Bicycling Paris to Lyon Plus! Marseille

  • Length 12 days
  • From USD$3950
  • Style/Level 1.0
  • Countries France
  • Begin/End Barbizon / Marseille
See related tours

Experience the fairytale landscapes of France’s beautiful forests and countryside on a journey from Parisian Île de France to the exciting multicultural Mediterranean port city of Marseille. A route steeped in history, this tour takes cyclists through the Loire River valley with stops at Roman ruins and Renaissance châteaux -including the breathtaking Palace and Park of Fontainbleau. Much of our tour traces the route of Annie Londonderry, who in 1895 became the first woman to bicycle around the world solo-on her 42-pound Columbia bicycle! After a stop in beautiful Lyon, renowned for its authentic French cuisine and its perennial appearance as a stage city in the Tour de France™, we’ll continue through the famed Côte du Rhône wine region, cycle past (or up) legendary Mont Ventoux, and wind through the pastoral Provençal region of southern France.

If this sounds great but you don’t have time for the full 12 days, check out our Bicycling Paris to Lyon tour, which features the first nights of this itinerary.

Highlights

    • Ch&acirc

    • teau de Fontainebleau

    • ,
    • Loire River Valley
    • ,
    • Lyon
    • ,
    • Roman Ruins in Orange
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    • C&ocirc

    • te du Rh&ocirc

    • ne Vineyards

    • ,
    • Marseille

Includes

  • 12 days, 11 nights accommodation

  • 8 dinners with wine, 1 lunch, 11 breakfasts

  • guided visit of Fontainebleau

  • 2 to 3 bilingual tour leaders

  • All tour inclusions


Date Price Private room fee Note

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  • Total distance 514-613 km (317-378 miles)
  • Average daily distance Average if you ride every mile 68 km (42 miles)
  • Tour style
  • Tour level 1.0

Highlights: Fit bicycles, welcome dinner

Meet this afternoon in Barbizon a short train ride from Paris. We fit bicycles this afternoon and go out for a warm up ride. Distance: optional warm up ride. Meals: D Lodging: Hotel des Pléiades

Meals : Dinner

Highlights: Guided visit of Fontainebleau Castle, Vaux le Vicomte

Start the day visiting the illustrious Renaissance châteaux of Fontainebleau. Napoléon (of course!) slept here, and may have even resided here for a while. The château of Fontainebleau rivals the palace in Versailles and the châteaux of the Loire Valley in its magnificence. It sits in the middle of a 40,000 acre forest and gardens. After our guided visit, pedal through shaded forest roads back to our comfortable hotel. You’ll have the chance to visit another historic castle along the way: Vaux le Vicomte.

Distance: 59km (36 miles) more if desired. Meals: B, D

Lodging: Hotel des Pléiades

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Highlights: Perched village of Château-Landon, historic Montargis

New Years’ eve 1894, Annie pedalled from Nemours to Montargis by way of Souppes-sur-Loing. The route she most likely would have followed is a major highway now so we’ll follow her presumed route, or at least approximate it, on parallel roads. Today’s ride is packed with history, from pre-history, to Romans, and into the Middle Ages. We’re sleeping in Montargis, the “Venice of the Gâtinais” tonight.

Distance: 74 km (46 miles). Meals: B

Lodging: Ibis Montargis Hotel

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Highlights: Pont-Canal in Briare

Annie rang in the New Year with a long ride on her single speed bike. She pedaled from Montargis to Cosne-sur-Loire. Annie would have picked up the Loire River valley today and followed it for the next several days, avoiding the adjacent short but steep climbs. She spent the night in a private home in Cosne-sur-Loire. You’ll pedal across the famous Briare canal bridge this afternoon, Europe’s longest junction canal.

Distance: 98km (61 miles). Meals: B, D

Lodging: Hotel Le Clos Saint-Martin

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Highlights: Loire River Valley

You’ll continue up the Loire River Valley today to Charité-sur-Loire and on to Nevers. Annie would have followed the river most of the way today, so we’ll do the same with a beautiful forested foothills of the Morvan. Annie rode only to Charité today so you might want to stop for photos and then plan on time to take a walk in Nevers this evening.

