info@french-biketours.com
Take your bike and discover the Via Rhôna! From Lake Geneva in Switzerland to the Mediterranean Sea, follow a route that has been used by successive civilizations for over 2,000 years. Wonderful landscapes, towns, authentic villages, impressive nature, vineyards and delicious gastronomy await you along the way!
Start this great cycling trip from the cosmopolitan city of Geneva. Follow the ViaRhôna that meanders through the mountains and valleys of the Upper Rhône. Bike through the breathtaking landscapes of the Savoie and the Bugey: mountains, lakes, gorges... and pass typical old villages before you finish in the elegant historic city of Lyon.
Please take note we offer the flexibility to combine several stages for this adventure.
Arrive in Geneva and settle in at your hotel. Take the time to discover this beautiful Swiss city, known as the "capital of peace" with its humanitarian traditions, it will seduce you with its international charm and its old town offering a wide choice of delicious restaurants. Enjoy a pleasant stroll along banks of Lake Geneva.
Your first bike ride takes you from Switzerland to France along the Rhone, you will discover the "Défilé de l'Écluse" and then the first vineyards between mountains and valleys, while keeping in view the sumptuous mountains of the Alps. This part of the trip will be on busier roads, but the rest of the week it will be much quieter. You will spend the night in the charming little town of Seyssel, on the banks of the river.
You also have the possibility to take the train to Seyssel and start your bike trip the day after if you want to avoid this first stage with busy roads!
Challenge: 59.9km, 677m ascent, 804m descent
Leave Seyssel and cycle between ridges and plateau on both banks of the Rhone. Arrival in Chanaz, also called "La Petite Venise Savoyarde", enjoy a pleasant break in one of the charming restaurants along the canal of Savières. Continue on towards Culoz and Belley, peaceful small towns with a rich heritage that punctuate the Bugey mountain range. Continue your journey, through beautiful natural surroundings to arrive in the region of Champagneux.
Challenge: 54.5km, 528m ascent, 539m descent
Today you pass through Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers, for the ‘gourmets’, we advise you to stop to taste the famous brioche pralines! Further on, a little detour to the village of Glandieu will allow you to refresh yourself by its majestic waterfall, a wonder of nature. Next you will arrive in Morestel, stroll through the narrow streets of the old town, the city of artists, and maybe visit one of the art galleries. A lovely greenway links "La Vallée Bleue" to Villebois, which is where you’ll stay overnight.
Challenge: 66.3km, 628m ascent, 635m descent
This ViaRhôna stage takes you through the unspoilt countryside of Burgey above the Rhône. You pass lovely villages this morning : Saint-Sorlin-en-Bugey and Sault-Brénaz, and the more secretive La Balme-les-Grottes, with its great caves and picturesque centre. Your destination will soon be in sight as you approach the hilltop medieval village of Pérouges, labeled one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Challenge: 55.4km, 444m ascent, 418m descent
This last cycle day cleverly links the parks and lakes of Greater Lyon, including Le Grand Large and Miribel-Jonage. Enjoy the magnificent cycle route through central Lyon, along the Rhône’s banks. At the Rhône’s confluence with the Saône, you come to a brand-new quarter marked by contemporary architecture, the most striking building being the Musée des Confluences. Your options for the rest of the day are endless but you can also reward yourselves with a delicious meal in a "petit bouchon", typical restaurant in the city.
Challenge: 45.9km, 266m ascent, 368m 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 Lyon.
All accommodations are carefully selected for 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 every morning breakfasts are 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 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.
6 Nights included
2/3 Star Hotels or 3/4 Star Hotels (supplement applied)
Tourist tax included
All Breakfasts and 1 Dinner-tray on day 4 in Villebois (as no alternatives in the surroundings) included during the trip
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 informations on request
We will supply the directions of this trip with a personalized code which gives you access to our travel App.
The international Geneva Aéroport is served by a large number of scheduled and low cost airlines. Also, possibility of arrival in Lyon Airport. From Lyon you can take a train to Geneva, see below.
You can get to Geneva by train. On the end of your trip you can take a train from Lyon.
For time tables and further information look at the website of the SBB, the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
From Paris to Geneva (approx. 5h15 - 540 km/335 mi) / From Lyon to Geneva (approx. 1h50 - 150 km/93 mi). Acces to driving routes see the website ViaMichelin.
A relaxing, beautiful, ride through the country of Southern France. There were some hills on the first day, but for the most part, the rest of the tour is flat and hugs the Rhone river. The majority of the tour is on paved bike trails, which is really nice. We chose the comfort plus option, and most of the places were comfortable. Not all of them have AC but we didn't need it. The one caveat important to know is that most of the hotels will not let you enter before 4 PM or 5. And that is a hard and fast rule. So take your time riding and stop often along the way.The provided E-bike and the touring app were great. Didn't get lost once!
We had a great time, people were nice, drivers were respectful, weather was mostly good.
The tartiflette we had in Seyssel was amazing, and we did go swimming in the river before Perouges.
The accommodation in Champagneux was very pleasant (thanks to the amazing host), thought the town itself wasn’t. We also liked the town of Chanaz, which we passed on one of the days. We found it as a pleasant surprise that the elevation estimates on the website was not accurate. I think almost every day was just half of the elevation, which was very nice. And the tartiflette we had in Seyssel was amazing, and we did go swimming in the river before Perouges.
Heidi O.
We had a wonderful 5 days of biking with FBT. The attention to detail from the time we made our first inquiries until the end of the trip was top notch. We asked to modify our tour from their standard tour and those changes were readily accommodated. The bike delivery/pick-up were smooth as well as all the luggage transfers. I highly recommend FBT !
55, rue Saint Jacques
24540 Monpazier
France
info@french-biketours.com
+33 (0)5 53 24 22 10
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