Mrs Subert says...
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. The cycling was a challenge in some parts but being reasonably fit it was doable ( and to be fair you could always hire ...
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This 7-night cycling holiday follows Alsace's incredible 'Route des Vins' (wine route), on a linear ride through medieval villages and vineyards, between the great Rhine river and the timeless Vosges Mountains. Bordered by Switzerland to the south and Germany to the east, Alsace offers a delicate balance of French and German, which combine to give it its own unique culture and a truly fascinating history.
Just a short distance from one of Europe's great modern cities, Strasbourg, you'll discover traditional, unspoilt towns and villages, including several of France's most beautiful: Eguisheim, Kaysersberg and Riquewihr, full of half-timbered houses - painted bright as candy and lifted straight from the pages of a story book. Take your time to visit atmospheric hilltop ruins and fortresses such as the crumbling Chateau St Ulrich and the mighty Haut-Koenigsbourg, once home to great lords, but whose empty halls and towers now watch silently over the fertile plains below. The almost continental weather provides the ideal environment for the area's all-important wine production and this, in turn, gives rise to the wine route that runs the length of the region.
At the end of each day you will be rewarded with some of the region's most historic towns. Kaysersberg with its medieval streets and old fortress ruins is perfect for a day's exploring. Your home for the night in Selestat is within walking distance from the town centre, with its rich architectural heritage. Your final hotel is the one-time home of the Barons of Gail, tucked away in the centre of historic Obernai, a fascinating town which sits between the vineyards of Alsace and the Vosges mountains.
Arrive in Colmar and transfer (25 mins) to the village of Rouffach on Alsace's famous Route des Vins.
You stay at the Domaine de Rouffach (breakfast and evening meal)
Set off along the 'Wine Route' through the vineyards, enjoying spectacular views. Stop in beautiful and ancient Eguisheim, officially one of the most beautiful villages in France, and holder of the prestigious 4 star ville fleuri award (the highest award) for its town garden planting. Explore the narrow streets before heading on to pretty, mediaeval Turckheim and picking up the Camino de Santiago to Kaysersberg.
You stay at the Hotel les Remparts (breakfast included)
Spend the day exploring the mediaeval streets and take a stroll up to the ruins of the old fortress. Alternatively, take a taxi to Colmar whose historic old town and riverside 'Petite Venise' area feature half-timbered, half-painted houses, offering a picture of Alsace as it was hundreds of years ago.
You stay at the Hotel les Remparts (breakfast included)
Highlights today include Riquewihr, still enclosed by its mediaeval walls; Ribeauville, with its Renaissance fountains and hillside ruins (the most impressive being the crumbling Chateau St Ulrich, offering spectacular views) and home to many of the region's best wine producers; and Kintzheim, dominated by the remains of its 13th to 15th century castle, once property of the Merovingian kings, now home to numerous eagles, falcons and vultures.
You stay at the Hotel Vaillant (breakfast included)
Explore the mediaeval streets of this one-time Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire, taking in the wonderful architecture, listed buildings and traditional shops, as well as the Selestat Humanist Library - the greatest of its type, one of the three treasures of Alsace and a site inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. There is also the option to take a taxi to mighty Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle for a visit along with some unforgettable views.
You stay at the Hotel Vaillant (breakfast included)
Following tranquil lanes through the vineyards, stop for coffee in pretty, mediaeval Dambach-la-Ville and visit the Chapel of St. Sebastian, parts of which date to 12th century. For lunch, Barr makes a perfect place to stop, full of impressive half-timbered houses, typically dating from the 16th to 18th century.
You stay at A La Cour d'Alsace (breakfast included)
Take some time to explore the fascinating town of Obernai that sits between the three main features of Alsace; the vineyards, the Vosges mountains and the Alsatian Plains. The town's numerous historic architectural features are well worth investigating but for spectacular views take a ride (perhaps by taxi) up Mount St Odile to Hohenburg Abbey.
You stay at A La Cour d'Alsace (breakfast included)
Morning transfer (5 mins) to the station for your onward journey.
Please note that cycling helmets are compulsory in France for children under 12. As we are unable to provide these, we strongly recommend that you bring your own.
Please see our Planning your holiday page for full details.
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking. If you'd like to keep your bikes with you for any extra nights we can arrange this for you for just £ per adult per day and £ per child per day.
To find out more call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347, use our live webchat or email usa@exodustravels.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Room upgrades: Superior Room, Deluxe Room, Privilege Room or Junior Suite.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
If you'd like to extend your trip with extra nights at the start or end, or if you'd like to arrange a stop off point en-route, then we recommend the following hotels.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 1-800-267-3347 or email us at usa@exodustravels.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. The cycling was a challenge in some parts but being reasonably fit it was doable ( and to be fair you could always hire electric bikes! The GPS system made everything easy and the routes we were taken on were spectacular. The suggestions for rest days were spot on- something for everyone whether you wanted to relax locally, visit nearby towns and do more cycling!
Our local reps could not have been more helpful. We had a couple of issues and nothing was too much trouble. Add to the fact Jude and Tim collected our wine for us on a daily basis and it all made the holiday perfect. Thank you
Fantastic. Great bikes, cycle paths, places of interest, good choice of places for lunch breaks, good accommodation, wonderful local agent with practical information.
The usual efficient organisation, with just a couple of exceptions this time when Head Office did not inform the local rep about my customised arrangements for cycling routes and the dinner reservation on my last night, which the hotel did not initially accept. This was all sorted out within hours and did not detract from my enjoyment of the holiday as a whole. I'll be back again next year.
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 7 night self-guided cycling holiday includes:
Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of and hotels
All breakfasts and 1 evening meal
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
GPS route directions and maps
Headwater navigation app
High quality bikes
Standard transfers to your first hotel (if booking inclusive flights)
Luggage transfers between hotels
How to book:
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
To enquire about this holiday, or for further information, call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form.
We do not currently have departure dates and prices available on-line. The season may have ended for this tour, or we are still in the process of adding these details to our website. Please contact us for further details.
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided cycling Managed locally by Headwater appointed agent.
Departures
Meals
All breakfasts and 1 evening meal
Tour only
Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from Colmar train station at 14:00. Return transfer 5 mins payable locally.
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 1-800-267-3347 or email us at usa@exodustravels.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
