France Bike Tour Reviews page 6
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★★★★★ Krista A
Perfect!!
Grand Châteaux & Gardens of the Loire Valley
I loved seeing France this way! So much fun! The hotels and food were amazing! Our guides were the best!!!
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2025
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ Nancy r
Spectacular!!!
Grand Châteaux & Gardens of the Loire Valley
My first trip to Europe and it far exceeded my expectations. The guides made the entire experience a dream come true. Everything was perfectly orchestrated-From the beautiful landscapes, castles and great food. Highly recommended-don’t miss it.
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ David H.
Awesome introduction to France
Grand Châteaux & Gardens of the Loire Valley
I have done many cycling tours over the years, many with BikeTours.com. We have never used Chain Gang Cycling as a tour operator before and I know our group, which is an older group and not all the strongest riders, is probably more "needy" than the typical Chain Gang tour but they did a fantastic job of providing for all our needs. Our guides were excellent, we never got anyone lost.
BikeTours.com set up an excellent tour through a very beautiful and picturesque part of France. The average daily mileages were good for our group and the sights we saw along the way were amazing. Beautiful small country towns, rolling hills of farmland and forests, and incredible chateaus with magnificent gardens, lots of photo opportunities. We set up a few lovely picnic lunches on several of the ride days with the wonderful French baguettes and ham and cheese.
Our intrepid group of 16 riders managed the routes with a few hills with no real issues besides a couple of falls and a few bumps and bruises. Just part of cycling. We had lovely weather with the exception of one day where we got some rain. Lots of nice memories and new friends were made on this trip and we're already eagerly looking forward to our next BikeTours.com cycling trip in Poland in 2026!
- What was the date of your tour?
- Late August 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ j. Davis
our fun Paris bike adventure
Secrets of Paris Bike Tour
This bike tour was such a fun way to see Paris for the first time! We rode past famous sights and hidden places I never knew existed. I loved the mix of history, art, and little surprises along the way.
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★★★★★ Dona2017
Freiburg and the Alsatian Wine Road
- What was the date of your tour?
- 9/24/17 to 10/1/17
- How many tours have you completed?
- First one
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Germany
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★★★★★ Oddly
History, Art and Backroads
Bruges to Paris by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
Wonderful, dedicated owners and crew, food was amazing and our guide adjusted our tour to the group members interests and cycling abilities. The small group (max 12) made for a supportive, friendly group and allowed for stops in small cafes and sites. I loved historic Bruges, Oedenaarde, Compiegne, the villages, old churches filled with art, wine, Trappist beers, cheese shops, pattiseries, back roads and bike paths, and visiting a cobblestone hill section of the Paris-Roubiex. Great way to see Europe!
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★★★★★ Jane3538
Great way to see a country
Bruges to Paris by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
The crew was amazing,catering to every need. The food was 5 star and the Barge has a homey comfortable feel. The guide took us expertly on tours thru back roads which took us to places that rival Versailles and Notre Dame.
We were not seasoned bikers and found we were doing more than the advertised average miles per day but the terrain is mostly flat. The itinerary on the website was quite different from what we actually did. I would suggest contacting the Feniks directly for the actual itinerary prior to signing on. This trip would be recommended to others.
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★★★★★ David Reynolds
Met our expectations!
Bruges to Paris by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
This was our first bike and Barge trip. We enjoyed all aspects of the journey from Perrone to Bruges except for the rain the last day of biking. The crew was excellent!e was an excellent cook and provided a variety of excellent meals. The captain Marius took good care of us as did Henk the first mate. Our guide Sietse was excellent. He enjoys history and was able to tell us many things about the history of the countries we traveled through.
The Feniks can accommodate 14 guests but during this trip there were only seven guests. This allowed us to make good friends and be able to stay together while we were biking. It would have been crowded if there had been 14 guests on board.
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★★★★★ David Reynolds
Wonderful Bike and Barge Trip from Perrone to Bruges
Bruges to Paris by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
This was our first bike and barge trip. A couple of our good friends were also on the trip. We were so fortunate that there were only seven guests on the barge and four crew members! The barge could accommidate 14 guests. All seven of us became good friends and enjoyed all parts of the trip together.
The crew was fantastic! Our guide, Sietse, made sure that we had a safe and memorable biking trip. He is very knowledgable about the route and the history of the region. Our chef cook, Hilde, is a gourmet cook and made every meal special. Henk, the mate is a jack of all trades helping navigate, take care of the barge and help Hilde in the kitchen. Marius, the captain, is a very knowledgable navigator and made sure that all aspects of the trip were comfortable.
Our cabin was small but comfortable and very clean. Each cabin has its own bathroom with a walk in shower.
The bikes were well maintained and if there was a problem, Sietse took care of it.
We did have rain off and on for a couple of days so make sure to take rain gear. The biking was not difficult but e-bikes are available.
We'd highly recommend this trip.- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was our first bike and barge trip.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Belgium, France
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★★★★★ David Baker
Great experience for first time bike tourists
Bruges to Paris by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
The tour met and exceeded our expectations for a first time bike tourists. The barge captain had to make a detour due to construction which required changes in the itinerary but the crew and guide took it in stride and still gave a great experience.
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★★★★★ David Baker
First time bike-barge touring
Bruges to Paris by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
This was our first time doing a bike-barge tour. We chose this tour based on positive recommendations from friends who had been on it before. Their recommendations and suggestions were spot on so when we took the tour we were well prepared. The crew of the barge were very pleasant and accommodating. If you're expecting five star cruise accommodations you'll be disappointed, but the dinners were outstanding and the cabins fulfilled our needs. There was maintenance on our original route so the captain had to take another route which meant all our rides had to be redone by the ride leader. We still had interesting and enjoyable rides. It's important to be a flexible traveler in order to truly enjoy this type of tour. We stayed in Bruge two days before the trip and we stayed two more days in Belgium after the tour and would recommend anyone taking this trip to do likewise.
