A 15 day combined tour for discerning pilgrims who want to experience the rural beauty, gourmet and historic pleasures of cycling through the vineyards of Burgundy with a very novel spectacular walking tour in the French Pyrenées culminating in the thrilling last day of the 100th centenary TOUR DE FRANCE in Paris!
In Burgundy cycling on quiet country back roads and through valleys visiting markets, medieval villages and wineries and then 8 days in the stunning Pyrenees walking and sampling Spanish and French cuisines before returning to Paris for the spectacular and very special 100th anniversary of the Tour de France on the Champs Elysees.
Click here for the Detailed Itinerary of this tour
We start our tour in PARIS meeting the guide and group for dinner in our centrally located 4 star Paris hotel on July 6 in 2013 before leaving the next morning for the Burgundy region and our week’s cycling tour.
Historic Burgundy cycling – 4 days (July 8 – 12)
- We spend our first week transported back in time to the verdant wooded Burgundy region with its classic, rural vineyards and exquisite villages.
- We provide comfortable fitted bikes with padded seats, panniers and helmets for you
- stay in friendly 3 star accommodation with your luggage moved to your next hotel for you as we ride leisurely through vineyards and countryside on our bikes
- all breakfasts, lunches and dinners with wine are included in your tour price
- buy food for picnics and shop in colourful rural markets, meet the locals and sample their cuisine
- have long picnics in hidden rural corners with superb views over the wineries
- have our own Australian French-speaking historian & guide with us the whole trip
Pyrenees 7 days (July 13 – 20)
We then transfer from Beaune in Burgundy back to Paris for one night before leaving next day to travel down to the Pyrenees and spend 7 nights in our comfortable 3 star chalet guesthouse with spacious en-suite bedrooms, sauna, dining room, comfortable lounge with bar, and a sunny patio garden surrounded by breathtaking scenery. We walk about 3-5 leisurely hours per day – and you have the option to stroll further if you would like. This is not a demanding walk week, we want you to enjoy and relax and experience the breathtaking beauty around you.
We have one day off in this second week to relax, take a spa, massage, climb the Col du Tourmalet, read, horse ride or there are optional activities if you prefer such as paragliding, white water rafting, pony trekking, mountain biking, canyoning etc.
We have placed emphasis on experiencing the beauty of the mountains. The walks are of an easy level and not taxing and would be within the capabilities of most people who walk regularly each week. We will lunch by tranquil lakes, see SPECTACULAR unspoilt wildernesses, eternal snows, forests, waterfalls, ancient pilgrims’ bridges, plunging cliff walls, immense canyons and valleys, soaring eagles and vultures and flower-carpeted mountainsides. We have our own full-time licensed mountaineer guiding and informing us the entire route.
On July 20 – travel with the group back to Paris to experience the exhilarating final stage of the 100th Tour de France on the Champs Elysees on the final Sunday July 21.
Tour finishes after breakfast July 22 and participants are free to stay on in Paris or depart that afternoon for onward travel.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Don’t miss out
