Cycle the Wine Route of Champagne

6 Days Excluding Flights From

6 Days from

£ 1149

£ 1259

Cycling

Activity Level

Easy & Moderate

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Cycling

Group Size :

Ages :

12+

Trip Code :

C05CH

Cycling the Champagne wine-growing region of France

If a visit to a prestigious champagne producer or cellar constitutes an unmissable part of your trip, uncovering the secrets of the vineyards and of wine, you will also ride through the ‘other’ Champagne following the Wine Route : more secret and intimate, whose rolling slopes are among the most beautiful riches the Champagne region has to offer!

Known around the world for its wines, Champagne is also a popular destination for cycling, offering an ideal playground. Ride among the vineyards and terraced hillsides where Champagne villages, chateaux, and churches are nestled. Enjoy panoramic viewpoints overlooking the vineyards and picturesque villages. The winemakers’ open their doors to you, for tastings and tours of the cellars. They will passionately explain their know-how while showing you around their property.

Highlights

Explore Reims and Epernay, capitals of Champagne
Discover this worldwide known vineyard and its quaint wine villages
Relax in a 4-star hotels in Reims and Epernay

Key Information

5 nights twin-centre in a 4-star hotels
All breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
GPS Route directions and maps
High quality bikes

Countries visited: France

What's Included

5 nights twin centre in a 4 star hotels
All breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
GPS Route directions and maps
High quality bikes

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Visas & vaccinations
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)

6 Days of Cycling

Terrain:

The route takes you through quiet country lanes, through vineyards on well marked paths and sleepy villages. Well marked cycling routes are used all along he tour.

Day 2

44 km / 27.3 miles

Day 3

52 km / 32.3 miles

Day 4

43 km / 26.7 miles

Day 5

43 km / 26.7 miles

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

TRIP

C05CH - Cycle the Wine Route of Champagne

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

For flights call us on 0203 733 5948 or enquire when booking online

Regional flights available

Competitive flight prices

Specialist Flight Support

ATOL protected

Itinerary

Reims Epernay Reims Epernay

Only 30 mins from Charles de Gaulle airport, you will arrive at Champagne Ardenne TGV station. In option, we can organise a transfer to Reims city centre. Wander in the Capital of Champagne, enjoy a tasting in one of the most prestigious house of Champagne and visit the Cathedral where were organised all the coronations of the French Kings.

Meals included: Breakfast

From Reims and its prestigious Champagne houses, ride to the massif of Saint-Thierry and enjoy a beautiful viewpoint from Trigny, a flower-filled village with medieval ramparts. Continue through forest and vineyards. Immerge yourself in the origin of this divine nectar and stop for wonderful views or alternatively for a tasting.

Distance covered: 27mi (44km)

Meals included: Breakfast

Ride to the Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park, a natural gem dotted with charming wine-making villages. Follow the prestigious touristic route of Champagne, passing by the wine villages. Stop at the Verzenay lighthouse, which watches over a swathe of vineyards. You will end on the new cycling path, along the river, before reaching Epernay.

This town is entirely surrounded by vines. Walk down the Avenue de Champagne, with its magnificent mansion facades and opulent middle-class homes occupied by famous Champagne Houses, and you can see why Epernay competes for the title of ‘Capital of Champagne’. Here, are miles of underground galleries and millions of bottles of preciously kept champagne away from light and heat… In Epernay, cellar visits to the largest champagne houses are among the highlights of the tour… And they sparkle with stories and expertise.

Distance covered: 32mi (52km)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today, you will learn about ‘Blanc de Noirs’ champagne which is made using only black grapes (Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier). Two grape varieties with darker skin and white flesh.

Follow the cycling routes bordered with vineyards, offering magnificent landscapes over the undulating Marne Valley, until Dom Perignon’s village: Hautvillers ! It is here that the legend of Champagne was born, thanks to the Benedictine monk Dom Perignon, who was said to have accidentally invented effervescent wine at the end of the 17th century. He’s buried in the abbey of Hautvillers, leaving his name to a vintage produced by a famous Champagne House.

Continue through quaint wine villages like Fleury la Riviere or Oeuilly.

Distance covered: 27mi (43km)

Meals included: Breakfast

The taste of day will be ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne using chardonnay only, a white grape. The Cote des Blancs and its chalky soil is a promised land for the elegant chardonnay.

Ride along some of the classified Grand Cru villages and pedal on the slopes producing Chardonnay grapes. Discover wine villages nested between the vineyard and the lush forest: Avize, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Distance covered: 27mi (43km)

Meals included: Breakfast

The tour ends in Epernay.

Meals included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

Activity Level: 2 (Moderate)
Average daily distance: 45km
No. of days cycling: 2
Terrain and route: The route takes you through quiet country lanes, through vineyards on well marked paths and sleepy villages. Well marked cycling paths are also used throughout.

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and GPS route directions so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. A representative will be there to meet you, make sure the bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need.

Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain an emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Families
Self-guided cycling holidays are a perfect option for families as they offer the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your family and the sites that interest you. We have suggested that 12yrs is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you. The daily distances are all published in the trip notes along with a description of each day’s cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect. However, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily activities. Please consider the weather when choosing to book, temperatures can be high in the middle of summer.

Joining Instructions

Flight Inclusive
Air-rail prices include our standard flights, onward rail and station transfers

Business/club/first class seats are available on request.

Land Only
Standard transfers
Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from

Alternative transfers
If you require alternative transfers (because you will be arriving at a different time to our standard flights), then we can usually arrange these for you (there may be an additional charge).

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Reims
Location end: Epernay

Vaccinations and Health

France

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

France

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter France. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/france
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/france
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/France.html

Weather

In Champagne, the summers are comfortable and partly cloudy which makes it ideal for cycling. The winters are very cold, windy, and mostly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from -0°C to 25°C and is rarely below -7°C or above 31°C.

The hottest month is July with daily average temperatures being around 24°C

TRIP

C05CH - Cycle the Wine Route of Champagne

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Cycling the Vineyards of Champagne - short break

In Reims : The hotel welcomes you in its pared-back décor that harmoniously blends contemporary lines with stylish furnishings, all picked out in colourful and contrasting hues, to create a refined and soothing atmosphere. Hotel with heated indoor pool.

In Epernay : The Hotel is ideally situated in the center of Epernay, established in a building of 18 th century style architecture. The interior of the Hotel was entirely renovated between 2012 and 2016. A few steps from the Hotel you will find the magnificent Avenue de Champagne, where there lies, hidden, 110 kilometers of cellars (listed in the World Heritage Site – UNESCO).