What are the best bike tours in France?

H1: What are the best bike rides in France?

It's the holidays! Want to spend time with your family and enjoy an outdoor activity? Want to travel without leaving France? Opt for a bike ride! For a day, a weekend or even for a week, the French landscapes will delight you. 

H2: Short tours (1 day max)

H3: The Tour of Lake Annecy (Haute-Savoie)

Make a stopover in Annecy to discover its magnificent lake encircled by the Alps. A 42 km loop goes along the lake passing by numerous swimming spots. To get as close to the water as possible, choose the route in a clockwise direction and start on the eastern shore. This route will allow you to join the greenway on the west bank and finish your walk in the old town of Annecy.

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Length : 42 km

Level difference: 500 m

Level : intermediate

Track type: roads

H3: Belle-Ile-en-Mer (Brittany)

Are you going on holiday in Brittany? Take the time to make a stopover in Belle-Ile-en-Mer! Spend at least one day on this aptly named island and follow our cycling route. After arriving on the island by boat, you can start by exploring the east coast of the island. Don't miss out on the must-sees of this Breton island: the Aiguilles de Port Coton, the port of Sauzon, the Citadelle Vauban museum, the beach of Donnant and the Pointe des Poulains. If you prefer wild Brittany, opt for a walk along the east coast and enjoy the beautiful views it offers. The ocean as far as the eye can see will give you an unrivalled feeling of freedom.

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How to get there: boats serve the island from Quiberon

Length: there are 82km of trails on the island, many loops of around 10km can be done

Level: the highest point on the island is at 71m in altitude

Level: beginner

Type of route: paths

H3: Paris and its surroundings

Discover a different side of Paris on the London-Paris Green Avenue. This Parisian bike tour starts at the Ile de la Cité and runs through Paris to Saint-Denis where you can join the Promenade bleue and ride along the Seine to Conflans-Ste-Honorine. This bike ride will allow you to see Paris from Saint-Germain-en-Laye and marvel at the castles and gardens. The perfect bike tour for a day in the capital!

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Length: 75 km

Level: intermediate

Type of route: roads

H2: Weekend hikes (a few days)

H3 : The Châteaux (Pays de la Loire)

Bring your bike and discover the most beautiful castles of France in the Pays de la Loire. Starting from Orléans, ride to Tours. You will have the opportunity to discover the sumptuous Chambord castle, Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece. Also take time to stop at the Château de Chenonceau, an architectural marvel. 

And if you haven't had enough, you can extend your journey to Angers and discover the castles of Saumur and Angers.

Length: Orléans-Tours 120 km, Orléans-Angers 240 km

Level: gentle downhill route

Level: beginner

Track type: roads

H3: The vineyards (Burgundy)

Looking for a family bike ride? Don't hesitate any longer and visit Burgundy and its beautiful vineyards. The bike tour route starts in Dijon and ends in Chalon-sur-Saône via Santenay. Along the way you will pass through villages famous for their wine. Spend several days cycling these 90 kilometres to taste some of the specialities of the region.

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Length: 89 km

Level: the Mont de Sène culminates at 521 m in altitude

Level: intermediate

Track type: roads

H3: The Camargue

Are you looking for a family bike ride? Want to go cycling for a few days through marshes, horses and pink flamingos? The Camargue is the ideal destination for your bike tour! Leave from Sète and ride along the Mediterranean coast to Tarascon. You will have the opportunity to discover the south of Montpellier and the peninsula of Maguelone, as well as the famous ramparts of Aigues-Mortes. For a little more nature, stop in the lagoon of Méjean. Its fauna and flora will amaze you. Finally, this very accessible bike ride will allow you to see a high place of pilgrimage, classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site: the abbey church of Saint-Gilles.

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Length: 100 km

Level difference: 80 m

Level: beginner

Track type: roads

H2: Long hikes (1 week or more)

H3: The Volcanoes of Auvergne

Ready for a unique adventure? If you're looking for a physical ride, this bike tour is ideal for a bike ride with family or friends. You will have the chance to discover 4 different massifs: the Puys chain, the Sancy massif, the Cézallier plateau and the Cantal mountains. This hiking route will take you to the summits of the Auvergne mountain ranges. You can even enjoy a swim in the Auvergne lakes! Climb on your bike and leave Clermont-Ferrand to finish your journey in Saint-Flour. 270 kilometres of happiness!

Length : 270 km

Level: if you want to reach the top of the volcanoes you will have to climb to an altitude of 1886 m. Please note that not all the summits are accessible by bike. The Puys chain is a protected site where it is forbidden to ride a mountain bike.

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Level: for those used to mountain biking

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Track type: paths

H3: North Brittany

Dreaming of discovering Mont-Saint-Michel? Choose this bike ride and travel through Northern Brittany from Mont-Saint-Michel to Roscoff. These 430 kilometres will take you along the Breton coast. You will have the chance to see the Pink Granite Coast, the Bay of Saint-Brieuc, or Saint-Malo. Admire the magnificent architecture of Dinard and breathe in the pure ocean air on the Emerald Coast. The perfect route for a family bike ride.

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Length: 430 km

Level: low

Level: for regulars

Track type: roads

H3: The Tour of Alsace

This bike touring route will seduce you with its diversity. Starting in Strasbourg, you will make a loop to discover the wonders of Alsace. This tour will take you to Basel, Mulhouse, Colmar and Neuf-Brisach, before returning to Strasbourg. You'll have the opportunity to cycle through the Alsatian vineyards and admire the region's medieval villages and sumptuous churches. Stop off in the cities of Basel and Mulhouse and visit their museums. Take a stroll through Colmar, a typical Alsatian town. Finally, take time to discover the city of Vauban: Neuf-Brisach. The towpath of the Rhine will bring you back to Strasbourg quietly by taking a green way along the water.

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Length: 315 km

Level difference: 260 m

Level: intermediate

Track type: roads

Convinced? All that's left to do is pack your gear and get on your bike. To find out what gear to take, read our article on cycle touring.