France Bike Tour Reviews page 17
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★★★★★ Thomas Murphy
A lovely experience
Strasbourg to Mainz: Imperial Cities and Charming Landscapes Along the Rhine
The cycle was a great experience we cycled on gravel routes and centuries old cobbles one more thing off our to do list. The towns we passed through were lovely. Some exquisite old buildings sights i will never forget. We did have a little panic one day. When we got to the ferry it wasn't crossing on the day. We did have an alternative route but about 5 or 6 k into that route there was roadworks so we were diverted off our diversion route. For awhile we got completely lost. Luckily we met a local couple out cycling who cycled with us to the bridge we were looking for..I have to mention that all the locals all along the way were friendly and helpful when needed. Yes I would recommend this cycling trip to anyone who would like to experience something slightly different from your normal cycling trip
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★★★★★ Tom Schulte
Enjoyable Days on the Rhine
Strasbourg to Mainz: Imperial Cities and Charming Landscapes Along the Rhine
The cities food and trails were great. App on our phone was a great guide. Majority of paths were in excellent condition . Bikes and luggage transfers were flawless. Thanks again BikeTours for a great adventure.
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★★★★★ Anne Jesse
Wonderful Tour to Little-Known Area
Alsace Wine Country
This is a wonderfully varied tour to an area that most Americans don't visit. The first two days are flat, along shaded canals and country roads. The next two days are hillier, through vineyards and historic towns. The final day has one last beautiful view over the Rhine River valley before descending to another flat day of riding along shady canals. The accommodations are wonderful and mostly in the center of town. The luggage service was reliable each day. The breakfasts were always well stocked. The bikes were well suited to the terrain with plenty of gears and strong tires.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- I have been bike touring for over 30 years and have bike toured in 58 countries.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ mgkibben
Amazing opportunity
Along the Rhône River from Geneva to Lyon
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
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Switzerland
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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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★★★★★ Nancy Gillespie
Sixteen riders is too many to keep corralled
Grand Châteaux & Gardens of the Loire Valley
This trip could have been excellent, if only the number was smaller. Sixteen riders and two guides were way too many riders to keep together. We should have been divided into two groups.
The countryside was beautiful, and I enjoyed the stops at the many chateaus that dotted our route. The accommodations were very good. Chinon was probably my favorite, having a balcony overlooking the village square. Dinners were all good, one exceptional and the Salt and Pepper in Blois just okay.
The guides were nice, perhaps too nice; they did not take control of the group. There was no instruction on how to ride in a group and consequently, some riders were dangerous. Some stopped without warning and stopped whenever and wherever they pleased. As a result, of the sixteen riders, twelve fell at one point in the ride. Most of the problem was the inexperienced riders stopping without warning. An orientation from the guides on day 1 could have helped. Geez, even our four hour bike tour in Paris started with bicycle etiquette. And no guide advised the cyclist sucking on a lollipop and carrying a selfie stick the length of a golf club that she was a hazard.
The difference in fitness and skill level of the riders demanded two groups of cyclists, not one group of sixteen riders.
I’m an experienced cyclists with many tour companies around the world, thus I was extremely frustrated by the danger the inexperienced cyclists posed. Because of my competence and therefore invisibility, on day six, when I asked a guide if he knew my name, he replied incorrectly. Great reward for fitness and competence.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- Too many to count throughout the world: Vietnam twice, Portugal, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Patagonia, New Zealand
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ Drew Thatcher
Wonderful three Lakes Tour
Three Lakes Tour: From Geneva to Annecy
We were two couples that did the self guided tour of the three lakes region near Annecy. The hotels were nice, breakfast and dinners were great. The downloaded guides on our phones worked great - every now and then the guide told us to go left instead of right but if you're seeing the map on the phone one can figure that out. Bag transfers were seamless. Such a wonderful experience of seeing the region from a bike. Much of the ride was on bike paths - the other areas were on roads with a bike lane. A few miles of ROUGH road but that was just fine. We loved the entire trip.
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Donna-Lee Langton
Thoroughly enjoyable day.
Palace of Versailles Paris Full Day Bike Tour with Picnic
I have nothing but positive things to say about our bike tour and the guided tour of Versailles. Great guide and really nice group of people. Riding through the palace grounds and the town was the perfect way to cover a lot of space without exhausting ourselves. Visiting the market and buying all of the items for a picnic was really fun. Having a picnic on the grounds of Versailles Palace, at the end of the Grand Canal with the palace in the background, was almost surreal.
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★★★★★ Mark Silverman
Perfect, Easygoing Family Sightseeing Tour
Lyon E-Bike Tour with Food Tasting
This tour was a wonderfully relaxed way for our whole family to see the city's highlights without exhaustion. The ride through the green oasis of Tête d’Or Park was lovely, and the children absolutely adored the free small zoo with the giraffes and primates. It’s a comfortable, easygoing experience that mixes great sights with a very tasty culinary reward at the end.
