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This epic tour designed especially for (but not limited to) tandems, takes us from Geneva, nestled between the Jura mountains and the Swiss-French Alps, to Nice, near the Italian border in eastern Provence.
From the high mountain valleys to the sun-drenched Mediterranean, through vineyards and forests, along rivers and canals, descending winding mountain roads or climbing up vertically walled gorges, this trip will constantly amaze and
delight you. France has an abundance of unbelievably unique and beautiful scenery packed into a relatively small area, and over time the French have had the perseverance to build thousands of small roads to access these incredible wonders.
It is constant pleasure to ride the roads sans traffic where full attention can be given to observing the natural beauty along the way.
Our routes will take us to places where one would not think a road is possible; across cliffs that
protected the Résistance in World War II, valleys first traveled by the Romans but now used only by a few shepherds and the occasional parasailor, places that are better served by cable car than road, where rock climbers with ropes and
pitons are more plentiful than cyclists. One might think that in ancient times the French foresaw the coming of the bicycle and decided to build these roads with the future cyclist in mind rather than for the distasteful automobile. Small
intimate roads are France’s gift to cyclists. Yet, cycling in France is more than just riding. We will explore hilltop villages and ancient ruins, dine in extraordinary little restaurants, stroll the bustling street markets, snack on
exquisite pastries, a baguette, or a perfect nectarine - or just sit under the canopy of the plane trees in the village center, people-watching and pastis-sipping.
Our evenings will be spent luxuriating in hotels of the true
French tradition; small, quaint, beautifully situated, and whose
kitchens never fail to delight us.
Winding through a plush
meadow, the road enters a tall canyon, the walls narrow, and the
road suddenly bursts into the open and soars down a cliff face.
The road becomes a twisted ribbon of pavement as it disappears
into the forest below, finally emerging in a small village
where, parked in front of a pastry shop we find a group of
tandems. An extraordinary setting? No… just an average day on
this tour.
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