Classic Burgundy Cycling
Classic Burgundy Cycling
Classic Burgundy Cycling
4 Days Starting and ending in Chablis
Visiting: Auxerre, Chablis
Tour Overview
Burgundy is noted as a place of artistic and historical interest, famous for its Romanesque heritage and architecturally interesting towns and villages. It's famous too for its exceptional wines and delicious food, and is often described as 'the land of great art and good living'.This four night self guided cycling tour provides a real connoisseur's guide to Burgundy: the wines, the towns and the strategic importance of the waterways over the centuries. The cycling is relaxed and undemanding, along riverside trails and canal towpaths, and takes you through rolling countryside, with vineyards and orchards. The routes have been specially designed to allow for lazy riverside lunches, wine cave visits and a chance to potter around the pretty ports and villages along the Canal de Nivernais.Your accommodation is hand-picked for its charm and character. The family-run Hotel Normandie in Auxerre was converted from a maison bourgeoise and is perfectly situated to explore the medieval town. The Hostellerie des Clos in the heart of Chablis was once the hospice, now beautifully renovated to a 4 star hotel.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival In Auxerre
Location: Auxerre
Meals Included: Dinner
This is one of France's prettiest medieval cities, on the banks of the River
Yonne, and your base for tonight. Here you'll find two Gothic churches: the
Cathedral of St-Etienne (13th and 16th century with magnificent stained glass
windows) and the Abbey of St-Germain (13th & 14th century with 19th century
crypt). There's time to explore the medieval lanes and pretty port before
dinner in town with plenty of choice of restaurants within a couple of
minutes' walk of your hotel.
Day 2 : Auxerre To Chablis
Location: Auxerre, Chablis
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Take the path along the River Yonne, out of Auxerre, to the spectacular 12th century Abbey at Pontigny, founded in 1114 as a Cistercian monastery. Among those buried at the abbey are Adele of Champagne (queen of Louis VII of France) and Saint Edmund of Abingdon (Archbishop of Canterbury from 1234-1240 who was later canonised following alleged miracles at his grave!). Continue on along the River Serein and through La Chapelle Vaupelteigne to Chablis.
Day 3 : At Chablis
Location: Chablis
Meals Included: Breakfast
Explore the town of Chablis, which gives its name to the world-famous wine.
Enjoy wine-tastings galore in local caves with the seven Grand Cru vineyards
of Les Preuses, Vaudesir, Grenouilles, Valmur, Les Clos, Bourgros and
Blanchots all sitting on a single south-west facing slope just to the north
and overlooking the town.
Alternatively, pedal, from Chablis, along the beautiful River Serein valley,
discovering pretty towns and villages, including Chichee, Viviers, Tonnerre
along the way. Enjoy rolling countryside as you cycle from one town to the
next and enjoy a picnic by the Burgundy canal in Tonnerre. Later on, do not
miss Hotel Dieu medieval hospital complex (the Hotel-Dieu) constructed at the
end of the 13th century and at that time one of the largest hospitals in
France.
Day 4 : Chablis To Auxerre
Location: Chablis, Auxerre
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
You will cycle through picturesque villages and on small country roads with
magnificent views and rolling landscapes. Passage through Irancy vineyards
with the possibility of a visit to a major producer of 'Crémant' (sparkling
wine), with impressive cellars installed in old quarries. Then continue along
the Yonne Valley and the Nivernais Canal.
Day 5 : Leave Auxerre
Location: Auxerre
Meals Included: Breakfast
Depart Auxerre after breakfast.
What's Included
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4 nights hotel accommodation in a 3 star hotel
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Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
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All breakfasts and 2 evening meals
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Route directions and maps
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High quality bikes
What's Not Included
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Optional electric bikes
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
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Visas & vaccinations
Food
All breakfasts and 2 evening meal is included. Burgundy is in short a gold mine for those who have a passion for both fine food and fine wine. Burgundy is first and foremost a land of excellent wines and so naturally they are omnipresent in the local cuisine. From the traditional beef bourguignon, a wine-based dish bien sûr, to dishes that are "en meurette," meaning cooked with lardons and red wine. Such dishes include œufs au vin (eggs), coq au vin, as well as charcuterie and jambon persillé (parsleyed ham). All regional dishes are either prepared and/or enjoyed with wine made by one of the marvelous winemakers of Burgundy.
Accommodation
HOSTELLERIE DES CLOS, CHABLIS
The Hostellerie des Clos is a family run hotel in the heart of Chablis. The hotel is set in beautiful gardens, with terrace for breakfast or pre-dinner drinks. There is a cosy lounge and all the rooms are individually decorated across two buildings.
Room upgrades: Grand Confort Room, Superior Room or Duplex Room.
Grand Confort rooms offer the same facilities as the standard Confort rooms but are approximately 5m2 larger (24m2). Superior rooms offer the same facilities as the standard Confort rooms but are much larger (average size 53m2). Duplex rooms are over 2 floors with an approximate surface area of 90m2. They also have a separate lounge area and have direct access to the sauna.
If you'd like to extend your stay, just let us know at the time of booking.
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes.
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
3 star hotel
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
12+ age people can go on this tour.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.