2025 Early Bird SaleFinal WeekSave Now
Duration
8 days
Activities
  • guided cycle
Accommodation
  • BARGE
Meals
  • 6 Dinners
  • 6 Lunches
  • 7 Breakfasts

Price

ON SALE

$2860 USD

Adult$2717USD

 
 

Overview

Trip Code: SVB

Trip highlights


  • Discovering the city of lights, Paris
  • Exploring chateaus, Royal Gardens, small villages and beautiful woodlands
  • Cycling through a fascinating region of France
  • Enjoying the hospitality on board your comfortable barge

France's Seine Valley is a region rich in royal history. With so much to see, do and absorb, the ideal way to explore this fascinating part of France is by bike and barge. From the lights of Paris to the beautiful medieval towns of Ferriers and Chateau-Landon, you'll experience a diverse range of sights during this week long cycling tour. The magnificent Fontainebleau Chateau, with its perfectly symmetrical Royal Gardens which the French kings had their royal architects design for them, is a fine example of the regions regal past. Cycling along the river in the company of your expert guide, through woodlands and small villages, ensures you'll gain a unique insight into this beautiful region. Cities, canals and cosy French towns - this trip will provide you with a truly magnificent French experience.

Trip Grading

moderate

More info about grading system

Expand all | Collapse all

Arrive at the barge in Paris, with embarkation at 1:00pm (on the arrival day, you can leave your luggage on board from 11.00 am). There will be a welcome briefing with your guide and an introduction to the crew then the boat will depart Paris and travel along the Seine to Evry, where we dock for the night.

Meals:  D

After breakfast we begin cycling from the lock of Evry. As we cycle we'll stay along the banks of the river for a while. The first stop is the typical French market of Corbeil-Essonnes. Our destination is Melun, known as ‘le domaine des reines blanches’, because in former years it was the domain of the widows of the French kings.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we cycle through the wonderful forests of Fontainebleau. We head to the artistic village of Barbizon, where painters have found inspiration since the first half of the 19th century. At the time, a group of landscape painters formed the ‘school of Barbizon’. Here you can visit the local museum. Afterwards we continue towards the palace of Fontainebleau, which was much in favour among the French kings due to the extensive hunting possibilities in the surrounding forest. In the castle itself there is a museum dedicated to Napoleon, among other things. Fontainebleau is also a pleasant town to walk around or to shop in. We'll find the boat again in Moret-sur-Loing, a charming medieval fortified town, strategically situated on the banks of the Loing. The painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful Impressionist paintings here.

Meals:  B,L,D

The cycle route continues along the valley of the Loing and visits Grez-sur-Loing, where many artists lived in the early years of the 20th Century. In the charming town hall of Bourron-Marlotte you can admire a few magnificent Impressionist paintings. We will meet the Fleur again in Nemours. Nemours is supposed to derive its name from the woods (nemora) in the midst of which it formerly stood, with Gallo-Roman relics indicate its early origin. The castle, erected around 1120, is now a prehistoric museum of the Ile-de-France region.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we'll enjoy breakfast as the boat cruises. Today's cycle is through a wooded area with rugged rocks. Before lunch we will visit the sculpture garden Jardin Bourdelle, where you can admire some 57 bronze monumental sculptures by the artist Antoine Bourdelle. Around lunchtime we will reach the village of Egréville, which has been an important commercial crossroads for hundreds of years. Its markets and fairs enjoyed great renown. Continue to today's destination, the rural town of Néronville.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today you will first cycle to Chateau-Landon, a beautifully situated town with narrow streets, ramparts and wash houses, and the Abbey of St Séverin from the 13th century. The cycle continues to the medieval town of Ferrières with its old town centre, which has been preserved beautifully. And in the middle of the narrow streets you find a splendid monastery. Our destination is Montargis, the second largest town of the Loiret after Orléans. Unfortunately this former royal residence was destroyed by a fire in the 16th Century, but the canals are still there. They are decorated with many flowers and give the town a lot of charm. Today there is no dinner on board, you are free to dine in a local restaurant.

Meals:  B,L

From Montargis we bike along the l’Ouanne to Château-Renard, where we can visit the ruins of a castle from the 10th century. We will also visit an Apiculture’s Living Museum to see beekeepers and their bees at work, and to sample some delicious honey. Return to the barge in Montargis.

Meals:  B,L,D

The tour ends after breakfast. Disembarkation is in Montargis by 9:30am.

Meals:  B

Expand all | Collapse all

Arrive at the barge in Montargis, with embarkation at 2:00pm (you can leave your luggage on board from 11.00 am). There will be a welcome briefing with your guide and an introduction to the crew, followed by a bike fitting and short test ride. After dinner your tour leader will take you for a walk through Montargis, the second-largest town of the Loiret region after Orléans. Unfortunately this former royal residence was destroyed by a big fire in the 16th century, but the canals are still here. They are decorated with flowers and give the town a lot of charm.

Meals:  D

From Montargis we bike along the l’Ouanne to Château-Renard, where we can visit the ruins of a castle from the 10th century. We will also visit an Apiculture’s Living Museum. Here you can see beekeepers and their bees at work, and sample some delicious honey. Return to the barge in Montargis.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we will enjoy breakfast as we cruise to the lock of Cepoy. We then start cycling, heading north east out of town through the beautiful forests of Montargis. We ride to the medieval town of Ferrieres, with its old town centre which has been beautifully preserved. In the middle of the narrow streets there is a splendid monastery. Afterwards we continue to Egréville, where we will visit the sculpture garden of Bourdelle. Our destination is the rural town of Néronville.

