Tour De France Special Cycling Holiday

Essential Information

Trip Profile

Average daily distance: 90km (56 miles); basic route 1000m to 2000m ascent per day (with the option for more climbing on some days)
No. of days cycling: 6
Vehicle Support: 100% (with limited seats).
Terrain and route: the basic route is a manageable challenge for most fit cyclists, with one or two cols every day. Those wanting more ascent can ride optional cols on some days. Climbs are generally long and steady (avg. 7.5% gradient), and descents include some steep sections with no guard rails. This holiday isn't a race and can be done at your own pace, but you should be quite an experienced rider.

Accommodation

We stay for 7 nights in the comfortable 'Rechastel' holiday centre in La Breole. It offers the same service as a good as a 2 star hotel, all twin rooms are en suite, there is a bar and restaurant, and the view from the holiday centre to the Serre Poncon lake is superb. In the nearby village there is a shop, bar, cheese manufacturer and craft shop, as well as free access to the village swimming pool.

Food

Full board throughout, 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 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 some of the same routes as the Tour de France but this trip is definitely not a race!

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. This trip is classified Road and graded C/D.

Please see the introductory pages of the Cycling Brochure for more important information on classification and grading.

6 days cycling, average 90km/day (56 miles).

Normal group size and age

Normally 6 to 16, plus leader/driver. NB: the leader does not cycle but accompanies the group in the support vehicle. 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.

Exodus is always looking to improve our current itineraries and to offer something different. With many new trips this year, there is something unique and different to try every year.

Special Interest: For those who have a passion for archaeology, food, flowers, languages or yoga. Solar eclipse and Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) departures and specialist conservation holidays are also included.

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.