France is the world's most visited country, and for good reason. Its rich variety of classic cuisine, unique culture, amazing scenery and picturesque landscapes makes it an ideal destination and cycling in France is a terrific way to discover all its delights.
From the biggest attractions to its best-kept secrets, exploring France by bike lets you get up close and personal with this one-of-a-kind part of the world. See the royal chateaux of the Loire Valley, the unspoilt Mediterranean island of Corsica or sample the grand crus of the ancient wine-growing regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Chablis and more.
Whatever you want from your holiday, getting to see France from the saddle helps you to notice and appreciate the little things - the quirks, sights and smells that you wouldn't otherwise get if travelling by car. You'll be provided with clear directions by our GPS app, with excellent accommodation taken care of by our local experts, who will be on hand to help during your cycling holiday.
With over 20 unique and memorable tours from which to choose, we've hand-picked the absolute best selection of wonderful and diverse routes in this beautiful country for you to enjoy. View them below or get in touch if you have any questions. To learn more about our holidays and destinations, visit our blog.
We offer a range of cycling holidays in France, with types of tour available to suit all tastes.
A self-guided French cycling holiday lets you and your group take the reins and explore your chosen destination your own way. Following directions provided by our own GPS-enabled app, you'll be riding our top-spec bikes along a range of routes, between picturesque sights, towns, villages and, often, your accommodation. We'll take care of your luggage and longer transfers.
As well as a bike, we'll give you a repair kit and full briefing before you embark on your adventure and, if you need any assistance, our team members won't be far away.
VIEW OUR SELF-GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAYS
Our guided French cycling tours see a local expert Headwater employee lead you and your group of like-minded travellers.
They'll provide you with not just directions but invaluable information on the local area, letting you really get to know your surroundings, the culture and history. In between trips, you'll have time to yourself, too - plenty of time to get to know your fellow group members or enjoy some solo exploration.
VIEW OUR GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAYS
We offer several cycling holidays through the south of France - a region renowned for its great weather, pretty and rustic architecture, wonderful wines and gorgeous cuisine. Our trips include exploring the medieval towns and hilltop villages of Provence, a region dotted with wineries and home to colourful hillsides awash with bright flowers.
All our cycling holidays in France are luxurious, featuring quality yet quirky accommodation and excellent cuisine. If you want to upgrade your travel to first class, we can typically accommodate this, too, whether that's private flights, first-class tickets or otherwise. Get in touch and we'll see how we can help to bring even more luxury to your trip.
Whatever your dream holiday, we have cycling trips to France to suit all ages and desires.
A particular favourite of our many bike tours of France is the Cotes du Ventoux package, 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, offering breathtaking views of Mount Ventoux.
Each hotel for this and all of our other cycling holidays in France is carefully chosen, with many locations offering a pool and the finest cuisine - ideal for evening relaxation after a day exploring on your bike.
There are so many areas of this stunning country that we would recommend that 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 other packages including the Dordogne, the Loire Valley, Burgundy and Alsace, there is a route for every taste and ability, including more focused gastronomic and cultural cycling trips across France.
If you think that you've found the perfect trip, hit the appropriate 'View Holiday' button for full holiday details, or take a look at our activities section for further information about how our self-guided cycling holidays in France work. As flights from across from the UK take only a couple of hours, you'll be at your destination and enjoying your next adventure in no time!
Choose Headwater and enjoy cycling in France with all details squared away. We not only provide you with the best locations, itineraries and travel options possible, but will always be on hand to make sure that everything goes swimmingly. Here are just some of the reasons why we're renowned for our French cycling holidays:
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Visit the picturesque hilltop villages of Provence with an electric bike - so much easier with the extra boost of power on those hills! Discover the colourful landscapes and lavendar fields as well as local architecture, bustling markets and gastronomy.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Explore the Champagne wine-growing area, listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, and the stunning villages. The winemakers’ open their doors to you, for tastings and tours of the cellars.
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A short break for an epicurean life style in Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy to explore the world famous vineyards with prestigious wine estates as well as the fine local cuisine.
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A short break to relax in Chablis vineyards in a charming 4* hotel with spa. Enjoy fine cuisine including 1 dinner and plenty of opportunities for great wine tasting at local producers.
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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.
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A relaxed 4 night tour between Auxerre and Chablis, cycling via rolling countryside, vineyards and canal paths to allow lazy riverside picnic breaks and world famous wine tasting.
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Experience a chateau lifestyle during a romantic stay in a 4* manor house in the heart of the charming royal city of Amboise. Ride from chateau to chateau, stroll through peaceful gardens and stop in local cellars to taste the Loire Valley's delicious wines.
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From Colmar to Strasbourg : Discover the famous Alsace vineyards along the Alsace wine road cycle trail.
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All the greatest chateaux of the Loire in a short break. Bike from a chateau to another is just a short ride. Through the vineyards, on peaceful bike routes or along the Loire river, discover the royal Loire Valley.
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Ride the famous 'Loire a velo' cycling path from Tours to Angers. The Loire Valley is classified as UNESCO Natural World Heritage. All along the route, you stick closely to France’s last great wild river, with its sandy banks and islands, its vine-covered slopes, its typical towns and villages, its fine food and its unique atmosphere.
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Ride among the vineyards and terraced hillsides where Champagne villages, chateaux, and churches are nestled. Follow the wine route and enjoy panoramic viewpoints overlooking the vineyards and picturesque villages.
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Unbottle the Bordeaux vineyards and take off on a spirited discovery of this iconic wine-growing region.
