Paris

Day 1 : Paris (10 / 6 mi.)

Individual arrival in Paris and hotel check in. At 6 pm attend a welcome meeting with your guide and receive your bike. We then take our first ride together, a short trip to Notre Dame Cathedral and then back to the hotel. Dinner is on your own in this beautiful City of Light.

Paris

Maison Laffitte

Day 2: Paris - Maison Laffitte (48 / 30 mi. )

We begin our tour following the bike path through Paris taking in the beautiful and historic sites of the city. We ride through Bastille Square, along Canal St. Martin and next to the Villette Park, the largest park in Paris and home to Cité des Sciences et de la Musique. We continue along canals leading us to the banks of the Seine and to the stunning Parc des Impressionistes in Rueil-Malmaison. Inspired by Monet's garden at Giverny, this park delights us with its famous bridge, colorful water lilies and unique landscape. The day ends in Maisons Laffitte just steps from the castle, a fine example of French Baroque style built on the banks of the Seine to host King Louis XIV.

Maisons Laffitte

Gisors

Day 3: Maisons Laffitte - Chars (46 / 28 mi.) + train Chars - Gisors

Our day starts in the shade of oaks and beeches as we ride through the St. Germain-en-Laye Forest and into the Oise Valley. With its vibrant landscapes, this valley was a source of inspiration for many Impressionist painters including Daumier, Pissarro, Cézanne and Van Gogh (Wheatfield with Crows). We continue into the Vexin Français Regional Nature Park, an area rich in history, nature, and architecture. Enjoy the ancient villages, churches and castles; picnic on the grounds of Themericourt Chateau. Our ride takes us on to Chars where we board a train for a short (30') journey to Gisors, our destination for the day. This ancient medieval town is rapt in the mystery and legend of the Templar Knights.

Gisors

Forges-les-Eaux

Day 4: Gisors - Forges-les-Eaux (67 Km / 42 mi.)

In the morning we continue our ride through the rich countryside and quaint villages of the Epte Valley. See the beautiful Abbey in Saint-Germer-de-fly, stop for lunch in a typical French village, cool off as you dip your toes in the crisp clean natural spring waters of Haussez. The historic Forges-les-Eaux, once a spa retreat established in the XVI century, is our destination. Enjoy an evening stroll on the path around the lake, test your luck at the casino, or book a massage at the hotel spa.

Forges-les-Eaux

Dieppe

Day 5: Forges-les-Eaux - Dieppe (56 Km / 35 mi.) + ferry to Newhaven

A converted rails-to-trails bike path is our stress-free route to Dieppe. The landscape along this 48 stage is dotted with thriving farms and castles. These farms supply the modern-day markets of Normandy and Paris. The castles, such as Mesnières-en-Bray and Arques-la-Bataille, serve as a reminder of the France's rich history. Along the way we pass through of Neufchatel-en-Bray, famous for its namesake soft cheese. Try a sample and hear the romantic legend of its heart-shaped packaging. Once in Dieppe, park your bike, play on the beach, and savor local oysters before boarding the ferry to cross the Channel to Newhaven England.

Newhaven

Crawley

Day 6: Newhaven - Crawley (59 / 37 mi.)

Our first day in England begins with a ride along the Newhaven marina toward the stunning cliffs of South Downs. A bit of climbing takes us to breathtaking views as we ride along the top before descending back down to a seaside path. For 10km we enjoy this scenic pathway with immaculate cliffs on one side and the English Channel, aka La Manche, on the other. Soon we arrive in Brighton, a lively destination popular for its pier attractions, cafes, and charming old town. Next we head inland through the rolling hills of Devil's Dyke, a legendary valley in the County of Sussex that is said to have been dug by the Devil. We continue to our day's destination, Crawley.

Crawley

London

Day 7: Crawley - London (59 / 37 mi.)

The last cycling day marks the return to urban life, although our re-entry is gradual. We start our day in the English countryside passing through the County of Surrey and into the suburbs of London. Our route traverses city parks filled with runners, cyclists, and dog walkers as we make our way to the city center. We connect with the River Wandle which leads us to the River Thames and on to the heart of London. We arrive at the renowned Westminster Abbey, the final destination of this amazing journey.

London

Day 8 : After breakfast end of the tour.