Along the Rhône River from Geneva to Lyon
5 nights from €1070
4.86Bike the Rhône River cycle path from Switzerland to France
Ancient navigators first spurred the development of the Rhône River Valley, bringing new ideas to a quiet region of fierce natural beauty. Over the centuries, some communities along its banks grew rapidly into sophisticated cities like Lyon and Geneva, who still attract visitors in droves, while others never quite progressed beyond sleepy little outposts. Today, traffic is diverted to highways and railways, leaving the riverbanks in peace and quiet... for cyclists!
The 'Via Rhona' project is a bicycle path connecting Lake Léman (Geneva) to France’s Mediterranean beaches. The project is still a work-in-progress, but it is a huge accomplishment and an incredible boon for the people who love France (and French Switzerland, of course). If you’re dreaming of la bonne vie but are short on time, our five-day cycling itinerary is the perfect fit!
Enjoy a visit to two incredible cultural capitals, Lyon and Geneva, and lead your own way on our cycling journey between them. The route we’ve carefully planned will introduce you to Pérouges, Chanaz, and Seyssel, to name a few of France’s best-kept secrets! Along the way, you’ll uncover countless hidden gems, from towering forts and Roman ruins to shimmering lakes and flower-filled fields. You’re free to stop wherever and whenever you choose — even the smallest hamlets along the Rhône possess nuggets of history, timeless beauty, and a hint of magic just waiting to be discovered by the most curious travelers.
Daily Program
Day 1: Arrival in Geneva
Geneva is easily accessible by car, train, and air — many low-cost carriers stop at the city’s manageably sized airport. You’ll arrive in a cultured and cosmopolitan city with more than enough attractions to fill a day, so you can check in at your hotel in the heart of the city then head back out to explore. Whether you want to stroll around the city’s beautiful botanical gardens, go shopping for world-famous watches, chocolates, and Swiss knives, or set sail on sparkling Lake Geneva, it’s up to you!
Overnight in Geneva
Day 2: Geneva — Seyssel
38 miles/61 km, elevation gain 2,230 ft/680 m, descent 2,690 ft/820 m
You'll be fitted for your bicycles and provided with an itinerary briefing after breakfast, so you’ll be ready to jump on your bikes and ride! This is the toughest day of cycling during the whole tour; with rolling hills, you’ll climb your highest ascent. However, the good news is you’ll get to enjoy plenty of downhill riding (nearly 800 meters/2,625 feet)! The route itself winds its way southwest, across the Swiss border at Chancy into the picturesque wine region of Rhône-Alpes, France, where you will spend the remainder of your tour. There are plenty of reasons to stop along the way: stunning panoramas, striking rock formations, and intriguing ruins, to name a few. Your hotel in Seyssel sits right on the river, providing the perfect spot to give your biking legs a rest. Dinner is included.
Overnight in Seyssel
Day 3: Seyssel — Champagneux
Short Option: 33 miles/53 km, elevation gain 1,115 ft/340 m, descent 1,082ft/330 m
On more level terrain, today’s ride will feel like a picnic compared to the previous day! Consider exploring Chanaz – the 'Little Venice of Savoie' – or park your bikes to try the exquisite local cheeses in the Roman town of Belley. Or, if you are content to add some extra kilometers to the journey, you can also head just off route to enjoy lunch in one of the ancestral wineries on the banks of Lac du Bourget. Whatever you choose, make sure to save a little energy for the climb up to your hotel in Champagneux. Your extra effort will be entirely worth it when you feast your eyes on the incredible valley view — and a delicious dinner.
Overnight in Champagneux
Day 4: Champagneux — Pérouges
Short option: 42 miles/68 km, elevation gain 1,080 ft/330 m; Long option: 55 miles/88 km, elevation gain 1,245 ft/380 m
The Rhône River will show you the way through small villages and quiet countryside. In fact, the navigation couldn’t be easier - all you have to do is follow the traffic-free bikeway! From Saint-Sorlin, you’ll leave the Via Rhôna and ride on secondary roads through the rural 'Bugey'. Your destination will soon be in sight as you approach the hilltop medieval village of Perouges, where you’ll stay overnight.
Overnight in Pérouges
Day 5: Pérouges — Lyon
Short Option 27 miles/43 km, elevation gain 555 ft/170 m, descent: 820 ft/250 m; Long Option 36 miles/59 km, elevation gain 1,245 ft/380 m
If you just can’t get enough of France’s pretty villages, you’ll want to opt for the longer route. You’ll leave the path of the Rhône River for a while, but trust us, it’s well worth it! On the other hand, if you’re dreaming of diving right into the food stalls at Les Halles in Lyon, you may follow the Via Rhôna directly into the city. Tonight, you’ll retire your wheels in the hilly neighborhood of La Croix Rousse.
Overnight in Lyon
Day 6: Departure
After breakfast, depart at the time of your choice.
Don't want your tour to end? Maximize your time in Lyon with a short day tour in the 'Capital of the Gauls'.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.
