France is the world's most visited country, and its amazing variety of food, scenery and landscapes make it an ideal cycling destination. We have handpicked the very best selection of wonderful and diverse routes in this beautiful country for you.
Whether you fancy gently riding through traditional French villages - winding around vineyards and orchards, stopping for some wine tasting, or past some of the country's most impressive chateaux - experiencing some outstanding gastronomic menus and relaxing in the evening in the hotel pool, we have the perfect cycling trips to France for everyone of all ages.
All of our holidays and itineraries are designed to show France at its best and reflect the variety and contrasts of this wonderful land, giving you the freedom to explore at your leisure, with everything else taken of care of by us. A particular favourite of ours is the Cotes Du Ventoux tour, which offers gentle cycling between the vineyards of the Cotes-du-Rhone and Ventoux appellations. This vacation will take you along quiet country lanes, across plains and gentle foothills, with breathtaking views of mount Ventoux. Each hotel we have handpicked for this cycling tour of France offers a pool and some of the finest Provencal cuisine - ideal for relaxing in the evening after a day exploring on your bike.
There are so many areas of this stunning country we would recommend you visit, and you'll find a wide selection of cycling holidays in the most scenic regions of France here at Headwater. From Brittany's Emerald Coast to the villages of the Luberon in Provence and including the Dordogne, the Loire Valley, the Alps, Burgundy and Alsace, there is a route for every taste and ability, including gastronomic and cultural tours.
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The Vaucluse is characterised by several things but none perhaps as much as the vineyards which cover the patchwork landscape and the ever present shape of Mt Ventoux, 'the Giant of Provence', silent and ever watchful on the horizon. This 6 night cycle takes you around the eastern side of the Vaucluse, where you will have ample opportunities to taste the local produce as you venture right up to the foot of the mountain.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
The picturesque, perched villages of Provence offer stirring images along with a history which, in some places, stretches back over a thousand years. On this 8 night holiday you'll discover vineyards, olive groves, monasteries, chateaux and caves along with the region's famous Ochre Trail and, of course, the lavender which scents the summer air.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
A gentle, unhurried introduction to the very essence of the Loire Valley: majestic chateaux, wide rivers, world-famous wines and some of the finest food we've ever eaten in France! Holiday includes two nights in a luxury chateau.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Gentle, relaxing 6-night cycling holiday through traditional french villages and the vineyards of Burgundy. Lots of wine tasting opportunities of world-famous wines along your route!
DEPARTURE MONTHS
World famous wines, medieval towns and traditional villages, historic hotels and chateaux, and the picturesque Canal de Bourgogne. These are some of the highlights of this 6 night cycle around the beautiful Cote D'Or along quiet lanes, vineyard tracks and tranquil waterside paths.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Provence is a place whose natural light and landscapes have served as inspiration to such iconic figures as Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Dumas (not to mention Peter Mayle!), and this 4 night holiday has been designed to give you a taste of the famous hilltop villages which dot its breath-taking, lavender-scented Luberon region.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Gentle, relaxing 4-night cycling holiday through traditional french villages and the vineyards of Burgundy. Lots of wine tasting opportunities of world-famous wines along your route!
DEPARTURE MONTHS
The Vaucluse is characterised by several things but none perhaps as much as the vineyards which cover the patchwork landscape and the ever present shape of Mt Ventoux, 'the Giant of Provence', silent and ever watchful on the horizon. This 4 night short break cycle takes you around the eastern side of the Vaucluse, where you will have ample opportunities to taste the local produce as you venture right up to the foot of the mountain.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Good living at a relaxed pace, this luxury 7-night cycling trip leads you through medieval towns and villages amid a sea of swaying vines to visit crumbling hilltop chateaux, mighty mountain fortresses and top-notch wine producers. Then relax in fine hotels located in some of Alsace's most interesting towns.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Gastronomic meals and world famous wines, medieval towns and traditional villages, historic hotels and chateaux, and the picturesque Canal de Bourgogne. These are some of the highlights of this 4-night cycle around the beautiful Cote D'Or along quiet lanes, vineyard tracks and tranquil waterside paths.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Provence is a place whose natural light and landscapes have served as inspiration to such iconic figures as Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Dumas (not to mention Peter Mayle!), and this 6 night holiday has been designed to give you a taste of the famous hilltop villages which dot its breath-taking, lavender-scented Luberon region.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Gentle, relaxing 7-night cycling holiday through traditional french villages and the vineyards of Burgundy. Lots of wine tasting opportunities of world-famous wines along your route!
