Barge Cycling -- Bike and Barge in France

Our top recommendations for combining cycling and hotel barges.

Cycling enthusiasts,

Combine your passion for cycling with one of the most pampered ways to travel -- on a floating hotel on the canals and waterways of France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Germany, or Italy.

Here's a rundown on cycling and barging opportunities for cyclists seeking an active cruise on the canals and waterways of France (and Holland and Belgium on two barges). All prices are in US dollars:

  • The 18-passenger Le Phenicien, offers a casual, self-guided "Bike and Barge" cycling itinerary on a charter and individual cabin basis for selected April, August, and October weeks, cruising in Provence on the beautiful Rhone River and on the Canal du Rhone a Sete. Charter rate for 2009 is $33,000, which is only $1,834 per person for select "Bike and Barge" charter weeks, and individual cabins are $2,250 per person, based on double occupancy, for non-charter weeks. Professional cycles are available. Click here for Le Phenicien's cycling itinerary.
  • The 8-passenger Absoluut2, offers a fully supported but self-guided cycling itinerary on a charter basis only, cruising in Holland in the Spring. 2009 price ranges between $4,657 and $4,938 per person, depending on season, based on a full charter of 8.
  • The 6-passenger Elisabeth, offers a fully supported but self-guided cycling itinerary on the wonderful Canal du Nivernais or the Burgundy Canal route in France. 2009 price is $3,634 per person, based on a full charter for 6. Or you can cycle on your own on individual cabin bookings at $4,300 per person. Click here for Elisabeth's cycling itinerary.
  • The 13-passenger La Belle Epoque, offers a formal cycling itinerary with guide on a charter basis only, cruising in Burgundy on the beautiful Canal du Nivernais. 2009 prices for the formal cycling charter program range from $4,542 to $5,208 per person, depending on season, based on a full charter of 12. Or, cycle on your own self-guided tour through the week by booking individual cabins ranging from $4,350 to $4,990 per person, depending on season. Click here for La Belle Epoque's cycling itinerary.
  • The 8-passenger L'Art de Vivre, offers a similar formal cycling itinerary with guide on a charter basis only, cruising in Burgundy also on the Canal du Nivernais. 2009 prices for the formal cycling charter program ranges from $3,975 to $4,500 per person, depending on season, based on a full charter of 8. Or cycle on your own self-guided program for $3,850 - $4,390 per person, depending on season, if booked individually. Click here for L'Art de Vivre's cycling itinerary.
  • The 6-passenger Nymphea, offers self-guided cycling charters or individual cabin bookings, cruising in the Loire Valley, and even including a cruise beneath the Chateau Chenonceaux. 2009 price is $3,634 per person, depending on season, based on a full charter of 6 or $3,800 per person if booked individually. Click here for Nymphea's cycling itinerary.
  • The 6-passenger Caroline, offers self-guided cycling charters for two to six passengers, cruising on the historic Canal du Midi in the south of France. 2009 price is $3,150 per person, with a minimum of two passengers to charter the entire boat. Click here for Caroline's itinerary which can be easily adapted to a cycling cruise.

Hotel Barges to Select for "On Your Own" Barge-Cycling:

A flexible and lower cost option for more casual cycling, or bike and barge cruises, is to go barging on any of the hotel barges in France, Scotland, Ireland, England, Holland, Germany, or Italy, and create your own customized cycle tour, with bicycles provided on board, and a friendly, knowledgeable crew to point you in the right direction and advise you on meeting points. Here is a large range of barges to choose from (better yet, give us a call or email, and we'll help you make the best choice!)

Select any barge from any of the following, for your own custom cycle tour:

Formal cycling itineraries usually average 30-45 miles of cycling a day, and are based on charter-only. However, it is not necessary to book a formal barge-cycle tour to have a great week cycling while your hotel floats all along your tour route with you. There is a more flexible approach, and that is to book an individual cabin on a barge in France, Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland, or Germany, where the barge provides the bicycle, great gourmet cuisine, knowledgeable excursion guides, and a wonderful place to unpack for the week -- and you can set your own pace to cycle as little or as much as you like in the countryside, villages, towns, and among vineyards and chateaux. All of the canal barges have bicycles which passengers can use to bike along the canal towpath or into nearby towns on their own. When you don't feel like cycling, the crew takes you touring in the barge's minivan.

Barges in France and other countries in Europe all cruise for seven days and six nights. The price includes transportation from the barge pick up point and return, and all meals with wines and open bar (except Le Phenicien's bike and barge program), use of bicycles, and escorted side excursions. The only other things not included are the cost of air to France or other cruise destination and a suggested 5% gratuity for the crew. For barges in the South of France, add $100-$200 for round trip air or train from Paris.

REPRESENTATIVE CYCLE ITINERARIES

Click on any barge or itinerary below for a sample "bike and barge" cycling itinerary:


L'Art de Vivre
La Belle Epoque
Caroline
Elisabeth
Nymphea
Phenicien


Sample Cycling Itinerary aboard L'Art de Vivre
Burgundy, Canal du Nivernais: Vincelles to Villiers sur Yonne

Sample Cycling Itinerary aboard La Belle Epoque
Burgundy, Canal du Nivernais: Auxerre to Clamecy

Sample Cycling Itinerary aboard Caroline
Canal du Midi: Beziers to Carcassonne

Sample Cycling Itinerary aboard Elisabeth
Tulip Cruise in Holland: Amsterdam to Amsterdam
Canal du Nivernais: Auxerre to Clamecy

Sample Cycling Itinerary aboard Nymphea
Loire Valley: Cher River, Moulin de Nitray to Nitray

Sample Cycling Itinerary aboard Phenicien
Provence: Aigues-Mortes to Avignon


NOTE - The itineraries above provide a representative sampling of cycling itineraries. All itineraries are subject to change depending on local conditions, discretion of the captain, and the preferences of participants.



Special Places Travel, LLC
"Barge Cycle Tours in France (and the rest of Europe) ... for the experience of a lifetime!" ™
Active barge cycling cruises combine cycle tours with the pampered experience of a week cruising the canals and waterways on a hotel barge in France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Italy or Germany, at a wide range of prices, for individuals, and for charters.

For booking information,
Phone (toll-free): 1-877-64-BARGE (1-877-642-2743)
Outside of the U.S.: 001.443.321.3614
or E-mail: info@specialplacestravel.com
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The contents of this web page Copyright 2008 Special Places Travel, LLC; Edgewater, MD, USA. Web design by Special Places Travel, LLC.
The most comprehensive source of information for bike tours, bike touring in combination with a hotel barge is http://www.bargecycle.com with live consultation 7 days a week.

Last updated: December 27, 2008

Call Special Places Travel 1-877-64-BARGE (1-877-642-2743)
Outside US: 001.443.321.3614, email: info@specialplacestravel.com