A gorgeous corner of France to explore at walking pace. Many of the paths were timeless and the views spectacular. All luggage and personal transfers worked smoothly.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House, Hut
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Provence, Isle Sur La Sorgue, Go
Provence, Isle Sur La Sorgue, Gordes, Bonnieux, Buoux
A charming walk off the beaten track in the Massif Central in France. Facing the Alps across the broad valley of the Rhone lies a walker’s paradise of hills where the Ardeche, Loire and Haute Loire regions meet. This is a watershed for some of France’s great rivers, a land of steeply terraced slopes, half-hidden valleys and tumbling streams, largely absent from the guidebooks. Massive ruined farmhouses seem to have grown from the landscape and the bleat of goats and call of a wild bird are often the only sounds you will hear.
From the first walk at Le Crestet take an ancient drove road, partly through orchards, to the market town of Lamastre, set amongst hills covered with ancient chestnut trees of enormous girth. Turn north now and climb to the old spa-town of Lalouvesc, perched at 1100m above the Rhone valley, with views East as far as the snow-covered Alps on a clear day. Skirting the Haut-Vivarais, looking down on tiny red-roofed hamlets clinging to steep grassy slopes, continue to the hill-village of St. Bonnet le Froid; then south through fields yellow with wild daffodils in late spring and orchids in early summer, skirting the Lac de Devesset (good for a possible dip on a warm day) to St Agreve. Set against the backdrop of Mt. Mezenc & Mt. Gerbier de Jonc, the source of the mighty Loire River, this small market town is a centre for cross-country skiing in winter. Its narrow main street is crammed with old-fashioned shops, selling Le Puy lentils and Rhone wine from the barrel. This 8-day circular walk then goes south past the mighty, ruined Chateau de Rochebonne overlooking the River Eyrieux. Continue to the narrow valley town of St. Martin de Valamas and then back to St. Agreve. On the way back to Lamastre, the circuit goes west along an ancient mule-road, the “Voie des Marchands”, with breathtaking views of the meticulously terraced slopes of the Haut Vivarais to the north.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lyon, Lamastre, Lalouvesc, St Bo
Lyon, Lamastre, Lalouvesc, St Bonnet Le Froid, St Agreve
Cross the rolling hills of the Tarn et Garonne region between the historic towns of Cahors and Lectoure. Traverse the centuries of time and the borders of Europe on the medieval pilgrim trail. In the 9th century, the tomb of the apostle St James was unearthed in Compostela. The site became the focus of a pilgrim trail beginning in France, and crossing northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. This journey, along the Via Podensis, the French Way of St James, takes pilgrims from Le Puy en Velay to the Pyrenees at St Jean Pied de Port. The route passes a multitude of churches and monasteries, resembling a travelling museum of Romanesque art. Six stages of this historic trail are included in our self-guided walking program in France.
This part of the journey takes you across limestone plateaus cut by small valleys, then on to the plain of the Garonne. The trail is lined with ancient stone walls. After Moissac the landscape changes to rolling hills and lush valleys where fields of corn and sunflower are intermingled with plum orchards.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lectoure, The Way of St. James
Lectoure, The Way of St. James, Cahors, Lascabanes, Lauzerte, Moissac, Auvillar, Flamarens
The Mont Blanc Explorer option is a great way to experience the region without spending long days hiking & sleeping in hostels. Very enjoyable & highly recommend it
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Brittany Walled towns was a fantastic trip that everyone in my cycling group enjoyed . The scenery and weather was perfect and adding on our day trip on the ferry to Jersey was fantastic. I had an ebike and Patrick and Ingrid sorted out my mechanical problems by translating the issues to the bike mechanic who fixed them as a priority so i was back on the road quickly. The 2-3 star hotels and breakfasts were perfect for us and our luggage arrived with no problems to our next hotel. Well done to Anthony for helping us co-ordinate all of our trip and plane bookings nothing was too much trouble for him and any questions had a detailed email response very quickly.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Brittany, St Malo, Fougères, Co
Brittany, St Malo, Fougères, Combourg, Dinan, Dol-de-Bretagne
Please do not wait to take this trip!!!!
It was wonderful and our guide and driver were spectacular. I only wished I did it 10 years earlier.
Thank you, thank you.
Local cultureCity sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris
Paris
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Brilliant cycling holiday, with a fantastic group. Erwin , our leader made sure we were all happy, arranged accommodation, transport , evening meals and the cycling route. The bikes were excellent, cycling paths mostly traffic free or very quiet roads. Highly recommend this Explore cycling adventure.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Toulouse, Carcassonne, Marseille
Toulouse, Carcassonne, Marseillette, La Laviniere, Minerve, Narbonne, Gruissan
What a wonderful e-bike and barge tour from Paris to Epernay. Highly recommend. The conduct of this tour was professional in every way. The scenery so beautiful, the guides so knowledgeable and expert in their roles and the Zwaantze barge itself a wonderful barge to call home for such a tour ably managed by the captain Bart and his team. We loved the experience. Also second tour we have been on the Zwaantze as we did the Bruges to Amsterdam bike and Barge tour in 2018. These tours are wonderful ways to travel and enjoy being active at the same time.
Bicycle toursAdventure
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Yacht Cabin
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Champagne, Épernay, Chateau Thie
Champagne, Épernay, Chateau Thierry, La-Ferté-sous-Jouarre, Meaux, Lagny-sur-Marne, Paris
Cycle through the historic Dordogne region of southwest France visiting La Roque-Gageac, Sarlat and the Lascaux Caves. The Dordogne, as the French say, is a land with 'un peu de tout', a little of everything; a gently meandering river, lush pastures, wine, walnuts, geese, the warm southern sun and of course a web of country roads linking the historic hamlets and towns, all just ideal for a stimulating cycling holiday. From Souillac in the valley of the Dordogne River, the cycle route follows tiny lanes and byroads, initially following the river, which winds through a landscape of steep green wooded hills, patchwork fields and terraced slopes. This area of France is rich in scenery, architecture, history - and of course has a famous gastronomic reputation, as this is the home of the truffle! Spend two nights in Sarlat the capital of Black Périgord; it is an exceptionally well-preserved city. The second half of the circuit is a little more rural and there is a chance to visit the world famous Lascaux Caves. Staying in a selection of hand picked hotels, there is ample time to relax and enjoy the villages and scenery for which the area is famous.
Bicycle toursAdventure
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Dordogne, La Roque Gageac, Les E
Dordogne, La Roque Gageac, Les Eyzies, Cro-Magnon, Montignac
This gentle and unhurried cycling holiday follows a triangular route through the heart of the great Loire Valley. Highlights include the majestic chateaux of Amboise and Chambord, and the rich Renaissance splendour of Chenonceau. You'll pass vineyards, sunflowers fields and pretty, sleepy villages, before pedalling gently along shady riverbanks and out through open countryside abundant with wildlife.
On each cycling day, you'll have the opportunity to taste dozens of different wines - stopping at big wineries or village vineyards as the mood takes you - in a wine region more varied and diverse than any other in the world.
Enjoy the sweet and peaceful 'Art de Vivre' in boutique hotels and relax with a glass of local wine by the pool.