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★★★★★ Ronan Gardiner
Incredible Trip
Atlantic Coast of France
From spectacular coastline to fields of sunflowers to rolling vineyards, this tour offers a "nature bath" that ignites all the senses. Add to that, beautiful overnight towns, historic hotels and incredible food and wine - what's not to love!
This was our second bicycle trip in France (the first was in the equally incredible Loire Valley) and it will certainly not be our last. The distances were just right (the shorter but hillier day was actually the toughest), the bikes were terrific, as was the Roadbook for Discovery AP that served as our guide. Our bags were waiting for us at every overnight town and the entire trip was seamless.
We traveled in late June / early July and there were surprisingly few tourists in the towns we visited. Restaurants and sight seeing activities were therefore easily accessible, requiring no advance reservations. We added a couple of nights in La Rochelle pre-trip and in Bordeaux post, which we would highly recommend, we actually wished we'd had more time in Bordeaux - a spectacular city with lot's to see and do .... and eat and drink. Bon voyage!- What was the date of your tour?
- June/July 23
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ Richard Olson
Enjoyable journey
Atlantic Coast of France
Once you have seen the major tourist attractions in France, this is a great way to see and experience smaller towns and the Atlantic coastline. Many uncrowded beaches- this area is popular for French tourists but without the crush of international tourists. You will interact with many that speak relatively little English- for us, this made the trip more interesting.
Our bikes were reliable, well-fitted, and well-tuned. We encountered no mechanical difficulties. (If you do get a flat tire, you are expected to know how to deal with it, which was fine with us.)
The routing was excellent, with mostly car-free paths or single lane roads that had only farming-related (slow) vehicles. Mostly asphalt surfaces, occasional crushed limestone, and rarely dirt paths. Many options for stopping at excellent cafes or restaurants, including one place we found out (upon leaving) has a Michelin star. The north to south routing is desirable, as the scenery gets better each day. The routing app worked extremely well, but it was nice to also have the printed maps as a backup.
Not crowded- there were a moderate number of other bikers, including some long distance riders (Norway to Spain).
We enjoyed having our hotels chosen for us- this added an element of surprise and anticipation to each day. Accommodations were varied in style, but they were all outstanding- with excellent breakfasts, and located in nice towns with many restaurant options. Hotels all welcomed bike-tour customers (generally treated us like VIPs.)
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 7
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ James DeFehr
Relaxing trip through rural France
Along the Rhône River from Geneva to Lyon
Enjoyed the trip, everything was well organized. Beautiful countryside with many small towns and villages. Its a little rural and isolated so if you are looking for action and excitement this may not be the one for you. That said, one evening the village we were staying at (Seyssel on the first night) had a large festival going on and we stayed out later than we should have enjoying the music and the wine! Some really picturesque locations including a legitimate medieval village on the last night, and the biking itself was not overwhelming although I did train for it.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first bike tour
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Switzerland
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★★★★★ JAMES LANGLAND
Geneva to Lyon
Along the Rhône River from Geneva to Lyon
After exiting Switzerland we were pleased to find the vast majority of this ride in France was on dedicated bike trails some newly paved along the Rhone. The flexibility of Bruno in meeting with us the night before starting was especially appreciated. Wetted our appetite to bike further down the Rhone in the future
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- many
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Rebecca
Lovely route along the Rhone
Along the Rhône River from Geneva to Lyon
My friend and I had a great time on this self-guided bike tour. Navigation was fairly easy, and we liked having the option of short or long routes for several of the days. This itinerary gave us a good balance of time in large cities and small villages. Staying in Perouges was a highlight.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Maggie Stapleton
Absolutely Wonderful!
Along the Rhône River from Geneva to Lyon
I had a terrific time on this tour. Everything was extremely well organized, from orientation at the beginning of the trip, to the daily route navigation, and luggage arrival at accommodations. The scenery was beautiful, and each town and hotel had a lot of charm! Highly recommend.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Andrew Cooke
Geneve to Lyon
Along the Rhône River from Geneva to Lyon
Lovely October ride with my 70 yo brother on conventional bikes. We are fit, but not athletes per se. Our high school French was sufficient thanks to all the accommodating people en route. Very nice to get away from touristy areas for a genuine experience.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- Two prior
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Fae T.
Lovely from start to finish!
Along the Rhône River from Geneva to Lyon
We had a great time on our Vie Rhona tour and were impressed with the level of communication and responsiveness from the team. Luggage always beat us to the hotel, which was nice, and morning drop off was seamless. The GPS guidance was good, though some sections of the route were confused due to construction, path changes, etc. but our course corrections were easy to sort out when looking at the map and never caused significant delays. I highly recommend bringing an external phone battery charger as keeping the map screen on drains the battery very quickly. And pack lots of snacks!! While the listed dining stops are helpful, there are days when some small towns are closed up tight and there’s nothing to buy between departure and arrival. The route was gorgeous and well thought out! We will definitely book another tour through Bike Tours and recommend it to friends!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Tim C
A great trip.
Along the Rhône River from Geneva to Lyon
The scenery was fantastic. The route was a good balance of relaxing and challenging. The bike was a good quality bike and well maintained. I’m glad we opted for e-bikes. We had no seasoned cyclists in our group, but we coped with hills and terrain quite effectively thanks to the e-bikes.
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Switzerland
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