS
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These tours are a fully organized vacation for the independent traveler who wants the freedom to cycle at his or her own pace. You'll have complete support behind the scenes. Our France representative will meet you at the beginning of your tour for an orientation. You will receive a packet with detailed route instructions, maps, suggestions for sights to visit along the route and emergency support phone numbers. You can take a spontaneous detour and always feel secure that your hotel room will be waiting for you. You may choose to bring your own bike or rent a bike. If you choose to rent a bike, our representative will bring the bikes to you on the first day. You will be able to travel at your own pace without a guide or support vehicle to hurry you along or to slow you down. Your luggage will be transported each day to the next accommodation, which will be reserved and prepaid. You don't need to worry, as emergency support is just a phone call away. Below are sample itineraries that you can choose your exact dates between mid April to mid October. Just let us know if you would like to make any changes or add additional days and we'll do our best to accommodate your requests. Dordogne Self-Guided Bicycle TourProvence Self-Guided Bicycle Tour FRANCE - SELF GUIDED BIKE TOUR IN THE DORDOGNE The
Dordogne Valley offers the best in a French cycling vacation: history, castles,
beautiful vistas, quiet country roads, and world-renowned cuisine and wine.
The Dordogne is thought by many to be the most beautiful river in France.
You’ll also explore the Vézère River valley, famous
for prehistoric sites, including caves and troglodyte dwellings. The prehistoric
sites, such as Lascaux cave, (which is inscribed on the World Heritage List),
testify to millenniums of human history and are exceptional in both quality
and quantity. Some of the most charming villages of France are found in
the Dordogne region. The opulent Dordogne valley is rich with countless
grandiose and spectacular sites such as castles and fortresses, villages
built into the cliff and caves with amazing rock formations.
Our route will take you through beautiful and varied scenery along country roads built generations ago. Here, every step takes you to a visible trace of human history. You will follow pilgrimage routes, drawn during the 12th and the 13th centuries, riding from centuries old stone-built houses to villages from the Middle Ages, and from shepherds huts - unchanged from prehistoric times - to troglodyte houses built onto the cliff. On a daily basis you will experience some flat sections and several sections that are rolling to hilly. Average distances per day will be about 30 miles. Day 1:: You will meet in Souillac, in the heart of the valley of the Dordogne. The historical city is built in an amphitheater around its abbey. Very short drive to your accommodations in a very nice ancient house. (Souillac is on the train line from Paris to Toulouse (several trains a day). It is also on the highway from Paris to Toulouse.) Day 2: Ride down the Dordogne valley. Among other beautiful sites, the Fenelon castle can be visited, the Montfort lookout and castle, the banks of the Dordogne. Night at a very nice hotel overlooking the Dordogne river. Day 3: Indeed the route may be called "the Castle Route" as the density of awesome castles is incredible! Some are splendid residences, others are fortified castles and even fortresses facing each other! It is possible to visit several of these castles or fortresses. One of them accommodates a museum dedicated to Josephine Becker. Another one features a splendid garden with an extraordinary view of the surroundings. You will be also able to discover beautiful villages with troglodyte houses, built into the cliff! The route will lead you to Les Eyzies , capital of prehistoric times in Europe. Night in typical house from the Dordogne. Day
4: The Vézère valley is a remarkable route both
for the beauty of the countryside and for its fascinating prehistoric
sites (Lascaux painted caves, prehistoric villages, traces of the Cro-magnon
and the Neanderthal humans from the prehistoric times). Day 5: Riding along beautiful country side. Castles from the 12th and the 17th (renaissance) centuries, very nice villages. Night at a charming house. Day 6 & 7: The upper part of the Dordogne valley. Although this section is curiously not very well known, it is composed of numerous treasures : medieval villages, scenery, Lacave cave & castle, fortified villages, a castle which is one of the largest fortress in the south of France. In the valley, Saint-Cere is protected by the high towers of Saint-laurent-les-tours, that are now home of Jean Lurcat painter museum. And also the Montal renaissance castle and ancient villages ...and the awesome Rocamadour! Day 8: "Au revoir", after a great breakfast. TOUR DATE: April - Oct. dates available. (July and August can be hot.) TOUR PRICE: €1,200 Euros(Double Occupancy) TRIP COST INCLUDES: 7 nights lodging in 2 and 3 star B & B's, 4 dinners, 7 breakfasts, luggage transport, detailed maps and route suggestions, suggestions for where to eat and side trips to take, emergency support. TRIP COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Rental bike ( €120 Euros), 3 dinners, lunches, alcoholic beverages. FRANCE - SELF GUIDED BIKE TOUR IN PROVENCE
Day
1:: Arrival in Avignon Day 2 : Villeneuve-les-Avignon loop 35 Km Day 3 : Villeneuve-Les-Avignon to Uzes 35 km Day 4 : Uzès – Arles 45 Km Day 5 : Arles. Options day Day 6 : Arles to Saint Remy de Provence 46 Km Day 7 : Departure TOUR DATE: April - Oct. dates available. (July and August can be hot.) TOUR PRICE: €1,250 Euros(Double Occupancy, Classic Tour using 3 star equivalent accommodations) €1,550 Euros (Double Occupancy, Deluxe Tour using 4 star equivalent accommodations) TRIP COST INCLUDES: 7 days/6 nights lodging, 4 dinners, 6 breakfasts, luggage transport, detailed maps and route suggestions, suggestions for where to eat and side trips to take, emergency support, hybrid rental bike, transfer at the start of the trip to first hotel and back to Avignon train station on departure day morning. TRIP COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: 2 dinners, lunches, alcoholic beverages. |
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Nichols
Expeditions 497 North Main Street, Moab, Utah 84532 phone: 800-648-8488, fax: 435-259-2312 email: info@nicholexpeditions.com |
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