Distance: 89 km (55 miles). Meals: B

Lodging: Hotel de Diane

Meals : Breakfast

Highlights: Lyon, Bouchon Lyonnais, Vieux Lyon

It is 230 km from Nevers to Lyon, Annie’s next stop. In 1895, the local head of the Union Vélocipédique du France, Mr. Nicart, persuaded Annie to take the train to Lyon “because of the deplorable state of the routes.” She heeded his advice and spent two days resting in Lyon. Stage 6 of the 2003 Tour de France™ pedaled from Nevers to Lyon. While you are not going to try and pedal the entire distance, you will take a ride this morning then catch the train into Lyon like Annie did.

Distance: 44km (27 miles). Meals: B, D

Lodging:Sofitel Lyon Bellecour

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Highlights: Lyon’s monuments, museums, architecture

After a fascinating guided tour of Vieux Lyon you’ll have the entire day to relax and enjoy this wonderful city. The historic old town stretches out along a peninsula between the Rhône and Saône rivers, and is filled with beautiful monuments, museums, and buildings. Be sure to take the tramway to the top of the city heights where you’ll have a magnificent view over the roof tops of the entire city.

Distance: Rest Day. Meals: B

Lodging:Sofitel Lyon Bellecour

Meals : Breakfast

Highlights: Roman ruins of Orange, Côtes du Rhône vineyards

We’ll take a train out of Lyon this morning to Orange, where you’ll pedal through some of France’s most famous vineyards to the base of Mont Ventoux – a perfect position if you’d like to challenge yourself with a ride to the top tomorrow!

Distance: 40km (25 miles). Meals: B, D

Lodging:Hotel des Pins

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Highlights: Mont Ventoux, wine villages, Roman and medieval history

Take your choice today between relaxing by the hotel pool and getting a massage, to climbing the legendary Mont Ventoux. For those who prefer something in between, we’ll mark a stunning ride through some of the best and prettiest wine country in the world. Our loop takes you through several Roman or medieval villages including Malaucène, Vaison la-Romaine, Séguret, Gigondas and Vacqueyras which will leave you arguing over which is the most charming and magnificent. It is also possible to combine Mont Ventoux and the loop.

Distance: 0-99 km (0-61 miles). Meals: B, D

Lodging:Hotel des Pins

Meals : Breakfast

Highlights: Bonnieux, Lourmarin

Head south to the Luberon Valley, made famous by Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence. Pedal through ochre-colored Roussillon, and the perched village of Bonnieux on your way to our luxurious farm house just outside of Lourmarin. You can relax by the pool or stroll through the vast hotel grounds and herb garden this afternoon before dinner together.

Distance: 70 km (43 miles). Meals: B, D

Lodging:Le Mas de Guilles

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Highlights: Marseille

Today we’ll take on the last stage of Annie’s journey all the way to her triumphant arrival in Marseille. Although Annie took the most direct route into the city, we’ve planned for a much more scenic approach to the base of the Chaine de l’Etoile mountains that serve as a magnificent backdrop for Marseille set against the sea. Our ride ends with a picnic lunch just outside Aix-en-Provence. After lunch we’ll shuttle to our hotel in the heart of Marseille where you can spend the rest of the afternoon discovering the city. We’ll have our final dinner together tonight at a local’s favorite. Distance: 40km (25 miles). Meals: B, L, D Lodging:Hotel de la Résidence du Vieux Port

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Highlights: Marseille

Our journey ends this morning after breakfast. For those of you who would like to spend more time visiting this unique city, we’ll suggest some highlights. It was a pleasure having you join us on this ride into history. Meals: B

Meals : Breakfast

Visit our Tour Level page to learn more about terrain levels and how we determine day and tour levels.



Pre-trip planning checklist



  • I was very happy with the route, the leaders, the chalked turns, and the food. It was a wonderful trip!

    Claudia C. Walnut Creek, CA
  • Every day was a new and exciting experience (plus)!

    Jay S. San Diego, CA
  • The routes chosen where exceptionally terrific with smooth pavement, wonderful vistas, and little auto traffic.

    Jim S. Santa Fe, NM