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★★★★★ Andres Volosin
Great location, not the best hotel choises
Loire a Velo: Orleans to the Atlantic
You should do better in some locations with the hotels. The last 4 day, not much to see. Is just pedaling to get to the next town. Dont do the 14 day unless you just like to pedal. Better rent a car in Nantes and continue that way to Le Croisic.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10
- 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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★★★★★ HM
A Journey Through History on Two Wheels
Coastal Normandy and WWII History
My significant other and I just completed the Coastal Normandy and WWII History bike tour, and it was nothing short of unforgettable.
Cycling through the rolling countryside and along the dramatic coastline, we felt like we were pedaling straight into the pages of history. The sites—Utah Beach, Sainte-Mère-Église, Pointe du Hoc—were powerful and humbling, evoking scenes straight out of Band of Brothers. Standing where paratroopers landed or where soldiers scaled cliffs gave us a visceral connection to the stories we’ve only seen on screen.
What made the experience even more meaningful were the people. The locals were incredibly welcoming—whether it was a café owner who insisted we try her homemade apple tart, or a farmer who pointed us toward a hidden memorial tucked behind his fields. Their kindness and pride in sharing their region’s history added a deeply personal layer to the journey.The balance of physical activity, cultural immersion, and historical reflection was perfect. Each day’s ride brought a mix of quiet rural beauty and poignant reminders of sacrifice. By the end, we felt both enriched and grounded—grateful for the chance to honor history while experiencing Normandy’s charm up close.
This wasn’t just a bike tour—it was a moving journey through time, one we’ll carry with us for years to come.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ Helen Stowe
Mostly Marvelous, Somewhat Scary
South of France: UNESCO World Heritage Sites
For the most part, the trip was wonderful -- accommodations were varied, but all just fine for a shower after a long day on the road, comfortable beds, good breakfasts, and pleasant hosts. Countryside was beautiful, and we were blessed with perfect weather. However, we occasionally felt that we had too many miles to travel so we weren't able to take advantage of visiting the UNESCO sites mentioned in the guide book. Electric bikes were fun (a first for most of us) and essential for making it up the long hills. On the downside, the last 3km into Carcassonne was hair raising....so much traffic, trucks that weren't about to slow down or give us any leeway as we approached narrow bridges. We managed to find a pleasant bike path along the canal that took us right into the city, with only a few streets to navigate; and we wondered why your tour didn't direct us onto that bike path instead of along the dangerous and busy road...and if anyone in the company had actually ridden that route into Carcassonne. I was so unnerved that I chose to skip the last day's ride and walked around the city instead (and loved every minute of that!).
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ Anne Stanek
Peaceful tour of some lovely countryside and beautiful little medieval villages.
South of France: UNESCO World Heritage Sites
We surely enjoyed this trip. The beginning in St. Gilhem le Desert was perfect - such a lovely little town nestled into the mountains. There were a lot of uphills and wonderful long downhills on quiet roads. It was a nice variety of scenery and towns. We were particularly grateful for our Ebikes as the hills would have been difficult and tiring without them. It was a most enjoyable bike tour all round.
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ Ed & Jill Nyland
Trip Was As Expected
Strasbourg to Mainz: Imperial Cities and Charming Landscapes Along the Rhine
The trip was enjoyable, the bikes were top notch, the trails were mostly well maintained except for a couple of remote and rough areas. The hotels were pleasant except for a very horrendous experience in Heidelberg. We were told that they were overbooked and they “stuck us” in a 7 story walk up hotel across the street., no elevator and no lobby. The hotel was dirty and not secure. We had to carry our two large bags and all of our bike gear up and down. The comment was “you look like you’re in good shape”. There was no real apology or accountability for their mistake. We were extremely angry and disappointed because we were looking forward to Heidelberg.
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BikeTours.com staff reply from bozena_kusovac
Hi Ed and Jill,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re so sorry to hear about what happened in Heidelberg - we understand how upsetting and frustrating that must have been, especially when you were looking forward to that part of the trip. Please accept our sincere apologies. We’ll be addressing this directly with our partner to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Bozena
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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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★★★★★ Barry LeDuc
Epic Dream Come True
Burgundy Wine Trails: Beaune to Macon on the “Voie Verte”
It was such a great way to experience the Burgundy Region. The bikes were great. The accommodations were good. The bike paths were phenomenal. The vistas were unforgettable and the weather co-operated.
We would recommend this trip.- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ Gary
An easy and beautiful bike and barge tour
Metz and Cochem Classic Version
The barge was extremely comfortable and the staff were wonderful. The cycling was quite easy (longest day was 44km) and our guides were professional and very helpful. Food was delicious and there was plenty of it, including to prepare take away lunches. Scenery was spectacular, cycle paths were clear and uncrowded, and villages and towns we stopped at were interesting.
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Germany, Luxembourg
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★★★★★ Steven F
Beautiful
Loire a Velo: Orleans to the Atlantic
The perfect way to experience France. Bike through beautiful farm lands and vineyards, stay in beautiful small cities. Enjoy the grand and beauty of many Châteaus along the way.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2025
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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