Meals:  B,L,D

Our route today is through an old area, cultivated during the Gallo-Roman era. Our first stop is the old Gallic stronghold of Château-Landon, a beautifully situated fortified town. Its Abbey of St Severin dates from the 13th century. Later on we find the rocks of Nemours on our way, and meet the Fleur again in Nemours. Here we may visit the castle, erected around 1120, which is now a prehistoric museum of the Ile-de France region.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we stay in the valley of the Loing and visit Grez-sur-Loing, where many artists lived in the early 20th century. Continue to Bourron-Marlotte where we can admire a few magnificent Impressionist paintings in the town hall. We stay overnight in Moret-sur-Loing, which is a charming medieval fortified town, strategically situated on the banks of the Loing. The painter Sisley found inspiration for his beautiful Impressionist paintings here.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we cycle through the wonderful forests of Fontainebleau. Our first destination is the city of Fontainebleau, with its palace, which was much in favour among the French kings due to the extensive hunting grounds in the surrounding forests. In the castle itself there is a museum dedicated to Napoleon, among other things. Fontainebleau is also a pleasant town to walk around or to shop in. We continue to the artistic village of Barbizon, where since the first half of the 19th century many painters have found inspiration. At the time, a group of landscape painters formed the ‘school of Barbizon’, and here we can visit the local museum. Today's destination is the town of Melun, known as ‘le domaine des reines blanches’, because in former years it was the domain of the widows of the French kings. Dinner will be at leisure, with an opportunity to sample one of the local restaurants in town.

Meals:  B,L

This morning there is a short bike ride, following the river banks of the Seine to the lock of Evry, from where we board the boat and cruise into Paris. We will have lunch on board. The Fleur will moor in the centre of Paris, handy for sightseeing. After dinner you can join the tour leader for a city walk.

Meals:  B,L,D

Your tour ends after breakfast with disembarkation by 9:30am.

Meals:  B


Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.


Inclusions

  • 7 breakfasts, 6 picnic lunches, 6 dinners (does not include drinks)
  • Continental breakfasts are served and will usually consist of breads, cheese, ham, tea, coffee & juices. At breakfast you will prepare your packed lunch for the day which will be sandwiches, fruit & juice. Dinner will consist of three courses inclusive of either a pasta, vegetarian or meat dish.
  • 7 nights accommodation aboard a Comfort category barge in a cabin with ensuite facilities on a twin share basis. The compact cabins are configured with twin lower beds.
  • 2024: 11 speed trekking bike rental with pannier and helmet (electric bike available on request - supplement applies)
  • 2025: This is an e-bike only tour - E-bike rental included plus helmet, pannier, lock
  • Welcome drink and briefing on the first evening
  • Daily coffee and tea until 4pm
  • Multilingual tour leader for fully guided cycling tours and daily briefings (two for groups of 18 or more)
  • Cycling Map (1 per cabin) plus navigational App with GPS tracks
  • Entrance to Bourdelle garden and an Apiculture's Living Museum, guided visit of Chateau-Landon and visit of town hall Bourron-Marlotte
  • Daily cabin cleaning
  • Ferry fees
  • Wifi
  • Carbon offset payment
  • Emergency hotline

  • Travel to and from Paris / Montargis
  • Meals not listed as included, drinks
  • Entrance fees and excursions not specified
  • Transfers not specified
  • Travel insurance - mandatory
  • Supplement applies if you are travelling solo or require a single cabin. We do not match clients together to share cabins so you will need to book a single - limited and on a request basis
  • Tips - while tipping is not obligatory, it is customary to offer a tip if the guide and crew have done a good job. As a guide we would recommend EUR30-60 per person (to be distributed between the guide/s, captain and crew).
  • Bike insurance - payable locally (EUR10 for standard bikes and EUR25 for e-bikes) - further details of this Limitation of Liability (damage) policy are available on request
  • Catering for special diets (except Vegetarian). A supplement is payable for example lactose or gluten free diets - EUR65pp (subject to change) paid locally on board.
  • Items of a personal nature

Cabins


Bike information


Grading

moderate  

The cycling is moderate (3) grade with daily cycling distances from 25 to 45km/15.5 to 28mi along usually well graded low traffic roads. There are some short stretches on some busier roads and off-road bike paths. The cycling is generally along virtually flat terrain, with about 4 hours of cycling each day. The accent is on keeping a relaxed pace to take in all of the attractions, with time to stop and take photos. A good level of fitness and cycling experience is required to fully participate in this trip.


Departure dates


Notes

H
High Season
IT1
Trip commences in Paris.
IT2
Trip operates in reverse, commencing in Montargis - refer to second itinerary in trip notes.
DN3
High season is from 1 to 30 June 2025 - supplement applies
DN4
Note this is an e-bike only trip in 2025.

Want to organise a private group?

Fundraising events, sporting groups, family treats; learn how you can organise a Private Group from just 6 travellers.

Priceper person from

$2717USD

Options & Supplements*
  • Single Supplement (single use of twin cabin- one only per departure)USD$1090
*Prices listed are per person

Trip reviews


Why travel with us

Making Europe Affordable

We offer different levels of accommodation and comfort so that even the most budget conscious can treat themselves to active holidays on Europe's most celebrated tracks and trails. Our trips are great value for money because you only pay for what you want.  

Self-Guided Specialists

Our wide range of self-guided itineraries embody the UTracks philosophy of exploring Europe your way. We handle the logistics so all that's left for you to do is enjoy exploring Europe at your own pace. Most depart daily with a minimum of two people, meaning maximum flexibility.

Our Wide Range

With close to 400 trips in almost 50 countries, including the largest range of bike & boat holidays in Europe, we're confident that we can organise an Alps walk, Camino de Santiago or Via Francigena experience, Food Lovers' trip or a tour in a lesser-known pocket of Europe that you will love. 

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