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Relaxed biking crossing the hilly Alsatian wine country by quiet country roads. Taste the delicious, local Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris. Enjoy the beautiful panoramas of the Rhine Valley and the Black Forest. Stop in a charming village full of half-timbered houses, nice shops and terraces. Clamped between the Vosges and the Rhine Valley lie the Alsace vineyards, home of the Riesling, Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer grapes, which thrive in the sunny climate sheltered by the Vosges. Because Alsace is France's No. 1 bicycle region, with many expanded Véloroutes, the bicycle is the ideal means of transportation in this beautiful wine region.
You begin your holiday in Strasbourg, a beautiful city where there is much to see and experience.
After check-in, visit the beautiful historic city center. This city is not only very beautiful, but also has a very interesting history being a frontier town. Stroll through the narrow paved cobbled streets and look at the beautiful half-timbered houses with painted plasterwork, stone gateways and intimate courtyards.
After breakfast you walk to the bike shop to pick up your bike and have a short bike-fitting. Then you leave the inner city of Strasbourg pleasantly via a well-indicated cycle path. The route to the south-western town of Obernai leads you through charming villages, past beautiful castles and winding vineyards to the beginning of the 'Route des Vins'. Enjoy delicious Alsatian cuisine in one of the many restaurants in charming Obernai.
Challenge: 37.1km, 270m ascent, 224m descent
You are on your way to Riquewihr, a medieval town, located in the heart of the Alsatian wine region. This wonderful wine centre is counted as one of 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France' (or 'the most beautiful villages of France'). The combination of her beautiful architecture and world-famous wines gave Riquewihr the nickname 'The Pearl of Alsace'.
Challenge: 49km, 495m ascent, 395m descent
Visit beautiful Turckheim, a walled and fortified town. Take the time to walk through the streets lined with half-timbered houses, which are typical of Alsace. Bike through scenic wine villages like Kaysersberg and end your ride in Colmar. You can make this cycling day more challenging by adding an extra loop through the area which takes you past five local castles.
Challenge: 36.2km, 271m ascent, 361m descent
End of your trip after breakfast. We advise you to extend your stay in order to take the time to visit the beautiful city of Colmar.
All accommodations are carefully selected because of their location, atmosphere and/or unique services.
We choose comfortable 2*/3* hotels or B&Bs where all rooms have private en-suite bathrooms and each morning breakfast is included.
For this trip you can choose between Comfort and Comfort +. The accommodations for a Comfort+ trip, will be in 3*/4 * hotels wherever possible (supplement applied).
If you would like to find out more about the star rating system in France, please check out this page.
If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bicycle (hybrid or ebike) from us. You will find your rental bikes waiting for you at your first hotel. The hotel reception staff will give you the keys for your bikes and direct you to the bicycle shed. All bikes are provided with chain locks. The frame and saddle height are set to your height, although you might want to adjust your saddle to be in the most comfortable position. We also recommend doing a first small test drive of couple of hundred meters to be comfortable with gears, brakes etc. If you have an issue with your bike, you can contact the service provider (name of bike rental in your reservation) directly. Or you can always call us on our emergency phone number.
Our hybrid touring bikes are at least 21-speed gear. You can find all the information regarding our rental bikes below.
Experience the advantages of an electric bike on your cycling holiday, particularly when there's a significant gap in ability and experience among cyclists. An e-bike provides a gentle boost up hills, allowing you to easily keep pace with your companions. With a small electric motor and battery, e-bikes make bike trips more achievable, and their batteries can be conveniently charged at hotels. While you still need to pedal, the e-bike significantly reduces the effort required. Familiarity with e-bikes is advised due to their quicker acceleration and heavier build compared to regular bikes, attributed to the electric motor.
Please note: Depending on the trip, different models apply
Our hybrid bikes have at least 21-gears with hand brakes.
The hybrid bikes are very good quality. Depending the trip, different model apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...
Whenever there is a big difference in level of ability, experience the many benefits of an electric bike on your cycling holiday. An e-bike will help you keep up with your fellow cyclists and give you a gentle boost up hills. An e-bike makes a bike trip more achievable. The e-bikes have a small electric motor and battery, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric motor.
The E-bikes are very good quality. Depending on the trip, different models apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...
For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Racing bike, more details on request.
For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Tandem bike, suitable for two adults only. More details on request.
For children who are at least 125 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm). The child bikes come with at least 7-gears and hand brakes. The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm.
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and at their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.
The tag-along bikes cannot be rented for all our tours
Please note: depending the trip, different models apply.
Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
For children older than 30 months (max. 22 kg) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.
For some tours, it is possible to rent a GPS device, more details on request.
Helmets are not mandatory in France (if the cyclist is over 12 years old) but strongly recommended. The helmet is mandatory for children under 12 years. If you rent a bike with us, helmets are included. Please advise us, if you bring along your own.
All our rental bikes come with lights.