Geneva: Hotel Jade
Seyssel: Hotel Au Fil de l’Eau
Champagneux: Hotel Les Bergeronnettes
Pérouges: Hostellerie de Pérouges
Lyon: Bellambra Club Villemanzy
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
Bikes
Standard touring bike
Trek FX2
- Frame: Cadre ESCAPE Aluxx Aluminium
- Fork: Aluxx Aluminium with low-rider rack mounts
- Front Derailleur: Shimano M191
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Altus
- Brakes: Tektro, linear pull
- Tires: Giant S-X3, 700x32, puncture protect
- Cassette: SRAM PG-830 11x32, 8-speed
- Crankset: SHIMANO Acera - 48/38/28
- Stem: Giant Sport
- Handlebar: Giant Connect, Low-rise, 31.8mm
- Seatpost: Giant Sport, 27.2mm
- Seat: Giant Connect Upright
- Weight: 12,50 kg
Gravel bike
Trek ALR4
- Frame: 300 Series Alpha Aluminum
- Fork: Checkpoint carbon
- Front Derailleur: Shimano GRX RX400
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano GRX RX400
- Brakes: Shimano GRX hydraulic disc
- Tires: Bontrager GR1 Comp, 700x40C
- Wheels: Bontrager alloy
- Cassette: Shimano Tiagra HG500, 11-34, 10 speed
- Crankset: Shimano GRX RX600, 46/30
- Stem: Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm
- Handlebar: Bontrager Elite IsoZone VR-CF
- Seatpost: Bontrager Comp, 27.2mm
- Seat: Bontrager Montrose Comp
Electric bike
Trek Allant
- Frame: Alloy
- Fork: SR Suntour NVX30, 100mm QR, 60mm travel
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Altus M2000
- Brakes: Shimano RT10, 180mm
- Wheels: Shimano TX505
- Tires: Bontrager E6 Hard-Case Lite
- Cassette: Shimano HG200, 11-36, 9 speed
- Crankset: ProWheel Alu, 170-175mm
- Stem: Bontrager Alloy, 31.6mm, 12mm offset, 330-400mm length
- Handlebar: Herrmans Clik handle
- Seatpost: Bontrager alloy, 31.6mm, 12mm offset, 330mm length
- Battery: Bosch Powerpack Performance 500
- Engine: Bosch Performance Line CX, 25k
Accessories
Hybrid and e-bikes are provided with:
- Helmet
- Small handlebar bag
- 1 rear 20-liter pannier
- Bike lock (1 for every 2 bikes)
- Repair kit (includes tire levers and multi-tool)
- Spare tube
- Pump
- charger for the e-bike
Gravel bikes are provided with:
- Helmet
- Bike lock
- Repair kit (includes tire levers and multi-tool)
- Spare tube
- CO2 cartridge
For all types of bikes, phone mounts can be provided on request.
Gravel bikes are provided with a 12-liter saddle bags. Gravel bikes do not come with a rear rack. Rear racks can be installed for an additional fee.
Pedals
Hybrid bikes and e-bikes come with flat pedals. Gravel bikes come with double-sided pedals (one side: SPD; the other side: flat).
Helmets:
Helmets are provided on this tour. However, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.
Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.
Surface and terrain
This tour takes place on a variety of terrains, but mainly on the Rhône River cycle paths. Each stage will have some climbing and descents, but the first cycling day from Geneva to Seyssel is by far the most significant of these. On this day, you can expect 2,733 ft of elevation gained and 3,179 feet of descending. On Days 3-5 you have the choice for shorter or longer cycling routes, so please be sure to note the variations in the Daily Program.
How to get there
Tour start
Nearest airport and train station: Geneva (GVA), Switzerland
Getting from the airport to the city is easy and free. From the baggage area, look for the Rail Tickets machine and print one. This ticket will give you 80 minutes of free access on Geneva's public transportation system, called TPG.
Once you have your luggage, your Unireso ticket, and you've cleared Customs, head to your left through the Arrivals Hall. Just outside the exit, you'll find an entrance to the Gare CFF Aéroport. Head inside and down to the lower level. Check when the next train to Geneva city center (Gare Cornavin) departs and from which platform. The ride to Cornavin is only 6-7 minutes.
Alternatively, you may use your Unireso ticket for the bus. You will take bus #5, #10, and F to reach Gare Cornavin. For late-night arrivals we recommend taking a taxi (about 30-40 CHF).
Once you reach Gare Cornavin, you can walk or take a tram, bus, or taxi to your first hotel.
Tour end
Nearest airport: Lyon Airport (LYS), France
Nearest train station: Lyon, France
Tips on getting to and from your tour.
Reviews
- ★★★★★ Fae T.
Lovely from start to finish!
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
- ★★★★★ mgkibben
Amazing opportunity
This was a terrific way to see a beautiful part of Europe. Traveling by bike is always rewarding, but having all the logistics arranged made it that much more enjoyable.
The bike: I opted for the Trek FX 2 (hybrid, non-electric). This was a reasonable bike for some of the less groomed roads (I'd been disappointed not to have a road bike but I'm not sure a road frame would have handled some of the routes). Overall a decent ride.
The route: The GPS routing was good, but a bit outdated. Some of the trails selected had been washed out in the previous months and while there were detours on the paths, the GPS took a while to catch up once the trail was rejoined. There were a few times when the ViaRhona had a route sign but the GPS took an adjacent "sportier" route - which included a few two-tracks and steep grades. The day-to-day information on the route was helpful - especially when warning about significant climbs approaching the hotels.
The lodging: two of the three hotels were nothing short of lovely. Beautiful rooms, great amenities (restaurants, sitting areas), amazing location with beautiful views. The other three hotels were either good for location, but the rooms were just adequate.
Support: Pick up/drop off: Bruno was there at the time planned with all the information needed. Drop off couldn't have been simpler - just store it in the room the hotel had set aside. Communication leading up to the tour was consistent and responsive. There was a delay in receiving some of the more timely material. It came through WhatsApp on the day of travel and it would have been helpful to have had it sooner.
Overall, a great experience!
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- Several (with different companies)
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Andrew Cooke
Geneve 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
- ★★★★★ Maggie Stapleton
Absolutely Wonderful!
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
- ★★★★★ Rebecca
Lovely route along the Rhone
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
- ★★★★★ JAMES LANGLAND
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
- ★★★★★ James DeFehr
Relaxing trip through rural France
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
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