Countries Visited: France
Essential Information
Trip Profile
Average daily distance: 70km (43 miles); basic route 800m to 1450m ascent per day (option of up to 3000m per day)
No. of days cycling: 5/6
Vehicle Support: 100% (with limited seats).
Terrain and route: the basic route is a manageable challenge for most regular cyclists, with one or two cols every day. Those wanting more ascent can ride optional cols or stage endings. Climbs are long and steady (avg. 7.5%), and descents include some steep sections with no guard rails. This holiday isn't a race and can be done at your own pace as full route notes and maps are provided.
Accommodation
7 nights 2 star hotels. All rooms have private facilities.
Food
All breakfasts and 6 dinners included.
Reality Check
The riding on this trip can be accomplished by any fit cyclist, but it is as much a state of mind as your fitness that will see you up and over the Cols; the secret to making it up the mountains is to plug away at a steady pace and stop whenever you feel tired.
We cover the same routes as the Tour de France but this trip is definitely not a race! It is likely that there will be quite a distance between the front and back cyclists in the group, and the vehicle will shuttle between them as much as is practical (giving moral support and refreshments), but once you have set off on the downhill side it is possible to get a long way ahead of other people very quickly, so there may be long stretches when you don't see other members of the group or the vehicle.
Each day you will be supplied with a map and comprehensive route notes including altitude profiles. The roads are good quality - they just aren't flat! Although the gradients do not get much steeper than 10%, they can be long. Daily distances are realistic, and there are plenty of opportunities for stronger riders to add more kilometres if they wish. The support minibus is always available for riders who have achieved their personal goal and require a lift up or down any of the hills.
This trip is classified Road and graded C/D. Please see the Cycling brochure or view the grading and trip classification page for more information.
Normal group size and age
Normally min. 4, max. 16, plus leader/driver. Minimum age 18.
Icons explained
The vast majority of Exodus adventures are adult group holidays. Groups are always small in size. We strongly believe that this adherence to small groups means a better experience for all; more time with your guide, less waiting around and a reduced impact on the communities and environments visited.
Each group is generally made up of like-minded travellers - with singles, couples and friends all joining in together.
All these trips are suitable for single travellers, but if you prefer to travel with clients booking individually, please
see our Solo Departures page.
In order to provide a more accurate cycle holiday grading system, where a cycling trip falls between two grades we use an intermediate or split grade, for example Challenging/Tough. Clearly, conditions may differ from region-to-region or month-to-month and as such the information given on these pages is designed to act as a guide to your cycling holiday only. In all cases you should refer to the Trip Notes for further details.
Cycling: Our cycling holidays come in all shapes and sizes; from gentle self-guided trips in the Veneto, to tackling the High Atlas in Morocco, or exploring the length of Vietnam.
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