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An invitation to the world famous Grands Crus of Burgundy. Between Beaune and Vougeot, enjoy a peaceful cycling through the amazing wine villages. As great cuisine pairs with great wine, prepare your taste buds for fine cuisine.
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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.
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Ride the famous 'Loire a velo' cycling path from Tours to Angers. The Loire Valley is classified as UNESCO Natural World Heritage. All along the route, you stick closely to France’s last great wild river, with its sandy banks and islands, its vine-covered slopes, its typical towns and villages, its fine food and its unique atmosphere. Enjoy deluxe accommodation with a selection of charming 4 star hotels.
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All the greatest chateaux of the Loire are waiting for you during this short break. Bike from a chateau to another is just a short ride. Through the vineyards, on peaceful bike routes or along the Loire river, discover the royal Loire Valley. With a selection of 4* hotel accommodations, experience an unforgettable journey.
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A coastal ride through the best Normandy's highlights : from the historical and emotional vestiges of the World War II, to the colourful harbour of Honfleur passing via the charming and elegant Deauville seaside resort.
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This itinerary, crowned by the 'Wonder of the West', Mont-Saint-Michel, and the Cite Corsaire of Saint Malo, will lead you through the different faces of Brittany with coast, land and sea panoramic views.
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From Beaune explore the world famous vineyards with prestigious wine villages and continue south along a canal on a very peaceful cycling path going through Romanesque towns and undulating landscapes to Macon.
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All the greatest chateaux of the Loire are waiting for you. Bike from a chateau to another is just a short ride. Through the vineyards, on peaceful bike routes or along the Loire river, discover the royal Loire Valley.
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This activity holiday offers the treat of walking and cycling in Chablis vineyards. Set in a gastronomic boutique hotel with a spa, this tour allows you to choose a different adventure every day. Ideal for food and wine lovers who wish to explore the world-famous Burgundy vineyard.
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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.
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Combine three of our exciting holidays to experience the ultimate activity holiday in the Dordogne. Two days of safe, leisurely canoeing with a choice of easy walking or cycling on the other days.
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Experience the Corsica's new GT20 cycle route by ebike going through quaint villages, breath-taking mountain views and longing powder-white beaches with crystal-clear waters.
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All the greatest chateaux of the Loire are waiting for you. Bike from a chateau to another is just a short ride. Through the vineyards, on peaceful bike routes or along the Loire river, discover the royal Loire Valley. With a selection of 4* hotel accommodations, experience an unforgettable journey.
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Cycling holidays work depending on the type that you choose. Both self-guided and guided cycling holidays see you transferred from your chosen airport to your first hotel, where you'll be provided with a bike, properly sized. You'll also be given a full briefing on things like its features, the conditions that you'll encounter on your ride, and how to fix a flat tyre with the provided kit.
From there, you'll head off on your first rides - guided by one of Headwater's local experts or, if you choose self-guided, our GPS-enabled app. On all our tours, we have team members close by, too, just in case you run into any trouble with your bike.
Your luggage will be transferred for you between destinations and, if your next hotel is further afield, we'll shuttle you there, too. Then, on your final day, you'll hand in your bikes and be transferred to your chosen airport.
Booking a cycling holiday with Headwater is simple. Just browse our tours and, once you've found one that suits you, click Dates & Prices to check availability for your chosen dates.
You'll be asked to input some details about yourself and your travel requirements, after which a member of the team will be in touch to answer any questions and book your trip for you.
Cycling in France lets you experience some of the country's most quintessential locations and pastimes. What can you expect? Well, all our French cycling tours promise beautiful scenery, plenty of culture and great food.
Perhaps you fancy gently riding through traditional French villages, winding around vineyards and orchards before stopping for some wine-tasting. Or maybe you'd like to cruise past some of the country's most impressive chateaux, experiencing outstanding menus and relaxing by the hotel pool in the evening?
Choose our cycling holidays and immerse yourself in what makes France magical.
To ensure that your cycling holiday is comfortable and that you're not let down by your gear, it's advised that you pack the following:
Our holidays run from mid-May to the end of September or early October. The weather is suitable for cycling in France during this whole period, so you shouldn't encounter any problems.
If you want to avoid the summer heat, even in the Loire and Brittany, we recommend cycling 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:
We have cycling holidays for all levels and abilities. To help you to choose a holiday that best suits your level of fitness, all our trips 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 one to four - one being easiest, four toughest. 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 - 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 complete range of flight options including British Airways as well as low-cost airlines. 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 most of the regions in France in which we operate, we include the services of our exclusive reps to give you that extra bit of reassurance during your stay.
Amid the unprecedented times that COVID-19 has caused, it's only natural to approach your next trip away with caution. We want you to know that we've taken our already-exemplary health and safety standards to a new level this year, meaning that you can book our cycling trips to France with absolute confidence.
While cycling France on one our self-guided tours already lends itself well to proper social distancing, we are making every effort to adhere to the latest health and safety recommendations provided. And our travel safety promise means that we will only offer travel to destinations which we know are safe. Thanks to our industry-leading booking-protection scheme, we can also offer a full refund of your trip if it is cancelled due to COVID at any stage.
If you need to amend your trip, you can do so free of charge anywhere up to 31 days before the start of your holiday. If you take out one of our travel insurance policies, you'll find COVID-related cover now included as standard.
As always, your safety and comfort are our number one priority, so do not hesitate to book the cycling trip of your dreams today. For more information on how we're safeguarding our cycling holidays in France against COVID-19, see here.