All our rental bikes come with a lock.
All our rental bikes come with at least a rear pannier and with a handlebar bag to put a roadbook/map if you wish.
The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals. On request we are able to supply these pedals on certain trips.
If you wish to bring your own click-in/SPD pedals, please let us know prior to booking too.
All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars.
There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. If a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop.
Saddles can be adjusted in height.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover. If you usually cycle with this, we recommend you bring them with you.
French Bike Tours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive at least 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.
Article 1 Bike Rental Price
The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the French Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.
Article 2 Payment
a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.
b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, French Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.
c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.
Article 3 Rental Period
a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (last cycling day), as stated in the booking confirmation.
b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.
c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.
d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip.
e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).
f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. French Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.
Article 4 Improper Use
a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.
b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.
c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.
d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.
Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft
The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.
Article 6 Costs During the Rental Period
Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs.
4 Nights included
2/3 Star Hotels or 3/4 Star Hotels (supplement applied)
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included, Halfboard optional on request
Maps and tourist information on all the places of interest
24/7 Bilingual Emergency hotline
Luggage transport to your next accommodations. Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum)
For time tables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
We strongly advise you to download the sncf mobile app prior to departure.
If you want to travel on a train with your bike, you can find more information via this link.
Parking possibilities in Strasbourg (preferable to book in advance)
We will supply the directions of this trip with a personalized code which gives you access to our travel App.
Strasbourg airport is the closest airport. Within Europe there are many flights into Strasbourg, including Ryanair, Germania and Hop. You can also take an inter-continental flight through KLM, Iberia, Air France and others. From the airport a shuttle train (4x per hour) takes you to Strasbourg center (approx. 9 min).
From Paris airport, you can get to Strasbourg by the TGV (high speed train) from Paris gare de l'Est (approx. 1h50). At the end of your trip you can take the local train (TER) from Colmar to Strasbourg (approx. 35 min), where you can get to Paris.
For timetables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
From Paris to Strasbourg (approx. 4h45 - 495 km/310 mi). Acces to driving routes see the website ViaMichelin.
The Alsace wine route (EuroVelo route 5) was a great introduction to this region, the villages and towns of the area are very picturesque and made for a great 3 days cycling, we chose e-bikes as it is a hilly area, and made for a leisurely experience. Even though we didn't have hot and sunny weather in October it didn't detract from the enjoyment of the bike trip.
We did three tours this summer with FBTs. Brittany, Provence and Alsace. The routes through Brittany and Alsace were absolutely beautiful and the accomodation was great at all three. We have recommended FBTs to so many people for the service, the value and the incredible holiday that we had
We took the express train to Strasbourg where we enjoyed our hotel included in the tour package. Our day one ride was perfect, and day two even better. Each town that we visited we enjoyed more than the last, and the riding got better and we progressed as well. We encountered no issues and had a very enjoyable experience.
Beautiful views along the ride, quaint mágical Towns to visit and stay. Would do another ride similar....longer though! 3 days was not enough!
Beautiful countryside. Delicious wines. A great workout.
Riding through the beautiful towns of the Alsace region on a bicycle was an amazing experience that I could not have appreciated by car. I'll never forget the stunning view of the church in Obernai as I rode down the hill and into town, truly magical. I'm so grateful for French Bike Tours for putting this trip together on relatively short notice. Merci!
Riding through the beautiful towns of the Alsace region on a bicycle was an amazing experience that I could not have appreciated by car. I'll never forget the stunning view of the church in Obernai as I rode down the hill and into town, truly magical. I'm so grateful for French Bike Tours for putting this trip together on relatively short notice. Merci!
James M.
Beautiful countryside. Delicious wines. A great workout. Strasbourg was especially good and wonderfully located.
Dominic O’D.
Everything was just as described in the materials. There were no bad surprises only good ones!
Many of your recommended places to visit (Ribeauville, Turkheim, Molsheim, the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar), were all great recommendations that we enjoyed very much.
Hotel de l’Europe were so professional and lovely in Strasbourg. Hotel Goveneur moved us to an air conditioned room in a heatwave (thank God!), hotel in Riquewihr had a lovely pool and lady at breakfast filled up our cycling water bottles with cold water and crushed ice!! Hotel at Colmar gave us a beautiful large suite that we enjoyed so much. They also had a nice indoor pool we enjoyed. Hotel in Obernai - original room had no AC and we were in a heatwave day - room was 33C! Luckily manager moved us to another room with AC, but he told us that not all rooms at Hotel Gouveneur had AC.
Alsace was hillier than expected, & with the heavier bikes we started with on the Alsace trip we often found them difficult to climb, and sometimes even had to just walk our bikes up the hills. The lighter bike Ian was issued in Obernai & the lighter bikes we both had in Burgundy were far easier for hill climbing. Perhaps because of the hills in the Alsace trip it should be rated slightly more difficult.
Ian & Dan