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Provence is a place whose natural light and landscapes have served as inspiration to such iconic figures as Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Dumas (not to mention Peter Mayle!), and this 7 night holiday has been designed to give you a taste of the famous hilltop villages which dot its breath-taking, lavender-scented Luberon region.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
A gentle, unhurried introduction to the very essence of the Loire Valley: majestic chateaux, wide rivers, world-famous wines and some of the finest food we've ever eaten in France! Holiday includes two nights in a luxury chateau.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Visitors have long been drawn to the stunning white beaches of Brittany's Emerald Coast, yet the region remains largely unspoiled with traditional fishing ports, colourful country hamlets and beautifully preserved walled towns unchanged since the Middle Ages.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
The Vaucluse is characterised by several things but none perhaps as much as the vineyards which cover the patchwork landscape and the ever present shape of Mt Ventoux, 'the Giant of Provence', silent and ever watchful on the horizon. This 7 night cycle takes you around the eastern side of the Vaucluse, where you will have ample opportunities to taste the local produce as you venture right up to the foot of the mountain.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
For wine-lovers, this 8-night tour circles the famous Cotes de Rhone vineyards, and includes 2 nights in Vaison la Romaine - France's most extensive Roman site with 6000-seat theatre, baths, houses and streets. Swimming pools 6 nights out of 8.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
This 8-night cycling holiday really gets under the skin of Burgundy: its people, its villages, its waterways and, of course, its world-famous wines. The days have been specially designed to allow for lazy riverside lunches, gastronomic pit-stops and plenty of wine tastings!
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Wonderful gastronomic meals, world-famous wines, fabulous historic sites and postcard-pretty villages are just a few of the highlights of this popular 8-night cycling tour. You're usually close to the rivers too, so lots of swimming, plus all hotels have pools.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Gastronomic meals and world famous wines, medieval towns and traditional villages, historic hotels and chateaux, and the picturesque Canal de Bourgogne. These are some of the highlights of this 6 night cycle around the beautiful Cote D'Or along quiet lanes, vineyard tracks and tranquil waterside paths.
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Combine three of our exciting holidays to experience the ultimate activity holiday in the Dordogne. 2 days of safe, undemanding canoeing with a choice of leisurely walking or cycling on the other days.
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An interest-packed, gentle cycling holiday crammed with historic and cultural highlights: pretty wine villages, charming medieval towns and world-famous wines in abundance! Superb cuisine throughout too.
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Our holidays run from mid-May to the end of September or early October in some and the weather is suitable for cycling in France during this whole period. If you want to avoid the summer heat, even in the Loire and Brittany we recommend cycling in France in May or early June and after mid-September.
As standard your cycling holiday in France with Headwater includes all basic elements and many additional extras: Standard transfers to and from your first and last hotel to airport or station, all walking transfers required as part of your holiday, rail tickets/ferry tickets (where applicable),luggage transported from hotel-to-hotel, high quality hybrid bikes, RideWithGPS electronic route notes in most regions or comprehensive route directions and maps, all breakfasts and many evening meals (as detailed in your itinerary), a friendly briefing on arrival and 24-hour support in resort plus exclusive Headwater Rep Service in many regions.
We have cycling holidays for all levels of abilities. To help you choose a holiday that best suits your level of fitness, all our cycling holidays are rated using the Headwater activity grading system, focusing primarily on distance and ascent. On the individual holiday pages (and in our brochure) you'll see each tour is marked with an Activity Rating Level from 1 to 3. You can also search for your required activity level in our holiday finder. On some holidays there is a choice of routes and, for these, two ratings will be shown (you’re free to choose between routes on a day-by-day basis). You’ll also notice a + symbol on a few holidays too - this is just letting you know that some small sections of the route will be slightly more challenging than the overall grading.
Of course, we can help with all arrangements for your cycling holiday to France. We have access to a whole range of flight options including British Airways to other low costs flights. Our experienced sales team will find the best options available for you and your preferred departure airport.
We are available 24/7, as required for our Headwater customers on holiday in France. Our overseas team is made up of Headwater-employed reps, local partners and hoteliers. In the majority of our regions in France, we include the services of our exclusive reps, to give you that added reassurance.
